Absolutely the truth can hurt and there are many instances where slightly modifying the truth can be helpful in preventing unduly hurt feelings or avoiding uncomfortable situations.
Many people would argue strongly that the truth should always be told irrespective of the outcome, and many belief systems are based around this principle. The truth of the matter is that many millions of people around the world will tell half-truths in the time it takes you to read this article, without any negative consequences. Some 720,000,000 adults throughout the world will manipulate the truth to some degree.
Consider this – Your partner asks you if her/his friend is better looking than they are – your answer will probably be a resounding ‘no’ (on the assumption that you want to continue with your current relationship) and it doesn’t really matter to you if that was the truth or not. Why do we manipulate the truth? In a nutshell we are schooled from our infant years with diametrically opposed views about telling lies. From 3-4 years onwards society encourages us to think that the truth is always better than a lie, when in fact the actual rewards for telling lies could far outweigh the consequences.
So are there any downsides for telling white lies – Indeed there are, and many of us are discovering that not telling the truth to your insurance company will almost certainly come back to bite you. If you do not accurately and honestly disclose all the relevant information asked of you then the likelihood of your claim being declined and/or your policy being cancelled without any refund will dramatically increase.
In recent times consumer affairs television programs have been demonstrating that insurance companies will not tolerate any manipulation of the truth, regardless of whether or not you thought it inconsequential. The financial impact to these companies is colossal, and they take a very hard line on this. Full and honest financial and health disclosures are expected as Insurance Company’s rarely request further information due to the cost and time it takes, so an Insurance company’s decision to offer you an insurance contract is sometimes exclusively based on the information you include in your application.
When a Life Insurance company is exposed to claims in the millions of dollars it is important that they can make fully informed decisions. Clients who ‘forget’ to disclose relevant information or simply thought that it was irrelevant, effectively undermine the ability for an insurance company to make an accurate assessment. The outcome may well be that your policy is withdrawn.
Is there any harm in telling half truths? – When it comes to Insurance the answer is surely ‘Yes’. Always tell the full truth and rest easy at night knowing that your Insurance contract will not be compromised when you need it the most.
Learn more about NZ Health Insurance and NZ Life Insurance.
Tags: health insurance, illness, Insurance, Insurance Products, Life Insurance, medical insurance