Fibromyalgia/ME/CFS & Life Insurance

Gilly26

hi everyone,
i have just been diagnosed with Fibro & CFS/ME how difficult would it be for me to start a life insurance policy? i have no Isurances what so ever not even on my Mortgage and i am panicing now for the future of my kids....i know bit late now

ACG

This is one where you should get a copy of any diagnosis and reports that you have. GO and see an advisor, they can run it by the underwriters of the various companies and can hopefully find one for you. If available you might also want to consider Income Protection, you could end up taking time off work due to tiredness etc however i would be surprised if this is available.

My mum has ME and for the first few years it wasnt great she had to change her lifestyle to a less stressful one and its fine now. I dont know anything about Fibro or CFS however so i cant comment fully.

dunstonh

Are you still going through investigations and tests?

Gilly26

well i have had loads of blood tests completed over the last 18months, the gp has diagnosed me with CFS/ME. however 1st appointment with a specialst last week who confirmed that i have fibromyalgia/CFS. specialist gave me tramodol for the pain and will put me through what he calls a starvation diet in January he also wants me to comlete 7 more blood tests and a water sample tomorrow.

dunstonh

Thank you. Whilst you are still undergoing tests, the insurers will normally postpone offering cover (or terms of cover) until that is complete.

roxy13

Hi Gilly26.
I'm an underwriter for a life insurance company. Obviously i don't know all the details and different companies have different manuals but just wanted to let you know that most cases we see with your condition (in my company) are passed as normal rates. As dunstonh said you would be deferred until all tests and investigations have been done but on completion of those tests, as long as nothing else was discovered, i cannot see that this would affect your premium as it isn't a life shortening condition. Hope this helps a bit.

Abbi87

Hi, Sorry to hear about your condition. If you are over 50 there are many companies that offer over 50s life cover where no medical is needed I.E post office but usually the lump sum wouldnt be enough to cover a mortgaqe more to cover your funeral and a cash sum for your loved ones x

dunstonh

Whilst an over 50s plan would take premiums, it would not pay out on a pre-existing condition or on conditions that stem from that. Going with the underwritten life assurance would be better rather than the over 50s insurance which should always be viewed as an option of last resort.

weighty1_2

Hi Gilly26,

I specifically deal with insurance cases such as yours and I think the end decision will be based on certain factors. Most providers will look at whether you have any history of "mood" disorders, such as depression or anxiety which can be exacerbated by the CFS/Fibromyalgia and whether or not you can work becase of the condition. If there is no history of depression etc. AND you can work then the chances of you being able to obtain cover with the standard premium are quite high as Roxy stated, however, if these answers to these 2 questions are not as favourable then it is not unusual for providers to go to the opposite end of the scale and actually decline an application, or at least postpone until a point when the condition is better managed.

As has previously been mentioned you need to get the remaining blood tests out of the way first, but if these are imminent you could submit an application now on the basis that your GP would have the results by the time the provider has written to them.

Hope that helps

roxy13

weighty1 wrote: »

Hi Gilly26,

I specifically deal with insurance cases such as yours and I think the end decision will be based on certain factors. Most providers will look at whether you have any history of "mood" disorders, such as depression or anxiety which can be exacerbated by the CFS/Fibromyalgia and whether or not you can work becase of the condition. If there is no history of depression etc. AND you can work then the chances of you being able to obtain cover with the standard premium are quite high as Roxy stated, however, if these answers to these 2 questions are not as favourable then it is not unusual for providers to go to the opposite end of the scale and actually decline an application, or at least postpone until a point when the condition is better managed.

As has previously been mentioned you need to get the remaining blood tests out of the way first, but if these are imminent you could submit an application now on the basis that your GP would have the results by the time the provider has written to them.

Hope that helps

Even with ongoing anxiety and depression we would usually quote unless the applicant was suicidal. We realise that there usually is ongoing mood disorders with CFS/Fibro.

juneville

hi, which companies are the best for life insurance for people with fibromyalgia. i have been turned down by legal and general because i have pain daily, take antidepressants and have usual fibro symptoms daily