How Digestive Disorders Impact Life Insurance: Your Complete Guide

Stuck for time? Complete this questionnaire and I’ll send you a quote taking your digestive disorder into account.

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Are you worried that your digestive disorder might affect your ability to get life insurance or mortgage protection?

Don’t fret; we’ve got you covered.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore the implications of seven common digestive disorders on and give you some insights for your specific condition.

Understanding Digestive Disorders

Before we delve into the insurance aspects, let’s briefly examine the digestive disorders we’ll be discussing:

Barrett’s oesophagus
Coeliac disease
Crohn’s disease
Gastro‑oesophageal reflux (GORD/acid reflux/heartburn)
Hernia
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
Ulcerative colitis

I have discussed some of them in previous articles (the ones that are underlined, click the link and away you go!).

In this article I’ll examine the others – Barrett’s oesophagus, Gastro‑oesophageal reflux (GORD/acid reflux/heartburn) and hernias.

Barrett’s Oesophagus and Mortgage Protection

What is it?

Let’s be clear, Barrett’s oesophagus IS NOT cancer, but it can develop into cancer on rare occasions.

Barrett’s Oesophagus occurs when stomach acid or bile splashes back into the oesophagus.

What does the insurer need to know?

Normally, the insurer will request a medical report from your GP to find out the full history of your condition since you were diagnosed.

The insurer needs to know:

• Underlying cause
• Date of diagnosis
• Details of treatment and response to the treatment
• Details and frequency of any symptoms and/or complications
• Time off work

How much does Life Insurance cost with Barrett’s Oesophagus?

The cost of life insurance depends on the severity of your condition:

Occasional mild symptoms: Standard rates
Frequent symptoms: +75% to 150% loading
Chronic symptoms or high-grade dysplasia: Possible decline or postpone

Can you get Serious Illness Cover?

Yes, for mild and moderate cases but not for chronic symptoms.

If the insurer offers serious illness cover, they will exclude claims related to the digestive system.

What about Income Protection?

For mild cases, you should get the normal price with no exclusions.

For moderate, you’ll pay a loading and the insurer will add a digestive disorder exclusion excluding claims if you can’t work due to a digestive disorder.

Income protection is unlikely if you suffer with severe Barrett’s.

Gastro‑Oesophageal Reflux Disease (GORD/acid reflux/heartburn)

What is it?

GORD causes stomach acid or contents to leak backward into the oesophagus, leading to heartburn.

What does the insurer need to know?

Similar to Barrett’s, insurers need information about:

Underlying cause
Date of diagnosis
Treatment details and response
Symptom frequency
Time off work

The insurer usually doesn’t need to write to your GP for a report – a detailed questionnaire should be enough.

As long as you have the above information, they can offer cover based on your application form alone.

This will save you an awful lot of time because some GPs take aaaaaaaaaaaaaages to return medical reports to the insurer.

Will Acid Reflux increase the cost of Mortgage Protection?

Thankfully, you should get the normal price with most of our insurers.

Only where the condition is uncontrolled with frequent symptoms will you face a loading.

Due to several long periods off work, one of my clients with acid reflux was hit with a loading.

Can you get Serious Illness Cover?

Yes, good news on this front too, you’ll get full cover without any exclusion for controlled Gastro‑Oesophageal Reflux Disease.

What about Income Protection?

Three from three!

You should qualify for income protection at the standard price, without any exclusions.

Helpful Link: Treating acid reflux

Hernia

What is it?

Hernias occur when an organ pushes through a weakness in the muscle or surrounding tissue wall.

The most common types are hiatus and inguinal hernias.

Hiatus hernia: Upper stomach protrudes into the chest cavity
Inguinal hernia: Intestine appears as a bulge in the groin area

What does the insurer need to know?

Of the three conditions we have discussed thus far, herinas cause the least bother.

Once you can tell the insurer

• Type of hernia
• Details of treatment/surgery and response
• Details and frequency of any symptoms and/or complications
• Time off work

you should get life insurance, serious illness cover and income protection a the normal price provided there are no complications.

I’ve never had a client declined, loaded or even had an exclusion due to hernia.

If you have had a normal hernia with no surgery planned, you’ve nothing to worry about.

Helpful Link: How to take the pressure off your abdominal hernia

Conclusion: Navigating Digestive Disorders and Insurance

If you’re applying for cover and you suffer with Barrett’s oesophagus, Gastro‑oesophageal reflux (GORD/acid reflux/heartburn) or hernias, don’t worry, I can get you covered.

The majority of insurers will offer you the normal price if you have mild symptoms.

And I’m confident I can get you the normal price even if your symptoms are mild-moderate.

Over to you

To get you the best cover with the least amount of hassle, I’ll need to know a little more about your condition.

Complete this IBD questionnaire and I can discuss your case with my panel of underwriters.

I can then recommend the most sympathetic insurer to apply to so you can be sure you have the best chance of cover at the normal price.

If you’d like to run your details by one of our team over the phone instead, please call 05793 20836

We’re here to ensure you get the coverage you need with minimal hassle.

Thanks for reading

Nick