Having researched this subject with various Life Companies in relation to Coeliac Disease, we have found that when applying for Life Insurance and Mortgage Protection, you should not have to pay above the normal premium once you are sticking strictly to a gluten-free diet and are in reasonable "good health".

However, these companies must take different factors into consideration when assessing each individual’s application. Underwriters take many facts into consideration to include:

• family health history
• current health status
• smoker or non-smoker
• height to weight ratio
• occupational risk
• dangerous activity risk.

Example 1

If I have Coeliac Disease but I also have insulin dependant diabetes, my health is more at risk than a person with only Coeliac Disease.

Example 2

If I have Coeliac Disease but there is a history of heart disease or cancer in my family, I smoke and am overweight, my health is more at risk than a person with only Coeliac Disease and a perfect history of family health etc.

Generally, you will be asked to attend for a Medical with a GP nominated by the Life Company or your own GP in order for them to make a fair assessment of your health, if they believe you to be more at risk than the average healthy person or perhaps just to establish your good health.

From talking to different underwriters, Coeliac Disease alone does not make you automatically "more at risk". We do not believe that people with Coeliac Disease are singled out over the average healthy person and therefore your policy will not be loaded (have to pay extra on your monthly premium) unless it can be justified by an underwriter that some of the above mentioned put you more at risk.

It may be one Life Company's policy to load Coeliacs at a certain rate because they have experience of them being more at risk. But there are plenty to choose from, so shop around. Policy within Life Companies can change depending on current trends.

If you have only been recently diagnosed, you may not be on a gluten-free diet long enough for an underwriter to make a fair assessment, in which case, your premium may be loaded until such time as you are seen not to be at risk anymore.

Should you have difficulty obtaining Life Cover or if you wish to query anything in relation to Life Cover, please do not hesitate to contact the Coeliac Society who will put you in contact with a member who works in the Insurance industry. Remember! The best thing you can do for your health if you are Coeliac is to strictly follow the gluten-free diet!