Angioedema life insurance

Angioedema refers to a swelling under the skin, commonly caused by an allergic reaction or medication. While this swelling will often be a one-off occurrence for most people, some people will experience angioedema regularly.

Hereditary angioedema (HAE) affects roughly 1 in 50,000 people in the UK and means that the swelling is caused by genetics rather than a trigger like an allergy.*

While angioedema can be uncomfortable, it is usually a mild condition that shouldn’t cause any major issues when it comes to getting life insurance cover.

There are however some cases where angioedema can be serious or even life threatening, particularly if the swelling affects your throat and breathing. If this applies to you, it can be worth speaking to an insurance expert before applying for your life cover.

As the UK’s #1 rated specialists for pre-existing conditions life cover, we know which insurers will offer the right cover at the fairest price. You shouldn’t have to pay extortionate prices to protect your family and home, and our advisors work hard to make sure you don’t.

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Will life insurance cover angioedema?

YES – you should be able to get life insurance cover with angioedema and your current policy will still cover you if you are diagnosed with this condition.

For most people angioedema can be easily managed with medication and if you know what your triggers are, you may be able to avoid them long term. In a case like this, you will most likely be able to get cover for a very fair cost.

If you have more severe symptoms, recurring symptoms, or multiple medical conditions, it can be harder to find the right cover without the help of an insurance expert. Our team have helped people with pre-existing conditions find excellent levels of cover for years – we’re actually rated #1 in the UK for this!

If you need more help or advice before choosing your life insurance provider, check out our LIFE INSURANCE page or speak to one of our friendly insurance specialists.

Does life insurance pay out for angioedema?

YES – if you have life insurance and were to pass away, your policy should pay out if you disclosed angioedema when applying or were diagnosed after the policy was in place.

Life insurance is the BEST way to protect your family’s future, with the money from a life insurance pay out providing vital financial support. If you pass away, your family can claim and receive a cash lump sum that can be used to pay for things such as:

Funeral costs
Mortgage or rent payments
Repaying debts
School fees
And more…

A life insurance policy can offer you comfort and security, knowing your family will not have to struggle for money at an already hard time.

Having a medical condition shouldn’t prevent you from looking after your loved ones and we will work hard to find you the right policy at the best price.

How does angioedema life insurance work?

Applying for life insurance when you have a medical condition can present additional questions and things to think about. All policies will require you to answer questions about your general health and lifestyle, but if you are applying for angioedema life insurance you may also be asked about:

When you were diagnosed
What is the cause of your condition e.g. allergies, medications or genetics (this may be unknown if you have a type of angioedema known as idiopathic angioedema)
Any medications you are taking to prevent attacks of angioedema e.g. antihistamines or steroids
When did you last experience symptoms of angioedema?
If your symptoms are recurring, how often do they occur?

Be sure to answer these questions as honestly as possible, as if you don’t you risk your cover being invalidated later and your loved ones could lose out. The last thing you want is to pay your insurance premiums each month for your family to then not receive the funds they need when you are gone.

In some cases, the insurance provider might also request a report from your GP to get a better picture of your overall health. The insurer will arrange this and you shouldn’t worry, as it doesn’t increase the likelihood of your application being declined.

Can I get life insurance with angioedema?

YES – you should be able to get life insurance if you have angioedema, but you may need some help from an insurance specialist if you have severe symptoms.

If your symptoms flare up infrequently, and it has been years since this has happened you should have minimal issues finding a great policy.

In rare cases, angioedema can cause breathing difficulties or swelling in the bowel or bladder. If this applies to you, insurers will assess these symptoms carefully as part of your application. All insurers will view medical conditions differently, so if one is hesitant to offer cover due to your symptoms another one could be a better option.

Our team of experts will help you review all your options to make sure you only apply to the companies most likely to approve your cover. You also don’t want to pay more than you need to, and an expert advisor can help make sure this doesn’t happen.

Can I get critical illness cover with angioedema?

YES – it can be possible to get critical illness cover when you have angioedema. The provider might request a medical report from your GP if you have more severe or recurring symptoms, but usually it should be straightforward to get a critical illness policy.

Critical illness cover offers you additional financial security, by providing a cash lump sum if you are diagnosed with a serious illness during the policy term. This can be bought alongside life insurance or as a standalone insurance product.

There are many conditions covered by most insurance providers, and some will cover more than others. It is a good idea to check with the provider exactly what is covered before choosing your policy.

Some common reasons to claim on a critical illness policy include:

More about CRITICAL ILLNESS COVER.

How much does angioedema life insurance cost?

When you are considering getting life insurance, a main concern can be how much you will pay per month. Angioedema shouldn’t noticeably affect the cost of your policy if you have well managed symptoms and/or haven’t had a flare up in years.

There are many other things that can affect the price of your policy, including your general health and lifestyle, as well as the type of policy and amount of cover you need.

Things to consider before applying for your angioedema life insurance include:

The insurance provider you apply to
Your health and lifestyle factors
The type of policy you need e.g. family life insurance, mortgage life insurance, guaranteed life insurance
The length of cover needed (whole of life vs term life insurance)
The amount of cover needed (£s)

If you have more frequent or severe symptoms, certain providers may be better for providing cover at a cost to suit you. Our expert insurance advisors can help you compare the policies available so you can put the right cover in place.

How to save on angioedema life insurance

If you want to save on your new or current life insurance policy, the main way to do this will be to speak to an advisor who understands how medical conditions can affect life insurance.

We are proud to be #1 rated in the UK for pre-existing medical conditions life insurance, as well as life insurance for dangerous hobbies and occupations. We have helped many people with angioedema choose the best policies to suit their needs – and at a fair price.

We will work hard to compare all your insurance options, to make sure you are never paying too much for the cover you need. With access to a carefully selected range of insurance partners, we can make sure you choose the right policy at the most competitive price.

Medical conditions linked to angioedema

Many people will experience episodes of swelling briefly due to an allergic reaction (allergic angioedema) or new medication (drug induced angioedema), but some people experience symptoms of angioedema more regularly.

Angioedema can be hereditary and sometimes the cause can even be unknown (known as idiopathic angioedema). If the doctor thinks you have angioedema due to genetics, they will confirm this with a blood test checking for low levels of a substance called c1 esterase inhibitor.

Angioedema symptoms will cause swelling in various areas including:

Hands
Feet
The area surrounding the eyes
Tongue
Lips
Genitals

If this condition is severe, it can cause breathing difficulties (due to swelling in the throat), dizziness and abdominal pain (due to swelling in the bowel or bladder). Angioedema can also be caused by or linked to other medical conditions such as:

High blood pressure
Underactive thyroid
Urticaria (hives) (urticaria and angioedema often occur at the same time)
Pregnancy (can trigger angioedema)
Anxiety or stress
Allergies

Expert advice for angioedema life insurance

Protecting your loved ones is important and by putting life insurance in place, you are ensuring they are provided for even if you are no longer around.

It isn’t always easy to know where to start when looking for life insurance, and our trained advisors are here to help. Having a condition like angioedema might make you think it will be hard to find life insurance, but we will support you every step of the way.

We can help you decide which policy seems right for you, by looking at the type and amount of cover you need. We will then compare hundreds of excellent available policies, to make sure you are 100% happy with the cover you have chosen.

We can even look at any existing policies you have, so you can be certain you are still getting the best possible pricing. If not, we can help switch you to a new policy easily and quickly.

*according to The British Society for Immunology

Frequently asked questions about angioedema

What is the main cause of angioedema?	Angioedema is most often caused by an allergic reaction. This could be a reaction to food, medication or substances. You can have hereditary angioedema where there is a genetic cause of your symptoms. There is also idiopathic angioedema where the cause of your symptoms is not known.
What are the first signs of angioedema?	The most common first sign of angioedema will be swelling to areas such as your eyelids, tongue and lips.
Is angioedema serious?	Angioedema can be very serious if it causes swelling in your throat or tongue, restricting your airways. If you are having trouble breathing you should ring 999 immediately.
Can you suddenly develop angioedema?	Angioedema symptoms will usually appear suddenly if caused by an allergic reaction. If your symptoms are severe you should seek medical treatment.
Does angioedema ever go away?	If your angioedema symptoms are ongoing (hereditary) the condition will not be curable. The symptoms can however be controlled through medication to prevent attacks.