Life Insurance with Kidney Disease

If you’ve landed on this page, you’re probably searching for information about getting life insurance with kidney disease in Ireland.

Excellent, you’ve come to the right place.

We have helped many people get cover, not everyone, unfortunately, but the vast majority.

You see, in some cases, where the kidney is severely damaged, we can’t get you covered.

If we can’t, we won’t waste your time. We’ll tell you straight.

We know which insurers to approach and present your application to give you the best chance of getting life insurance or mortgage protection.

In this article, I’ll discuss the three most common forms of kidney issues we come across:

Chronic Kidney Disease
Polycystic Kidney Disease
Kidney Transplants

But we have also helped people with:

Glomerulonephritis
Nephropathy
Lupus nephritis
Nephrotic syndrome
Kidney cancer
And even rarer kidney diseases

So feel free to get in touch and discuss your case with us – in strict confidence.

Contents

Let’s start by looking at life insurance with chronic kidney disease (CKD):

What is CKD?

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a long-term condition where the kidneys do not normally work.

It’s quite common and is mainly associated with ageing. About one in five men and one in four women between the ages of 65 and 74 have some degree of CKD.

Our clients are usually a lot younger, and their CKD has an underlying cause.

What causes CKD?

The most common cause of CKD is damage caused by other chronic conditions, such as high blood pressure (hypertension) and diabetes.

CKD is more common in people of South Asian origin (India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Pakistan) and black people than in the general population. The reasons for this include higher rates of diabetes in south Asian people and higher rates of high blood pressure in African or Caribbean people.

How do life insurance providers view CKD?

CKD is a potentially serious condition. People with CKD have an increased risk of a stroke/heart attack because of circulation changes.

Early diagnosis can prevent further damage to the kidneys using a combination of lifestyle changes and medication.

These changes can also reduce your risk of a stroke or heart attack. It is, therefore, very important to help yourself as much as you can.

What information do you need to provide?

To run your case past my underwriters, I’ll need to know either:

the stage of your kidney disease (Stage 1, 2, 3A, 3B, 4, 5) or
your eGFR (estimated glomerular filtration rate – tell how well your kidneys are functioning)

Even better, complete this kidney disorders questionnaire.

What stage of kidney disease results in a decline?

Generally, eGFR under 40-45 is a poor risk, so it isn’t easy to get cover, and under 30 will be declined in all circumstances. So if you are stage 4 or 5, I won’t be able to get you cover, I’m afraid.

But there are several factors at play, so even if the eGFR is reasonable, the insurer may decline if there’s a large amount of proteinuria or poorly controlled hypertension.

Also, a rapid decrease in eGFR could lead to a decline.

Can you get life insurance or mortgage protection if you are on dialysis?

Unfortunately, the insurers won’t offer cover until six to twelve months after it finishes if you are on dialysis.

How much will I pay for life insurance with CKD?

You will pay more than somebody in perfect health, but it’s impossible to give you a multiple of how much more.

The insurers underwrite each case individually so that premiums vary from one applicant to the next.

If you’d like me to speak with my insurers and get you an indicative life insurance quote before applying, please complete this form giving as much detail as possible.

Now, let’s look at life insurance with Polycystic Kidney Disease

The following email inspired this article

Hi Nick, my Dad has PKD (polycystic kidney disease). I’m buying a house with my boyfriend and need life insurance. Is it possible to get mortgage protection or life insurance with kidney disease? Can you come back to me asap please – worried here!
Bríd

What is PKD?

Polycystic kidney disease causes cysts to develop in the kidneys.

Bríd has the most common type, an inherited condition – autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD)

With ADPKD, problems seldom develop until 30-50, with some people never developing any problems.

What are the chances of life insurance with PKD?

If you have been diagnosed with PKD, cover should be possible depending on the condition of your kidneys.

Unfortunately, cover won’t be possible if you were diagnosed with early-onset PKD (under 20 years of age).

What are the chances of life insurance with a family history of PKD?

Life insurance is possible for someone with a close relative who has PKD

Bríd has a 50% chance of developing PKD, but glass half full has a 50% chance of not developing it.

She will get covered if her tests are clear – renal ultrasound, renal function, blood pressure and urinalysis.

How much is life insurance with PKD?

The younger you are, the more expensive cover is because problems usually develop between 30 and 50.

Assuming all tests are clear, here’s a ballpark figure of how much Bríd will pay.

If she’s under 20, she will pay 100% more than someone in perfect health.
If she’s 20 to 30, she will pay 50% more than someone in perfect health.
If she’s over 31, the normal price for someone in perfect health is possible.

What about serious illness cover with PKD?

Serious illness cover is not possible if you’re under 30.

Up to age 50, you can get cover subject to a price increase.

Once you hit 50, you can get cover at the normal price.

What medical information will the insurers need?

I will need the following to discuss your case with our underwriters:

Stage of disease
Results of all investigations
Renal function past and present
Blood pressure past and present

Is there anything you can do to improve your chances?

Be proactive in managing your condition.

Work with your GP, following up on treatments and advice given to you.

Life insurance underwriters view regular checkups with your GP in a positive light.

They are most sympathetic when they see people taking control of their condition.

Use a broker who has a personal relationship with all five insurers

It’s tricky to get life insurance with kidney disease, so don’t blow your chances by making a sloppy application.

Use a broker who has a personal relationship with all 5 Irish insurance providers and experience arranging tricky cover.

They should focus on applying to the most suitable insurer. Be wary if they begin by discussing the cheapest option.

Can you get mortgage protection after a Kidney Transplant?

It’s possible, but it isn’t easy, and the cover is only possible in the best cases.

As you know, there is a risk of rejection of the transplanted organ, so that the insurers won’t consider cover until two years after the transplant.

There are also significant risks associated with taking long term immunosuppressive therapy on an ongoing basis to prevent rejection.

Finally, with kidney transplants, there is also a recurrence risk in the transplanted organ.

So what does a best-case look like?

Over to you…

Are you feeling a bit overwhelmed by it all?

Don’t worry.

You’re not alone.

We have arranged cover for people just like you (and Bríd!).

It’s not easy, it takes some time, but we’ll do our best to get you cover.

Feel free to complete this questionnaire, and I’ll be in touch. Even better, call me on 05793 20836, and we can have a chat in complete confidence.

Should you choose us, I look forward to helping to sort out your cover.

Thanks for reading

Nick