Have you been operated on or hospitalized in the last ten years? Had diabetes? Cholesterol? Are you undergoing medical treatment? In the last five years, have you had a work stoppage of more than twenty-one days? For anyone applying for a loan to buy their house or apartment, answering this type of question is essential; this allows access to the insurance generally required by the bank.
“Is”, or rather “was”. Because, since the 1er June, the insurer of a mortgage loan has, in certain cases, no longer the right to ask for information on your “state of health or any medical examination”. A ban introduced by the Senate in a bill on borrower insurance passed in February.
It is difficult not to speak of a revolution as this measure of the Lemoine law – named after the deputy for Seine-et-Marne Patricia Lemoine (Agir) – upsets the insurance logic that has prevailed until now.
To understand, you should know that the insurer, who will have to repay all or part of the monthly loan installments to the bank in place of the insured if the latter dies or has a serious problem, uses the data collected on the health of the candidate to assess the risks he is taking in insuring it. When he considers that he is more likely than another not to pay his monthly payments, he generally applies additional premiums (higher rates) and/or warranty exclusions, or even refuses the file.
60 years, 200,000 euros
Since the beginning of June, he can no longer do this kind of exercise if the repayment of the credit is completed before the customer turns 60 and the amount of the insured loan does not exceed 200,000 euros: the health questionnaire is indeed removed. in these cases. The health of the borrower concerned therefore no longer affects the price and level of insurance.
Simple and efficient ? This is what patient associations are hoping for, as they fight to facilitate access to credit for patients and former patients and strive for equal treatment. But difficult for the time being to anticipate all the impacts of the measure.
So, some fear perverse effects for borrowers. “We welcome this gigantic step for the sick and ex-sick but lack visibility”reacts Mehdi Aslam, who coordinates Aidéa, the support service for borrowers of the League against cancer.
“We invite insurance players and the bank to communicate the terms of application in a clear manner”says Mehdi Aslam (League against cancer)
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