If you have Crohn’s or Colitis, you can still get many types of insurance. But it might cost more. Some policies might exclude claims related to your Crohn’s or Colitis. Whatever insurance you need, check the details carefully to see exactly what it covers.
If you already have insurance, check the details or contact your insurer to find out if it covers your Crohn’s or Colitis.
Life insurance
Life insurance pays a cash sum when you die. There are two main types:
- Term insurance covers you for a fixed length of time. It only pays out if you die during this time. It can pay out a fixed amount, called level term insurance. Or it can pay out a gradually decreasing amount, called decreasing term insurance. This can be useful for paying off a mortgage, when the amount left to pay reduces over time.
- Whole-of-life insurance covers you for your whole life. As long as you keep the policy going, it pays out whenever you die.
In the past, insurance companies charged people with Crohn’s or Colitis very high premiums for life insurance, or sometimes refused to insure them at all. This is because they thought people with Crohn’s or Colitis had a higher risk of dying than other people. But we now know that most people with Crohn’s or Colitis live just as long as other people.
If you have Crohn’s or Colitis, you can usually get life insurance. If your Crohn’s or Colitis is well controlled, it might not cost any more than usual. But if you were diagnosed recently, or you have frequent flare-ups, you might have to pay higher premiums. Insurers might postpone offering you a policy if:
- You have had surgery recently, or you’re waiting for surgery
- You have had a recent flare
- You have been admitted to hospital recently
Some insurance companies offer ‘guaranteed acceptance’ life insurance policies for people over 50. These policies do not ask for any medical information. But they are generally more expensive than standard life insurance policies. You cannot usually claim on these policies during the first 1 or 2 years.
Critical illness insurance
Critical illness insurance pays a cash sum if you get an illness that is listed in your policy. Policies always list cancer, heart attacks and stroke. They can include other critical illnesses too.
- If your Crohn’s or Colitis is well controlled, you might be able to get critical illness cover. But it might be more expensive than it is for other people.
- If you have more than one or two flare-ups a year or you have ongoing symptoms, it can be difficult to get critical illness cover.
Income protection insurance
Income protection insurance pays you a regular income if you cannot work because of an illness or injury. You usually have to be off work for several weeks or months before you can claim.
If you have Crohn’s or Colitis, it might be difficult to get income protection insurance. This is because you have a higher risk of needing time off work than people who do not have Crohn’s or Colitis. Insurance companies might:
- Charge you extra for a policy that includes Crohn’s or Colitis
- Postpone offering you a policy until your Crohn’s or Colitis has been in remission for a certain length of time
- Offer you a policy that covers other illnesses but excludes Crohn’s or Colitis
- Refuse to cover you