Digestive diseases such as Crohn’s disease, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), ulcerative colitis, diverticulitis, and celiac disease affect millions of Americans each year. [1] Having one of these conditions won’t disqualify you from buying life insurance. However, the type of condition you have and the kind of treatment you’re following, as well as your overall health profile, will determine your options and the cost of your premiums.
Can you get life insurance if you have Crohn’s disease?
Yes — you can buy life insurance if you have Crohn’s disease. Coverage may be more expensive than life insurance for people with other inflammatory bowel disorders (IBD), but it will depend on your specific circumstances.
Crohn’s disease leads to digestive tract inflammation and can cause fatigue, weight loss, abdominal pain, and malnutrition. There’s no known cure for Crohn’s and it can lead to life-threatening health complications, including blood clots and abscesses in the intestinal wall. [2]
However, if your Crohn’s is well-managed and you don’t have any other major health concerns, you’ll likely still be able to get insured.
Can you get life insurance if you have irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)?
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is unlikely to affect your ability to get life insurance. Insurance companies view IBS as a less serious digestive disorder because it’s fairly common and doesn’t typically lead to life-threatening complications.
Most people with IBS, which affects the large intestine, are able to control the disorder with diet and lifestyle changes. [3] Depending on your overall health profile, a few insurance companies may be able to offer you their lowest rates even if you have a history of IBS.
Can you get life insurance if you have ulcerative colitis?
Ulcerative colitis is another type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that affects the large intestine and rectum, causing inflammation and sores along the digestive tract. [4]
Similar to Crohn’s, ulcerative colitis won’t affect your ability to get coverage, but you might pay higher-than-average life insurance premiums if you’ve had recent flare-ups, including weight loss and abdominal pain, or complications.
Can you get life insurance if you have celiac disease?
Celiac disease is a chronic digestive and autoimmune disorder that leads to damage in the small intestine. If untreated, it can lead to life-threatening complications, including coronary artery disease, cancer, or other autoimmune diseases like type 1 diabetes or multiple sclerosis (MS). [5]
However, if you have celiac disease and are following a gluten-free diet, you’ll be able to get life insurance at average or lower-than-average rates — though the cost will vary by insurance company.
Can you get life insurance if you have diverticulitis?
Diverticulitis is a type of disease caused by inflammation or infection in the lining of your digestive system, most often the intestines. Mild diverticulitis can typically be resolved through changing your diet and taking antibiotics, so it won’t disqualify you from getting life insurance coverage. [6]
Diverticulitis rarely causes severe or lasting complications, so some insurance companies can offer some of their lowest rates if your symptoms are under control.
What questions will insurance companies ask about your condition on your application?
Insurance companies ask specific questions when you apply for life insurance based on your health history in order to assess risk and determine the cost of your premiums. If you have a digestive disease, you can expect to answer some of the questions below.
Celiac disease
What’s the date of your first diagnosis/onset?
What’s the date of your last flare-up/acute presence of symptoms?
What’s the frequency of flare-ups/symptoms?
How is your condition being managed?
Crohn’s disease
What’s the date of your first diagnosis/onset?
What parts of your GI tract are most affected?
Have you experienced any dysplasia?
Have you experienced any extraintestinal diseases?
What medications are you taking?
What’s the date of your last colonoscopy?
Diverticulitis
What’s the date of your first diagnosis/onset?
What medications are you taking?
What’s the date of your last flare-up/acute presence of symptoms?
How is your condition being managed?
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
What’s the date of your first diagnosis/onset?
What medications are you taking?
What’s the date of your last flare-up/acute presence of symptoms?
What’s the frequency of flare-ups/symptoms?
Have you had any progression of flare-ups over the last 5 years?
Ulcerative colitis
What’s the date of your first diagnosis/onset?
What parts of your GI tract are most affected?
Have you experienced any dysplasia?
Have you experienced any extraintestinal diseases?
What medications are you taking?
What’s the date of your last colonoscopy?
How does having a digestive disease affect your life insurance premiums?
When you apply for life insurance, insurance companies assign you a health classification based on your overall medical profile and the specifics of any health condition you may have.
Health classifications are assigned based on your insurance risk and determine the cost of your premiums. In general, the better your health classification is, the lower the cost of your life insurance will be.
Each insurance company treats the same health condition and overall medical profile differently, so one insurer might assign you a better health classification than another. That’s why it’s important to shop for quotes across multiple companies.
What are life insurance health classifications?
Your health classification determines how much you’ll pay for life insurance. Insurers assign a classification after reviewing your health profile during the application process.
Here are the six health classifications used by most insurers, from the most affordable to the most expensive:
Preferred Plus offers the most affordable premiums. It’s usually assigned to people who have no or one well-controlled or resolved minor health condition and no family history of conditions like heart disease or cancer.
Preferred offers the second-lowest premiums. It’s usually assigned to people with one or two well-controlled or resolved minor conditions and no family history of conditions like heart disease or cancer.
Standard Plus offers the third-lowest premiums. It’s usually assigned to people who may have well-controlled or resolved mild-to-moderate conditions and who may have one death from heart disease or cancer in their immediate family.
Standard offers the fourth-lowest premiums. It’s usually assigned to people with well-controlled or resolved moderate health conditions and who may have more than one immediate family member who died of heart disease or cancer.
Table Ratings are assigned to applicants with more serious health conditions and are divided into 10 sub ratings — table 1 has the lowest premiums and table 10 the highest.
Tobacco/Smoker ratings are assigned to people who currently use tobacco or nicotine products or have in the past 12 months. These ratings can also be applied to frequent marijuana users. There are usually three categories for people in this rating: Preferred, Standard, and Table Ratings.
When it comes to digestive diseases, in most cases you can expect to be assigned one of the following health classifications: Preferred Plus, Preferred, Standard Plus, or Standard. Here’s what they mean and the rates they offer.
Life insurance health classification | Rates | Qualifying health factors |
Preferred Plus: For applicants who are the lowest risk to insure. | Most affordable | Zero or one well-controlled minor health condition (for example, if you have IBS that doesn’t require medication and you haven’t had a flare-up in the last year) |
Preferred: For applicants who are lower-than-average risk to insure. | More affordable | One or two well-controlled, minor health conditions (for example, if you have celiac disease that’s been stable with no complications, and has been well-managed with diet for the past five years) |
Standard Plus or Standard: For applicants who are an average risk to insure. Some insurers don’t offer a Standard Plus health classification. | Average | One or two moderate or chronic health conditions (for example, if you have Crohn’s disease that’s been stable, with no flare-ups, and hasn’t required medication in the last five years) |
Learn more about life insurance classifications
What are the best life insurance options for people with a digestive disease?
The best type of life insurance policy for you depends on your financial and coverage needs. If you qualify for a traditional life insurance policy, you’ll likely want to choose between term life and whole life insurance.
Term life insurance only lasts for a set term, usually between 10 and 30 years, and is the most affordable way for most people to protect their income and provide their family with a financial safety net in the event of their death. Term life is easy to manage and doesn’t come with many rules or tax restrictions.
Whole life insurance doesn’t expire and comes with a cash value that earns interest in addition to the death benefit payout — which makes it significantly more expensive than term life. However, it can be a good option for high-net-worth individuals looking to use life insurance to diversify their investment portfolio, or people with long-term financial obligations or coverage needs, like dependents who require lifelong care.
If you’re not sure which type of life insurance is best for your specific situation, a Policygenius expert can help you compare options.
What are the best life insurance companies for people with digestive diseases?
Methodology
Why you can trust our picks
Our recommendations are based on internal and external expert analysis, as well as our Policygenius Life Insurance Price Index, which uses real-time data from leading life insurance companies to determine pricing trends. When reviewing a life insurance company, our editorial team uses a proprietary scoring rubric with five factors — price, policy details, financial strength, transparency, and customer experience — to assign an unbiased rating between one and five stars. These ratings are also taken into consideration as part of our company recommendations. We don’t get paid for our reviews.
Our reviews and recommendations can help you find a reliable insurer for your family’s financial protection, but the best life insurance company for you depends on multiple factors. A licensed agent at Policygenius can support you during the application process to ensure you get the right coverage for your circumstances at the most competitive price.
2024 Policygenius award winner
Corebridge Financial
4.6
30+ year terms
All 50 states
Why we chose it
With competitive pricing and a range of flexible term periods for its Select-a-Term product, Corebridge is a solid option for many life insurance shoppers. Note: We are currently using AIG’s financial strength ratings until Corebridge has its own rating.
Pros and cons
Pros
Competitive pricing for all ages
Favorable underwriting for people with heart conditions and diabetes
Good for current and recently pregnant people, including people with gestational diabetes
Cons
Not the best for people with mental health conditions, including anxiety and depression
No no-medical-exam term option
2024 Policygenius award winner
Legal & General America
4.9
30+ year terms
All 50 states
No-medical-exam option
Why we chose it
Legal & General America, which also does business as Banner Life and William Penn, has some of the longest term lengths — up to 40 years — and most competitive life insurance rates available, even for people with a history of medical conditions.
Pros and cons
Pros
Competitive rates for a variety of health conditions
Fast instant-decision option for qualifying applicants
Variety of term lengths up to 40 years
Cons
Application underwriting can take longer than average
Does not have the most competitive rates for older applicants
2024 Policygenius award winner
Lincoln Financial
4.8
No-medical-exam option
Why we chose it
Lincoln Financial offers a diverse array of life insurance policies, including competitive no-med and high-net-worth options.
Pros and cons
Pros
Affordable rates
Good for many existing health conditions, including depression, stroke, and heart conditions
Good for marijuana users, including daily users
Cons
Term life not available in New York
2024 Policygenius award winner
Pacific Life
4.8
All 50 states
No-medical-exam option
Why we chose it
Pacific Life offers some of the lowest rates for term life insurance across age brackets. It also has the most competitive rates for many health conditions and builds.
Pros and cons
Pros
Extremely affordable across age brackets
Affordable guaranteed universal life insurance option for people who need lifetime coverage
Favorable underwriting for many health conditions
Cons
Traditional term life not available in NY
There are better carriers for active duty military, people who have a history of alcohol abuse, and people who have been through bankruptcy
Protective
4.8
30+ year terms
Why we chose it
Protective has some of the most affordable and comprehensive life insurance options available.
Pros and cons
Pros
Competitive rates for all ages and health classifications
Good for people with mental health conditions, kidney conditions, and some cancers, including prostate cancer
Term lengths up to 40 years
Cons
Not available in New York
Not great for people who have had bankruptcy, marijuana users, or visa holders
Limited no-medical-exam policy options
Transamerica
4.6
No-medical-exam option
Why we chose it
Transamerica is one of the oldest and largest life insurance companies, with over 12 million active accounts today. It offers affordable rates for almost every age, and you can even skip the medical exam if you fall under a certain age or coverage amount.
Pros and cons
Pros
Competitive rates for term life insurance
No-medical-exam available for qualifying applicants, including smokers and people between 60 and 70, which is rare
One of the fastest turnaround times in the industry for traditionally underwritten term policies
Cons
Term life not available in New York
Not a good option for people with a history of cancer, alcohol abuse, or asthma
Best for people with Crohn’s disease: Corebridge Financial, Legal & General America, Transamerica
Our analysis found that Corebridge Financial (formerly AIG Life & Retirement), Transamerica, and Legal & General America (which also does business as Banner Life and William Penn) may all offer you Standard — that is, average — rates depending on your symptoms and treatment. As part of the application process, the insurance company will likely require an attending physician statement (APS) from your primary doctor to get a full picture of your health.
Insurance company | Best possible health classification | Qualifying health factors |
|---|---|---|
Standard | No medications, no flare-ups in the last five years , diagnosed over age 35 | |
Standard | Diagnosed as mild, at least six months after diagnosis | |
Standard | No medications in five years, no flare-ups in over five years, diagnosed over age 35 |
Best for people with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS): Legal & General America, Lincoln Financial, Transamerica
We recommend comparing quotes from Legal & General America, Lincoln Financial, and Transamerica since those companies have more flexible guidelines for people with IBS. Depending on your overall health profile, if you haven’t had IBS flare-ups and haven’t required medication for your condition in the last year, you could even receive the lowest, most affordable rates.
Insurance company | Best possible health classification | Qualifying health factors |
|---|---|---|
Preferred Plus | No medication required, no flares-ups in the last year | |
Preferred Plus | No medication required, no flare-ups in the last year | |
Preferred Plus | No medication required, no flare-ups in the last year |
Best for people with ulcerative colitis: Corebridge Financial, Pacific Life, Transamerica
Our analysis found that Corebridge Financial, Pacific Life, and Transamerica can all offer up to Standard (average) rates to people with ulcerative colitis. Insurance companies will usually request an APS if you have ulcerative colitis, so they can get additional context from your doctor.
Insurance company | Best possible health classification | Qualifying health factors |
|---|---|---|
Standard | Diagnosed as mild with no complications for greater than two years with no dysplasia | |
Standard | Diagnosed as mild with no complications for greater than two years with no dysplasia | |
Standard | Diagnosed as mild with no complications for greater than two years with no dysplasia |
Best for people with celiac disease: Lincoln Financial, Protective, Transamerica
According to our analysis, Lincoln Financial, Protective, and Transamerica offer the most affordable coverage options for people with celiac disease. Depending on frequency and recency of your flare-ups, you can expect to receive average or lower-than-average rates. If you have celiac disease, the insurer will likely request an APS from your doctor.
Insurance company | Best possible health classification | Qualifying health factors |
|---|---|---|
Standard | Stable for over two years, no complications, and managed with diet | |
Standard Plus to Standard | Stable for over two years, no complications, and managed with diet | |
Preferred | Stable over five years, no complications, and managed with diet |
Best for people with diverticulitis: Legal & General America, Lincoln Financial, Transamerica
Our analysis found that Legal & General America, Lincoln Financial, and Transamerica have the most flexible guidelines for people managing diverticulitis. If your last episode was more than five years ago and you’ve been managing your condition without medication, these companies may offer you Preferred rates, which are cheaper than average.
Insurance company | Best possible health classification | Qualifying health factors |
|---|---|---|
Preferred | Last episode over 5 years ago, managed without medication | |
Preferred | Last episode over 5 years ago, managed without medication | |
Preferred | Last episode over 5 years ago, managed without medication |
Comparing the best life insurance companies for people with digestive diseases
Insurer | Policygenius rating | Best for | AM Best rating | |
4.9/5 ★ | Crohn’s disease, IBS, diverticulitis | A+ | ||
4.8/5 ★ | IBS, celiac disease, diverticulitis | A | ||
4.8/5 ★ | Ulcerative colitis, | A+ | ||
4.8/5 ★ | Celiac disease | A+ | ||
4.6/5 ★ | Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis | A | ||
4.6/5 ★ | Crohn’s disease, IBS, ulcerative colitis, celiac disease, diverticulitis | A |
Learn more about the best life insurance companies of 2024
How much does life insurance cost if you have a digestive disorder?
Many people with digestive conditions such as Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, or celiac disease can expect to pay Preferred or Standard life insurance rates, which are lower than average or average. A 30-year-old non-smoking female with a digestive condition can expect to pay $22.98 per month for a 20-year term life insurance policy at Preferred rates or $34.41 per month at Standard rates. A 30-year-old non-smoking male with a similar profile can expect to pay $29.32 or $43.11 per month for the same coverage.
Age | Gender | Preferred rates | Standard rates |
|---|---|---|---|
30 | Female | $22.98 | $34.41 |
Male | $29.32 | $43.11 | |
40 | Female | $35.27 | $53.51 |
Male | $42.94 | $67.19 | |
50 | Female | $78.29 | $121.88 |
Male | $102.50 | $156.80 | |
60 | Female | $194.16 | $292.85 |
Male | $268.04 | $408.84 |
Methodology: Average monthly rates are calculated for male and female non-smokers in a Preferred and Standard health classifications obtaining a 20-year, $500,000 term life insurance policy. Life insurance averages are based on a composite of policies offered by Policygenius from Brighthouse Financial, Corebridge Financial, Legal & General America, Lincoln Financial, Mutual of Omaha, Pacific Life, Protective, Prudential, Symetra and Transamerica, and the Policygenius Life Insurance Price Index, which uses real-time data from leading life insurance companies to determine pricing trends. Rates may vary by insurer, term, coverage amount, health class, and state. Not all policies are available in all states. Rate illustration valid as of 02/01/2024.
How to buy life insurance if you have a digestive disease
It’s easy to buy life insurance, even if you have a digestive condition.
Connect with an agent. A Policygenius agent can help you shop around to find the best life insurance company for your health profile and compare quotes from multiple insurers in one place.
During the application process — also known as underwriting — you’ll need to disclose your condition on your health questionnaire and list any medications you’re taking.
Next, you’ll likely take a medical exam, which is a very common part of the life insurance application process.
As part of the application, the insurance company may also require an attending physician statement (APS) from your doctor in order to have a clearer picture of your digestive condition.
You’ll then wait for the insurer to review your application and extend a final offer, which can take up to a couple of weeks.
Once underwriting is complete and you have a final rate, you can accept your offer and pay your first premium to activate your policy.
What if your life insurance application is declined?
For the most part, a digestive health issue won’t affect your ability to get life insurance. Some insurance companies might not offer you their best possible rates, but in many cases, they won’t deny you coverage.
Even if your application is turned down, you still have options.
Wait & reapply
If your application for life insurance was declined by the insurer, you may be able to make some lifestyle changes and reapply for coverage in the future. Many insurance companies look more favorably at people with gastrointestinal conditions who are seeking treatment, or who have their symptoms under control for one to five or more years — depending on the condition.
Group life insurance
Group life insurance is offered by many employers for free, or at a subsidized rate, and usually provides one to two times your annual salary in coverage. This coverage may not be enough to fully protect your family, but it’s better than going without any coverage at all. Group life policies usually don’t have medical requirements for approval, so even if you have a pre-existing medical condition, you can get covered.
Guaranteed issue life insurance
Guaranteed issue life insurance is a policy that doesn’t expire and is aimed at covering end-of-life expenses, such as a funeral or medical bills. You usually need to be between age 45 and 80 to qualify. While coverage amounts are usually low — up to $25,000 — and it costs more than term life insurance, approval is near-guaranteed.
Learn more about the different types of life insurance
Other health concerns that can affect your life insurance
Certain pre-existing conditions and other health-related factors can affect your life insurance options or costs. A Policygenius expert can help you find the right policy for your needs.
Mental health issues such as depression or anxiety
