Life Insurance With A Fungal Skin Infection
These are among the most common infections there are, and for most people they belong in the same category as a cold: it happened, it was treated, it went.
An application is interested in ongoing conditions, medication and investigations, and a fungal infection that cleared up years ago touches almost none of that.
The exception is the recurring kind, which is worth a little more thought, and that is most of what this page is about.
The short answer
Fungal skin infections such as athlete's foot, ringworm and thrush are almost always episodes that were treated and finished, rather than ongoing conditions, which is why they are one of the simpler things on a medical history. The only version worth a second look is infection that keeps coming back, because recurrence is sometimes a pointer to something else.
What it is
Fungal skin infections are caused by fungi and yeasts living on the skin and multiplying where conditions suit them, usually warm and damp. Athlete's foot affects the feet and between the toes, ringworm produces a ring shaped patch anywhere on the body, and thrush is a yeast overgrowth affecting the mouth or genital area.
Most are treated with topical antifungal creams or, for nail and scalp involvement, a course of antifungal tablets. They generally clear and do not leave anything behind.
Why it comes up on an application
- These are episodes with a start and an end, so they are usually a dated event rather than a present tense condition.
- Antifungal tablets, particularly longer courses for nail or scalp infection, are a prescription worth mentioning, because tablets are a more substantial entry than a cream.
- Repeated or stubborn infection is the version that deserves attention. Frequent thrush in particular is sometimes investigated for an underlying cause, diabetes among them, and if you have been tested for anything the result is in your record either way.
- Infection that keeps returning despite treatment may have prompted a referral or blood tests, and an application asking about tests or specialists is asking about those.
What we would ask you
- Roughly when you had it, and whether it has cleared
- Whether it has come back repeatedly or responded to treatment and stopped
- Whether treatment involved tablets rather than only creams
- Whether you have ever been tested for an underlying cause, such as diabetes
- Have you ever had cancer, a heart condition (including heart attack), stroke or brain injury, MS or a neurological condition, or Type 1 or 2 diabetes?
- Do you have any other medical conditions? (please state condition and any treatment taken)
- Are you waiting any medical tests, appointments or treatment?
- Date of birth (DD/MM/YYYY)
- Do you smoke?
Recurrence Is The Only Part Worth Slowing Down For
One episode of athlete's foot is not a medical history. Something that keeps coming back might be pointing at something.
Recurring thrush in particular is sometimes investigated, because persistently raised blood sugar makes yeast overgrowth more likely, so diabetes is one of the things a doctor may check. Recurrent or widespread fungal infection can also prompt questions about the immune system.
If any of that has happened to you, the investigation is the thing to declare rather than the infection. A blood test you had three years ago is a fair answer to a question about tests, whatever it showed, and it is a far better answer than leaving it out.
Tablets Are Not The Same As Creams
This is a small point that applies across almost every condition on this site.
Topical treatment for a short infection is a minor entry. A course of antifungal tablets, especially the longer courses used for fungal nail or scalp infection, is a systemic medication and sits differently in a record. Some of those courses also involve checking liver function.
So when you are asked about medication, think about what went in your mouth as well as what went on your skin. It takes a sentence to say and removes any question about whether your answer was complete.
Which cover is relevant
The usual starting point, and an isolated past infection is rarely a factor. What is available depends on the whole picture rather than on an episode that finished.
Pays on diagnosis of a listed serious condition, and these infections are not among them. Arrange it for the risks it does cover.
Replaces earnings if illness or injury stops you working, which these rarely do. Worth having for everything else rather than for this.
Common questions
Do I need to declare athlete's foot?+
Answer what you are asked. A short infection that cleared up years ago rarely features in the questions an application actually asks, but if you are asked about skin conditions and you are unsure, saying it costs nothing and removes the doubt.
What if I keep getting thrush?+
That is the version worth mentioning, along with anything you have been tested for. Recurrent thrush is sometimes investigated for an underlying cause such as diabetes, and if you have had blood tests the result belongs in your answer whatever it was.
I took antifungal tablets. Does that count as medication?+
Yes. Tablets are a systemic medication and a more substantial entry than a cream, and some courses involve liver function checks. It takes one sentence to say and makes your answer complete.
Will a fungal infection affect my life insurance?+
What any insurer decides depends on your whole health picture, so we will not guess. An isolated past infection is rarely the interesting part of an application; recurrence and any investigation behind it are more likely to matter.
Does fungal nail infection need declaring?+
If you are asked about skin or nail conditions, or about medication, then say so, particularly if it was treated with tablets. It is a straightforward thing to declare and the treatment is usually the relevant half.
Cover that often goes with this
The gaps we most often find sitting next to this one.