Life insurance with gout
Gout is one of the most common forms of inflammatory arthritis in the UK, affecting around 1 in 40 people. For insurance purposes, well-managed gout has minimal impact on life insurance premiums. What insurers care about is the frequency of attacks, whether you are on preventive medication, and whether there are any associated conditions affecting your kidneys or cardiovascular health.
The short answer
Gout usually attracts standard to minor loading for life insurance. Well-managed gout on allopurinol with infrequent attacks has minimal impact on premiums. Insurers are more concerned about associated conditions - kidney function, high blood pressure, and cardiovascular risk - than the gout itself. If gout is your only condition and it is well-controlled, you should expect standard or close to standard rates.
What insurers ask about gout
Gout underwriting is straightforward. The questions focus on control, frequency, and associated conditions.
How frequent are your gout attacks?
Infrequent attacks (one or two per year or less) are viewed mildly. Frequent attacks despite treatment suggest the condition is not well-controlled and may prompt a minor loading. If you have not had an attack for over a year on preventive medication, this is the best scenario.
Are you on preventive medication?
Allopurinol is the standard preventive treatment for gout and is viewed positively by insurers. It indicates you are actively managing the condition. Febuxostat is also viewed neutrally. Being on preventive medication with controlled uric acid levels is the ideal profile for underwriting.
How is your kidney function?
Gout is associated with kidney problems, including urate kidney stones and chronic kidney disease. If your kidney function (eGFR) is normal, this is reassuring for insurers. Impaired kidney function is assessed as a separate risk factor and will have a greater impact on premiums than the gout itself.
Do you have high blood pressure or heart disease?
Gout is associated with cardiovascular risk factors including hypertension, high cholesterol, and metabolic syndrome. Each associated condition is assessed on its own merits. Well-controlled blood pressure on medication has a minor impact; uncontrolled hypertension alongside gout has a greater impact.
What is your alcohol consumption?
Since alcohol is a known trigger for gout, insurers may ask about your drinking habits. Moderate or reduced alcohol consumption is viewed positively. Heavy drinking alongside gout raises concerns about both the gout management and liver health.
How gout severity affects your premiums
Well-controlled gout
Standard rates
On allopurinol or febuxostat, infrequent attacks (fewer than two per year), normal kidney function, no significant associated conditions. Standard rates from most insurers. This is the most common scenario we see.
Moderately controlled gout
Minor loading
More frequent attacks, or gout alongside controlled hypertension or mildly elevated BMI. Minor loading of 25-50% typical. Cover readily available from mainstream insurers.
Gout with complications
Moderate loading
Chronic tophaceous gout, impaired kidney function, recurrent kidney stones, or multiple associated cardiovascular risk factors. Moderate loading of 50-100%. The associated conditions typically drive the loading more than the gout itself. Insurer selection becomes more important at this level.
Gout should not be a barrier to cover
Tell us about your gout management, medication, and any associated conditions. Our specialist brokers will match you with the right insurer.
Get QuoteThe honest answer
Gout in isolation is a minor insurance condition. If you are on allopurinol, your uric acid is controlled, and your kidneys are fine, you should get standard rates. The real underwriting question with gout is whether it comes with friends - kidney disease, high blood pressure, high BMI, or heavy alcohol consumption. If gout is part of a broader metabolic picture, the combined risk factors matter more than the gout alone. A specialist broker ensures all these factors are presented to the right insurer.
Critical illness and income protection
Critical illness cover is generally available alongside life insurance for gout. Since gout is not a listed critical illness condition, the impact is primarily through any associated cardiovascular loading.
Income protection may carry a musculoskeletal or gout-specific exclusion if the condition has caused time off work. If your gout is well-controlled and has not affected your work, income protection should be available on standard terms.
Put your policy in trust
Every life insurance policy should be written in trust. This ensures the payout goes directly to your beneficiaries outside your estate, avoiding 40% inheritance tax and probate delays. It is free and takes about 2 minutes. Our partner brokers set this up on every policy.
Read our full guide to trusts and estate planning
Frequently asked questions
Does taking allopurinol affect my life insurance?
No. Allopurinol is the standard preventive treatment for gout and is well-understood by insurers. Taking it is viewed positively because it shows you are managing the condition. It does not increase your premiums.
I have had one gout attack. Do I need to declare it?
Yes, you should declare it. However, a single gout attack, particularly if it has been investigated and is being managed, is unlikely to affect your premiums. It is one of the mildest conditions to declare on a life insurance application.
Does gout affect life insurance for a mortgage?
In most cases, no. Well-managed gout should not prevent you from obtaining mortgage protection life insurance or significantly increase its cost. If you have associated conditions, these may have a minor impact on premiums.
My gout is related to kidney problems. How is this assessed?
Kidney function is assessed separately from gout. If your eGFR is reduced or you have recurrent kidney stones, this will have a more significant impact on your premiums than the gout itself. The kidney function determines the loading, and the gout is seen as part of the broader clinical picture.
Get a gout life insurance quote
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