Can I get critical illness cover with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis?

It is often possible, though it is assessed more tightly than life cover. Some insurers offer full terms, some add a higher premium, and some exclude claims relating to the digestive system. We tell you clearly which of those you are being offered before you decide.

What is a bowel-related exclusion?

It means the policy will not pay a claim caused by your inflammatory bowel disease or related conditions. Everything else the policy covers, such as heart attack, stroke or many cancers, remains covered. Whether that is worth having depends on your circumstances, and we will talk it through honestly.

Is critical illness cover worth it if there is an exclusion?

For many people it still is, because the largest claim categories are unrelated to their bowel condition. For others it is not the right use of the budget. We will show you the cost either way so the decision is yours.

Do I need a GP report?

Not always. Straightforward cases can often proceed on your answers alone. If an insurer does want a report, we explain what they are asking for and keep you updated while we wait.

Critical illness cover with Crohn's and colitis

Critical illness cover pays a lump sum if you are diagnosed with one of the serious conditions listed in the policy. With inflammatory bowel disease it needs careful handling, because terms vary a lot between insurers. We will tell you plainly what is available to you and what it will cost.

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Being straight with you

Critical illness cover is the hardest of the three main products to arrange with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis. Some insurers will offer it on standard terms. Others will offer it with a bowel-related exclusion, or at a higher premium, and a few will decline.

We would rather say that up front than let you find out at the end of an application. A decline leaves a footprint other insurers can see, so we check quietly with insurers first and only submit where there is a realistic chance.

Written and reviewed by Andy Stevens, Co-Founder and Impaired Risk Life Insurance Specialist

CMap · Diploma in Regulated Financial Planning (CII) · Member of the Chartered Insurance Institute · Over 30 years in impaired risk life insurance

Last reviewed 29 August 2026. Advice is given by More Than Money Ltd, authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, Financial Services Register number 1047044. More about us.

This page is general information about insurance, not medical advice and not a personal recommendation.

What insurers look at

Whether your condition is stable, and how long it has been settled
Your treatment history, including biologics, immunosuppressants and steroid courses
Any bowel surgery, with dates and how well you recovered
Complications such as fistulas, abscesses or strictures
Hospital admissions in the last few years
Family history and lifestyle factors, which insurers weigh alongside the condition

Stability matters more than the diagnosis itself. Long remission and settled treatment tend to open up better terms.

How it works

Start with the private online health check. You then speak to a specialist adviser who works with inflammatory bowel disease every day. We approach the insurers most likely to help, explain any exclusions in plain English, and handle the paperwork.

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Frequently asked questions

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Looking at cover for time off work instead? Read our income protection page.