Life insurance with scoliosis
Scoliosis is far more common than most people realise, and it is one of the conditions that people worry about unnecessarily when applying for life insurance. The vast majority of people with scoliosis can get life insurance without difficulty, and many will pay standard rates. This guide explains exactly what insurers ask, how different severities are assessed, and what to expect whether your scoliosis was treated conservatively or with surgery.
The short answer
Most people with scoliosis can get life insurance, and many will pay standard rates. Mild scoliosis (Cobb angle under 40 degrees, no surgery, no complications) is a non-issue for the majority of insurers. Moderate scoliosis treated with spinal fusion surgery is insurable once recovered, typically with a small loading. Even severe scoliosis with ongoing complications is insurable through the right insurer, though premiums will be higher. The key factors are your degree of curvature, whether you have had surgery, your respiratory function, and your current mobility and pain levels. Most applicants with scoliosis are pleasantly surprised by the outcome.
What insurers ask about scoliosis
Scoliosis is a well-understood condition in insurance underwriting. Insurers see it regularly and have clear processes for assessing it. Having these details to hand makes the application straightforward.
When were you diagnosed and at what age?
Most scoliosis is diagnosed in adolescence (adolescent idiopathic scoliosis), which is the most common form and generally viewed most favourably by insurers. Adult-onset scoliosis or degenerative scoliosis developing later in life may attract slightly more scrutiny as it can be linked to other spinal changes.
What is the degree of curvature (Cobb angle)?
This is the single most important number for underwriting. A Cobb angle under 20 degrees is considered very mild. Between 20 and 40 degrees is moderate. Over 40-50 degrees is considered severe. If you do not know your exact Cobb angle, your GP or consultant can provide this from your records.
Have you had surgery for your scoliosis?
Spinal fusion surgery (with rods, screws, or other instrumentation) is the most common surgical treatment. Insurers want to know what type of surgery, when it took place, how many vertebrae were fused, and whether there were any complications. A successful surgery with full recovery is viewed positively.
Do you have any respiratory problems?
Severe scoliosis (particularly thoracic curves over 60-70 degrees) can restrict lung function. Insurers may ask about breathlessness, lung function test results, and whether you have ever needed respiratory support. This is the factor that most significantly increases premiums for severe scoliosis.
What is your current pain level and mobility?
Insurers want to know if you experience ongoing back pain, whether you take regular pain medication, and whether your scoliosis limits your daily activities or work. Many people with scoliosis have minimal pain, and this is the best possible answer for underwriting.
Are you still under specialist follow-up?
Regular specialist monitoring (orthopaedic or spinal surgeon) suggests the condition is being actively managed. For stable, long-standing scoliosis that has been discharged from specialist care, this is a positive indicator for insurers.
Mild scoliosis vs severe scoliosis: a very different picture
The range of scoliosis severity is enormous, and insurers treat the mild and severe ends of the spectrum very differently. Understanding where you sit makes a significant difference to your expectations.
Mild scoliosis
Standard rates
Cobb angle under 25 degrees. No surgery required. No significant pain or functional limitation. This describes the majority of people diagnosed with scoliosis. For life insurance, this is essentially a non-issue. Most insurers will offer standard rates without any loading. You may not even need to provide additional medical evidence beyond the application questions. Many people with mild scoliosis do not realise how straightforward this is.
Moderate scoliosis
Standard to minor loading
Cobb angle between 25 and 45 degrees. May have been monitored with bracing during adolescence or managed conservatively. Possibly some intermittent back pain but generally good functional ability. Life insurance is readily available. Depending on the insurer, you may receive standard rates or a minor loading (up to 25-50%). The key is whether you have good mobility, no respiratory restriction, and no ongoing specialist treatment.
Severe scoliosis
Moderate to significant loading
Cobb angle over 50 degrees, particularly thoracic curves. May have had surgical intervention. Possible respiratory restriction or reduced lung function. Ongoing pain management or reduced mobility. Life insurance is still available, but the loading depends heavily on your lung function and overall health. Severe scoliosis without respiratory compromise is insurable at moderate loadings. Severe scoliosis with significant respiratory restriction narrows the options but specialist insurers will still offer terms.
Not sure where your scoliosis falls?
Tell our specialist brokers your Cobb angle and treatment history. They will identify which insurers are most competitive for your specific situation.
Get QuoteScoliosis surgery and life insurance
Spinal fusion surgery for scoliosis is one of the most common orthopaedic procedures performed on adolescents in the UK. Insurers are very familiar with it. Having had scoliosis surgery does not make you uninsurable - far from it.
After spinal fusion surgery
Successful surgery, fully recovered, good mobility
Standard rates to minor loading. If your spinal fusion was performed years ago (particularly in adolescence), you have recovered fully, you have good mobility, no ongoing pain requiring regular medication, and no complications from the surgery itself, most insurers will offer very competitive terms. Many will offer standard rates. This is the most common outcome for people who had adolescent scoliosis surgery.
Surgery with some ongoing limitations
Minor to moderate loading (25-75%). If you have some residual stiffness, occasional pain managed with over-the-counter painkillers, or mild limitations in certain activities, insurers will still offer terms readily. The reduced spinal flexibility from the fusion itself is expected and not penalised - it is the functional outcome that matters.
Revision surgery or complications
Moderate loading. Revision surgery (removing and replacing instrumentation, extending the fusion, or correcting hardware failure) indicates a more complex history. Insurers will want details of the revision, the outcome, and your current functional status. Cover is available once recovery is established, typically 12 months after the most recent surgery.
Scoliosis managed without surgery
If your scoliosis has been managed conservatively (monitoring, bracing during adolescence, physiotherapy, exercise), this is generally the simplest scenario for insurance. A stable curve that has not required surgery and does not cause significant symptoms is viewed very favourably. For mild to moderate curves managed without surgery, standard rates are the norm from most UK insurers.
Cobb angle and insurance: what the numbers mean
The Cobb angle is the standard measurement of spinal curvature used by both doctors and insurers. It is measured on a standing X-ray and expressed in degrees. Here is how different Cobb angles are typically assessed for life insurance.
| Cobb angle | Severity | Typical life insurance outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Under 20 degrees | Very mild | Standard rates. No impact on premiums. |
| 20-40 degrees | Mild to moderate | Standard rates to minor loading. Most insurers comfortable. |
| 40-60 degrees | Moderate to severe | Minor to moderate loading. Often surgical range. Post-surgery outcomes matter most. |
| 60-80 degrees | Severe | Moderate loading. Lung function becomes a key factor. Insurer selection important. |
| Over 80 degrees | Very severe | Significant loading. Respiratory assessment essential. Specialist insurer likely needed. Cover still available. |
These are general guidelines. Your individual assessment depends on the full picture, including surgery history, respiratory function, pain levels, and overall health. Two people with the same Cobb angle can receive very different terms based on these other factors.
Know your Cobb angle?
Even an approximate figure helps our specialist brokers identify the right insurers. If you do not know it, your GP or hospital records will have it.
Get QuoteRealistic expectations for scoliosis and insurance
We believe in being completely upfront about what you can expect. Here is a realistic picture based on the most common scenarios our partner brokers see.
Life insurance (term, whole of life, decreasing term)
Life insurance is the most straightforward product to obtain with scoliosis. Even severe scoliosis is insurable for life cover. The loading for mild to moderate scoliosis is minimal or non-existent. For severe scoliosis, the loading depends primarily on your respiratory function and overall health. Life insurance underwriting for scoliosis is one of the more predictable assessments, and outcomes are usually better than people expect.
Critical illness cover
Critical illness cover is generally available alongside life insurance for scoliosis. Since scoliosis is not itself a listed critical illness condition, the assessment focuses on any associated health issues. Mild to moderate scoliosis rarely affects critical illness terms. Severe scoliosis with respiratory compromise may attract a loading on the critical illness component, but outright decline is uncommon.
Income protection
Income protection is where scoliosis has the most noticeable impact, particularly if your scoliosis causes back pain or has required time off work. Insurers may apply a back-related exclusion, meaning the policy would not pay out if you are unable to work specifically due to your back or spinal condition. The policy would still cover every other condition. For mild scoliosis with no pain and no time off work, income protection without a back exclusion is achievable from some insurers.
The honest answer
Scoliosis is one of the conditions that people worry about far more than they need to. The overwhelming majority of people with scoliosis will get life insurance without difficulty, and many will pay standard rates. Insurers see scoliosis regularly, it is well understood, and mild to moderate cases are genuinely straightforward.
Where it becomes more complex is when severe scoliosis has caused respiratory problems. Reduced lung function is the factor that drives up premiums most significantly, not the curvature itself. If your lungs are working well, even a significant curve is insurable at reasonable terms.
The one area where scoliosis can cause genuine frustration is income protection, where a back-related exclusion is common if you have any history of back pain or time off work. We are honest about this because an income protection policy with a back exclusion is still valuable - it covers everything else - and it is better to know this upfront than to be surprised at claims stage.
Put your policy in trust
Once your life insurance is in place, writing the policy in trust ensures the payout goes directly to your chosen beneficiaries without probate delays or inheritance tax. It is free, takes minutes, and our partner brokers set it up on every policy they arrange. There is no reason not to do it.
Read our full guide to trusts and estate planning
Frequently asked questions
Will mild scoliosis affect my life insurance premiums?
In most cases, no. Mild scoliosis (Cobb angle under 25-30 degrees) with no surgery, no significant pain, and no functional limitations is standard rates from the majority of UK insurers. It is one of the most common spinal conditions and is well understood in underwriting. Many people with mild scoliosis are surprised at how simple the process is.
I had spinal fusion for scoliosis as a teenager. Does this still affect my insurance?
It depends on your current health, not the surgery itself. If you had spinal fusion in adolescence, you have recovered fully, you have good mobility, and you are not experiencing ongoing complications, most insurers will offer standard rates or a very minor loading. The surgery was years ago and the outcome is what matters. Many people who had scoliosis surgery as teenagers get standard life insurance terms.
Do I need to know my exact Cobb angle?
It is helpful but not essential. If you know it, it speeds up the process. If you do not know it, our partner brokers can work with your description of the condition (mild, moderate, severe), your treatment history, and your current symptoms. Your GP or hospital records will have the measurement if you want to check before applying.
I have scoliosis and back pain. Will I get income protection?
Yes, but likely with a back-related exclusion if you have had significant back pain or time off work. This means the policy would not pay out for inability to work caused by your back, but it would cover every other condition including cancer, heart disease, mental health, and accidents. An income protection policy with a back exclusion is still extremely valuable cover.
Does the type of scoliosis matter?
Somewhat. Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (the most common type) is viewed most straightforwardly by insurers because it is well understood and generally stable after skeletal maturity. Neuromuscular scoliosis (associated with conditions like cerebral palsy or muscular dystrophy) is assessed primarily based on the underlying neurological condition. Degenerative scoliosis developing in later life is assessed alongside other age-related spinal changes.
My scoliosis affects my breathing. Can I still get life insurance?
Yes, but the respiratory impact is the most significant factor for underwriting. Insurers will want to know your lung function test results (FEV1 and FVC). Mildly reduced lung function attracts a moderate loading. Significantly reduced lung function narrows the available insurers but specialist providers will still offer terms. Your respiratory function matters more than the Cobb angle itself in severe cases.
Should I apply to a mainstream insurer or a specialist?
For mild to moderate scoliosis, mainstream insurers are usually fine and competitive. For severe scoliosis, particularly with respiratory involvement or complex surgical history, insurer selection becomes very important. Some mainstream insurers are more competitive for spinal conditions than others. This is exactly where our partner brokers add value - they know which insurers to approach for your specific situation.
Get life insurance with scoliosis
Tell our specialist brokers your Cobb angle, surgery history, and current symptoms. They will find the most competitive insurer for your specific situation - and most people with scoliosis are pleasantly surprised by the outcome.
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