Why eczema seldom changes the price
Life insurance prices the chance of a claim during the policy term. Eczema can be uncomfortable, itchy and frustrating, yet it is not a condition insurers link to a shorter life, so it usually has no effect on life cover at all.
That does not mean the insurer ignores it. The application may still ask about skin conditions, and a clear answer helps the underwriter move on quickly. A short note on your treatment and how often it flares is often all that is needed, and many people never hear another question about it.
Details that can prompt extra questions
A few situations get a closer look. If you have needed courses of oral steroids, an immune-suppressing tablet or a newer injected treatment, the insurer may want to know why and for how long. Hospital admissions for infected eczema are also worth mentioning, with the dates.
Insurers also know that eczema often turns up alongside asthma and hay fever. If you have asthma too, they will assess that separately, looking at inhalers, attacks and any hospital visits. A severe food allergy that needs an adrenaline pen may bring its own short set of questions.
- Steroid tablets or immune medicines
- Hospital treatment for infected skin
- Asthma or severe allergies alongside the eczema
- Time off work because of your skin
Income protection and work-related dermatitis
Income protection pays when you cannot work, so the insurer thinks about your job as well as your skin. Hairdressers, nurses, cleaners, chefs and builders handle water, chemicals or cement every day, and hand dermatitis can stop them working for a while.
If your skin has kept you off work, or a doctor has linked it to your job, an insurer may add an exclusion for skin conditions. Mild eczema with no time off often gets full cover. Each insurer decides for itself, so comparing a few can change the wording you are offered.
Answering accurately
Give the facts as they are today. Childhood eczema that cleared years ago and needs no treatment is very different from active eczema needing regular prescriptions, and the form usually asks about a set period, so read each question carefully.
If you are unsure whether to mention something, say so to your adviser. Over-explaining rarely causes harm, while missing information can lead to problems if your family ever needs to claim. Your GP record lists repeat creams and referrals, so that is a good place to check dates.
How Hi Tomorrow helps with eczema
For most people with eczema, our main job is reassurance and speed. We check the few details that matter and point you towards insurers on our panel that handle skin conditions simply, so the application is not held up by questions that have no bearing on the result.
We also check the rest of your application for anything that matters more than your skin, such as smoking, weight or another condition. That way the advice you get reflects your whole situation, and the cover we recommend matches the amount and term your family actually needs.
If you work with your hands and want income protection, we look at how each insurer treats skin conditions for your type of job. We explain any exclusion before you decide, and we can suggest a deferred period that fits the sick pay your employer gives.