Insurance companies investigative powers?

[mitaux8030]

A while ago I had to battle life insurance companies to prove a claim for income protection, which was eventually accepted.
Just got an email stating that there's been a change in the claims person handling my case, and please provide an update on my condition? The tone of the communication sounds suspicious, and it almost sounds like a newbie in the office, looking to impress the boss. I won't dwell on specifics, but suffice to say, my condition ain't going to get any better, ever, and that was obvious & proved at the outset.

It got me thinking, though, what are the investigative powers of insurance companies in the absence of any civil or criminal court proceedings? I'd have no problems with them receiving relevant medical reports made since the claim was approved, but could they compel organisations like banks, telephone & internet providers to provide records for their scrutiny? While I've absolutely nothing to hide in that regard, I intensely distrust insurance companies and suspect they're going to 'cook up' some reason to discontinue my claim. Don't want some bank transaction or eBay purchase relating to one of my hobbies to be used as some warped insurance-mindset justification of something like "dying people don't spend money on hobbies... so why are you?" Not the sort of thing I need to be dealing with.

[wotnot]

[Ah-Those-Old-Days!]

A while ago I had to battle life insurance companies to prove a claim for income protection, which was eventually accepted.
Just got an email stating that there's been a change in the claims person handling my case, and please provide an update on my condition? The tone of the communication sounds suspicious, and it almost sounds like a newbie in the office, looking to impress the boss. I won't dwell on specifics, but suffice to say, my condition ain't going to get any better, ever, and that was obvious & proved at the outset.

It got me thinking, though, what are the investigative powers of insurance companies in the absence of any civil or criminal court proceedings? I'd have no problems with them receiving relevant medical reports made since the claim was approved, but could they compel organisations like banks, telephone & internet providers to provide records for their scrutiny? While I've absolutely nothing to hide in that regard, I intensely distrust insurance companies and suspect they're going to 'cook up' some reason to discontinue my claim. Don't want some bank transaction or eBay purchase relating to one of my hobbies to be used as some warped insurance-mindset justification of something like "dying people don't spend money on hobbies... so why are you?" Not the sort of thing I need to be dealing with.

(Sorry about the late reply!)
I too, (apart from my now severe medical conditions!), had a physical accident damaging my spine, which had pretty much finished my 'working' career(s).
After my 1st emergency Surgery & convalescence, I tried to work again for a short while, (which the insurance company tries to push you to do), but went downhill
fast. Had to stop again, (now permanently), also going through 2 more major surgeries over a 2 year period. I'm telling you this, because my Income Protection Insurance
company then tried to tell me that because I (very temporarily) tried returning to work, then it's now classed as an 'Illness', instead of the original 'accident' !!

The problem then being that my 'cover' for an 'accident' was for Life, but for an 'Illness' just for 2 more years!!! Luckily my Solicitors convinced them under 'pressure!'
that it is still covered under the original 'accident', so they changed their tune, and agreed that I'm now covered for 'Life'!! So watch out for that, firstly!!
Now regarding their 'Investigative' powers... they can NOT gain info about Bank Accounts etc, but they CAN insist to see your TAX info, to check if you have been
working, and/or how much you may have earnt.

They will also most definitely use their 'own' medical 'specialists' to examine you again, when ever they care to do so! With me also, (like you), I never had anything
to hide in that regard, but you just have to go through the motions when ever they request it. THIS GET'S INTERESTING though!!! I went to Darwin, (from Adelaide),
for an extended break & rest, to stay with my brother. Not to work! at all, but just an extended change of scenery. The insurance company didn't know where I was...

(Well not the actual address, but knew I was in Darwin, as I had told them that). So they arranged for me to see yet 'another' Doctor in Darwin for an 'update'. Ha!!!
Turns out later, that they didn't care about the 'Doctor' at all, as nothing medically had changed. HOWEVER, they had arranged for an Investigator to observe me when
I left that 'Doctor', so they could follow me, to see where I was going, and living. He evidently followed me for days!, though I wasn't concerned later, because I had
nothing to hide, then or ever!, but they certainly try every thing in the book to get out of their Policy!!! Now virtually permanently house-bound, and don't even really
get to the Driveway, from one month to the next, unless the 'missus' is taking me somewhere for treatment(s)!! Not a lot of time left. Don't let the bastards win though!

I have ZERO guilt about anything, as everything is/was 100% real! However, I suffer a lot from the 'Stigma' of it all!!! I spent the majority of my life working very hard,
all over the Country, often up to 50/60/70 hours a week, and often 7 days a week, and paying 'lots' of Tax. Now I just watch the world go by, & wait for the inevitable.
Anyway, just stand up for your rights, and don't believe everything that Insurance Companies try to tell you... Glenn.