Life Insurance with Ulcerative Colitis

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.

What is ulcerative colitis?

Ulcerative Colitis is a disease which causes the colon and rectum to become inflamed. It is one type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), another common condition is Crohn’s disease.

In the UK, it affects around 1 in 420 people. Although it is not certain, it is thought that ulcerative colitis is an autoimmune condition - however, scientists are unable to determine what causes the body to react in this way.

Ulcerative colitis can be treated, and it is possible for people with the conditions without symptoms. Treatment often includes medication but in more severe cases, can include surgery or require treatment in a hospital.

Can I get life insurance with ulcerative colitis?

If you have a diagnosis of ulcerative colitis prior to your application, you can still get life insurance from many insurance providers. However, it may be more expensive.

Depending on the severity of your condition, it is possible to get life insurance with an IBD without a large increase in your premiums.

To get life insurance with ulcerative colitis, you should be prepared for providers to want more information on your condition and medical history.

Why do insurers need to know about ulcerative colitis?

As ulcerative colitis is a pre-existing medical condition, life insurance providers will want to know more details about it so they are able to assess your claim. This helps them to determine what cover you need and at what cost to offer it to you.

Life insurance providers will often ask that you complete questionnaires about yourself and your lifestyle, this could include your occupation for example. In addition to this, they may ask more specific information about your ulcerative colitis diagnosis. 

What information do you need to provide to insurers if you have ulcerative colitis?

It is likely that you will be asked to provide further details about your condition when applying for life insurance. This may differ for each insurance provider; however, you can typically expect for them to request information such as:

• The date of your ulcerative colitis diagnosis
• Information regarding any hospital admissions
• Medication that you take for ulcerative colitis
• How the condition affects your life, e..g any 
• Any details on how you manage your condition, e.g. if you have a special diet for the condition

The more detail that you are able to provide, including specific and accurate dates, the better this is for your life insurance application.

Support with your ulcerative colitis life insurance application 

When looking for the most suitable life insurance cover with a pre-existing medical condition, such as ulcerative colitis, there are many factors to think about. The cheapest life insurance policy may not be best suited for you.

In this case, using an independent insurance broker can help you to navigate the insurance process and to help you find the right cover, at a reasonable price.

I’m Insured is an independent broker with specialist knowledge in life insurance with medical conditions. Our expert team has helped people with ulcerative colitis find cover that works for them. If you’d like support finding life insurance, get in touch with us or start your free quote.