Arthritis Life Insurance

If you are looking to obtain life insurance and you suffer from Arthritis, you may find that companies will class you as “higher risk” and increase your premium accordingly. The impact will vary depending on the type of Arthritis you have and the severity of your condition, so it’s important to ensure that you know all the facts when obtaining a quote.

What Is Arthritis

Arthritis is a common condition that affects the joints causing pain, stiffness and reduced mobility. It is estimated that 10 million people in the UK are affected, making it a condition of extreme importance in healthcare. There are several different types of arthritis, the two most common being Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis. Each has a different cause and in turn a different range of symptoms.

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is a condition that many people refer to as ‘wear and tear’ of the joint. It is by far the most common type of Arthritis and results from a gradual breakdown of the cartilage within the joint that normally prevents bones from rubbing together. As the amount of cartilage in the joint gradually becomes less and less, the bones are free to rub against each other more and more causing symptoms of pain and reduced mobility. Typically it effects people over the age of 50, however is can occur at any age, particularly after sustaining a joint injury.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid Arthritis can affect people of all ages, but is most commonly affects women in their 40’s and 50’s. It is a result of the body’s own immune system attacking the joints, for reasons we fail to fully understand. As the immune system goes about breaking down the joints it causes symptoms of pain and inflammation that are often worst first thing in the morning. It is important that this condition is treated early to prevent permanent joint deformity. It is possible to get specialist Rheumatoid Arthritis Life Insurance.

Diagnosis
Both types of arthritis can be diagnosed by the GP who will ask various questions and perform routine examination of the effected joint(s). In addition they may send patients for blood tests and X-rays to confirm not only the diagnosis, but also the extent of the disease.

Treatment
Treatment of arthritis depends largely on which type of arthritis an individual is suffering with. Rheumatoid Arthritis requires aggressive early treatment with medications that target the immune system and prevent further destruction to effected joints. Osteoarthritis on the other hand, is treated more conservatively, initially with simple painkillers and regular physiotherapy.  As disease progresses, more potent painkillers and steroid joint injections are introduced.

In both diseases, if severe enough, the individual may be offered joint surgery in the form of knee, hip and shoulder replacements for Osteoarthritis and joint reconstruction for Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Life Insurance with Arthritis

There are several questions that you can expect to be asked when it comes to Arthritis Life Insurance. We have detailed them below so that you can be prepared with all of the relevant information to make the process easier:

• What type of Arthritis do you have? E.g. Rheumatoid, Psoriatic, Osteoarthritis etc…
• Are you awaiting any surgery?
• Have you had any surgery?
• How often do you experience symptoms?
• What medication are you taking?
• Does the condition limit your ability to carry out daily activities?

It can be challenging to find low cost life insurance if you are suffering from Arthritis, but knowing where to look can save time and money. Your Life Protected work with the UK’s leading and specialist life insurers meaning we have access to a huge range of Arthritis life insurance policies. We understand the underwriting procedures of each of the companies and can easily identify the provider best placed to offer low cost life insurance for your individual needs.

To find out more about life insurance with Arthritis or to get a quote, call us on 01275 404268 or fill in our online Get a Quote form.

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