Polymyalgia Rheumatica life insurance

If you have children or a mortgage to think about, it is important to make sure you have the right protection in case anything happens to you. Life insurance can provide peace of mind and financial security, paying out a cash lump sum in the event of your death.

People with medical conditions may worry that life insurance will be too expensive or not accessible for them. We’re proud to be the UK’s #1 experts for life insurance with pre-existing conditions like polymyalgia rheumatica.

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by Elizabeth Turner-Long - 9th August 2023

Will life insurance cover polymyalgia rheumatica?

YES – you should be able to get life insurance if you have polymyalgia rheumatica. Some insurers will be better than others for people with medical conditions. It is worth getting proper advice from an insurance expert, so you don’t waste any time.

Polymyalgia rheumatica is an inflammatory condition that can have a big impact on your daily life. Symptoms of polymyalgia rheumatica can include debilitating pain in your shoulder, arms and hips. If your symptoms are mild and you don’t need medication, cover can be much cheaper than you may expect.

Most people with polymyalgia rheumatica tend to be over 50 (usually over 65). There are specialised policies available for over 50s. These policies can be a more affordable way to leave money for your family to cover key expenses such as funeral costs.

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Does life insurance pay out for polymyalgia rheumatica?

YES – if you were to die from complications related to polymyalgia, your policy will pay out a cash lump sum to your loved ones. Standard life insurance should not exclude pre-existing medical conditions as a reason to claim.

In most cases, polymyalgia rheumatica isn’t life threatening. Around 15% of polymyalgia rheumatica patients will develop temporal arteritis (giant cell arteritis). This can lead to complication such as strokes or blindness.

In this situation, it can be helpful to have life insurance in case the worst happens. Life insurance pay outs can help prevent your family from struggling financially. They can use the money to cover expenses like:

Clearing outstanding mortgage balance
Pay off debts
Pay for rent
Utility bills
Cost of living
And more…

How does polymyalgia rheumatica life insurance work?

Life insurance works the same way as it would for anyone else if you have polymyalgia rheumatica. The main difference is you will be asked additional questions about your condition during the application.

For all life insurance applications, you will be asked for basic health and lifestyle information like:

Your age
Height and weight
Smoker status
Any high risk hobbies?
Dangerous occupation?

With polymyalgia rheumatica, you could also be asked:

When were you diagnosed?
What symptoms do you experience?
Have you been prescribed medication?
Do your symptoms prevent you from working?

It is possible the insurer will request further medical evidence in the form of a GP report. This isn’t anything to be overly concerned about. A GP report helps the insurer have a clear idea of your overall health so they can give you the correct price for your cover.

Can I get life insurance with polymyalgia rheumatica?

YES – in most cases it can be simple to get life cover for someone with polymyalgia rheumatica. Even if you have severe symptoms or complications, this doesn’t mean life insurance is unavailable.

You should always disclose your medical history when applying for life insurance. Failure to declare relevant medical information could lead to your cover being inadequate or being made invalid.

If you are diagnosed with polymyalgia rheumatica after buying a policy, you don’t need to worry. This doesn’t need to be disclosed as your cover will be based on your health at the time you applied.

Can I get critical illness cover with polymyalgia rheumatica?

YES – there can be options available for critical illness cover with polymyalgia rheumatica.

Critical illness cover will pay out a cash lump sum on diagnosis of a serious condition covered by your policy. This can be useful to support you while you recover or help you make adaptions to your home.

Every critical illness cover policy will be slightly different as each insurer will cover a different number of conditions. You should check your policy documents carefully, so you know where you stand and what you are covered for.

How much does polymyalgia rheumatica life insurance cost?

Everyone will pay a slightly different price for their life cover. This is because policy pricing is based on several factors such as:

Your age when you apply
Health
Lifestyle
Smoker status
Type of policy (family protection, mortgage protection etc)
Policy term
Amount of cover needed (£s)

Life insurance rates can be very affordable with polymyalgia, particularly if your symptoms are mild.

How to save on polymyalgia rheumatica life insurance

Cost is often a big concern when applying for life insurance. People with medical conditions can be put off applying, assuming cover will be too expensive. Some insurers are far better than others for people with health issues.

Getting advice and applying to the right insurers can be key to make sure you don’t pay more than you need to. There are also a few easy ways to lower the cost of your policy such as:

Reducing your amount of cover (£s)
Reducing your policy term (how long you are covered for)
Changing the type of policy (e.g. term life insurance instead of whole life).

Medical conditions linked to polymyalgia rheumatica

There are various medical conditions that are known to be linked to or can be complications of polymyalgia rheumatica.

Giant cell arteritis (temporal arteritis)
Osteoporosis
Rheumatoid arthritis
Depression
Stroke
Blindness

Expert advice for polymyalgia rheumatica life insurance

It is important to speak to a life insurance expert who has the right background and knowledge when you have medical conditions.

You could unfairly pay more than you need to for life insurance if you apply to the wrong company. A life insurance specialist will make sure you get the best cover at a reasonable cost.

Available life insurance policies include:

Frequently asked questions about polymyalgia rheumatica

What is polymyalgia rheumatica?	Polymyalgia rheumatica is an inflammatory condition that mainly affects the shoulders, neck and hips.
What are the first signs of polymyalgia rheumatica?	The most common polymyalgia rheumatica symptoms are: Extreme muscle stiffness which can cause pain (usually in the morning) Severe fatigue Unintentional weight loss Loss of appetite Depression Symptoms of polymyalgia rheumatica are similar to those experienced with rheumatoid arthritis.
Is polymyalgia rheumatica a serious condition?	Polymyalgia rheumatica can be well managed and treated if diagnosed early. Around 15% of people with polymyalgia rheumatica will develop a condition called giant cell arteritis. This is also known as temporal arteritis. This condition can be dangerous as it causes narrowing or blockages of the blood vessels.
Can you die from polymyalgia rheumatica?	If polymyalgia rheumatica is diagnosed and treated, it shouldn’t affect your life expectancy.
Does polymyalgia rheumatica go away?	Most people will not experience polymyalgia rheumatica as a lifelong condition. On average people who are being treated for polymyalgia should stop experiencing symptoms in between 1-3 years.