All is not lost in the search for cover post transplant, as Livi Jenkinson explains, times have changed.
Organ transplantation
Organ transplantation has developed over the years. The first successful transplant occurred in 1954, which was a kidney transplant. The first heart transplant took place in 1967.
The 1960s also saw the first liver and pancreas transplantations. Lung and small bowel transplantations then followed in the 1980s and now all these different types of transplants are routine clinical practice, occurring on a daily basis.
During April 2010 and April 2011 there were 2,687 kidney donations; 1,020 living donations and 1,667 donations taken from recently deceased people.
An estimated 600 to 700 liver transplants are carried out in the UK every year. There are three types of liver transplant:
• a deceased organ donation
• a living donor organ transplant
• a split donation
Some of the most common causes of liver damage and cirrhosis, in England are:
• Hepatitis C – a blood-borne virus that can cause extensive liver damage
• Alcoholic cirrhosis – the liver becomes scarred due to persistent alcohol abuse
• Primary Biliary Cirrhosis (PBC) – a poorly understood condition that causes progressive liver damage
Specialists, like Pulse, used here as an example, can offer life insurance to people who have undergone a transplant, where the standard market would not be able to assist.
As with most conditions, there are certain requirements which need to be met in order to be able to offer the cover. The following are broad guidelines to different types of transplants:
Kidney transplant
Cover can be available as quickly as six months after the operation. This will depend on reasonable results for blood and urine and no signs of rejection.
Liver transplant
The life to be insured must be between 18 and 59 to consider offering terms.
Pancreas transplant
The life to be insured needs to have had the transplant at least two years before cover can be considered.
Heart transplant
Underwriters can potentially look at a small sum assured and cover would most likely be restricted to a short term policy, maybe even underwritten every year.
Heart and lung transplants
Underwriters are unable to assist in providing life insurance when the assured has had a combined heart and lung transplant.
Awaiting test results
If the client is waiting for test results, a wait is necessary until results are received by their GP and underwriters can request them to assess.
Awaiting surgery
If the client is awaiting surgery, insurance would need to wait until the surgery is complete and the client is fully recovered before considering cover.
Some examples of cases in force at present are given in the box (left). There are, of course, still cases where cover is unobtainable or where there may be a postponing of the consideration of terms for a period. Each case is underwritten on its own merits.
Livi Jenkinson is marketing manager at Pulse Insurance
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Examples of cases in force at present Male Life, Aged 46, Non-Smoker |
