Life Insurance for Aggrenox users.

In this article, we wanted to take a moment to answer some of the most common questions we get from folks applying for life insurance after they have been prescribed Aggrenox (Aspirin/Dipyridamole) to help reduce the risk of stroke in individuals who have already suffered from:

• A previous stroke.
• A “mini-stroke” or transient ischemic attack (TIA).

Or have developed blood clots in the past.

Questions that will be directly addressed will include:

• Can I qualify for life insurance after I’ve been prescribed Aggrenox?
• What kind of information will the insurance companies ask me or be interested in?
• What rate (or price) can I qualify for?
• What can I do to help ensure that I get the “best life insurance” for me?

So, without further ado, let’s dive right in!

Can I qualify for life insurance after I’ve been prescribed Aggrenox?

While we would love to be able to answer this question with a simple “yes” or “no” response, the truth is, it’s all going to depend on “why” you’ve been prescribed Aggrenox and how serious that pre-existing medical condition was or is.

You see…

For the most part, Aggrenox is a medication that is used to prevent future occurrences of a medical event that has already taken place. For example:

• If you’ve already suffered from a stroke or TIA, using Aggrenox may prevent you from suffering from another one.
• Or if you’re prone to developing blood clots, using Aggrenox may prevent you from developing them in the future.

And since, many of the best life insurance companies will be willing to ensure some folks who have suffered from a stroke, a “mini-stroke” and/or blood clots in the past, it only makes sense that they would also be willing provide coverage to those using Aggrenox as well!

The only problem is…

That before doing so, most (if not all) life insurance companies are going to want to learn more about your Aggrenox prescription, and what was the underlying cause which leads to it being prescribed to you before they will be willing to provide you with an offer of coverage. 

We should also point out that while it is true that some folks who have been prescribed Aggrenox will be able to qualify for coverage, some “others” may not.

What kind of information will the insurance companies ask me or be interested in?

The first thing that a life insurance company is going to want to know about your Aggrenox prescription is…

“Why have you been prescribed Aggrenox?”

From there, they’ll usually have different questions based on the underlying pre-existing medical condition which is being treated.

Questions those who have suffered from a stroke might be asked may include:

• When did you first suffer from a stroke?
• Was it considered a “full” stroke vs. a “mini” stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA)?
• What symptoms did you experience during your stroke?
• Did you go to the hospital?
• Since your stroke, are you still suffering from any neurological effects?
• Do you know “why” you suffered from your stroke?
• Do you suffer from any other medical conditions which could have contributed to you suffering from a stroke?
• Conditions such as:
  • • Hypertension or high blood pressure
    • Diabetes,
    • Heart Disease,
    • High cholesterol,
    • Smoker
  • Etc…
  • Have you suffered from multiple strokes?
  • Have you suffered from any other cardiovascular events?
  • How long have you been taking Aggrenox?
  • Aside from Aggrenox, are you taking any other prescription medications?
  • In the past 12 months, have any of your prescription medications changed in any way?
  • What are your current height and weight?
  • In the past 12 months, have you used any tobacco or nicotine products?
  • Are you currently working now?
  • In the past 12 months, have you applied for or received any form of disability benefits?

Questions those who have suffered from a transient ischemic attack (TIA) might be asked may include:

• When did you experience your TIA?
• Did you go to the hospital?
• If you did, did you have any test performed on yourself? Tests such as an EKG, MRI or CT scan?
• How do you know you experienced a TIA? Did a doctor diagnose it? What symptoms did you experience during your TIA?
• Do you suffer from any long-term neurological symptoms as a result of your TIA?
• Have you ever suffered from a stroke, not just a TIA?
• Do you suffer from any other medical conditions which could have contributed to you suffering from a stroke?
• Conditions such as:
  • • Hypertension or high blood pressure
    • Diabetes,
    • Heart Disease,
    • High cholesterol,
    • Smoker
  • Etc…
  • Have you suffered from multiple TIA’s?
  • In the past 12 months, have you used any tobacco or nicotine products?
  • Aside from Aggrenox, are there any other prescription medications that you are taking?
  • Have any of your prescription medications changed in the past 12 months?
  • What are your current height and weight?
  • Are you currently working now?
  • In the past 12 months, have you applied for or received any form of disability benefits?

Questions those who have suffered from a blood clot may include:

• When were you diagnosed with a blood clot?
• How did you discover that you had a blood clot?
• Did you experience any symptoms resulting from your blood clot?
• Have you experienced a heart attack or stroke?
• Do you suffer from any other medical conditions which could have contributed to you suffering from a stroke?
• Conditions such as:
  • • Hypertension or high blood pressure
    • Diabetes,
    • Heart Disease,
    • High cholesterol,
    • Smoker
  • Etc…
  • Aside from Aggrenox, are there any other prescription medications that your taking?
  • In the past 12 months, have any of your medications changed in any way?
  • In the past 12 months, have you used any tobacco or nicotine products?
  • Are you currently working now?
  • In the past 12 months, have you applied or received any form of disability benefits?

What rate (or price) can I qualify for?

The rate you are going to be able to earn once you have suffered from a medical “event” that has warranted Aggrenox being prescribed will usually be what determines what “kind” of rate you will qualify for.

This is why…

In order to give you a better idea of what kind of rate that you may be able to qualify for its better for us to take a look at each of the conditions, Aggrenox can be prescribed for separately, starting first with those who have suffered from a stroke.

Rates for Stroke victims.

As a previous stroke victim, what you’re generally going to find is that while you will still be “eligible” for a traditional term or whole life insurance policy, most (if not all) life insurance companies are now going to consider you a “higher risk” applicant.

What this means is that…

You’re not going to be able to qualify for a Preferred rate and will most likely not be able to qualify for a Standard or “Normal” rate either. And while that may be disappointing to some, it’s certainly not the end of the world!

It just means that you’re going to need to be more selective with which life insurance company that you apply with because you’re going to want to make sure that you qualify for the best “sub-standard” rate class that you can.

You see…

There are around 16 different rate classes that one can qualify for. The best being Preferred or Preferred plus then a Standard or Standard Plus followed by rates that are typically reserved for higher risk applicants. These rates are called “table rates” and very from Table A (the best or least expensive table rate) to Table J (the worst or most expensive table rate).

So, the trick…

Then becomes trying to find a life insurance company that will approve you at a “high” table rate. A trick that can become more complicated if you’ve:

• Suffered from multiple strokes,
• Have other significant health issues that may be a contributing cause of your stroke(s),
• Been prescribed multiple medications aside from just Aggrenox,
• Etc…

This is why…

While we would love to be able to tell you exactly what “rate” you might be able to qualify for, it’s just impossible without knowing more about you. What we can tell you is that if you are going to be able to qualify for coverage, it’s most likely going to be for a “mid-range” table rate somewhere around table C, or D.

Rates for transient ischemic attack (TIA)

When it comes to folks who have suffered from a TIA, there is both “good news” and “bad news”. The good news is that in “theory” they can and often will qualify for a Preferred Plus rate class, which just happens to be the “best” rate that an individual can qualify for.

The bad news…

Is that some folks who have suffered from a TIA may also be considered a “high risk” applicant as well just like someone who has suffered from a full-blown stroke! Which can certainly make providing an accurate quote pretty difficult! 

This is why…

We here at IBUSA usually like to provide folks with realistic expectations about what rate they may be able to qualify for and let them know that if you’re currently taking a medication like Aggrenox you’ll probably only be able to qualify for a Standard rate (we could be wrong, but we prefer to error on the side of caution).

Additionally…

If you’ve suffered from multiple TIA’s or are still experiencing neurological symptoms as a result of your last TIA, chances are you may only be able to qualify for a “table rate”.

Rates for those suffering from blood clots

What we here at IBUSA have found is that when it comes to helping folks who have been prescribed Aggrenox to help them treat or prevent blood clots while it may be possible for some to be able to qualify for a Preferred rate, the vast majority of applicants won’t.

This is because…

For most life insurance companies, being able to qualify for a Preferred rate will mean that you’re not currently taking any prescription medications to prevent future blood clots, and you don’t have any other pre-existing medical conditions could be contributing too or caused by your blood clots. Two situations that aren’t all that common.

That said, however…

Just because you won’t be able to qualify for a Preferred rate doesn’t mean that you won’t be able to qualify for an affordable rate, it just means that you’re probably going to have to try a bit harder when looking for the “best” life insurance agent for you.

This brings us to the last topic we wanted to discuss here, which is…

What can I do to help ensure that I get the “best life insurance” for me?

In our experience here at IBUSA, what we have found that works best for folks who have been diagnosed with a pre-existing medical condition where the “severity” of the condition is often “subjective” is for the applicant to make sure that they first find a true-life insurance professional who will work as an advocate for you.

Such an agent…

Will not only help guide you through the application process but also be perfectly “frank” with you about what options may or may not be possible for you.

From there…

You’ll also want to make sure that the very same agent you have chosen has access to dozens of different life insurance companies because after all, it really doesn’t matter how “great” of a life insurance agent you might have if they don’t have access to the “best” life insurance policy for you! Now, does it?

Lastly…

You’ll want to make sure that you’re completely honest with your life insurance agent before applying for coverage. By doing so, you will be helping him or her narrow down what options might be the “best”.

Now, will we be able to help out everyone who has been prescribed Aggrenox?

No, probably not. But what we can tell you is that in addition to offering a wide variety of different term and whole life insurance policies, IBUSA has also worked very hard to establish relationships with many of the Best Final Expense Insurance Companies as well.

So that…

In the event that someone isn’t able to qualify for a traditional life insurance policy, chances are there may be some other “type” of product that you CAN qualify for.

So, if you’re ready to see what options might be available to you, just give us a call!