Life insurance and women's mental health
A lot of women come to us at exactly the point life insurance starts to matter most, after having a baby, and worry that the hardest months of their life are about to count against them. For most, they don't. Postnatal depression and anxiety are common, well understood by insurers, and very often no barrier at all once things have settled.
Postnatal and perinatal mental health
Postnatal depression affects a significant number of new mothers, and perinatal anxiety is common too. Insurers know this. A recovered postnatal episode, with a stable period since, is generally assessed well, and many women in that position are accepted at normal rates.
Where insurers ask more is around recency and severity: whether it happened recently, whether there was a hospital admission, and how treatment has gone. If your baby is very new and things are still difficult, the honest answer is often that a few more months makes a real difference to your options. We'll always tell you that rather than push you into an application now.
What insurers look at
- What was diagnosed or treated, and when
- How things have been over the last year or two
- Treatment, including medication and therapy, and whether it's settled
- Time off work
- Hospital admissions, if any, and how long ago
- Any history of self-harm or suicidal thoughts, where recency matters most
- Your general health
Menopause, mood and anxiety
The other point where mental health and insurance meet for many women is the perimenopause, when low mood, anxiety and sleep problems are common and often newly treated. Insurers assess these like any other mental health disclosure: what was diagnosed, how long it's been going on, what treatment looks like, and how you are now. A recent start on treatment is a question about timing, not a closed door.
How it works
A few respectful questions online, at your own pace, which for a lot of our customers means one-handed at 3am. A named adviser calls when it suits you. Discreet checks with the right insurers where it helps. Then we handle the paperwork and keep you updated.
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Looking for something else? Read about depression, anxiety, adhd, bipolar or men's mental health.