Life insurance

Life insurance is a way to protect your loved ones financially when you die. It works similarly to other insurance products you may have, such as home or motor insurance. The insurer provides you with an agreed level of cover in exchange for a fee. When you die, the insurer pays a sum of money either to your named beneficiaries or your estate.

An insurance provider calculates the price you pay (the premium) for a life insurance policy taking several factors into account. These include:

  • Your age
  • Any pre-existing medical conditions you have
  • Your general health at the time the policy is underwritten
  • Whether or not you are a smoker
  • The level of cover you require.

The provider collects this information from your completed application form and from any medical evidence that it gathers as part of the standard application process. Insurance underwriters then assess the information and try to establish the level of risk they are taking in insuring you – basically, the likelihood that they will have to pay out a claim on the policy you are looking to set up with them. The higher the risk, the higher the premium will be. Having a pre-existing medical condition, such as a primary immune deficiency, will also increase an insurance premium.

Life insurance premiums are person-specific

Life insurance is unique to a person’s circumstances, so there are no hard and fast rules as to who a company will insure or what the premium will be. Our advice is to shop around to find a competitive quote. Below is a list of companies you might consider approaching.

When you have a pre-existing medical condition, the number of insurance providers willing to cover you is limited, and this in itself can mean higher premiums. It is important to declare all your pre-existing medical conditions to ensure that you are covered and that your family will be financially secure when you die.

What questions will you be asked?

All life insurance providers will ask you questions as part of the application process. The types of questions you can be expected to answer are as follows:

  • What is your age, your weight and height? Generally, the older you are, the more your premium will be. You may also be asked for your trouser/dress size.
  • Describe your lifestyle. Do you smoke? How much alcohol do you drink (if any)? What kind of exercise do you take (if any)? Being a smoker automatically increases your premium. You will also be asked if you take part in any high-risk activities, such as sky diving and rock climbing.
  • Are there any major health problems in your family?
  • Do you have any pre-existing medical conditions? If yesWhen was your condition diagnosed?
    What was the exact diagnosis/name of your condition?
    What parts of the body have been affected in the last five years?
    What are your current symptoms?
    How frequently do symptoms occur on average (e.g. daily/monthly/yearly)?
    When did you last suffer any symptoms?
    How would you describe your symptoms (mild/moderate/severe)?
    What treatment have you received in the last five years?
    Are you receiving treatment now? If so, what is the name of your medication and the dosage?
  • Explaining your current treatment is important because it shows that your condition is treatable.  With your permission, the insurance company may request a letter from your consultant to seek further information on the treatment you receive and its effectiveness.

Once you have got life insurance, you are not required to advise the company of any new treatment unless it specifically requests this. If at a later date you take out a new life insurance policy, you will need to disclose to the insurance company the new treatment you receive. Receiving treatment can have a positive effect on your insurance premium. If the treatment works well, then providers may charge you less.

If you are awaiting the results of any tests or investigations, you should declare this, stating the date and the nature of the test. You do not need to declare any predictive genetic test results. Predictive genetic testing is the use of a genetic test in an asymptomatic person to predict future risk of disease. See the important information below on declaring genetic tests.

What to do if the insurance company has not heard of primary immunodeficiencies?

If your condition is uncommon, it is more difficult for an insurance company to insure you. The company may consult their chief medical officer or other experts. They may also request information from your GP or consultant to better understand the risk and your condition. An insurance company will always ask for your permission to contact your GP or consultant. Insurance companies employ medical doctors to help them with unusual and difficult cases.

Declaring genetic testing

If you have undertaken genetic testing for a new condition and the result comes back ‘positive’ but you are not showing any symptoms of the condition, then currently you do not have the disease and you do NOT need to disclose the result of this predictive genetic test to the insurance company. The only exception is in the case of a predictive genetic test for Huntington’s disease if the life insurance cover is for over £500,000.

Participating in research projects, including the 100,000 Genomes Project, will not affect insurance premiums in most cases. If you are taking part in the 100,000 Genomes Project, then this link will answer any questions you may have on how the project may or may not affect your cover: 
www.genomicsengland.co.uk/the-100000-genomes-project/insurance/

More information on insurance and genetic conditions can be found on the Genetic Alliance UK website, specifically:

Insurance companies

Below are some of the insurance companies that people have previously gained cover from or that Immunodeficiency UK has spoken to and they have agreed to consider cover for patients on a case-by-case basis.

Aviva 0800 068 6800

LV 0800 678 1890

Pulse Insurance 0330 202 0206

The following companies have stated that they will consider insuring patients with pre-existing conditions:

Claybrooke 0203 150 1349

The Insurance Surgery 0800 083 2829

Orbis 01274 518 393

Your Life Protected 01275 404 268

Reassured insurance 0808 231 0858

Reassured insurance are a life insurance broker with a team that specialises in finding insurance for those who are considered as a higher risk and more difficult to insure. They will compare quotes to find the cheapest policy.

Other useful information

You can find answers to frequently asked questions on life insurance at: www.gocompare.com/life-insurance/frequently-asked-questions/

A consumer guide for patients thinking of taking a genetic test and who wish to know how it may affect their insurance, is available at:
www.abi.org.uk/data-and-resources/tools-and-resources/genetics/genetic-testing/

The British Medical Association has worked with the Association of British Insurers to compile a pack that includes a standard covering letter for insurers to send to GPs and an overview of the types of information that are relevant to different types of insurance. The pack can be accessed at: www.bma.org.uk/advice/employment/ethics/confidentiality-and-health-records

You can find information on travel insurance on this web page.

Posted September 2018