How insurers look at autism
Autism is a difference in how people communicate, process information and experience the world. It is not an illness that insurers price for in itself, so a diagnosis on its own usually leads to standard life cover.
Underwriters focus on health conditions that some autistic people also have. These can include epilepsy, anxiety, depression, ADHD and some digestive or sleep problems. Each is assessed on its own facts, in the same way it would be for anyone else, so the questions you see depend on your own history.
Some autistic adults find that standard questions do not quite fit their experience. If a question is unclear, it is fine to ask what the insurer means before answering. A precise answer to the question actually asked is always better than a guess.
Questions you may be asked
Expect a question about when and how you were diagnosed. After that, the insurer will ask about other conditions, the medication you take and any hospital stays. If you have support from a care team or a specialist, they may ask what that involves.
For income protection, they want to know about your job, how long you have been in work and any time off. This is about how likely a claim is, rather than any judgement about how you live. Steady work history helps your application.
- When you were diagnosed
- Other conditions, such as epilepsy or anxiety
- Medication and any hospital stays
- Your job and recent time off
The terms you might see
Standard terms are common for autistic adults with no other significant conditions. If you have epilepsy, the insurer looks at seizure control. If you have anxiety or depression, they look at severity and any recent episodes. Either may lead to a loading or, for income protection, an exclusion.
Parents and guardians often ask whether a child's autism affects their own application. When you apply on your own life, your child's diagnosis is not part of your medical questions, though it may shape how much cover you want and for how long.
Making the process work for you
Phone interviews with an insurer's nurse can be tiring or stressful. You can ask to complete follow-up answers in writing, take breaks, or have a trusted person with you. Insurers are expected to make reasonable adjustments, and a broker can ask on your behalf.
Give full answers about any conditions in your records, including ones that feel minor. That keeps the policy secure for the people who will rely on it, and avoids a dispute at the point of a claim.
How Hi Tomorrow helps autistic applicants
We can work in writing if you prefer not to talk on the phone, explain every question in plain words and give you time to check your answers. Nothing is sent to an insurer until you are happy with it, and we tell you in advance what will happen next.
We then compare insurers on our panel and explain what each one offers, including any exclusions, without jargon. If an insurer wants more information, we handle the contact and pass on only what you need to answer.