Deafness life insurance

You may ask yourself the question “how would deafness affect life insurance?”

This is an understandable question, and usually, life insurance for deaf people is readily available from many insurers. However, there are still some points to consider before making a life insurance application.

Statistics show that as many as 1 in 6 UK adults are affected by hearing loss, which equates to 11 million people – making it the second most common disability in the country.

Of those affected, 6.7 million people may benefit from using hearing aids, but only approximately 2 million actually use them.

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Can a deaf person get life insurance?

YES – usually if your deafness is not caused by a more serious underlying medical condition then many life insurance companies will offer policies with no issues.

Life insurance cover is designed to pay out a lump sum if you pass away for any reason whilst the policy is active. This will help to give you peace of mind that your family and/or home would be financially protected if the worst were to happen to you.

How does deafness life insurance work?

Sometimes, other health problems can lead to hearing loss or deafness as a symptom. Whilst a hearing impairment itself is not life-threatening and doesn’t affect life expectancy, the underlying cause may be more serious and may lead to the insurance company asking additional questions, requesting medical records, increasing the price, or even declining cover entirely.

In the event that an insurer needs further medical evidence, there are a few different ways that they obtain this. The main types of medical evidence requests are:

Nurse screening (blood tests etc.)
Full medical records from your GP
Targeted medical report from your GP (containing specific information)

Don’t worry if your insurance company needs to obtain medical information, however, as they will pay for this out of their own pocket and it will not affect your insurance premiums.

All you will need to do in this case is sign an “access to medical records agreement” which is a simple form that says you give permission for the insurer to contact your GP and acquire the required information.

Medical conditions linked to deafness

Below is a list of health conditions and illnesses that are associated with hearing loss. These include:

Application questions for deafness life insurance

Some of the most common questions that you will be asked when you make a life insurance application for deafness are as follows:

Are you partially deaf, fully deaf, or do you have mixed hearing?
Has your hearing loss been present from birth?
Has your hearing loss developed over time or as a result of a specific event?
Have you undergone any surgery?

The way in which you answer these questions will determine how the insurance company treats your specific case.

Will critical illness cover pay out for deafness?

YES – many insurers will pay out on critical illness cover if you become deaf during the term of your policy. Usually, the insurance companies will pay if the deafness is “permanent and irreversible”.

Every insurer has a list of conditions for which they will pay out in the event of a new diagnosis. These may differ between insurers and some may offer a payout for deafness whilst others may not; or they may define deafness slightly differently. It’s therefore key to know which company is best for you.

Critical illness cover is designed to pay out a cash lump sum if you get diagnosed with a serious medical condition – most commonly including:

The cash payment from critical illness cover can help you financially through your diagnosis, and can be used to pay for things such as:

Mortgage or rent
School fees
Bills and household costs

More about CRITICAL ILLNESS COVER

Is deafness a critical illness?

YES – most insurance companies classify deafness as a payable condition on critical illness cover, in one way or another. This means that if you take out a critical illness cover policy and then become deaf whilst the policy is active, you will receive a payout from most insurers.

If you are already deaf before taking out a critical illness cover policy then it will not be possible for you to make a claim for deafness. It will be classed as a pre-existing condition.

In addition, it is important to remember that if your deafness is a result of an underlying medical condition, then that condition may affect the terms or pricing of your policy, or even lead to you being declined in severe cases.

Frequently asked questions about deafness

What can cause hearing loss?	There are many possible causes of hearing loss such as: Ageing Damage due to loud noise Labyrinthitis Ménière’s disease Genetics (family history) Perforated ear drum Ear wax build up
What are the signs of hearing loss?	Common signs you may be losing your hearing include: Difficulty hearing what other people are saying Misunderstanding what people are saying Having to ask people to repeat themselves Having to use a higher volume to listen to music or watch TV Trouble with hearing on the phone Tired from having to concentrate to hear what is being said