What impact does having coeliac disease have on insurance?
As May is Coeliac Disease Awareness Month, let’s take a look at what impact being a coeliac could have on accessing insurance.
People with coeliac disease will usually be able to get cover at normal premium rates for getting Life Assurance, including Mortgage Protection Insurance, Critical Illness and Income Protection cover if they satisfy the criteria below.
As long as you:
have a clear diagnosis,
maintain a normal body weight,
follow the required diet, and
have no complications and no other autoimmune or other co-existing medical conditions.
It is important to remember that for life insurance purposes coeliac disease is treated as a low risk. Life insurers don’t “define” or “classify” Coeliac Disease in their policies, and importantly, Coeliac Disease would not be considered a “serious” or covered condition under a Specified Illness Cover plan.
A well-controlled disease, through adherence to a gluten-free diet and maintaining a good weight ratio are some of the criteria for assessment when applying for insurance cover. However, a higher premium could apply in rare cases of complications or if you don’t follow the treatment. This could be not sticking to the diet, or some cases evidence of malabsorption or the rare complication of refractory coeliac disease.
In the experience of insurers, the vast majority of customers with coeliac disease fall into the well-controlled group and secure cover at ordinary/standard rates for Life Cover, Serious Illness and Income Protection.
If you want to learn more about the coeliac disease and participate in some of the planned activities for the Awareness Month 2024 organised by the Coeliac Society of Ireland, please visit their website here.
People with coeliac disease can usually get life assurance cover at normal premium rates.