If you've searched Google for private health insurance that covers ankylosing spondylitis then you are probably for looking for trusted UK based health insurance providers that can cover your ankylosing spondylitis.
Our advice when looking for private medical cover that covers ankylosing spondylitis is to speak to a insurance broker. Health insurance is very complex and if you want absolute certainty that ankylosing spondylitis is covered by your policy you should consult with a health insurance broker who can explain which policy providers will cover this medical condition and which will exclude it.
There are many advantages to using a broker but the largest by far is that you're using their insurance training at no cost. They are paid by the insurer (Aviva or Bupa etc) rather than by you so it costs you no extra to use their services.
- Do you live in many different areas? Some will give you a lower premium than offers. A insurance broker will be able to advise whats best.
- Do you have a hobby that may invalidate your insurance policy? A broker will know this vital information.
- If you are a couple and one of you has claimed on your insurance policy this year would it be cheaper to separate you both onto two different policies?
- You've developed a certain condition and want to know which policy provider offers the largest amount of cover for it. A broker will know this instantly saving you huge amounts of time and effort.
You can call around every health insurance provider you can find and ask if they cover ankylosing spondylitis, however this will be a very time consuming process. Each insurer will ask for your medical history because its not normally a simple yes or not if a medical condition is covered or not.
Its far far quicker to speak to one medical insurance broker which will know which policy providers on the market cover ankylosing spondylitis and under what terms they do or don't cover it.
Ankylosing Spondylitis Information
Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a long-term (chronic) condition in which the spine and other areas of the body become inflamed.
The symptoms of AS can vary but usually involve:
These symptoms tend to develop gradually, usually over several months or years, and may come and go over time.
In some people, the condition gets better with time, but for others it can get slowly worse.
Read more about the symptoms of ankylosing spondylitis
You should see your GP if you have persistent symptoms of AS.
If your GP thinks you may have the condition, they should refer you to a rheumatologist (a specialist in conditions affecting muscles and joints) for further tests and any necessary treatment.
Read more about diagnosing ankylosing spondylitis.
In AS, various areas of the spine and other joints become inflamed.
As well as causing pain, stiffness and swelling, this inflammation can damage affected areas of the body over time, and in some cases can lead to some of the individual bones of the spine fusing (joining together). This fusing of the spine is known as ankylosis.
It is not known what causes the condition, but there is thought to be a link with a particular gene known as HLA-B27.
Read more about the causes of ankylosing spondylitis.
AS tends to first develop in teenagers and young adults. Most cases first start in people aged 20-30, with only a minority of cases first affecting adults over 45.
AS is around three times more common in men than in women.
There are around 200,000 people in the UK who have been diagnosed with the condition.