More than 1.5 million Americans live with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), a chronic autoimmune disease that affects the joints. If you have RA, you may be wondering about the process of obtaining life insurance and if your condition can affect your eligibility for coverage. While it’s certainly possible to qualify for life insurance when you have RA, it can impact how your rates are determined. In this article, we’ll walk you through what you need to know about buying life insurance while living with rheumatoid arthritis.
What is rheumatoid arthritis?
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic autoimmune disorder that primarily affects the joints, leading to inflammation, pain, swelling, and potential joint damage. This condition occurs when the body's immune system mistakenly attacks the synovium, the lining of the membranes that surround the joints, resulting in inflammation and the thickening of the joint lining. This, in turn, can cause joint deformity and erosion of the bone and cartilage. Early diagnosis and comprehensive treatment can help in managing the condition and minimizing its impact on daily life.
Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms
Signs and symptoms of RA include:
Pain or aching in more than one joint
Stiffness in more than one joint
Tenderness and swelling in more than one joint
The same symptoms on both sides of the body (such as in both hands or both knees)
Weight loss
Fever
Fatigue or tiredness
Weakness
Loss of appetite
Buying Life Insurance for Those with RA
The best way to buy life insurance for any individual, and especially those with RA, is by shopping around from multiple life insurance companies to find the lowest rate available to you. Each life insurance carrier calculates life insurance rates differently, so it’s important to compare quotes from a variety of companies. When you work with SelectQuote, we’ll make this process easy by doing the shopping and comparison for you.
Underwriting Life Insurance with Rheumatoid Arthritis
The life insurance underwriting process determines the premiums for your policy. There are many factors taken into consideration during underwriting, especially for those with chronic conditions like RA. The job of the underwriter is to look at an application and calculate the applicant’s risk level. For those with rheumatoid arthritis, the underwriter must consider different facets of this chronic condition, including the applicant’s medical history, treatment plans, and prescriptions, as well as the impact that RA might have on the individual’s lifespan.
Life Insurance Health Classifications for RA Severity
During underwriting, a rating is assigned to applicants with RA based on the severity of their condition. There are several categories that the applicant may fall into, depending on the progression of their RA and how it’s being managed. These categories are as follows:
Mild
No continuous treatment required
Minimal pain, slight pain, or stiffness in peripheral joints
No or minimal swelling and no deformity
Physical therapy and occasional use of aspirin and anti-rheumatic drugs
Moderate
More extensive joint involvement
Slight deformity or limitation in movement in affected joints
Frequent or continuous drug therapy
Severe
Chronic active disease
No complete freedom from pain
Moderate or marked deformities
Serious restrictions of movement and impairment of function
Continuous treatment, which includes oral steroids, abatacept (Orencia), anakinra (Kineret), azathioprine (Imuran), cyclosporine, gold salts, or rituximab (Rituxan)
Life Insurance Rates for Rheumatoid Arthritis
Life insurance rates are determined based on the risk level you pose to the insurer. Because your health significantly impacts how your premiums are determined, individuals with RA are likely to have higher rates than those living without a chronic condition. If your RA is mild or you can demonstrate that it’s well-managed with medication or other treatment, you may receive more favorable rates than RA that is not well-managed or that has progressed significantly.
Life Insurance Options if You Have Rheumatoid Arthritis
The right type of life insurance for people with RA will depend on many factors, including your specific coverage needs and the severity of your condition. Many people with RA are eligible for traditional term and whole life insurance. However, if you’re concerned about the impact of your RA on your ability to qualify for traditional life insurance, you can explore no medical exam life insurance options as well.
Term Life Insurance
Term life insurance is one of the most affordable forms of life insurance. You have the option to choose your term length and only buy it for as long as you need it. The lengths typically available are 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 years.
Whole Life Insurance
Whole life insurance is a form of permanent life insurance that provides coverage for your whole life as long as you keep paying the premiums. In addition to providing a death benefit, whole life insurance also includes a savings component known as the cash value.
No Medical Exam Life Insurance Options
If you’re worried about the life insurance medical exam affecting you in terms of cost or if you have been denied coverage previously, there are a few no medical exam options for life insurance:
Guaranteed Issue Life Insurance
Guaranteed issue whole life insurance falls under the category of final expense insurance. If you’re between the ages of 45-85, you can’t be turned down for guaranteed issue life insurance. There is no health-related questionnaire, only a basic application, making it a good fit for people with conditions like RA.
Simplified Issue Life Insurance
Simplified issue life insurance is a form of final expense insurance that bases your coverage on a questionnaire about your health and lifestyle rather than a medical exam. In addition to the health questionnaire, the carrier may run health database checks to learn more about your health history without you having to undergo a medical exam.
SelectQuote Can Help Those with RA Find Affordable Life Insurance
As an individual with RA, it’s important to shop around for your life insurance. At SelectQuote, we can do the legwork for you, searching some of the most trusted life insurance companies on your behalf and comparing rates in just minutes. We’ll make sure you get the coverage you need at a price that works for your budget.
