Questions about your attacks
Gout happens when uric acid builds up and forms crystals in a joint, often the big toe, causing sudden, severe pain. Insurers ask when your first attack was, how many you have had recently and when the last one happened. They may also ask which joints were affected and whether any lumps of crystals, called tophi, have formed under the skin.
They also ask about treatment. Some people only need anti-inflammatory medicine during an attack. Others take a daily medicine such as allopurinol to lower uric acid and prevent attacks. Both are common and neither counts against you.
- Date of first attack and most recent attack
- Number of attacks in the last year or two
- Preventive medicine such as allopurinol
- Uric acid and kidney function results
- Any kidney stones or joint damage
What travels with gout
Underwriters know gout often sits alongside other health factors: high blood pressure, raised cholesterol, type 2 diabetes, extra weight and alcohol. They look at these closely, because together they say more about heart and kidney health than gout does on its own.
Answer the alcohol and weight questions accurately. If you have made changes, such as cutting down on drinking, give the date. Some people find their gout eases once they drink less or lose weight, and those same changes can help with blood pressure and liver tests. An underwriter can only give you credit for improvements you tell them about.
The terms you might get
Occasional gout with no complications and normal kidney function usually gets standard life cover. If gout comes with raised blood pressure, high cholesterol or heavy drinking, the terms will reflect those factors. Reduced kidney function or repeated kidney stones may lead to a loading.
For income protection, frequent attacks that keep you off work may lead to an exclusion for gout, particularly in physical jobs. Critical illness cover is usually based on your heart and kidney risk factors rather than gout itself. Each insurer makes its own decision.
Declare it with the rest
Gout is often treated by your GP and appears in your prescription history. If the application asks about joint conditions or medication, include it. It rarely costs anything and means the insurer cannot question it later.
If gout led to tests that found something else, such as raised blood pressure or kidney changes, include those findings too. Doctors often check kidney function and blood sugar when they diagnose gout, so your record may hold results you have forgotten. A quick look at your NHS app before you apply will show them.
How Hi Tomorrow helps with gout
For most people with gout, life cover is straightforward. We make sure your attacks, medicines and related health details are clearly set out so the underwriter can decide quickly. That usually means a short conversation about dates and doses before the form goes in.
If you also have blood pressure, cholesterol or kidney concerns, we know which insurers on our panel weigh the overall picture fairly and we apply there first. For income protection, we check how insurers word any gout exclusion, especially if your job keeps you on your feet all day.