The Practical Protection Podcast

*** Disclaimer: In this episode we are going to be talking about mental health conditions and in particular suicidal thoughts and attempts. Please be aware that some people may find some of the content upsetting.***Hi Everyone,We had a really insightful time at last week's Cover Mental Health conference. It was great to hear from our peers and new friends, about how we are all taking every step that we can to support people living with mental health conditions.Kathryn is not one to shy away from saying that she has had generalised anxiety disorder for many years, and experienced agoraphobia a couple of times. She is incredibly passionate about people living with mental health conditions, getting fair access to insurance.Andrew has been working alongside insurers to determine the best ways to develop current medical underwriting stances, especially the language used, when it comes to mental health. He is currently developing a mental health training programme for advisers, so that they can support their clients fully.Our 3 key takeaways,1. 26.8% of 16-24 year olds have had suicidal thoughts.2. Example Vulnerable Customer policy.3. Case study client that was able to have life insurance after a suicide attempt, without a permanent suicide or self-harm exclusion.We always love to hear from you, please do let us know your thoughts of the podcast and if you think that our ramblings are good, bad or simply not your cup of tea.

Hi Everyone!We are absolutely thrilled this week to be joined by our first guest, Mike Adams OBE. Mike is an incredible speaker and advocate for improving access to products and services, for people with disabilities.Mike's organisation Purple have gained significant attention in recent years with Purple Tuesday, a day where all organisations are asked to truly think about how they can improve access to their offerings.This mindset to improve accessibility, shouldn't just be one day a year, it should be embedded in a company's ethos. In this episode we talk with Mike about how the insurance industry has made big improvements to improving access to insurance and we also chat about where things could still be better.Our 3 key takeaways:The consumer spending power of the disabled community, the Purple Pound, stands at £249 billion per year!For years people with disabilities have asked for and many have been denied support to work from home. The coronavirus lockdown has shown that this is possible for many organisation to adapt to employees working from home.There are roughly 300,000 people per year that need additional medical underwriting for protection insurance. Insurers need to develop ways to adapt their medical underwriting processes, due to the limitations on medical resources that coronavirus is causing.We hope that you enjoy this episode. Mike has a wealth of experience and knowledge on how to break down barriers, so that people living with disabilities are treated fairly by organisations. We hope that his message of a continued need for equality in these troubling times, is heard by all.As with all of our episodes, we love your feedback! Please let us know what you think and if you have any suggestions for future episodes pop up a message.Next time we are focusing on Multiple Sclerosis

Hi Everyone!Things have been incredibly interesting in the insurance world recently (yes, we know, you can count on us to be the life and souls of a party!).In this episode we are focusing upon multiple sclerosis and how the new world of insurance, is treating applications from people living with the condition. As always Kathryn poses a few challenges to Andrew on why insurers work the way that they do.From an advisers mind "outside" of an insurer, there are some things that seem like they should be pretty easy changes. Andrew brings his technical knowledge to the chat, to explain why insurers work in the ways that they do, the reasons why some barriers to insurance still remain in place, and also his view on areas where insurers could adapt more.Our 3 key takeaways:There are 130,000 people living with MS in the UK.Some tips for advisers on how to support clients with MS applying for insurance, during the coronavirus pandemic.Two case study clients living with multiple sclerosis, that were able to access protection insurance.We hope that you find this episode informative and thought-provoking. We are trying to keep these episodes balanced to show the positives of the insurance world, whilst also not pretending that everything is perfect.As with all of our episodes, we love your feedback! Please let us know what you think and if you have any suggestions for future episodes pop up a message.Next time we are focusing on Strokes with a mystery guest.

Hi Everyone!Today we are so pleased to have Steve Casey joining us on the podcast.Steve has worked within financial services for many years, but that is not the focus of this episode. In 2018 Steve had a stroke, completely out of the blue, in his words it came with a bang.This episode is focused upon hearing Steve's story, how it felt to have a stroke, what happened and how his recovery has been. We then venture a little bit into his experience of making a claim on his critical illness insurances afterwards and what he is up to now.He is an incredible guy and we hope that you enjoy listening to him.Our 3 key takeaways:The FAST stroke test.You do not always experience facial weakness and loss of arm strength, when having a stroke.Two case study clients that had experienced strokes, that were able to access protection insurance.As with all of our episodes, we love your feedback! Please let us know what you think and if you have any suggestions for future episodes pop up a message.Next time we have another mystery guest, focusing upon the importance of income protection.

Hi Everyone!Today we are thrilled to have Kara Gammell joining us on the podcast.Kara is an award winning financial journalist with a passion for talking about money, shown in her money saving blog 'Your Best Friends Guide to Cash' and book that you can buy here. Kara is a big advocate of income protection. In this episode she talks about her childhood living in a household where both parents were medically retired and claiming on income protection.Hearing Kara talk about how income protection supported her parents, really brings home what we are trying to achieve within the insurance world.Our 3 key takeaways:The non-monetary benefits of income protection.The value of income protection to the policyholder's family.Two case studies from the Seven Families campaign.As with all of our episodes, we love your feedback! Please let us know what you think and if you have any suggestions for future episodes pop up a message.Come back to listen to us in a couple of weeks time when we are going to be talking about diabetes.

Hi EveryoneThis is our first podcast episode that really tries to lay bare, what can happen if you apply for insurance when you have a mental health condition.The main bits:What insurers want to know about your mental healthWhy they even askWhat happens when you apply for coverWhat are the risksWhat you can expectWe have deliberately done this episode shorter than usual, so that we focus upon the key things that you need to know and don't waffle on about a load of unnecessary bits (we're both wafflers!).

Hi Everyone,In this episode we are chatting about diabetes. We try and keep the inevitable chat over coronavirus to a minimum in these episodes, but it's well and truly everywhere throughout this one. There have been some significant links between coronavirus deaths and diabetes and this has understandably changed the way that insurers are offering cover.We chat through potential insurance terms for diabetics pre-covid, during lockdown and what we hope will happen post coronavirus.Our 3 key takeaways,1. 1 in every 15 people in the UK has diabetes.2. The importance of self-knowledge and engagement with medical advice, in determining the potential terms of insurance.3. Case study client that was able to have life insurance and income protection, with a number of medical conditions including type 1 diabetes.We always love to hear from you, please do let us know your thoughts of the podcast and if you like what we are doing. In the next episode we will have another guest on with us and we will be chatting about insurance and people living with HIV.

Hi Everyone,In this episode we are chatting about HIV with our guest Rosalie Hayes from the National Aids Trust. Rosalie is chatting about the insurance from the viewpoint of people that are living with HIV, the barriers that have been faced, where insurance seems to be getting better and how there needs to be a clear focus on fair and reasonable terms of cover.Our 3 key takeaways,1. There are around 100,000 people living with HIV in the UK.2. The need to ensure that all insurance decisions adhere to the Equalities Act.3. Two case study clients who are living with HIV and were able to access life insurance and income protection.We always love to hear from you, please do let us know your thoughts of the podcast and if you like what we are doing. In the next episode, Kathryn will have her first solo outing with another guest for the start of Season 2.

Hi everyone, this week I am chatting to my Dad!My Dad was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in his early 50s and he is now 66. He is going to be chatting about how his condition started to affect his ability to work in the police force and what having his symptoms feels like.He is speaking frankly about how Parkinson's disease has at times changed his behaviour and personality, the symptoms you can have that many people don't think of and how he feels about his upcoming deep brain stimulation surgery.The 3 key takeaways:Some of the symptoms that a person with Parkinson's disease can experience.The affect that Parkinson's disease can have on changing a person's behaviour.A quick overview of how deep brain surgery is sometimes used to treat Parkinson's disease.Next week I will be chatting with Simoney Kyriakou about rogue lead distribution firms, what the industry is doing to tackle them and her experiences with private medical insurance.

Hi Everyone,This is my first solo hosting episode, please be gentle with me!Catherine Morgan is joining me to start off this season. We are talking about people's mindsets, embedded beliefs that dictate how we feel about finances and whether we do or don't trust insurance. I came away with some personal revelations about how my money mindset has been shaped since childhood.We also chat about Catherine's experience applying for insurance having had Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and a recent claim on private medical insurance.Our 3 key takeaways,1. 90% of our decisions are based upon emotions.2. The typical types of questions that will be asked about post traumatic stress disorder and eating disorders, when you apply for protection insurance.3. Two case study clients that have experienced PTSD and the insurances that were available to them, including a specific life insurance that has a permanent self-harm and suicide exclusion.Catherine owns The Money Panel and has her own podcast In Her Financial Shoes. This year she has also launched a financial coaching programme and I recommend that you take a look at it.I hope that you enjoy this episode (quickly hides in case solo hosting isn't my strongest skill!). Next time I have Roger Edwards joining me and we are going to be talking about what we like in marketing and insurance, and some no nos.

Hi Everyone,We are onto episode 2 of season 2 and this time I have Roger Edwards with me.Roger is an independent marketing consultant and has worked within the insurance world for many years. He is bringing his experience to help us understand how to avoid enraging customers.My 3 key takeaways,1. Trust in insurance is the basis for people engaging and not engaging with our sector.2. Roger's 3 key communication tips: assume your client knows nothing about your product/service, speak in their language and avoid jargon!3. Roger's experience of difficulties placing a life insurance claim.Please let us know if you have any thoughts on what we have been discussing. Roger has an award winning podcast of his own the Marketing and Finance Podcast, that you can find on all major podcast platforms.Roger is also an avid vlogger and has a popular youtube channel that you can watch. You'll find a lot of his travel videos there amongst other bits, one was even spotted and landed him a feature in a National Geographic documentary!Next time I have Leo Miles from Macmillan Cancer Support joining me. We are going to be talking about cancer and insurance.

Hi Everyone,We are onto episode 3 of season 2 and this time I have Leo Miles with me.Leo works for Macmillan Cancer Support and spends her time fighting for equality for people that have had or are living with cancer. Leo has been a mortgage adviser, has worked within the Financial Services Authority and is now a charity advocate.My 3 key takeaways,1. Access to insurance for people with a history of cancer has changed due to coronavirus.2. It is essential that everyone within the insurance sector adheres to the Equality Act, when considering how they offer products and services to people that have had cancer.3. Two case studies showing potential terms for life insurance and income protection, for people that have had cancer.Please let us know if you have any thoughts on what we have been discussing.Next time I have Sue Kinsella from RedArc Nurses joining me. We are going to be talking through a typical day in the life of a RedArc nurse and how they help families through some of the most challenging experiences in their lives.

Hi Everyone,It's episode 4 of season 2 and today is all about RedArc Nurses. I have Sue Kinsella with me, who is talking about her experiences working at RedArc and what it is that these nurses do.My 3 key takeaways,1. Things to do and things not to do when someone talks to you about their health.2. What to do if you are speaking with someone and you become concerned about the safety of their mental health.3. The different services that RedArc can offer include second medical opinion services, explanations of medical diagnosis and treatments, materials to support children to understand what is happening, a regular supportive catch-up chat and much more.Please let me know what you think of the podcast and if there is anything that you would like me to feature in the future.Next time I have Lindsay Mason from Cura joining me. Lindsay has had a significantly difficult year, losing her mum to cancer, supporting her father whilst making a claim on her life insurance and having the support of a RedArc Nurse. She has an incredible story to share and I think you will find it very powerful to listen to.

Hi everyone, it's episode 5 of season 2, and this week I am speaking with Lindsay Mason, my colleague at Cura, who has been through some significant events this year.Please note that this episode could be quite emotional for some people to hear. We are talking about deaths caused by cancer, heart attack and coronavirus, and the feelings and difficulties that a family member can face when these things happen.Lindsay will talk through how this year has been and how it can feel when you are faced with so many significant events in such a short period of time. She is talking about how it felt for her mum to place a terminal illness claim, to have that declined and then how it felt when she helped her dad to put forward a death claim this year. Lindsay also discusses how she was able to access Red Arc Nurses through her insurances and what that meant for her and her family.My 3 key takeaways:The complex emotions that come with making a terminal illness claim.The financial difficulties that a family member can face until a life insurance claim is paid.The practical and emotional support that organisations like Red Arc can offer at the time of a claim and beyond.Please let me know what you think of the podcast and if there is anything that you would like me to feature in the future.Next time I will be chatting with Alan Knowles from Cura. We will be talking through a mix of case studies where he has arranged protection insurance for people that are considered a high insurance risk. We will also be discussing his role as the Chair of the PDG and his membership of the Access to Insurance working group.

Hi everyone, this week I am chatting to Alan Knowles, Managing Director of Cura, known for his work as a speciality insurance adviser. Alan is also the Chair of the PDG, founding member of the Access to Insurance working group and recently appointed as an executive for the Income Protection Task Force. As a side note he is also my husband and I promise that we kept our banter to a minimum!In this episode we focus upon providing case studies where Alan has arranged life insurance for people that are considered to be a higher risk.The 3 key takeaways:Case studies of protection insurance for people that have had leukaemia, prostate cancer, organ transplants, that regularly skydive, and someone travelling and working in Libya.A breakdown of what percentage ratings vs per mile ratings are.The PDG Funeral Pledge and Claims Charter, and what it means for your clients if this insurer has signed up to these.Alan will be back on in the future with an income protection masterclass and if there’s any specific risks you’d like him to chat about, drop me a message.