Hello all,
We are excitingly in the process of buying our first home and we need life insurance (and critical life insurance) to proceed with all things mortgage.
I was diagnosised with secondary Reynaud's and Progressive Systemic Sclerosis last year, so have a feeling this might not be that straightforward!
I'm after any recommendations you may have: any insurers to try/avoid? Any advice generally on approaching/explaining would be really useful to read.
Thanks in advance 😄
I could ask my brother who works for Swinton, he'll likely know the way to go about getting issues with our condition.
I'll pop back once I've spoken to him.
I have systemic sclerosis diognosed two years ago and I've tried to get life insurance and no one will insure me. Good luck if you find something they said they will only insure me if I have had no symptoms of my disease in the last two years. Then they will insure me for 200% price increase. This would take my cover to £140 per month for 200k cover and 37k critical illness cover. Ridiculous.
I had to update my travel insurance. They didn't seemed at all fussed re new Scleroderma diagnosis and covered me. They were more bothered that I take 10mg Citalapram (stops me stressing and getting anxious re Scleroderma diagnosis) and declined to cover me for any sort of Mental health blips. I assume they use a template. However, I am under a constant obligation to inform them of any changes in my health whereas critical illness cover is more long term. It will therefore be interesting to see how you get on with this. Good luck x
I am just looking for holiday insurance so I am wondering which company you use. Hope you can help.
Not looked into it recently as not travelled since diagnosis but I think SRUK have some info on suitable insurers
My insurance comes with our Barclays Bank account. For a small monthly fee, we get travel and breakdown cover. I haven't got any other diagnosis other than Scleroderma so I guess it's what type you have?? I have only been diagnosed this year with few symptoms at that time. Things have changed so next renewal might be different.
Thank you. Usually my travel ins is included with my house insurance but last year they declined to quote for travel as I had just been diagnosed with scleroderma. I did get cover through All Clear but think it is best to search around.
As a canadian....my sunlife insc...covered and when they didn't...msi..did...depending where your from..
In the U.S. a diagnosis of systemic sclerosis makes you essentially uninsurable. I'm not sure if the same is true in the U.K. 🙁
Fortunately not but it probably depends on the severity of the diagnosis.
Sorry, my comment was pertaining to life insurance, not travel insurance. Completely different situations. 😉
Unfortunately, there aren't too many diagnoses that medical science consider to be more severe than SSc, which insurance companies are well aware of. Life insurance companies here will often black list anyone with a progressive systemic disease that has no cure. Systemic sclerosis is considered the most severe of the connective tissue diseases. The multi-organ system involvement, high mortality and morbidity rate, and frequently rapid progression to disability generally keep insurers from touching it - or if they do, the coverage will be too limited and exorbitantly priced to do any good. I hope you find differently in the U.K., but prepare yourself for a similar situation and be sure to read the fine print. Let us know what you find out, and best of luck. 🍀
This is cary, Diane! Shouldn't the severity and progression of the disease determine somehwat what sort of cover one is to get? I mean, systemic scleroris is a diagnosis that presents itself very differently amongst people...
Hi Tanya, unfortunately, no, because there is no way to know which complications will develop or how severe the disease will become in each individual. While SSc has differing individual presentations, even the mildest presentations can progress to severe disability. Those with limited systemic sclerosis often have a less severe onset and a more gradual progression, but it progresses nevertheless. The bottom line is that the risk of serious complications and progressive disability in anyone with a diagnosis of SSc are far greater than in the general population - and in many other diseases - and a bad bet for life insurance companies. Pulmonary hypertension (PAH) is just one serious complication of SSc and up to 25% of people with limited SSc will develop this. Interstitial lung disease is a significant risk in diffuse SSc. Esophageal and other GI involvement is very common and worsens over time, kidney involvement can develop, and some people (usually with diffuse) develop "scleroderma stiff heart" as the disease progresses. In other words, it doesn't matter how it presents, systemic sclerosis is considered one of the worst progressive diseases out there and life insurance companies are well aware of this and screen for it.
Scary? Very. All we can do is make sure we have the best care available, live as healthy a lifestyle as possible, and hope for new treatment developments - and a little bit of luck. As for life insurance? Start putting a little aside each month in a low risk investment portfolio or savings account. You may be able to get a really small amount of coverage somewhere (less than $10,000) from one of those companies that advertise you can't be turned down, but read the small print, as I think most of those even exclude scleroderma.
You make a lot of sense, Diane! at the end of the day, insurance companies are there to make money and they wouldn't want to take a bet so risky (i.e. - us). I guess that leaves me with little flexibility to ever go back to the States where I used to live for 5 years less than a decade ago. Tha ks for your thorough response!
Thanks all for the help and thoughts...if I find anything I will post it up here 😄
I would suggest you open a savings account..investment account...for future..problems...insurance companys.. Take...and they fight you not to pay..I'min my 60's..if i had invested what i gave the ins.companys..i'd be the millionaire....not them..
I managed to get annuall cover for Europe for £200+ from 'Insure with' despite systemic disease with lung involvement, gastric reflux etc. Don't know how I'll do next time. You need to shop around. Best of luck
@Aubmtz does this work as a way of sharing??
Yes @Bean82, thanks for all the information. I was feeling very low and stressed after my broker told me all the companies did not want to give me a life insurance. I guess I can understand why after reading all these info. I might have to consider saving the money into a separate account and pray that nothing happens to me till i finish paying for the mortgage . Very grateful to you all. We continue to fight on
@The_Bear no worries. Let me know if you get this 😄
My Life Through Pictures & Poems
Holiday advice please
About to get confirmation that I am suffering from Raynauds
Scared, Muscle Aches, Progression
Raymounds condition or disability?
