Lupus life insurance

Life insurance can give you the peace of mind that you need, knowing that your family is protected should anything happen to you. Some of the main questions that we aim to answer in this article about ‘Lupus Life Insurance’ are:

Will life insurance payout if I get lupus?
Can I get life insurance with lupus?

There are many questions around these 2 main points as well, which we’ll aim to answer here to give you everything you need to make the right choices.

Lupus is a reasonably common autoimmune condition that affects around 50,000 living in the UK (1 in every 1,000). It is a chronic condition as there is no known cure for it, but also it does not generally reduce life expectancy (80 to 90% of people with lupus have a normal life span).

Figures according to Lupus UK

There are 4 main types of lupus:

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE)
Discoid (Cutaneous) Lupus Erythematosus (DLE)
Drug-induced Lupus (DIL)
Neonatal Lupus

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Will life insurance payout for Lupus?

YES – if you die from lupus then your life insurance should payout a tax-free lump sum to your family.

Any existing policies you have in place should cover you if you get diagnosed with lupus after taking the cover. Life insurance is underwritten at the point of acceptance which means that anything that happens after this point is not relevant.

If you’re diagnosed with lupus which then becomes fatal then your claim should be paid to your loved ones. The most common ages for diagnosis of lupus is between 16 and 55, and it is more common in women than men.

Most people will use a life insurance policy to pay for:

Clear mortgages
Pay off debts
School fees
Inheritance Tax (IHT) Planning
Costs of living

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Does critical illness cover payout for lupus?

Critical illness cover does not specifically payout for lupus, but other conditions can develop that may be covered.

If you’ve been diagnosed with lupus then you might find that other medical risks may occur in later life. Your critical illness cover is designed to pay out a cash lump sum if you’re diagnosed with a serious condition, such as:

Most people will consider this type of cover if you’re concerned about how you would cope financially if you were diagnosed with a severe medical condition.

Critical illness cover can provide a cash lump sum to pay for things like:

Mortgage or rent payments
Debt consolidation
School fees
Cost of living

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Will income protection payout for lupus?

YES – if you’re diagnosed with lupus and you need to take time off work for a longer period of time (usually 4 weeks or more) then your cover should payout.

This type of policy can give you peace of mind that your income will be paid during long-term periods of sickness or illness. Lupus is not considered to be a life-threatening condition, however, it can cause short-term and long-term sickness that could mean that you are unable to work for periods of time.

Someone with lupus could claim on their income protection policy to allow them to continue to be financially comfortable during work absence.

Most income protection policies will usually payout for up to 12 or 24 months, depending on which type of cover you take.

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About lupus life insurance

The other area that we consider here is what to do about life insurance after you’ve been diagnosed with lupus.

Here are some of the answers to the most common questions that come up when we talk to people about life insurance with lupus.

Can I get life insurance with lupus?

YES – lupus is generally not considered to be severe or life-threatening and therefore should not prevent you from getting life insurance to protect your family.

There are a few main things to consider when applying for life cover with this condition to ensure that you get the best cover and save money. You should speak to an expert who understands medical conditions and underwriting first and foremost.

It is common for people who have a pre-existing medical condition to be put off applying for life insurance. It can seem confusing and sometimes look like a waste of your time, but that’s not the case so you should definitely consider life cover.

Life insurance is a fantastic way to provide your family with financial protection if anything happens to you in the future.

How much is life insurance with lupus?

Generally, you should find that premiums for lupus life insurance will be reasonable and affordable. You might even be surprised that life insurance premiums are generally considerably lower than people think.

Life insurance premiums will vary from one insurance provider to another so it’s worth shopping around or speaking to a broker who has access to multiple providers.

Premiums for life cover are based on:

Your age
Cover amount (£’s)
Length of your policy (term)
Smoker status

You will find that life insurance premiums are lower in younger life and then they gradually increase as you get older. So, it’s important to consider life cover as young as possible to make sure that you take advantage of lower-cost insurance.

Cheaper life insurance with lupus

It is possible to get cheaper life insurance premiums with lupus and you can save money by following a few simple steps.

1) Don’t delay it: you can save money simply by taking out a policy when you’re younger rather than waiting.

2) Lifestyle: changes in your lifestyle can also help you to reduce premiums, such as reducing alcohol consumption or losing weight

3) Stop smoking

4) Speak to an expert: a specialist or expert advisor will have the right expertise and experience to find you the best insurer for your circumstances.

Life insurance questions for lupus

If you apply for life insurance after you’ve been diagnosed with lupus then you’ll be asked some standard medical questions.

These questions on your application form are designed to provide insurers with the information that they need to underwrite your policy. Some of the most common questions for lupus are:

Which parts of your body are affected (e.g. skin, neck, scalp, joints, nerves etc.)?
When was your condition diagnosed?
Is your condition linked to ‘Hughes Syndrome’?
Was your condition caused by medication for another health problem?
Has this medication continued?

Will I need a medical for lupus life insurance?

In some cases, you might be asked to provide some additional medical evidence such as a GP report when you apply for life cover with lupus.

This is completely normal and it just helps insurers to make a proper decision about your life insurance. If your insurer requests medical evidence then you won’t need to pay for anything or do anything.

Medical conditions linked with lupus

There are several known medical conditions linked with lupus that can occur at any point in the future.

Some of the most common conditions linked with lupus include:

Autoimmune thyroid disease
Coeliac disease
Myasthenia gravis
Antiphospholipid syndrome
Rheumatoid arthritis
Polymyositis
Dermatomyositis
Scleroderma
Sjögren’s syndrome

There are some less common autoimmune conditions that can be linked to lupus.

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Common questions about lupus

Some of the most common questions that people ask about lupus and living with this condition.

What are the 11 main symptoms of lupus?	Commonly, most people will experience around four of the following eleven symptoms of lupus: Rash (butterfly shape) Red patches on the skin Light sensitivity Ulcers (mouth or nose) Arthritis Inflammation of heart or lungs Seizures (or nerve issues) Protein in urine Low blood count Antibodies in blood Swelling or tenderness
What are the four types of lupus?	Most people when they talk about lupus will be referring to the most common form of the condition which is ‘Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE)’. This type of lupus accounts for approximately 70% of all diagnoses of the condition. The other types of lupus are: Cutaneous Lupus (affects around 10% of patients) Drug-induced Lupus (affects around 10% of patients) Neonatal Lupus
Does lupus affect my life expectancy?	According to figures by the Lupus Foundation of America, if properly treated and medicated, most patients can live a normal and healthy life. Approximately 80 to 90% of patients will have a normal life expectancy. More information – Average life expectancy UK