Life Insurance with Hepatitis

Complete this questionnaire and I’ll send you a quote taking your hepatitis into account.

What are my chances of getting life insurance with Hepatitis?

If you would like me to run your application past the underwriters to see who would be most sympathetic, I’ll need the following detail (or as much as you can get):

• Viral load
• Liver function tests results
• Liver disease present?
• Cirrhosis present?
• Results of any scans, biopsies, ultrasounds
• Other diseases present
• Age when diagnosed and infected
• Are you regularly following up with GP and sticking to a treatment plan
• If the illness is acute (lasting 6 months or less) or chronic
• If fully recovered, and if so how long since recovery
• Smoking status
• Alcohol use

Examples of clients I have helped get life insurance with Hepatitis

John

• Diagnosed at 33
• Contracted through blood (works as a nurse)
• Diagnosed Hep B 2010
• Liver function test is normal
• No HIV
• A carrier
• Based on latest viral load results there is no need for treatment.

I managed to get John covered with a +50% loading.

Gisele

• Diagnosed 12 years ago
• Condition now inactive
• Non smoker
• Non drinker
• No liver damage
• No other health issues

Gisele was delighted as one of our insurers accepted her at the normal price.

Applying for life insurance or mortgage protection with Hepatitis

Hepatitis is a disease that causes inflammation of the liver. Hep A, Hep B and Hep C are the most common types in Ireland. I’ll now explain the process for applying for life insurance with Hepatitis.

Life insurance with Hepatitis A

Hepatitis A is the most common type of viral hepatitis.  It causes only acute infection (lasting less than 6 months) and there is no chronic (long term) form. It is usually benign and does not progress to chronic liver disease. Symptoms include fever, severe loss of appetite, liver enlargement and jaundice.

How do life insurance companies view Hepatitis A?

Once you have a made a full recovery, you’ll get the normal price. (get a quote here)

What medical information will the life insurer ask for?

The insurer will likely request a medical report (PMA) from your GP but if you can answer all of the quesitons on this hepatitis questionnaire and get me a copy of your latest hepatology report, we may be able to avoid the need for a medical report.

Life insurance with Hepatitis B

Hepatitis B is transmitted in blood serum and body fluids. Usually there is complete recovery, but sometimes patients develop a chronic infection. Symptoms include fever, jaundice, loss of appetite, and joint pain.

How do life insurance companies view Hepatitis B?

If you have suffered an acute infection, you could get the normal price once you have made a full recovery without any permanent damage to your liver.

For a chronic (long-term) infection, the insurer will increase your premium by 50% upwards depending on the degree of liver damage.

What medical information will the life insurer ask for?

The insurer will request a medical report (PMA) from your GP.

Life insurance with Hepatitis C

Hepatitis C causes both acute (within 6 months) and chronic (defined as persisting for more than 6 months) liver disease . Chronic hepatitis develops in 70 – 85% of those infected who are unable to get rid of the virus after an initial infection. The two main complications of chronic Hepatitis C are cirrhosis and liver cancer.

Symptoms are few in the first 6 months. Symptoms indicating liver disease don’t show until serious damage to the liver has occurred.

How do life insurance companies view Hepatitis C?

If you have suffered an acute infection (less than 6 months) and made a full recovery,  you could get the normal price.

For a chronic (long-term) infection, you’ll face a premium increase of 100%+, depending on the degree of liver damage.

What medical information will the life insurer ask for?

The insurer will request a medical report (PMA) from your GP.

Autoimmune hepatitis

Autoimmune hepatitis is a very rare cause of chronic (long-term) hepatitis. The white blood cells attack the liver, causing chronic inflammation and damage. This can lead to more serious problems, such as liver failure. The reason for this reaction is unknown.

About seven in 10 cases are in women, usually between the ages of 15 and 40. However, in older age groups, men tend to be affected more than women.

How do life insurance companies view Hepatitis C?

Cover is possible but at a slightly higher premium than viral hep. It comes down to current liver function then and the treatment. Being autoimmune, the treatment is an immunosuppressant, so that comes with its own risk. Best case is in remission, normal liver function tests and off treatment (after only a short term on treatment) That’s +50% loading. It goes up to decline depending on the circumstances.

What about serious illness cover and hepatitis?

Cover is usually declined for chronic cases of Hepatitis B and C.

For acute cases with a full recovery, you could get the normal price.

What information do life insurers look for in relation to Hepatitis?

As with most life insurance medical conditions, the insurer wants to know:

1. that you are getting treatment
2. and you are completing regular follow-ups with your doctor.

They call this control, if your condition is under control, you will get cover.

But if you have ignored your symptoms or are not attending for follow-ups, the insurer will postpone.

Over to you…

The good news about applying for life insurance with hepatitis is that you can get cover. But, as you have seen, it depends on the merits of your particular application.

If you would like to discuss your application confidentially, please call me on 05793 20836 or complete this short form.

Alternatively complete this Hepatitis Questionnaire and I’ll speak to my underwriters in confidence

Nick McGowan
lion.ie | making life insurance easier