Can you get life insurance with kidney disease?

Yes, it could be possible to get life insurance if you have chronic kidney disease (CKD).

You may be able to secure financial protection for your loved ones depending on certain factors such as the severity of your condition and whether you have any other health complications.

Most insurers recognise that those with kidney disease live a normal life expectancy, so may offer cover if you live a healthy lifestyle and have no other health risks.

Your eligibility may also vary between different insurers. In some cases, you may find that a specialist insurer will accept your application, where mainstream insurers may not.

Navigating the world of life insurance when you have kidney disease can be difficult, but that’s where Reassured (an FCA-regulated broker) can help.

Finding out your available options and securing a policy could be easier than you think by using our award-winning, fee-free service.

Our specialist team are on hand to help you identify the most suitable insurers from our panel, and source the best rates we can offer based on your circumstances.

Contact Reassured for expert support and free life insurance quotes.

In this guide:

Life Insurance with Kidney Disease » Get Quotes

Life insurance and kidney disease key points:

  • When applying for life insurance, you’ll need to provide specific details about your kidney disease, including test results (if available)
  • With your permission, insurers may request a medical report from your GP (to obtain more information about your health)
  • Some insurers may request that you undergo a medical exam if your condition is severe and/or if there are other high-risk factors
  • If you’re refused cover with one life insurance provider, you may be able to secure cover elsewhere, such as with a specialist insurer
  • You may consider over 50s life insurance (guaranteed acceptance) if you’re aged 50 - 85 and can’t secure standard life insurance
  • It’s thought that more than 1 in 10 people in the UK are may have slight kidney disease[1]
  • Most people who’ve been diagnosed with kidney disease fall into the mild or moderate category[2]
  • Having kidney disease could increase your risk of other conditions, such as heart disease or stroke, particularly if you smoke or are overweight[3]
  • Leading a healthy lifestyle is important to help improve your health and insurability
  • An FCA-regulated life insurance broker, such as Reassured, can put you in touch with insurers most likely to accept your application

Does life insurance cover kidney disease?

Yes, if you take out a valid life insurance policy then this will cover all causes of death, including kidney disease.

Life insurance will pay out to your loved ones when you pass away as long as:

  • You provide all relevant information required on your application form
  • You’re completely honest about the nature of your kidney disease
  • You keep up to date with your monthly premium payments
  • You pass away within the policy term

Why take out life insurance?

Whether or not you have a long-term health condition, life insurance could be essential if you have financial dependents, such as children and/or a partner.

Life insurance pays out a cash lump sum if you pass away during a set term (or when you pass away if you choose whole of life cover).

Depending on your personal circumstances and budget, you could take put a policy to help cover:

  • A mortgage or rental costs
  • Household bills and day-to-day family living expenses
  • Childcare fees or other education costs
  • Unpaid debts in your name, such as personal loans and credit cards
  • An inheritance for your family

Many people also take out life insurance to help contribute towards their funeral costs, particularly as the average cost of a UK funeral is £3,953 and the average cost of dying is £9,200[4].

There are different policy types to choose from to suit varying needs, including:

  • Term-based life insurance
  • Whole of life insurance
  • An over 50s plan
  • Family income benefit

We explain the key features of each policy type below…

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Do you have to tell insurers about your kidney disease?

Yes, you must tell insurers about your kidney disease. Failure to disclose any pre-existing medical conditions when applying for life insurance can invalidate your cover.

If any details are inaccurate or certain information was concealed, then this can be discovered after your death and will prevent a pay out to your loved ones.

It’s essential to be completely honest when filling in a life insurance application form so insurers can provide you with the right protection.

Kidney disease life insurance questions

When you apply for life insurance with kidney disease, insurers will ask specific questions about your condition. For example:

  • When were you diagnosed?
  • Do you have any symptoms? If yes, how severe are your symptoms?
  • Are you receiving any treatment; if yes, what treatment? Or, are you awaiting treatment?
  • Are you awaiting any investigations, tests or a referral to a specialist?
  • Do you have any other health complications?
  • Do you have any recent test results / readings? (GFR and Creatinine)

This information will help insurers to assess the level of risk you pose and determine whether they can offer you a policy (and, if so, what your monthly premium would be).

In some cases, applicants with chronic kidney disease may be asked to provide further medical evidence, such as a medical report or exam, during the application process.

If an insurer requests a medical report

This is provided by your GP, with your permission. It doesn’t cost anything, and you don’t have to do anything, unless you want to read the report before it’s sent on to the insurers.

If an insurer requests a medical exam

This is an overall health check, usually carried out by a GP, nurse or other medical professional, at a time and place convenient for you. It also doesn’t cost anything.

Providing further medical information during the application process, if required, will help to ensure that you take out the right cover to protect your loved ones.

How does kidney disease affect premiums?

Having a kidney condition could mean that you’ll pay a higher premium for life insurance.

However, the exact amount you’ll pay will depend on your personal circumstances and the severity of your condition.

Other factors that will affect the cost of your life insurance premiums include:

Insurers assess each application on a case-by-case basis, so premium rates will vary greatly between different applicants with kidney disease.

As a result, it’s important to compare multiple quotes from different insurers.

Contact Reassured to get your free, personalised quotes.

Looking for life insurance with no medical questions? Then you may consider over 50s life insurance, available to those aged 50 - 85 through Reassured.

Read our dedicated life insurance no medical guide for more detailed information »

Secure an over 50s plan through Reassured from just £5 a month + .

Get Over 50 Life Insurance No Medical Quotes »

Best life insurance with kidney disease

There are different types of life insurance to suit varying needs. Having kidney disease could affect which option is best for you.

Typically, term-based life insurance is the most affordable and may be the most accessible for those with pre-existing medical conditions.

Although over 50 life insurance could also be an option if you’re aged 50 – 85 and want to avoid medical questions or an exam when applying.

Term life insurance with kidney disease

Term life insurance

This type of policy could provide your family with a financial safety net if the worst happened to you.

It can help protect a mortgage and other essential costs, so your family could manage without your income.

It pays out a cash lump sum if you pass away during a set term (for example, 30 years).

Over 50s plans with kidney disease

Over 50 life insurance

An over 50s plan guarantees to pay out a cash lump sum when you pass away. It’s usually taken out to help cover funeral costs.

The cover limit is lower than other policy types (up to £20,000), but you won’t have to disclose your kidney disease during the application process.

Acceptance is guaranteed if you’re 50 – 85 and a UK resident.

Whole of life insurance with kidney disease

Whole of life insurance

Whole of life insurance provides cover for the rest of your life and guarantees to pay out a cash lump sum when you pass away.

Unlike over 50 life insurance, the application includes questions about your health and lifestyle, but the pay out can be higher depending on your needs and circumstances.

Family income benefit with kidney disease

Family income benefit

Family income benefit is like term life insurance; however, it will pay out in fixed monthly payments (instead of a lump sum) if you pass away during the policy term.

This could help your family cover monthly expenses such as housing costs, utility bills and food shops.

At Reassured, we can explain these policy options in more detail as well as provide quotes. Get in touch to compare your free, no-obligation quotes.

Additional policy options and benefits

Terminal illness cover

Allows you to make an early claim on your policy if you’re diagnosed with a life-threatening illness and predicted to pass away within 12 months.

Included with term-based policies (and some over 50s policies) at no extra cost through Reassured. May not cover chronic kidney disease or related conditions, depending on the insurer.

Critical illness cover

Provides a cash pay out if you’re diagnosed with a specified critical illness, such as stroke, cancer or heart attack.

Critical illness cover can be added to your life insurance policy for an extra cost. May not cover chronic kidney disease or related conditions, depending on the insurer.

Income protection

This type of policy can pay out up to 70% of your income (depending on the insurer) if you’re unable to work due to illness or injury, in return for a monthly premium.

Income protection may not cover chronic kidney disease or related conditions, but will cover a broad range of other illnesses.

Reassured can help you to compare quotes from the UK’s leading providers.

Polycystic kidney disease life insurance

Life insurance is also available to those with polycystic kidney disease, but it depends on the severity of your condition and whether you have any other health risks.

During the application you’ll need to answer additional questions about your condition. It’s also likely that you’ll need to provide further medical evidence, either from your medical records or by attending an exam.

Insurers will take into account the following factors:

  • Date of diagnosis
  • Treatment/medication
  • Severity of symptoms
  • Other health complications

If you’re offered a policy, then your premiums are likely to be higher than a standard applicant due to the increased risk.

Also, some mainstream insurers may not accept your application based on your circumstances, but you may find cover with a specialist insurer.

If you’re looking for life insurance with polycystic kidney disease, get in touch with Reassured to see if we can help you find a suitable insurer.

Life insurance for kidney transplant patients

If you’ve had a kidney transplant and looking for financial protection for loved ones, then it could still be possible to get cover.

Insurers will take into account various factors when assessing your application, such as:

  • When the surgery took place
  • How well you’re recovering from the surgery
  • Whether the kidney donor was living or deceased
  • Your recent GFR and creatinine levels

Generally, those who’ve had a kidney transplant will need to wait a certain period (such as 12 or 24 months) before they’re eligible for life insurance.

It’s also likely that insurers will want to see a medical report (from a doctor) before making a decision about an application, and premiums will be increased.

If you’re struggling to find life insurance after a kidney transplant, and you’re aged over 50, then you may consider no medical life insurance (also known as over 50s life insurance).

At Reassured, we can provide quotes for over 50s life insurance which guarantees acceptance to those aged 50 - 85 and there are no medical questions when you apply.

Get in touch with our team to see if we could help you find a life insurance policy that meets your needs.

Declined life insurance due to kidney disease?

If you’ve been declined life insurance in the past due to having kidney disease, this shouldn’t stop you from trying again if you want to secure cover for your family.

Every insurer will evaluate the risk of your application differently, so if you’ve been refused by one insurer then it could still be possible to secure cover with another.

This means you may still have options available to you.

At Reassured, we have a dedicated specialist impaired risk team who’ve a brilliant track record of finding some form of cover for applicants with pre-existing medical conditions.

Our experts know the different criteria for each insurer we work with and have access to specialist life insurance policies (if required), to try and help you find a suitable policy.

So, if you’re wondering what to do next, then get in touch with Reassured for specialist support and free quotes.

Kidney disease related health conditions

Kidney disease can cause (or be caused by) a number of health conditions, including:

Life insurance with kidney disease through Reassured

Whether you need life insurance to protect the financial future of your loved ones, or to leave some money behind to help towards your funeral, it could be possible to get cover if you have kidney disease.

At Reassured, we can provide quotes for various policies from a panel of major insurers and smaller specialists, to try and help you find a suitable option.

Our dedicated experts will listen to your requirements and take the time to understand your circumstances, as well as assist with any application forms.

The best part is that our service is FEE-FREE and there’s no obligation to take out a policy through us.

Contact Reassured to see if you can get protected today.

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Sources:

[1] https://www.kidney.org.uk/what-is-kidney-disease/

[2] https://www.kidneyresearchuk.org/kidney-health-information/living-with-kidney-disease/dealing-with-your-diagnosis/

[3] https://www.kidney.org.uk/chronic-kidney-disease/

[4] https://www.sunlife.co.uk/funeral-costs/

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