Insurance Ireland is always engaging with different advocacy groups to ensure that insurance works for as many people as possible. With May being Coeliac Disease Awareness Month, and following on from our recent meeting with representatives of the Coeliac Society of Ireland, this blog article should shed some light on the access to insurance for people suffering from Coeliac Disease. People with Coeliac Disease will usually be able to get cover at normal premium rates for getting Life Assurance, including Mortgage Protection Insurance, Critical Illness and Income Protection cover if they satisfy the criteria below. As long as coeliac disease sufferers: have a clear diagnosis, maintain a normal body weight, follow the required diet, and have no complications and no other autoimmune or other co-existing medical conditions. It is important to remember that for life insurance purposes coeliac disease is treated as a low risk. Life insurers don’t “define” or “classify” Coeliac Disease in their policies, and importantly, Coeliac Disease would not be considered a “serious” or covered condition under a Specified Illness Cover plan. A well-controlled disease, through adherence to a gluten-free diet and maintaining a good weight ratio are some of the criteria for assessment when applying for insurance cover. However, a higher premium could apply in rare cases of complications or if you don’t follow the treatment. This could be not sticking to the diet, or some cases evidence of malabsorption or the rare complication of refractory coeliac disease. In the experience of our member companies who provided feedback to the survey, the vast majority of customers with coeliac disease fall into the well-controlled group and secure cover at ordinary/standard rates for Life Cover, Serious Illness and Income Protection. If you want to learn more about the coeliac disease and participate in some of the planned activities for the Awareness Month 2024 organised by the Coeliac Society of Ireland, please visit their website here.