Pensioners urged to declare health issues for enhanced annuities

Fair Investment Company is urging pensioners with ill health to make sure they declare it when getting annuity quotes because they could get up to 40 per cent more for their pension fund.

"If you smoke, suffer any medical conditions or take any prescribed medication you could get enhanced annuities," explains George Ladds, head of investment and pension research at Fair Investment Company, "but most pension providers do not make this clear, meaning pensioners could be losing out on thousands of pounds.

"Around a third of people could get a better annuity rate as a result of their lifestyle or ill health, but only a few actually do. This is generally because the pension provider will not ask them about their health when doing a quote, and if you don't declare it, you lose out on a potentially much higher quote."

When the time comes to buy an annuity (which used to be compulsory at 75,  but that is set to change) an estimated 60 per cent simply accept the quote from their pension provider without thinking to compare quotes from other insurance companies to get a better deal.

"Many pensioners are unaware they can get better rates by shopping around, but even more are unaware that declaring health issues or lifestyle conditions could improve their quotes even further," explains George.

"Almost 40 per cent of all completed annuities could be enhanced in some way due to lifestyle or medical conditions. This is because the insurance companies will be able to quote higher based on the assumption that they will not have to pay out for as long to an 'unhealthy' person as they would do on someone with no health issues.

"Unfortunately though, many people are not aware that declaring a lifestyle condition could improve their quotes significantly, and if the pension provider/insurance company doesn't ask, which they often won't, the annuitants may never realise that they are being sold short," explains George.

"Pension providers are obviously keen to pay out as little as possible, and if pensioners continue to simply accept their providers' quotes without question; they will continue to offer poor rates.

He continues, "the 'ill health' doesn't even need to be that serious to qualify for enhanced annuities. Smokers, those with high blood pressure, diabetes or high cholesterol and even those who are simply overweight could benefit."