Does life insurance cover suicide?

If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts, call Samaritans on 116 123

Key takeaways

• Life insurance usually covers suicide, but it will have a waiting period of 12 to 24 months

• Claims can be rejected if the policyholder did not disclose they had a mental health condition

• You can generally find life insurance if you have a mental health condition, but it may increase your premiums

Is suicide covered by a life insurance policy?

Suicide is generally covered by life insurance, but only if the death occurs a year or more after the policy was taken out. The exact details of this suicide clause can vary between insurers, but a waiting period of 1 to 2 years is common.

Standard life insurance does not usually impose waiting periods for other types of death, such as passing away from an illness or accident.

What is a suicide life insurance policy clause?

Most UK life insurance policies will include a ‘suicide clause’ which states the terms and conditions for a payout after a death due to suicide.

Most will only pay out if the suicide or self-inflicted injury happened at least 12 to 24 months after the policy started. This is referred to as a ‘waiting period’ or ‘exclusion period’.

By including this clause, insurers hope to reduce the financial incentive for someone to take their own life in the hope of triggering a life insurance payout for their family.

How do life insurance companies handle suicide claims?

In most cases of a sudden death, there will be an investigation by a coroner, who may ask for a post-mortem or hold an inquest. The coroner may then conclude that the death came as a result of suicide or intentional and serious self-injury.

However, some insurers reserve the right to ignore any coroner ruling and decide in their 'reasonable opinion' that the insured person took their own life. To do this, the insurer will consider the method and timing of the death, any documentation left by the deceased or others, and the evidence available from the time and location of the death.

If the insurer decides that suicide occurred during the exclusion period, the claim will not be paid.

Beyond the exclusion period, life insurance companies assess claims involving suicide in the same way they assess all other claims. They will look at the cause of death, any pre-existing conditions the policyholder declared when they took out the policy and the policy terms.

All life insurance claims can be rejected if the insurer’s terms and conditions were not met. These generally include:

• The policyholder must have declared all relevant pre-existing medical conditions when they took out the policy

• Premiums must have been paid up to date

Can death by suicide delay life insurance payouts?

Yes, it can do. A death by suicide may require a more detailed investigation by medical examiners, law enforcement and life insurers. These extra checks can extend the time it takes for a life insurer to accept and pay out a claim.

Do mental health conditions affect life insurance?

When you apply for life insurance, insurers will ask about your medical history, including any mental health conditions such as depression, addictions or dependencies, anxiety, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or other psychiatric conditions.

It’s important to fill in this information honestly. Failing to disclose relevant health issues is known as ‘non-disclosure’ and could lead to the policy being invalidated or the claim being rejected.

Mild or well-managed conditions may have a minimal impact on your premiums or the ability to secure life insurance. If the condition is controlled and you’ve had no recent episodes, the insurer may offer you standard rates.

Severe or long-term conditions can increase premiums or limit the types of policies available. In these cases, insurers may assess the condition's impact on your overall health, how well it is managed, treatment received, and any associated risks.

For example, these are the prices paid by MoneySuperMarket customers for life insurance with depression and anxiety.

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If someone has a history of suicide attempts or self-harm, it may significantly affect their ability to take out life cover or lead to higher premiums. There are specialist providers that can help in this situation.

For people with severe mental health conditions who might struggle to get standard life insurance, there are also “guaranteed acceptance” policies. These are normally only offered to people aged 50 and over, and do not require a medical examination or health disclosure. However, they may have higher premiums and lower payout amounts, and a waiting period for all illness-related deaths, not just death by suicide.

Is assisted dying covered by a life insurance policy?

Assisted dying or assisted suicide is the act of deliberately assisting another person to take their own life – such as giving them the drugs to do so.

The UK is currently considering introducing legislation that would legalise assisted dying. If it passes both Houses of Parliament, The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill would make it legal for over-18s who are terminally ill to be given assistance to end their own life.

We have yet to see how life insurers will react to any new law about assisted dying. One possibility is that any assisted death will continue to be treated in the same way as death by suicide is at the moment – this means a claim will be rejected if the death occurs during the exclusion period on the policy.

Another possibility is that the UK could follow the example of Oregon, USA, whose Death with Dignity Act explicitly states that assisted dying deaths must be recorded as death by natural causes, meaning life insurers must assess claims as though the policyholder died of the terminal illness they were suffering from.

The UK's assisted dying bill is currently facing many months of debate and scrutiny by MPs and peers. The bill might be amended and become legislation, or it might fail altogether. Until this bill passes, assisted dying remains illegal in the UK under the terms of the Suicide Act 1961 and is punishable by up to 14 years' imprisonment.

Help for mental health issues and suicidal ideation is always available:

NHS: Call 111 (24/7)

Samaritans: Call 116 123 (24/7)

Mind: Call 0300 102 1234 (9am - 6pm, Monday to Friday)

CALM: Call 0800 58 58 58 (5pm - 12am, every day)