Can you get long-term care insurance with rheumatoid arthritis?

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease, which puts it in a different underwriting category than the wear-and-tear joint pain covered on our general arthritis page. Having RA does not automatically rule out coverage — what matters most is how well it is controlled and how much it has actually limited your daily function.

How underwriters look at rheumatoid arthritis

• Disease control. RA managed well with modern disease-modifying drugs (DMARDs or biologics), with stable or improving symptoms, is viewed far more favorably than active, poorly controlled disease.
• Joint damage and mobility. Visible joint deformity, reduced grip strength, or difficulty walking matter more than the diagnosis itself, because they point directly at future help with daily activities.
• How long you have had it and how it has progressed. Years of stable, mild disease reads very differently than a recent diagnosis with rapid joint damage.
• Other conditions alongside it. RA carries a higher-than-average risk of cardiovascular disease, so underwriters often look closely at heart health, blood pressure, and cholesterol alongside the RA itself.
• Medication and side effects. Long-term steroid use, in particular, draws attention because of its own complications (bone density loss, blood sugar effects).

A realistic picture

Someone diagnosed in their 40s who has been stable on a biologic for years, still walks and drives independently, and has no joint deformity is a reasonable candidate for traditional coverage, sometimes with a modest rate adjustment. Someone with visible joint deformity, reduced hand function, or a recent flare requiring a mobility aid is a much harder case for a traditional carrier.

If a traditional policy is not available

Asset-based or hybrid policies (life insurance or an annuity with a long-term care rider) often underwrite autoimmune conditions more leniently than standalone LTC. See types of long-term care plans for how they compare.

General information only. Underwriting varies by carrier and changes often, and we do not publish carrier-specific approval thresholds. Nothing here is a guarantee of coverage or a quote — only a licensed carrier reviewing your medical history can tell you what you qualify for. This is educational and not insurance, legal, tax, or financial advice.