World Kidney Day 2014

The Insurance Surgery guide to Kidney Disease and insurance

March 13^th 2014 is World Kidney Day to help raise awareness across the globe for people living with chronic kidney disease and to help prevent and cure kidney conditions. Our kidney charity partners such as The PKD Charity and National Kidney Federation along with Kidney Research UK and British Kidney Patient Association are all part of the core charities involved with promoting the big day across the UK.

The Insurance Surgery is a leading insurance specialist for people living with pre-existing medical conditions such as Kidney Disease and Kidney conditions. We are proud to have strong connections with some of the major UK kidney charities such as The PKD Charity and National Kidney Federation.

What is World Kidney Day?

Since it began in 2006, World Kidney Day has been dedicated to helping raise awareness and educate people about the importance of looking after your kidneys. Each year the theme of the campaign changes to cover another area of kidney diseases, 2014’s theme is Chronic Kidney Disease and Ageing. The main idea and principle behind WKD is to provide an opportunity to talk about and raise awareness about how important your kidney’s are and the risks relating to Kidney Disease. Various events will take place across the globe to help spread the message and to inspire people to live healthier lives to reduce the risks, such as:

• Take a selfie with your glass of water….!

Kidney Facts

• There are at least 1 million people in the UK living with undiagnosed moderate to severe kidney disease
• Nearly 20,000 people suffer from Heart Attacks and Strokes each year as a result of moderate to severe chronic kidney disease
• More than 26,000 people in the UK are currently receiving dialysis treatment for kidney failure and this is constantly increasing
• There are over 6,000 people in the UK currently awaiting a kidney transplant and 1 person each day dies while waiting

What about kidney disease/kidney conditions and life insurance?

The Insurance Surgery is a leading insurance specialist for people living with chronic kidney disease and is proud to support some top kidney charities such as The PKD Charity and National Kidney Federation. Life insurance for kidney disease, kidney transplants and other kidney conditions such as polycystic kidney disease is becoming more obtainable, more affordable and underwriting is improving all the time. We are now seeing people with more severe kidney conditions able to obtain cover where previously they may have been declined. It is still a difficult process and we have several insurance providers who may consider cover, however it is still important to note that some companies may decline cover. Underwriters will consider a number of factors when considering life insurance for people with kidney diseases and kidney conditions, such as:

• eGFR (estimated glomerular filtration rate) readings
• Creatinine levels
• Date of diagnosis
• Are you receiving dialysis?
• Are you awaiting or have you had a transplant?
• Severity of the condition/restrictions

Types of kidney conditions we can cover?

• Chronic Kidney Disease
• Polycystic Kidney Disease
• Kidney failure
• Kidney transplants
• Diabetes related Nephropathy
• Alports Disease
• Kidney Stones
• And many more…..

For more information about life insurance with kidney disease or kidney conditions, please visit the kidney conditions section of our website.

What about travel insurance and kidney conditions?

The Insurance Surgery also offers a great range of travel insurance products through its specialist partners and our unique Travel Wizard. It is important to disclose ALL pre-existing medical conditions to ensure that you have the right cover in place when travelling abroad. For a quote for Kidney Disease Travel Insurance click here Written by: Dan Sharpe (Sales and Marketing Director at The Insurance Surgery)