|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Life Insurance Companies differ in their "underwriting philosophy" when it comes to diabetes. Offering life insurance for diabetics can be risky if the underwriters are not fully trained. Underwriters at the insurance companies that are fluent in underwriting diabetes have the ability to look at all of these factors and determine if the company will accept them as a risk. Moderately controlled diabetes cases would usually merit a "rating" or an increase in the premium, but not necesarily a declination for coverage. If the client with diabetes that is looking for life insurance is not controlled, then there are options - it will just cost them more for coverage!
Diabetic Life Insurance can be obtained no matter how severe the diabetes condition is. If the proposed insured has well controlled diabetes and a history of compliance with what the Doctor reccomends, then the rate for insurance will naturally reflect that. The better the control, the better the rate. Clients with well controlled diabetes have a great chance at getting a lower rate from a regular insurance carrier and would qualify for a policy that is fully underwritten. If, at the other extreme, the client has very poor control over the diabetes, the rate will be higher and the client will have to go with a life insurance plan that guarantees acceptance. This type of life insurance is called "guaranteed issue life insurance".
Guaranteed issue life insurance for diabetics is more expensive than regular (fully underwritten) life insurance and is only sold as "whole life insurance". This type of insurance can be advantageous, though, because it builds cash value and is intended to cover the client for their "whole life" as opposed to a "term" period of time. Another provision of guaranteed issue is that the premiums paid into the policy would be paid to the beneficiary PLUS 10% interest if the insured dies within the first 3 years of the policy's inception. After that 3 year period of time, the guaranteed issue policy would pay the full death benefit to the beneficiary.
Fully Underwritten policies take the client's full medical records into account. The doctor's records are ordered, blood is drawn, a urine sample is taken, and a full screening is done to evaluate the client. If the insurance company decides to insure this applicant, it is after the company's underwriters look at the case. If the client is fully underwritten and passes through underwriting, then they would have more options than just whole life insurance (in the case of those who are in need of guaranteed issue whole life insurance). Term insurance, Universal Life Insurance, Survivorship Universal Life Insurance, and regular Whole Life Insurance would be available to these applicants that are fully underwritten.
When evaluating a client with diabetes, the underwriters at the insurance company take into account whether the client is a type one diabetic (type I diabetic, type 1 diabetic, type 1 diabetes, type I diabetes) or a type two diabetic (type II diabetic, type 2 diabetic, type 2 diabetes, type II diabetes). Another thing that the underwriters look at is whether the client is a juvenile onset diabetic or an adult onset diabetic. And yet Another determining factor is the Hemoglobin A1C level (this is a more comprehensive test, showing the blood sugar levels over about a 3 month period of time as opposed to a quick "snapshot" blood level test).
If the client's A1C level is below 8, then fully underwritten life insurance may be available subject to the client's full medical file. If the client's A1C level is above 8, then guaranteed issue life insurance is a more realistic goal.
One of the things that applicants fear in the case of insulin dependent type 1 diabetics is whether or not their insulin pump will prevent them from getting a life insurance policy. An insulin pump is actually a positive factor where life insurance underwriting is concerned because the client's insulin level is kept at a constant level.
How often the client monitors their sugar or glucose levels in their blood is another factor. If the client habitually monitors their glucose level, then this is seen as evidence of compliance on the part of the client. If, on the other hand, the client does not monitor these sugar levels, then this could be seen as a negative in the eyes of the insurers and underwriters.
Have there been any low sugar episodes? Have there been any high sugar episodes? Is the client taking glucovance, glucophage, insulin injection, or other type of medicinal treatment? Is the client controlling the diabetes with "diet and excercise"? These are all questions that will be asked during the underwriting process (unless you opt for guaranteed issue).
By the way...ANYONE can get guaranteed issue; you don't have to be "uninsurable". Guaranteed issue is available for clients between the ages of 46 and 80 and up to $35,000 in coverage. Again, this is the more expensive type of life insurance and it is advisable that if you CAN make it through an underwriting evaluation, you should try unless you just want to pay more and be done with it!
So what kind of companies will accept clients with diabetes? Personally, I broker only with "A" rated companies that have the right combination of price, customer service, product variety, and recognition in the market. I deal with companies that take clients on a case by case basis as opposed to categorizing them "by the book". I have fully researched the market, I am in touch with the underwriters personally, and I assure you that these companies have the proper credentials to back up their policies. My clients are provided with full company backgrounds and financial profiles. I deal with several companies that are in the market to insure diabetics. The reason why I am witholding exactly what companies I deal with is because I want to earn your business and represent you as your life insurance agent. Contact Me for a free consultation!
By: Ashley Brooks, CLTC
Ashley is the marketing vice president for the Family Life Insurance Brokerage Business and has a background in Health & Financial Underwriting, Insurance Plan Design, and "best deal" shopping. Brokerage Services carries only A rated (or better) companies in their product portfolio and has been serving the needs of Independent Insurance Agents since 1977.
More Information about Mr. Ashley Brooks - http://www.ashleybrooks.info
More Information about Brokerage - http://www.BrokerageServicesOfCarolina.com
Join our free online Insurance & Financial Forum - http://www.AgentForum.net
Aren't all travel insurance plans basically the same?No. When you... Read More
Global warming may have been lurking on our horizon for... Read More
At first glance, homeowners insurance may seem perplexing and quite... Read More
The are many scary things in this world. Buying insurance... Read More
Insurance is always a gamble, a bet actually.You are betting... Read More
Trying to save money wherever you can is important to... Read More
Here's the good news: with improvements in medical technology and... Read More
When we talk about insurance the thing you have to... Read More
Boat insurance is necessary for all boat owners who live... Read More
The value of a personal injury claim has a direct... Read More
Here is a useful guide to life insurance. Simply put,... Read More
Life Insurance Companies differ in their "underwriting philosophy" when it... Read More
A Health Savings Account (HSA) is not a type of... Read More
There are DOZENS of insurance claim possibilities which will increase... Read More
Finding the best rates on life insurance is not difficult... Read More
If you do not understand the way that auto insurance... Read More
Personalisation, Digitalisation, Mobilisation, these 3 words represent your life today.... Read More
Everything is big in Texas and so it is with... Read More
Do you love someone deeply enough to spend your hard... Read More
A little over sixty percent of the folks who reach... Read More
Whether you're looking for insurance quotes for auto, life, travel... Read More
1. Comply with recommendations from company engineers and loss control.... Read More
A new financial tool is now available for senior citizens.... Read More
If you decide not to do a car insurance comparison... Read More
Several national rating institutions rate insurance companies. Do coverages, rates,... Read More
What is a deductible? A deductible is the amount you... Read More
If you've just bought a dinghy or are thinking about... Read More
The original purpose of life insurance was to provide for... Read More
You and I. M. Strong, the adjuster from Granite Mountain... Read More
Renters insurance is often overlooked by people who are renting... Read More
UK car insurance companies make substantial profits every year because... Read More
Online term life insurance ratesHow simple it is today finding... Read More
Claims management and administration software systems enable insurance claims adjusters,... Read More
Here is a useful guide to car insurance. Buying car... Read More
The Terrorism Insurance Act of Nov. 26, 2002. This helps... Read More
Trying to save money wherever you can is important to... Read More
With the cost of car insurance becoming more and more... Read More
Here are some useful tips on how to reduce Home... Read More
The online life insurance companies offer a free service where... Read More
The biggest single investment most people make in their lifetime... Read More
Group term life insurance is more affordable than individual life... Read More
Thousands of people have work related commitments and in order... Read More
Health insurance is something that everyone needs today. The rising... Read More
If you're self employed, you may think of health insurance... Read More
They say everything is bigger and better in Texas, and... Read More
Everyone is searching for a way of cutting costs, a... Read More
As you probably know all to well, the cost of... Read More
The biggest worry of most parents today is their children... Read More
Adequate life insurance to cover your income producing ability is... Read More
1. Comply with recommendations from company engineers and loss control.... Read More
Insurance |