Mums who've had post-natal depression are being punished when it comes to insurance.

Admitting that you have post-natal depression and seeking help is hard enough.

But now mothers who have already suffered once are being punished yet again. A leading lawyer has revealed that mothers who have experienced post-natal depression are among those being refused insurance on the basis of having a history of mental illness.

This decision has resulted in some women being denied insurance products such as disability and income protection. With all the work that is being done to normalise mental illness and encourage suffers to speak out about their experiences, it’s disappointing that they are being treated so extremely by insurance companies.

Health insurers only normally deny policies to those with more severe pre-existing conditions such as permanent physical disabilities, not for common and highly manageable ones such as mental health issues. We repeat - mental health issues are common and highly manageable. Health insurers, it's time for a policy review.

Slater and Gordon lawyer Andrew Weinmann said, "Insurance companies need to stop discriminating on the basis of mental illness."

“Many insurers simply refuse to provide income protection to anyone with any history at all of mental illness," Weinmann continued. "That includes mums who have had post-natal depression and people who needed counselling for family difficulties and stresses. Sometimes insurers refuse to provide insurance in the first place."

"It is wrong to put everyone with a history of mental illness in the too-hard basket," he added.

Those who are denied health insurance due to post-natal depression or other mental illnesses can still get insurance from another provider but will often end up paying more than those who don't reveal such conditions.

Mr. Weinmann says that while health insurers are required to follow Australian discrimination law, when it comes to income protection insurance and past mental illness, they don't have the same restriction. "If you have been denied insurance, or had your policy cancelled because of a history of mental illness, you might be able to take legal action," he suggested.

Have you ever been discriminated against for having post-natal depression?