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Mentally ill face rejections from private insurers
Denying coverage for those with history of mental illness, even for physical conditions, not uncommon: Observers
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Mr Lim Yufan, who wrote a forum letter to ST in January urging insurers to move with the times, said AIA rejected his application for a hospitalisation plan because he was diagnosed with depression and anxiety when he was 15.
ST PHOTO: ZHANG XUAN
Yuen Sin
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Enticed by lower premium rates last year, Ms Juliana Chia, 46, had been on the verge of cancelling her plan with another major insurer in order to sign up for one with AIA. The plan would allow her to claim for bills at private and restructured hospitals and also have a say over which doctor to consult.
However, when Ms Chia's agent found out that she has anxiety and has been taking sleeping pills prescribed by a psychiatrist, he told her that her application would not be approved.
