Ulcerative Colitis And Life Insurance

How Much Does Ulcerative Colitis Life Insurance Cost

When applying for ulcerative colitis life insurance, the underwritten guidelines are straightforward. before you get life insurance, providers will need to understand the severity of your medical condition by requesting to view your medical history.

Firstly, theyll want to understand the type of inflammatory bowel disease you have, along with any long-term symptoms/related medical conditions, and your family history. If your case is mild with little symptoms and the requirement of mild medication, life insurance will usually be offered at standard terms.

However, if your ulcerative colitis causes regular symptoms resulting in the need for stronger medication, increase premiums will be applied to your policy. If your diagnosis is combined with liver disease or youve been hospitalised in the last 12 months related to your ulcerative colitis, your life insurance application may be declined.

Ulcerative Colitis By Ethnicity

Ulcerative colitis can affect anyone of any ethnicity. It was once thought to be a disease that primarily affected White populations. It tends to be less common in other ethnicities, but it can affect anyone of any background or age, and is becoming more prevalent over time.

There is a lack of information about how ulcerative colitis affects people across ethnic groups. However, one study of IBD in people who were in the United States military health system showed the rate of ulcerative colitis per 100,000 people of various ethnicities was:

• White: 194
• Other: 196

What Does The Underwriting Process Consist Of If You Have Ulcerative Colitis

Life insurance companies all have their own process for setting rates. However, there are five factors that they generally consider.

Demographics such as your current age, your gender, and your marital status are important considerations because these factors can affect your longevity regardless of whether you have ulcerative colitis.

• Men generally pay more for life insurance than women since some studies show that women live longer.

Your general and family health history is one of the biggest determinants of your life insurance rate. If you suffer from other serious diseases in addition to ulcerative colitis or if you have a family history of cancer, heart disease, or diabetes, youll probably pay more.

People in high-risk occupations pay more because they risk their lives regularly on the job. Police officers and firefighters are examples of high-risk occupations, as are jobs such as being a stunt double for the movies or being a fighter pilot.

Engaging in high-risk habits results in higher insurance rates. Smoking is the most common high-risk habit. If you smoke, youll almost always pay more for life insurance because smoking is associated with heart disease, serious respiratory ailments, and cancer. Youll also pay more for life insurance if you have a poor driving record, especially a history of DUIs or reckless driving, or if you have a history of drug abuse.

Also Check: What Makes Ulcerative Colitis Worse

Do I Need To Get Life Insurance If My Ulcerative Colitis Is Under Control And Im Generally Healthy

Its always best to get life insurance no matter what your health status is. You never know when an accident or fatal illness may occur, and about a third of people would face financial hardship from the loss of income after a loved one dies. You can prevent that from happening to your family if you get life insurance now.

Ulcerative Colitis And Life Insurance:

Life Insurance for people who suffer from Ulcerative Colitis is generally accepted by the majority of providers. It will either be at standard rates or can come with special terms. Where additional loadings or special terms are applied, this will usually be due to more regular symptoms and medication / treatment.

It is possible to obtain Life Insurance for Ulcerative Colitis at standard rates with no additional loading. This is when symptoms are less frequent or there have been no symptoms in the past 12 months.

If your Ulcerative Colitis diagnosis was recent, it may be possible to postpone Life Insurance cover until your condition stabilises. Your cover may be postponed if youve recently had surgery or you are awaiting surgery. It may also be postponed when Ulcerative Colitis is combined with other linked conditions such as Liver Disease.

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What If I Wont Qualify For Life Insurance With Ulcerative Colitis

Sometimes life insurance applicants are denied life insurance.

This is an unfortunate situation for some, but it doesnt mean its impossible to secure life insurance.

There are cases that people who have ulcerative colitis wont qualify for a fully underwritten life insurance policy with a medical exam.

You need to know there are other life insurance options available.

The first option is to put in an application for a no medical exam life insurance policy. These policies have simplified underwriting and do not require a medical exam. Depending on the underwriting guidelines of each no exam company life insurance with ulcerative colitis can be possible.

Youll need to know that a no medical exam life insurance policy will typically be more expensive than a fully underwritten policy. However, the no medical exam option may be your only opportunity for a life insurance policy.

Many of the best life insurance companies now offer no exam life insurance policies. Its important that your life insurance agent provides you both no exam and traditional life insurance policies to compare before you apply.

Life Insurance And Ulcerative Colitis: Buyers Guide

by Natasha Cornelius | Aug 24, 2016

There are approximately 600,000 to 900,000 Americans living with ulcerative colitis, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Men and women are equally likely to be affected, and most people are diagnosed in their mid-30s. The disease can occur at any age but older men are more likely to be diagnosed than older women.

Also Check: Is Ginger Tea Good For Ulcerative Colitis

Can I Have Income Protection If Ive Got Ulcerative Colitis

This type of cover can be extremely important to protect you and your home if youre not able to work. You can cover yourself against being off work due to an accident or long term sickness if youre employed or self-employed. People with ulcerative colitis can get income protection or accident and sickness cover in most cases.

If your symptoms are mild and you have not experienced any recent symptoms or flare-ups then it can be simple to get income protection. There are more options when it comes to looking for this type of policy so carefully consider your requirements. People with ulcerative colitis might be offered terms with some elements excluded so read your documents properly.

People suffering from more severe symptoms such as hospitalisation or surgery can get more specialist cover. You may have been refused this type of policy in the past but that doesnt necessarily mean that you cant get cover. There are options to make this type of policy more affordable as well so check to see whats available.

More about INCOME PROTECTION

Ulcerative Colitis Pre Existing Condition

When you are diagnosed with any health impairment it will be considered a pre-existing medical condition.

If you have been denied life insurance ulcerative colitis you may have been speaking to the wrong agent. For instance, getting life insurance with ulcerative colitis is easily obtainable and usually can get a standard rate when working with us.

So if your question is, Can I get life insurance with ulcerative colitis, the answer is yes!!

Read Also: Can You Gain Weight With Ulcerative Colitis

Ulcerative Colitis & Income Protection

When you apply for Income Protection, ulcerative colitis will result in your application being looked at quite thoroughly by insurance underwriters. You may find that the insurer wants to see a report from your GP, detailing how the ulcerative colitis affects you on a regular basis, and to get a general picture of your health. If you have few flare-ups per year and take mild medication, Income Protection will probably be accepted with a premium increase or an exclusion for ulcerative colitis related claims. Where strong medications are in use, regardless of the number of flare-ups a year, Income Protection may be available with a premium increase, an ulcerative colitis exclusion, or be declined.

Yes we can. Your diagnosis of ulcerative colitis is pretty new, when it comes to insurance applications. For many conditions, insurers like you to have been diagnosed for a bit longer, so that they can see that your health is stable and that you are responding well to medication and treatment. Dont worry though. There are life insurance options for you, you just may need to speak with a specialist insurer for the time being, who can consider applications from people with recently diagnosed ulcerative colitis.

This page was written by Dr Kathryn Knowles Phd, an award-winning insurance adviser. To read more about Kathryn please see her bio here

Ulcerative Colitis And Life Insurance: What You Need To Know

Finding the best life insurance with Ulcerative Colitis can be daunting and the process may feel stressful, as it can require disclosing medical history.

However, it is becoming easier for people with ulcerative colitis to find life insurance, without premiums increasing by a large amount. However, when looking for life insurance with a pre-existing medical condition, it is beneficial to know what you can expect from the process and what questions you are likely to be asked by insurers.

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How Does Ulcerative Colitis Progress

Ulcerative colitis is a chronic, relapsing condition. Chronic means that it is persistent and ongoing. Relapsing means that there are times when symptoms flare up and times when there are few or no symptoms . The severity of symptoms and how frequently they occur vary from person to person. The first flare-up of symptoms is often the worst.

It starts in the rectum in most cases. This causes a proctitis, which means inflammation of the rectum. In some cases it only affects the rectum and the colon is not affected. In others, the disease spreads up to affect some, or all, of the colon. Between flare-ups the inflamed areas of colon and rectum heal and symptoms go away. The severity of a flare-up can be classed as mild, moderate or severe:

• Mildâ you have fewer than four stools daily and only have small amounts of blood in your stools. You do not feel generally unwell .
• Moderateâ you have four to six stools a day, have some blood in your stools but do not feel generally unwell in yourself .
• Severeâ you have more than six stools a day and have blood in your stools. You also feel generally unwell with more marked systemic disturbance with things such as high temperature , a fast pulse rate, anaemia, etc.

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Moderate Case Of Ulcerative Colitis

• No Recent Flare-Ups for at least 1 year
• You may qualify if the biologics prescribed have stabilized your UC
• Consistent follow up with your GI doctor
• Moderate cases of UC have typically reach the tranverse & ascending part of the colon.

You are considered moderate when you start taking more serious medications. Typically, this means taking the major biologics: Humira, Entyvio & Remicade.

Because these drugs are so potent, insurance companies want to make sure that your disease has stabilized. They would want to wait at least 1 year after a change in medication to offer you coverage

If you have had a recent flare up after taking medications, you would have to wait another year to be considered moderate again.

Keep in mind thats the best case scenario. Many insurance companies would want you to wait 2 years instead. Others might give you a better rate depending on how long its been.

For example if the rate is $50/month for UC patients who have been stable for 2 years. It may be $65/month for the ones who have only been stable for 1 year. Keep in mind that these are arbitrary numbers. Yours may vary depending on your age, type of insurance and health rating.

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Ulcerative Colitis Critical Illness Cover Amounts

Following similar guidelines as life insurance, obtaining critical illness cover is likely when living with ulcerative colitis. If your symptoms are mild with low levels of medication/treatment, critical illness cover will be offered under standard rates. If your case is severe with regular flare-ups and treatment, your application may be accepted however premium increases and exclusions may be applied.

If youve been hospitalised within the last 12 months or require strong medication to control your ulcerative colitis, your application may be postponed or even declined. This will depend on the underwritten guidelines of your selected provider.

To discuss your eligibility, contact our team today on 01244 732 890. Prior to applying for critical illness cover, here are some factors to consider:

• Income
• Any other possible costs

What Are Some Common Issues With Getting Life Insurance For Someone With Ulcerative Colitis

We dont like to focus on negatives but its important to make sure that we give you the full picture. Some of the things that can cause either a need for further underwriting or potentially some restrictions are:

• Recent surgery or outstanding investigations can make it slightly more complicated and may mean a delay to your insurance offer. You should disclose this information on your application but its not the end of the road.
• Liver disease can also be a bit of an issue when combined with ulcerative colitis and especially where there has been recent hospitalisation or surgery.
• Medication or treatment such as immunosuppressants can be a problem if symptoms are moderate or severe so there could be underwriting considerations.

We often speak to customers who have had problems applying for cover previously or been declined by another broker. Dont be disheartened, were very often able to get cover for people whove been refused elsewhere.

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Life Insurance Underwriting For Colitis & Crohn’s Disease

Here are the primary questions to ask a proposed insured who presents with a history of colitis, Crohns disease, or other gastrointestinal issues:

• What was the age of diagnosis?
• What is the severity? Would your doctor characterize it as mild/moderate/severe?
• When was the last flare-up? What is the frequency of the episodes?
• What is the specific type of GI issue? How is it treated?
• How much of the GI tract is involved?
• Any surgeries done or being contemplated?

When underwriting UC or Crohns disease, the underwriter is going to consider a number of factors in determining the rating class. These include current status, the extent of colon involvement, time since diagnosis, treatment, complications, and results of recent colonoscopies. To help gather the details needed for us to provide an accurate quote, please to download the colitis and Crohn’s questionnaire.

As always, we’re here to help you answer questions, and provide the best underwriting services possible to help you place cases.

to contact our underwriter, Mike Woods, with specific underwriting questions about colitis & Crohn’s disease.

• Resources

The Best Life Insurance Companies For People With Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Irritable bowel syndrome is unlikely to affect your life insurance rates. Its seen by insurers as a less serious digestive disorder because its fairly common and doesnt typically lead to life-threatening complications. Most people with IBS, which affects the large intestine, are able to control the disorder with diet and lifestyle changes. But still, some insurance companies wont offer their best rates if you have a history of IBS.

We recommend comparing quotes from AIG, Banner, Brighthouse, and SBLI since those companies look more favorably at those with IBS. An APS will most likely be requested.

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What Is The Best Life Insurance Company For Ulcerative Colitis

Finding the best life insurance company when you have ulcerative colitis doesnt have to be difficult.

Your independent life insurance agent should take the time to understand your condition, ask you the right questions and research the best companies available.

Knowing which companies will look most favorably towards your specific health will save you time and frustration.

Your ulcerative colitis is not the only factor that your agent will need to know to shop for you.

To find the best company your agent will gather details such as:

• Your medical and you familys medical history?
• Your lifestyle ?

When Should I Apply For Life Insurance If I Have Ulcerative Colitis

The sooner, the better. Because ulcerative colitis progresses over time, your symptoms are more likely to get worse. The best time to get life insurance is always sooner, rather than later.

If you have just had surgery or any other medical procedure, call us, and we can advise you what application timing may be best to get the best life insurance rates.

If your ulcerative colitis symptoms are mild, and you are in otherwise good health, you should qualify for the best standard rate class life insurance premiums. This means your premium pricing will be in the same range as an average policyholder for your age, height, and weight.

If you had complications from ulcerative colitis or surgery , then the underwriters may assign you a substandard rating. This does not mean you cannot get insurance it just means the pricing will be higher than a standard rate class.

Most insurance companies will postpone your application for 3 to 6 months following a diagnosis of ulcerative colitis.

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What Should I Eat During An Ulcerative Colitis Flare

There is no specific type of diet that has been proven to relieve symptoms in people with ulcerative colitis. However, you may find that particular foods make symptoms worse.

It is important to identify and limit any foods that lead to worsening of your symptoms. Keeping a food journal may help you track how your diet relates to your symptoms.

Some suggestions that may help during a flare-up include:

• Limit fiber
• Reduce dairy products containing lactose
• Avoid high-fat foods
• What remedies help during an ulcerative colitis flare-up?

In addition to taking medication as prescribed and eating a well balanced diet, maintaining a healthy lifestyle can be beneficial for managing ulcerative colitis. Regular exercise and mindfulness strategies have been shown to improve overall health and quality of life.

Dignass, A., PreiÃ, J. C., Aust, D. E., Autschbach, F., Ballauff, A., Barretton, G., â¦& Jantschek, G. . Aktualisierte Leitlinie zur Diagnostik und Therapie der Colitis ulcerosa 2011Ergebnisse einer Evidenzbasierten Konsensuskonferenz. Zeitschrift für Gastroenterologie, 49, 1276-1341.

Elizabeth Oliver, PhD