What is Crohn’s Disease?
Crohn’s Disease is a chronic inflammation of any part of the gastro-intestinal wall. The inflammation can include bleeding, cramping, abdominal pain, weight loss and diarrhea. The most common areas affected are both small and large intestines and rectum. Crohn's Disease can remain isolated in one spot of the intestine or jump around affecting several places at once at the same time. It can also affect different areas of the intestines with each flare up. Crohn's Disease cannot be cured and can be life threatening.
How Do Life Insurance Underwriters Review a Crohn’s Disease Diagnosis?
Underwriters need to know when the Crohn's Disease was first diagnosed, the frequency and duration of attacks, medications taken during the attacks and if any maintenance medications are taken to prevent flare ups. Additionally Underwriters will look for a patents response to treatment and the probability of the need for surgery for the condition in the future. Most declines for colitis are seen for individuals with a history of frequent episodes of inflammation over the course of ten to fifteen or more years lacking appropriate recent medical follow up (via colonoscopy).
· What is the date and type of original diagnosis?
· What is date of most recent episode?
- What is total number of episodes?
- What other Conditions have been diagnosed? (IBS, Ulcerative Colitis, Colon Spasms)
- Medications Used for treatment? (Time, duration, frequency, quantity)
Improve Your Chances Of Getting Approved For Life Insurance With Crohn’s Disease
Many Life agents are experts in researching what carrier’s concentrate on writing clients who have impaired risk such as Cohn’s disease and what questions and support materials will be needed prior to submitting the application. They can assist you by directing you to those carriers and carrier guidelines that will give careful deliberation to your specific criterion and measure it against their current sub-standard table ratings in order to get you approved at a favorable rate if possible. All carriers have their own table ratings for every impaired risk case.
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How Can You Assist in Obtaining a Favorable Underwriting Outcome
- A cover letter should address positive lifestyle habits. We suggest you complete our Questionnaire to help us negotiate the lowest possible rates for you.
- Frequent medical checkups with cancer screens, will help the underwriter make a more favorable assessment of the condition
- Attending Physician Statements (APS) Normal lab studies and documenting good nutritional habits, use of vitamin supplements, regular exercise, and good weight control
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What Underwriting Outcome Should I Anticipate?
Crohn’s disease in mild cases where individuals have irritable bowl syndrome lasting only a few weeks (i.e. not “true colitis”) without medications often can obtain standard rates.
Typical Life insurance underwriting cases of Crohn’s Disease can qualify for low to moderate table rating of 2-4 added to the standard rate. Severe cases with significant and frequent episodes of inflammation such as those that need corticosteroids may lead to a postponement until further treatment and or result in a decline
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