We understand that the degree to which people are affected by Ankylosing Spondylitis can vary considerably. In fact, with modern medication, AS does not significantly affect the lifespan of most people with the condition. However, it does make getting life insurance more complicated for many and that's where we come in.
There are a few things that we need to know about your health:
While we know there is no cure for AS and it is not possible to reverse the damage caused, for many people there will be few, if any, serious complications associated with it. If your condition is well managed and you don't have any complications, you may actually be able to get standard terms life insurance. In other cases, you may have to take non-standard terms (higher pricing). When deciding what cover to offer Insurers will want to know as much as possible about your treatment, the extent of your symptoms, and any complications. In most cases the insurer will want to speak to you over the telephone or get a report from your GP, at their expense, in order to get as full a picture as possible of your general health.
For all of our customers with Ankylosing Spondylitis, we aim to ensure a hassle free process of securing the most relevant and competitive life insurance policy.
As is the case with life insurance applications, critical illness cover applications will generally also require information about your overall health, the seriousness of your condition, any secondary conditions and any complications.
It's very common to be required to provide a medical report. Once again, the insurer will generally pay for this at their own expense. For those with mild AS that has not brought on any related complications, it's very feasible to be offered standard terms. But if this isn't possible in your case, you'll generally be offered special terms policies, which typically incur a higher premium.
We aim to take as much of the hassle out of the application process as possible for you, leaving you to get on with living your life!
Getting income protection if you have Ankylosing Spondylitis will always depend on how you are affected by the condition. Generally, the less severe the symptoms are, the more cover will be available. If your condition is more severe it may be that you might have to look to a specialist provider. Sometimes the insurer will insist on a minimum deferment period, meaning that you could not claim if you are unable to work for a certain number of weeks. We're able to advise you on all of the different options and policies available to you.
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Should you find that income protection doesn't suit you, you may want to consider Accident, Sickness and Unemployment cover. This policy will offer an income replacement of 12-24 months and can be arranged without any medical underwriting. The policy will however exclude any pre-existing conditions that you have.
If you're planning a holiday or a getaway any time soon, then speak to a specialist travel insurance broker who can help you to get the right cover based on your condition. Find out more by visiting our travel page here.
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What is Ankylosing Spondylitis
Ankylosing spondylitis is generally diagnosed when inflammation occurs in the spinal joints, ligaments and sacroiliac joints causing severe pain and stiffness. As the condition progresses new bone growth can occur around the affected vertebrae causing them to fuse and reduce flexibility of movement. A form of chronic arthritis, the condition can lead to long-term disability and there is currently no specific known cause for its onset. It is thought that ankylosing spondylitis could be a hereditary disease with the gene HLA-B27 being the cause of the condition.
Also: AS
Linked with: Reactive arthritis, pre-radiographic ankylosing spondylitis and undifferentiated spondyloarthritis (uSpA), psoriatic spondyloarthritis, spondyloarthritis associated with inflammatory bowel disease (or enteropathic arthritis), enthesitis-related arthritis, spondarthritis, spondyloarthropathy, spondyloarthritides, seronegative spondyloarthritis
Some potential problems experienced by individuals who have ankylosing spondylitis include:
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Common Questions
It's quite common for a life insurance provider to request a medical report. Generally, you won't have to supply this directly. You'll typically just be asked to consent to the insurer obtaining a report, at their expense, which they will then seek from your medical practice.
The availability of income protection for those with ankylosing spondylitis is very much dependent upon the severity of the condition and the time it has resulted in you having off work. If you have quite a severe form of the condition, it's likely that the availability of cover will be restricted, as it is likely that many insurers will decline your application for income protection.
If you can't find a suitable policy, Accident, Sickness and Unemployment cover could be an option to consider instead. This is a different sort of policy that is not medically underwritten (but do note that any pre-existing conditions will be exempt). If you have your own limited company, or work for an employer that is open to arranging income protection for its staff, then we can look at options for you that can include claims relating to the ankylosing spondylitis.
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