MEDICAL MATTERS
- Medical Matters features questions asked by Members of the ME Association on health-related topics.
- Dr Charles Shepherd and the ME Association's other advisers answer these questions by sharing their expert knowledge.
- Medical Matters is based on the popular ‘Ask the Doctor’ series in ME Essential magazine.
- It is a free resource that supplements the detailed information contained in the full range of literature that can be found in the website shop.
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Questions in the Category: Insurance
Life insurance, life expectancy and ME
I am in my early thirties and have had ME for about three years. Fortunately, I have not been severely affected and, while having to reduce my hours and duties at work, I remain employed and am gradually making some improvement.
Having reached a point in life where I think it would be sensible to have some life insurance I have approached a number of companies – all of whom have either refused or want to increase my premiums because I have ME.
So I have three questions:
Firstly, are you aware of any life insurance companies who are happy to arrange life insurance for people with ME without weighting the premiums?
Secondly, is there any evidence that people with ME have a reduced life expectancy?
Thirdly, can insurance companies refuse to insure people because they have ME?
Does ME affect life expectancy?
I am about to try and arrange a life insurance policy and have read a lot of conflicting information about what happens to life expectancy in ME. Before I approach an insurance broker please could you clarify what the position appears to be and whether I am likely to have problems in obtaining cover at normal rates.
Income Protection Insurance (IPI)
I am thinking about a Permanent Health Insurance policy. What can you tell me about them?
Dr Charles Shepherd
Dr Shepherd has been Trustee and Hon. Medical Adviser to the ME Association for more than 40 years. He is integral to the charity's activities and provides information and support based on his professional knowledge, personal experience as a doctor with ME/CFS, and the understanding gained from helping many thousands of people with the condition. He was a member of the comittee responsible for the 2021 NICE Clinical Guideline and is a recognised expert on ME/CFS in the UK. His knowledge extends to Post-Viral Fatigue Syndromes (PVFS), Myalgic Encephalopathy/Encephalomyelitis (ME), Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), and Post-Acute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC) or Long Covid.
If you have questions about ME/CFS or Long Covid, you can:
- Review the free information in the What is ME/CFS section of the website, and the free Covid-19 and Long Covid information in the website shop.
- Review the largest range of literature covering all aspects of living with ME/CFS. Download detailed information about symptoms, diagnosis, management, co-mordities, employment, education, related health conditions, The 2021 NICE Clinical Guideline, welfare benefits etc.
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Medical Matters is based on the popular ‘Ask the Doctor‘ series featured in the highly-regarded member’s magazine, ME Essential, and in the healthcare professional magazine, ME Medical. Both are produced by the ME Association and published as hard-copy magazines every 3 months and sent to members and healthcare professionals by post to home or business addresses.
If you are an HCP you can sign-up here to receive ME Medical magazine (people with ME/CFS can also nominate their HCP by completing the sign-up form).
