Autoimmune Conditions

Autoimmune conditions occur when the body's immune system mistakenly attacks its own cells, tissues, or organs. They include a wide range of illnesses such as multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, type 1 diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease, and many others. Autoimmune conditions are often chronic, can fluctuate between flare-ups and remission, and frequently emerge during a person's working years — which is why they have meaningful financial implications well beyond medical bills.

From an insurance perspective, autoimmune conditions intersect with several types of cover. Trauma (critical illness) cover may include some severe autoimmune conditions in the policy schedule; income protection becomes important when symptoms cause time off work, especially for people with unpredictable flare-ups; and TPD cover is relevant when long-term progression makes returning to work unlikely. Underwriting outcomes vary significantly between insurers — what one insurer rates as a standard risk, another may decline or load. Disclosure is critical: if you have an autoimmune diagnosis, working with a broker who can compare appetite across the IMFL panel of 9 insurers (AIA, Zurich, TAL, OnePath, ClearView, NEOS, Encompass, Acenda, Futura) is more efficient than going direct to one insurer.

The pages below break down individual autoimmune conditions with cost data drawn from Zurich's Cost of Care research. The information is general in nature and is not a personal recommendation. To explore your options or get a factual comparison of how different insurers may underwrite your specific situation, generate an indicative quote or talk to an adviser.