Life insurance with cerebral palsy

What type of cerebral palsy do you have?

Spastic CP (the most common type, affecting around 80% of people with CP) is the most familiar to underwriters. Dyskinetic CP, ataxic CP, and mixed types may require more explanation. The type itself matters less than its practical impact on your daily life and overall health.

What is your mobility level?

This is the most important question for insurers. Whether you walk independently, walk with aids, use a wheelchair part-time, or are a full-time wheelchair user tells the underwriter a great deal about your overall level of physical function. Your GMFCS level (Gross Motor Function Classification System, I to V) is the standard measure, though many adults with CP may not know their formal level.

Do you have any associated conditions?

Epilepsy, learning disability, visual impairment, hearing impairment, and speech difficulties are all relatively common alongside CP. Each associated condition is assessed on its own merits and adds to the overall risk picture. Epilepsy in particular is a significant factor - its severity and control are assessed as they would be for anyone with epilepsy.

Do you have any respiratory or swallowing difficulties?

Respiratory complications are the leading cause of hospitalisation and reduced life expectancy in people with more severe CP. Recurrent chest infections, aspiration pneumonia, and the need for assisted ventilation are serious underwriting factors. If you have no respiratory issues, make this very clear in your application.

Are you employed and living independently?

Insurers use employment status and independent living as practical markers of functional ability. Being employed and living independently are strong positive signals that tell underwriters your CP does not significantly impair your overall function or life expectancy. These are not formal criteria, but they carry real weight.

What is your current medication?

Medication for spasticity (baclofen, botulinum toxin injections), pain management, or anti-epileptic drugs all give the underwriter a picture of how your CP affects you day to day. Minimal or no medication is a positive factor. Multiple medications for complications suggests a more complex picture.

CP is not progressive, but its effects can change

Unlike conditions such as MS or motor neurone disease, the underlying brain injury in cerebral palsy is static. However, the musculoskeletal effects can evolve over time. Many adults with CP experience increased pain, fatigue, and reduced mobility as they age. Early arthritis, hip problems, and chronic pain are common. Insurers are aware of this trajectory and factor it into their assessment, but the non-progressive nature of the underlying condition is fundamentally different from a degenerative neurological disease.

Life expectancy varies enormously

This is the core underwriting challenge. People with mild CP (GMFCS I-II) have a life expectancy that is close to or the same as the general population. People with severe CP (GMFCS IV-V), particularly those with respiratory complications, feeding difficulties, and epilepsy, have a significantly reduced life expectancy. Insurers price according to this spectrum. A blanket approach to "cerebral palsy" that ignores the enormous variation is unhelpful, and this is exactly why a specialist broker who can present your case properly makes a real difference.

Associated conditions are assessed separately

If you have epilepsy alongside CP, the epilepsy is assessed on its own merits - seizure frequency, medication, last seizure date - just as it would be for anyone with epilepsy. The same applies to respiratory conditions, learning disability, or any other associated condition. The combined effect of CP plus associated conditions can be greater than the sum of the individual parts, because each complication adds to the overall risk picture. This is why mild CP with no associated conditions is so much more straightforward to insure than CP with multiple complications.

Many underwriters lack experience with CP

Cerebral palsy is less common in insurance applications than conditions like diabetes, heart disease, or mental health conditions. Some underwriters may not have a well-developed framework for assessing it, which can lead to overly conservative decisions or unnecessary declines. A specialist broker who regularly handles CP applications knows which insurers have the most experience and the most competitive approach. This is one of those conditions where the broker genuinely earns their commission by placing you with the right insurer.

Mild CP, no associated conditions

You should be able to get life insurance. Multiple insurers will likely consider your application, and competition between them should keep the loading reasonable. Do not accept the first quote without checking the market. Critical illness cover and income protection may also be available, though an exclusion related to your CP is possible on income protection.

Mild to moderate CP with controlled epilepsy

Cover is still available but the loading will be higher, reflecting both the CP and the epilepsy. The epilepsy component will be assessed on seizure control, medication, and time since last seizure. If your epilepsy is well-controlled on a single medication, this is manageable. Insurer selection matters more here - not all insurers will be willing to assess the combined picture, and you want the ones who will.

Moderate CP with mobility limitations

Options narrow significantly. Mainstream insurers may decline, but specialist insurers who handle complex medical underwriting may still offer terms. The loading will be substantial, and the cover amount may be limited. A specialist broker is essential at this level to identify the small number of insurers willing to consider the application and to present your case as effectively as possible.

Severe CP with respiratory complications

Standard underwritten cover is very unlikely. This is not what anyone wants to hear, but being honest saves you from wasted applications and the frustration of repeated declines. Guaranteed acceptance products, over 50s plans (if age-eligible), and group life through an employer are the realistic options. These are not second-class products - they provide genuine financial protection, and guaranteed acceptance policies require no medical questions at all.

Check it was the right insurer

If you applied directly to an insurer or through a non-specialist comparison site, there is a good chance the application went to an insurer without strong experience in cerebral palsy. Different insurers have very different appetites for complex medical conditions. A specialist broker knows which insurers are most likely to offer terms for CP and will not waste your time with the wrong ones.

Check the application was presented properly

Online application forms often do not capture the nuance of cerebral palsy well. Ticking a box for "neurological condition" or "physical disability" without context can trigger an automatic decline or referral to an underwriter who has limited information. A broker can provide a detailed cover letter explaining your functional ability, employment status, independence, and the specific nature of your CP. This additional context can change the outcome entirely.

Consider guaranteed acceptance

Guaranteed acceptance life insurance asks no medical questions at all. You cannot be declined. Cover is typically capped at around 25,000 with a moratorium period (usually 1-2 years) during which the policy pays out a return of premiums rather than the full sum assured if you die from a pre-existing condition. After the moratorium, the full benefit is payable regardless. It costs more per pound of cover than standard insurance, but it provides a guaranteed baseline.

Maximise your employer benefits

Death-in-service benefit (group life insurance) through your employer typically provides 2-4x your salary with no individual medical underwriting. If you are employed, this may be the most valuable and cost-effective cover available to you. Check whether your employer offers this benefit and what the cover level is. If you are considering changing jobs, the availability of group life benefit is a factor worth weighing carefully.