Getting Life Insurance with Crohn’s Disease. We show you how.
Crohn’s Disease Overview
- Crohn’s Disease Life Insurance Underwriting
- Medical Treatment Only – No Surgery
- Surgical History – No Recurrence
- Surgical History with Recurrence
How do you get life insurance if you have Crohn’s disease?
Crohn’s disease is an inflammatory bowel disease, characterized by chronic inflammation.
And while there is no known cure for Crohn’s, successful treatment allows life insurers to offer coverage.
Crohn’s Disease Life Insurance Underwriting
Underwriters are concerned about:
- The extent of gastrointestinal involvement
- Complications from surgery
- Obstructions, perforations, abscesses & fistulas
- The increased risk of colorectal cancer.
While the underwriting of digestive diseases is complicated, coverage is available for most people with Crohn’s.
Medical Treatment Only – No Surgery
If you were just diagnosed with Crohn’s, most life insurers will postpone underwriting for 6 months or longer.
After the postpone period, underwriting is based on the severity and treatment received.
Stable Symptoms and Time Since Last Flare-up
- 0 – 6 months – Postpone, with rare exceptions
- 6 – 12 months – Standard rates plus 50 – 150%
- 12 – 36 months – Standard rates plus 50 – 100% added.
- 36 – 60 months – Standard rates plus 50%, or better.
- Standard rates are possible after 60 months.
Most people with Crohn’s will receive a table rated policy, expressed in percentages below.
Slight variations in test results, elevated liver functions, remission periods, etc. will affect the final ratings received.
Surgical History – No Recurrence
It’s estimated that 70% of people with Crohn’s will need surgery at some point in their life.
Underwriters review:
- The type of surgery
- Time since surgery was completed
- Current symptoms
- Other factors
Stable Symptoms and Time Since Surgery
- 0 – 12 months – Postpone for most cases
- 12 – 24 months – Standard rates plus 50 – 150%
- 24 – 36 months – Standard rates plus 50 – 100%
- 36 – 60 months – Standard rates plus 50%.
- Standard rates or better after 60 months
Underwriting concerns include lack of stability with weight, elevated liver functions, and other Crohn’s related symptoms.
Minor cramping and diarrhea are okay from an underwriting standpoint.
Surgical History with Recurrence
It’s estimated that 60% of people who’ve had surgery for Crohn’s will have a recurrence within 10 years of surgery.
Stable Symptoms and Time Since Recurrence
- 0 – 12 months – Postpone
- 12 – 24 months – Standard rates plus 50 – 150%
- 24 – 36 months – Standard rates plus 50 – 100%
- 36 – 60 months – Standard rates plus 50%
- Standard rates may be possible after 60 months
The difference for people who’ve had a recurrence is that you will end up at the higher end of the rating range.
If daily oral steroids are used, underwriting may add an additional 25% to the above ratings.
Evidence of dysplasia on biopsies, or sclerosing cholangitis or pericholangitis will result in a decline.
Crohn’s Conclusion:
We can help you find affordable life insurance.
Whether you have Crohn’s, ulcerative colitis, hepatitis, and many other types of GI problems.
Our quick quote process gives you underwriting feedback from companies in days, not weeks like others.
You receive the underwriting feedback from each company,
There is never any obligation or pressure with our service.
Take a few minutes to submit your request today. Thank you.
Last Updated – March 17, 2021