Non-Disclosure misrepresentation – Frequently Asked Questions
- 17/07/2025
- Posted by: Appeal Avenue
- Category: FAQs
What is non- disclosure?
In insurance terminology, non-disclosure means that you didn’t tell your insurance company something about your health or lifestyle when you took your policy out. This usually happens when you answered one of the initial underwriting questions incorrectly; this could have happened intentionally or could have been a genuine mistake. Non-disclosure is a type of ‘misrepresentation’.
Why has my insurer declined my insurance claim?
If your insurer declines to pay your claim due to non-disclosure, they should put the reasons why they have come to this decision in writing. This letter would usually tell you the questions they asked you when you took the policy out, and what medical information they have become aware of, that would suggest you didn’t answer this question accurately.
If you’re unsure why your claim was declined, book a free appointment with us at Appeal Avenue—we can help you understand the reasons and suggest your next steps, at no cost.
I disagree with my insurance companies’ decision, what can I do?
If your claim has been refused and you don’t agree with the insurance companies’ decision, you can challenge it. Appeal Avenue can review the insurer’s decision, explain your policy terms, and guide you through the appeals process for free. If you’d like us to take a more active role, we offer a no win, no fee advocacy service where we can handle the appeal on your behalf. You’ll only pay if we’re successful.
Can you help me to appeal my claim, even if the insurer is saying that I didn’t answer a question correctly when I took my policy out?
Here at Appeal Avenue, we have many years of experience in reviewing declined insurance claims, as a result, we have helped to overturn many claims that have been declined due to non-disclosure misrepresentation. We can look at your policy terms and review how the insurer reached their decision. If we believe the insurance companies decision may be incorrect, we’ll guide you through your options and explain how to challenge it—all for free. If you’d prefer more hands-on support, we also offer a no win, no fee advocacy service where we can act on your behalf—so if we’re not successful, you won’t pay a thing.
Can you help me to appeal my claim even if the insurer says that they wouldn’t have offered me cover if I had told them about my medical condition?
If the non-disclosure misrepresentation is seen by the insurer as being ‘Careless’, the action they will take depends on whether or not they would have offered you the insurance policy had you answered the question accurately when you first took the policy out. In some cases, an insurance company will say that they wouldn’t have offered you cover had they known about a certain medical condition. In our experience, sometimes insurance companies get this decision wrong- contact us and we will talk through what happened and guide you through your options.
My insurance company is paying out a proportionate amount- should I be happy that I’m getting something?
If the non-disclosure misrepresentation is seen by the insurer as being ‘Careless’, the action they take will depend on whether they would have offered you the insurance policy, or would have done so on different terms, had you answered the question accurately when you first took the policy out.
If the insurer decides that they would have charged a higher monthly premium had they known your full situation, they may pay a ‘proportionate’ amount of your claim.
We have many years of experience supporting people in this situation and know that sometimes insurance companies make the wrong decision. It’s definitely worth calling us to chat through how the insurance company came to this decision- we will be open and honest with you; if we believe the insurance companies decision may be incorrect, we’ll guide you through your options and explain how to challenge it—all for free. If you’d prefer more hands-on support, we also offer a no win, no fee advocacy service where we can act on your behalf—so if we’re not successful, you won’t pay a thing.
When can I take my complaint to the Financial Ombudsman Service?
If you’ve made a complaint to your insurer and are still unhappy with their decision after eight weeks (or sooner if they’ve issued a final response), you can take your case to the Financial Ombudsman Service. They offer a free and independent review of insurance disputes. We can support you throughout this process if you’d like guidance or help making your case.