How easy will it be for my client who has Down's Syndrome to get life cover?
The short answer is that it will not be easy. First, you need to consider why cover is needed. In some cases it can be parents trying to arrange life cover on a child and although this is understandable, there is rarely any insurable interest.
An increasing number of adults with Down's Syndrome live semi-independent lives. While earned incomes are not likely to be high and children are very unlikely, a person with Down's Syndrome may want to be assured that a spouse will be looked after following their own death. In such cases, there would be an insurable interest.
Where adults with Down's Syndrome want to arrange life cover, the degree of learning disability would be taken into account as, in some cases, the more severe the learning difficulties, the more serious the physical disabilities.
Although the outlook is improving, there is still a high mortality rate associated with Down's Syndrome. Recent studies indicate that fewer than 50% of people will survive to age 60.
Down's Syndrome is associated with congenital heart disease, leukemia and early Alzheimer-type dementia. In addition, there is also an increased risk of heart and gastrointestinal abnormalities including ischaemic heart disease and gastrointestinal cancer.
Those with severe learning disabilities or health problems would be unacceptable for life cover, perhaps with the exception of short-term policies to cover funeral costs.
People who suffer less severe learning difficulties, no other severe health problems and whose general health is good, may be acceptable for life cover, with a rating ranging from +100% to +200% ' for plans up to age 55 maximum.
Applications for critical illness and income protection benefits would not be acceptable.
