Life Insurance with Crohn’s Disease

Crohn’s disease is an autoimmune condition that is frequently misdiagnosed as a bad case of diarrhea with stomach pain. This is not true. Crohn’s disease is a debilitating condition that can last for weeks or months and affect any part of the digestive system, from the mouth to the bowel. The condition causes inflammation of the digestive tract lining and can be triggered by any combination of a genetic predisposition, a deficient immune system, previous infections, or environmental factors. It is important that you take steps to make sure that you and your family are protected in case you can no longer work or need time off.

When clients reach out to us about their digestive conditions, they are often concerned that their condition is not covered or that they would not get the same benefits as other applicants suffering from chronic illness. Some clients are concerned that their premiums would be too expensive and provide very little benefits. So, a common question we get is “can I get life insurance if I have Crohn’s disease?”

The answer is yes, you can get life insurance if you have Crohn’s disease, with affordable rates. 

In this article…

• What is Crohn’s Disease? 
  • Symptoms of Crohn’s Disease 
• Life Insurance with Crohn’s Disease
• Can I get Life Insurance with Crohn’s Disease?
  • How Do I Get Life Insurance with Crohn’s Disease? 
• Best Life Insurance Policy if you have an Crohn’s Disease 
  • Disability Insurance 
  • Guaranteed Issue & Simplified Issue Life Insurance
• Frequently Asked Question about Life Insurance with Crohn’s Disease

What is Crohn’s Disease? 

Crohn’s disease is an inflammatory bowel disorder (IBD). It causes digestive tract inflammation, which can result in abdominal pain, severe diarrhea, fatigue, weight loss, and malnutrition.

Crohn’s disease causes inflammation in different parts of the digestive tract in different people. This inflammation frequently spreads into the bowel’s deeper layers. Crohn’s disease is a painful and debilitating condition that can sometimes result in life-threatening complications.

While there is no known cure for Crohn’s disease, medicines can significantly reduce symptoms and potentially lead to long-term remission and inflammatory healing. Many patients with Crohn’s disease can operate normally after receiving therapy.

Symptoms of Crohn’s Disease 

Crohn’s disease can affect each patient differently. The most prevalent symptoms include: 

• Cramping and pain in the abdomen
• Diarrhea that persists
• Urgency bowel movement
• Feeling of an incomplete bowel evacuation
• Bleeding in the rectum
• Constipation which can result in bowel obstruction

Life Insurance with Crohn’s Disease

When Crohn’s disease is considered minor, life insurance for people with the disease may be provided at standard rates. If you haven’t had any recent flare-ups and are taking only mild medication, you should be able to get life insurance on normal terms.

It’s possible that your life insurance will have non-standard rates if you have more severe Crohn’s disease symptoms. This would result in an increase in premiums. Your rating could change due to the potency of your drugs, or if you have any abscesses or fistulas that are interfering with your daily activities.

If you are scheduled for surgery to treat your Crohn’s disease, such as fistula removal or the placement of an ileostomy or colostomy bag, your application for life insurance will most likely be delayed until you have fully recovered from the surgery. 

Everyone’s experience with Crohn’s disease is unique; while it may only cause little discomfort for some, for others it may be severe enough to warrant surgery.

Insurance companies may ask you the following questions: 

• When did you find out you have Crohn’s disease?
• Is it possible for you to work?
• When was the last time you had a flare-up?
• Have you had intestinal surgery to remove a section of your intestine?
• What kind of medicine do you take?

At Protect Your Wealth we are here for you! We will help you navigate your options and find a solution that works for you.

Can I get Life Insurance with Crohn’s Disease?

Yes, you can get life insurance if you have Crohn’s disease. However, individuals with Crohn’s disease may pay greater life insurance premiums than the usual. If your disease is under control and hasn’t caused complications like malnourishment, extreme weight loss, or liver inflammation, you’re more likely to be approved.

How Do I Get Life Insurance with Crohn’s Disease? 

If you want a low-cost health insurance policy:

1. Consult your doctor: Get a physical and any necessary paperwork. If you can provide evidence of a long history of Crohn’s disease, a pattern of stable health over the last several years, or a lack of recent hospitalizations, you’ll be able to persuade your insurer that you’re not a high risk.
2. Coverage should be realistic:  Determine how much coverage you require so that you do not overpay for a policy.
3. Compare various offers: Compare policies from various brands to find the best deal. When comparing plans, you should consider both the level of coverage and the cost.

Best Life Insurance Policy if you have Crohn’s Disease

It may appear that choosing the best life insurance policy is a challenging job. Spending hours researching and reading pages and pages of terms and conditions, as well as collecting and reviewing quotes, would be exhausting for anyone. At Protect Your Wealth, we are here for you to help you get the coverage that you need! 

The following are some of the recommended insurance policies for individuals with Crohn’s disease. Note that depending the severity of your Crohn’s disease, and if/how long since you’ve gotten surgery, you may still face some postponements of your application for any of these types of life insurance. 

Disability Insurance

Disability insurance replaces a portion of your income if you are unable to work for an extended period of time due to illness or injury. It can provide you with tax-free monthly income to help you pay your bills if you are unable to work due to illness or an accident. If you rely on a paycheck, whether full-time, part-time, self-employed, or freelancer, protecting your income is one of the best decisions you can make. 
There are two types of disability insurance that you can apply for if you have Crohn’s Disease: Short term and long term disability insurance.

Short-term disability insurance

Most disabilities keep you out of work for less than a year. Short-term disability insurance, or STD, is intended to provide you with income while you recover from an illness or injury. Depending on the policy you choose, you can receive benefits for up to six months and even access resources to help you return to work sooner.

Long-term disability insurance

Some disabilities are more severe and, in some cases, permanent. Long-term disability insurance, or LTD, is designed for these circumstances because the benefits can last for years. Higher-income business owners and professionals who want to protect their lifestyle if they are unable to work frequently purchase it as an individual policy.

Guaranteed Issue and Simplified Issue Insurance

Guaranteed issue insurance is intended for people with serious health problems or who are older and do not qualify for traditional or simplified insurance. Many insurers will also offer a 24-month deferral period for guaranteed life acceptance insurance. Because it is also a type of permanent life insurance, guaranteed issue insurance coverage generally has a maximum of $50,000, with some insurers covering less, and has the highest premium of the three.

Simplified issue insurance policies do not require a medical exam but you must answer certain health-related questions as part of your application. Premiums for no-medical-exam insurance are typically higher than for traditional insurance. The number of questions asked varies by insurer and also by whether or not the policy is deferred. Simplified issue insurance is typically used for term life insurance products and is an option for those who want faster approval or do not want to take a medical exam.

Both of these options make for good alternatives to traditional life insurance if you have Crohn’s disease.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Life Insurance with Crohn’s Disease

Finding the right life insurance policy for you

Even if you’ve been diagnosed with Crohn’s disease, there’s a life insurance product or package for your situation. A life insurance specialist can help you create the best plan and package for your needs.

At Protect Your Wealth, we work with and compare policies and quotes from the best life insurance companies in Canada to ensure the best solution for you and your needs. We provide expert life insurance solutions, including no medical life insurance, critical illness insurance, term life insurance, and permanent life insurance to build the best package to give you the protection you need. 

Contact Protect Your Wealth or call us at 1-877-654-6119 to talk to an advisor today! We’re proudly based out of Hamilton, and service clients anywhere in Ontario, British Columbia, and Alberta including areas such as Kingston, Burnaby, and Medicine Hat.