Mortgage Advisor & Director
Former Senior Protection Advisor
If you have a long-term, or life-limiting health conditions, such as lupus, you may be concerned about the availability of life insurance. Here we’ll explore what insurers may ask if you have Lupus, and how to find the ideal cover for you.
Can you get life insurance if you have lupus?
Getting life insurance with lupus can be more difficult than it is for people in full health, but it’s by no means impossible. There are plenty of insurance providers that will consider this condition for standard life insurance policies. You could also look at whole-of-life insurance policies, which don’t require any medical assessment and guarantee a fixed payout.
While you can, absolutely, get life insurance with lupus, there are fewer insurance providers available to those with pre-existing medical conditions. It’s, therefore, a good idea to carefully compare all the deals available to you. It’s likely that you’ll have to pay larger premiums than the average healthy applicant, so taking advice from a qualified insurance broker can help you find the most suitable option.
How your application will be assessed
Like many chronic health conditions, Lupus is an illness with a broad spectrum of severity. This means that the extent to which each individual is impacted by the condition can vary quite significantly. Health issues that fluctuate and vary in severity can also be fairly difficult to assess for life insurance purposes, as there is no ‘one size fits all’ policy.
The terms laid out in your policy and price of your monthly premium will likely depend on the severity of your symptoms. However, it’s important to provide as much detail as possible to the life insurance provider, as any ommisions could impact your policy.
If you’re looking for a standard term life insurance policy, the policy providers will usually ask the following questions:
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Which type of Lupus you’re affected by, with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) being the most common, as well whether your illness is linked to ‘Hughes Syndrome’
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Which symptoms you’re most impacted by, for example; chest pain, extreme fatigue, joint issues and swelling/rashes. They will also likely ask which areas of your body are affected
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About your diagnosis, such as when you were first diagnosed and whether the diagnosis is linked to other illnesses or medications
Keep in mind, however, that all life insurance providers will consider lupus differently, and may ask more or less questions than you expect.
How to get a quote online
The easiest way to get a life insurance quote online is through a whole-of-market life insurance adviser, like us. We can search the entire market of insurance providers, including those with specialist policies for pre-existing medical conditions, such as Lupus.
Our life insurance providers can provide specialist advice and help you to compare all deals available to you quickly, for free. Get started below to book a free, no-obligation chat and get your quotes today.
Get life insurance advice and personalised quotes today
Will you need a medical?
It depends what type of insurance you opt for. When you apply for a type of cover called guaranteed life insurance, you’re certain to get cover, without the need for a medical. This is sometimes referred to as over 50s life insurance, but is available to younger applicants. It can be especially useful to those with life limiting or terminal conditions.
If you apply for standard life insurance, the vast majority of providers will require a medical report from your GP when you apply. Some providers may even ask you to undergo an assessment with one of their own examiners, however, this will not always be the case.
Will a lupus diagnosis affect an existing policy?
In theory, if you already have life insurance in place prior to your diagnosis of lupus, a new diagnosis shouldn’t have any impact on your policy. Life insurance is underwritten at the point of acceptance, so if you were undiagnosed, your beneficiaries should have no issues claiming, even if you pass away from an illness directly associated with lupus.
However, do be aware that lupus is infamously difficult to diagnose. Some people await a diagnosis for many years, which means earlier mentions may be found in previous medical notes. It’s advisable to fully examine any exclusions in the terms of your existing life insurance after a new health diagnosis, to ensure it still meets your needs.
Why choose Teito for your insurance needs?
At Teito we have access to the whole market to life insurance providers to help secure the best cover for lupus patients, no matter your budget or the severity of your condition.
We help people with all sorts of pre-existing medical conditions find the most competitive life insurance quotes for their circumstances, and can provide support and advice along the way.
Reach out now for:
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a free, no-obligation conversation about life insurance for lupus patients
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Assurance that you fully consider all policy terms, such as what you’re covered for and whether the policy type suits your lifestyle
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Specialist advice for applicants who have previously been declined
Get started here to kick things off with a free, no-obligation chat with one of our brokers.
FAQs
Having a permanent medical condition, such as lupus, shouldn’t impact the value of life insurance cover you can get. However, it will likely increase the cost of the insurance premiums you’d need to pay. So you may need to pay more to get the same level of cover as a healthy person, but the overall claim value should be the same.
The factors that will influence the size of payout your beneficiaries get will also depend on the type of life insurances. Guaranteed life insurance tends to provide a fairly small, yet fixed payout. If you opt for standard term life insurance, the payout will depend on your age on application, your overall health and when you die.
Choosing an Adviser
Selecting a qualified and experienced mortgage adviser is of great importance. To choose a suitable adviser, evaluate their qualifications, experience, and reputation, and ensure they are regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
Read reviews from previous clients and make sure they provide a clear explanation of the products and services they offer, as well as the fees and charges associated with them.