How do life insurance underwriters view people who have rheumatoid arthritis?

Obtaining life insurance for people with rheumatoid arthritis will vary according to the degree of the disease, but most people who have this condition will likely qualify for a traditional life insurance policy.

Rheumatoid arthritis is generally not considered as a life threatening disease. However, individuals who have a more serious progression of this arthritis might be viewed by an underwriter as more of a risk to insure because the condition can compromise a person’s overall mobility.

A medical exam will be required for a person applying for a traditional life insurance policy. The rating that is assessed will be dependent on a number of criteria and in some more extreme cases may even be declined by some insurers.

An underwriter will want to know when the arthritis was first diagnosed and what medications are used. Symptoms that are controlled and are treated with NSAIDs (Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) will receive a relatively good rating.

The use of steroid medication and its frequency along with the prevalence of flares will also affect the rating. The results of diagnostic tests such as X-rays and MRI may be necessary.

More serious complications resulting from bone deformities especially in the knees and hips may result in a decline.

Finding life insurance for people with rheumatoid arthritis will vary from person to person.

What are the health risks of Rheumatoid Arthritis?

Rheumatoid arthritis is characterized as a multisystem disorder that can be chronic and cause inflammation in the joints. Its cause is unknown but is believed to stem from the autoimmune system.

Rheumatoid arthritis is not life threatening but can impact a person’s life as it affects the joints and may cause bone deformation, cartilage destruction that can severely impact a person’s mobility.

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It affects the synovial joints and limbs such as the fingers/hands, wrists, knees hips and other areas of the body.

Symptoms are usually manifested in the form of general muscle and joint stiffness which range from being mild to severe, along with aches and loss of function in the areas affected.

Finding life Insurance with Rheumatoid Arthritis

Finding life insurance for people with rheumatoid arthritis varies according to the progression of the disease. The majority of those suffer from this condition will have little difficulty in getting proved but may receive variable assessment ratings depending on what criteria is used.

The manner in how life insurance companies rate people can vary quite substantially as some have a more liberal approach than their competitors which can significantly affect the amount paid for a policy.

Other companies can be much more conservative which can result in getting a more substandard rating and an expensive policy.

The approach to buying the highest rated policy at the lowest premium can best be accomplished by obtaining a variety of quotes to compare costs. Another alternative is to use the services of independent insurance agents who specialize in serious health issues and know which insurers are likely to be more lenient.


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