Need more information? Continue reading to get all the nitty-gritty details of underwriting.

Getting life insurance coverage may seem like an uphill battle if you have Crohn’s disease or any other inflammatory bowel disease.

Many people with chronic conditions struggle to find affordable life insurance.

But that doesn’t mean getting a policy for a person with a chronic illness isn’t possible.

You need to know where to look and what to be aware of when applying for your policy.

The good news is that life insurance policies are available if you have Crohn’s disease, and we know how to help you get them.

Crohn’s Disease Overview

According to the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America, about one in every 200 Americans has been diagnosed with Crohn’s disease.

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, the successful treatment allows life insurers to offer coverage.

How Crohn’s Disease Affects Your Life Insurance

Getting life insurance for Crohn’s disease is difficult.

However, you can take steps to make getting life insurance for Crohn’s disease easier.

Many life insurance companies will exclude anyone with Crohn’s disease.

That’s why finding companies specializing in high-risk life insurance is crucial.

These companies understand Crohn’s and know that the severity of the disease varies by individual.

In general, 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.

Underwriting categorizes individuals as follows:

1. Medical Treatment – No Surgery Required
2. Surgical History – No Recurrence
3. Surgical History with Recurrence

Your personal medical history is then reviewed to determine your condition’s severity within the above categories.

As you will see, life insurance rates improve as more time passes in between flare-ups.

Medical Treatment – No Surgery

Most life insurers would postpone underwriting for six months or longer if you were just diagnosed with Crohn’s.

After the postpone period, the severity and treatment received will determine the underwriting outcome.

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 above.

Slight variations in test results, elevated liver functions, and remission periods will affect the final ratings received.

Surgical History – No Recurrence

According to some estimates, 70% of people with Crohn’s will need surgery.

Underwriters review:

• The type of surgery
• Time since completing surgery
• 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-related symptoms.

Minor cramping and diarrhea are okay from an underwriting standpoint.

Surgical History with Recurrence

According to some estimates, 60% of people who’ve had surgery for Crohn’s will have a recurrence within ten 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.

Daily steroid use may add 25% to the above.

Evidence of dysplasia on biopsies or sclerosing cholangitis or pericholangitis will result in a decline.

Tips for Buying Life Insurance if You Have Crohn’s

Whether you have Crohn’s, ulcerative colitis, hepatitis, or other GI problems, we can help you find affordable life insurance.

We use a quick quote process to ensure you get the best rates.

A quick quote allows us to summarize your medical history and get underwriting feedback from companies specializing in Crohn’s disease in a few days.

The benefit to you is that you’ll know within a few days what each company has to say regarding underwriting and price – before you apply!

There is never any obligation or pressure with our service. Should you change your mind at any time, simply tell us to close your file.

Take a few minutes to submit your request today. Thank you.

By Michael Horbal – Updated on 10/22/2022