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Review of the Vitality, Health insurance:

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Vitality has now informed me that my stroke (as di...

Vitality has now informed me that my stroke (as diagnosed by a UK hospital) does not meet the definition of a stroke in the eyes of the particular assessor. Reference was made to justify his decision to an MRI scan that was not taken at the time of the stroke but months later. Obviously this is not an accurate assessment and I’m challenging it strenuously. I will inform the stroke team at this particular NHS hospital that their decision on my diagnosis has been overruled by an insurance assessor and even more alarmingly agreed by his superiors. Readers - please consider very carefully putting your trust in this company. I would have taken my business elsewhere if I had known about the length of time they take to assess a claim ( almost 7 months) and then an unsound decision which is most distressing. I offered to send further evidence before the decision was made but it was ignored. Based on my experience, I would highlight that if Vitality treat a stroke victim like this, how are they likely to assess other medical conditions. Here’s my letter to all concerned …. To - Stroke Association UK Vitality UK Aintree Hospital Stroke Team As a recent Stroke survivor, I am reaching out to share my experience of the challenges I am having receiving the support that I believe I am entitled to from a serious illness health insurance company that I appointed to insure me for such an eventuality. After an astonishingky slow seven months claims process which has involved a considerable amount of energy (at the moment I don’t have in great abundance) I received the disappointing news today that the Stroke that I suffered ( in the opinion of the insurance assessor) did not in their judgment cause any brain damage thereby disqualifying me from any benefit provided by the policy which I took out. I have attempted to explain to the assessor at VitalityUK that Strokes by their very nature are caused by damage in the brain and typically affect sufferers in many and various ways. The said assessor was unwilling to accept that I have provided sufficient evidence of brain injury despite that fact that this is exactly what stroke does and that 7 months on, I am still living with the disabling effects. I am shocked and dismayed that I’m being put in the position of having to challenge a large health insurance company like Vitality UK for something as obvious and life threatening as a stroke. If as a business they are refusing to accept the established knowledge of the damage a stroke causes then I doubt they will be willing to do so for other insurable medical conditions. That is the a very serious matter and will need to be referred to the financial ombudsman. I would welcome any support that may be available in my attempt to challenge Vitality UK as this will help me with my recovery and wellbeing and and provide some welcome funding for adjustments to my home and lifestyle. Aintree Hospital Stroke Team -If the stroke team at Aintree could provide some clarity of what brain damage is brought about by a stroke, I’d be interested to know. Stroke Association- if you could kindly comment on this and share any experience the association may have of other stroke survivors in my predicament. Thank you in advance, Best wishes, DC Reviewed on: 16th October 2025

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