Sapience Financial Presents  # Dying to Ask?

 The unfiltered, taboo-busting guide to life insurance, complex medical histories, and protecting family legacy.

 Got a medical history that makes life insurance underwriters jumpy? Trying to figure out how to pass on your assets without sparking a family war? Senior Advisor **Drew Browne** tears away the corporate jargon to answer the awkward, unspoken questions.

  [ Reserve Your Virtual Seat ](#event-signup)

 ## Recently Answered Questions

Real, candid, jargon-free answers to tough questions we’ve addressed lately.

**The Plain-English Truth:** You are not a write-off. While full illness covers (like Trauma and Sickness Income Protection) are generally off the table, **Life Cover (Death Benefit)** can often still be arranged depending on your medical stability. Furthermore, **Accident-Only Cover** is frequently available to protect you against unexpected injuries regardless of your medical past. Never self-reject before an expert speaks with an underwriter behind closed doors.

**The Plain-English Truth:** Clarity eats conflict for breakfast. Remember: **Your Will does not automatically control your superannuation or life insurance inside super.** If you haven't completed a valid *Binding Death Benefit Nomination* with your super fund, the trustee decides who gets the money—not your Will. Align your super nominations with your Will today so there are no surprises tomorrow.

**The Plain-English Truth:** They won't be hiding behind tombstones and bushes, but insurers *will* access your full GP medical records (including pharmaceutical records) during a major claim. If an undisclosed pre-existing condition turns up, the insurer can legally void the policy or reject the payout if you intentionally tried to mislead them in answering a question asked in an application. Our rule: **Over-share on day one with your adviser.** An honest policy with a tailored rating is infinitely better than cheap cover that fails when your family needs it most.

**The Plain-English Truth:** Yes. Handing a massive lump sum to a young adult or someone going through a rough patch can cause more harm than good. Tools like  **Protective Wills, Divorce Protection Trusts** and **Testamentary Trusts** allow you to set guardrails - drip-feeding funds over time, releasing money for specific milestones (like buying a home), and protecting assets from ex-spouses in divorce proceedings.

**The Plain-English Truth:** Leaving passwords on a sticky note in your desk drawer is actually a legal gray area that can breach platform terms of service. Modern estate planning includes **Digital Assets**. Major platforms like Apple and Google now allow you to set up a designated "Legacy Contact" to grant legal access to family members when you pass.

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## In the Queue: Questions Waiting to Be Answered

A sneak peek at the questions currently in our mailbag for upcoming sessions:

**1.** "Can an insurer reject my claim if I die doing something remarkably stupid?"

**2.** "If I’m taking immunosuppressants for life, am I forever trapped in 'Accident-Only' cover?"

**3.** "Why do insurers ask about my parents' health? I'm not living in their 1980s body!"

**4.** "Can I secretly buy life insurance on my business partner in case they drive me to an early grave?"

**5.** "Is Trauma Cover useless once you’ve already survived a major organ failure?"

**6.** "Extreme sports on weekends vs. extreme snacking on weeknights—which drives premiums up more?"

**7.** "How long after a transplant does an underwriter wait before they stop hyperventilating?"

**8.** "If I outlive my life insurance policy term, do I get a celebration ribbon or a refund?"

**9.** "Can I leave my life insurance payout to my dog, or does my ex-spouse automatically get first dibs?"

**10.** "If my estate planning goes wrong, can I prevent my kids suing each other from beyond the grave?"

**11.** "Can my executor cut off my freeloading relative if I put it in a Binding Nomination?"

**12.** "Can I write my Will on a napkin during a panic attack, or will lawyers laugh me out of court?"

**13.** "What’s the absolute weirdest reason an insurer has ever used to dodge a payout?"

**14.** "If I die in a freak accident overseas, does my family need a diplomatic pass to collect?"

**15.** "Who gets the money if I die without a Will—does the government throw a party with it?"

**16.** "Can I set up my life insurance so my kids only get money if they finish university?"

**17.** "How do I ensure my family doesn't fight over my vintage guitar collection when I'm gone?"

**18.** "Can I insure my adult child who has a pre-existing medical condition if I pay premiums?"

**19.** "How do I talk to my parents about their estate plan without sounding like I’m waiting for them to die?"

**20.** "What is the single biggest mistake people make when setting up insurance in their 50s and 60s?"

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![Drew Browne - Senior Advisor at Sapience Financial](https://sapience.com.au/images/author-pic/ceo-drew-browne-round.png)

   Your Host & Lead Advisor  ### Drew Browne

 Senior Insurance & Medical Underwriting Specialist

 Drew specialises in helping clients navigate complex medical histories—including organ transplants, pre-existing conditions, and unique family circumstances—to secure genuine, reliable cover. Known for his candid, jargon-free approach, Drew cuts through industry double-talk so families can protect what matters most with total clarity.

 Upcoming Virtual Sessions## Join the Next 'Dying to Ask' Online Panel

Co-hosted in partnership with **Kiwanis Clubs Australia** and **Angelique Mastoroudes (Bee Positive Consulting)**.

An interactive, disarming, and deeply useful online conversation designed for members, parents, and grandparents looking to navigate life insurance, medical curveballs, and family legacy before being forced to later.

 Session 1

[**Wednesday 12 August**](https://kiwanissydney.org/dying-to-know-day-2026/) 7:00pm – 8:15pm (AEST)

Session 2

**Thursday 27 August** 7:00pm – 8:15pm (AEST)

 #### Submit Your Question

Got an awkward or complicated question? Submit it anonymously below—Drew Browne will answer select entries live!

🔒 All questions submitted via this form are 100% confidential and handled respectfully by Sapience Financial.