Life Insurance for Glimepiride 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 Amaryl or its generic form, Glimepiride, to treat their type 2 diabetes.

Questions that will be directly addressed will include:

• Can I qualify for life insurance after I’ve been prescribed Amaryl?
• Why do life insurance companies care if I’ve been prescribed Amaryl?
• What kind of information will the insurance companies ask me or be interested in?
• What rate (or price) can I qualify for?
• How can I help ensure 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 Amaryl?

First things first, individuals who have been prescribed Amaryl to treat their type 2 diabetes can and often will be able to qualify for a traditional term or whole life insurance policy. Some may even be eligible for a no-medical exam life insurance policy, too!

This is because, Glimepiride is a type 2 “oral” diabetic medication; individuals using it to treat their diabetes will often find it much easier to qualify for coverage vs. those using an injectable alternative.

Why do life insurance companies care if I’ve been prescribed Amaryl?

Life insurance companies “care” if an individual has been prescribed Amaryl because it will tell them that they will need to learn more about how well an individual controls their diabetes before they decide whether to insure an individual. Additionally, because Amaryl can have some rather severe side effects when combined with alcohol, most (if not all) life insurance companies will also take a bit more care in ruling out whether or not someone might have an issue with alcohol.

Now it’s important…

To understand that Alcohol abuse will always be a significant concern for most life insurance companies, which is why most (if not all) of the best life insurance companies will include a question or two in their life insurance applications. The only difference is that in this situation, they may want to get specifics about how much you drink because while you may not have a drinking problem, your drinking may cause a problem when combined with Glimepiride.

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

Typical questions you will likely be asked once an insurance company has determined that you’re currently using Amaryl to treat your type 2 diabetes may include:

• How old were you when you were first diagnosed with type 2 diabetes?
• How long have you been treating your type 2 diabetes?
• Aside from an elevated blood sugar level, have you experienced any other symptoms associated with your diabetes?
• Is Amaryl the only prescription medication that you’re using to treat your type 2 diabetes?
• Over the past 12 months, have any of your diabetic medications changed in any way?
• How often do you test your daily blood sugar? What would you estimate your daily average to be?
• When was the last time you had your A1C checked? What was that value?
• How often do you see your doctor for a regular checkup?
• What is your current height and weight?
• In the past 12 months, have you used any tobacco or nicotine products?
• Are you currently working?
• In the past 12 months, have you applied for or received any form of disability benefits?

What rate (or price) can I qualify for?

Technically, individuals who are using Amaryl to treat their type 2 diabetes can potentially qualify for a Standard or Normal life insurance rate provided that their Amaryl is doing a fantastic job at controlling their blood sugar and they have no other health issues that could affect the outcome of their life insurance application.

Now…

We say “technically” because while some life insurance companies say that they will approve type 2 diabetics at a Standard rate, we’ve got to be honest with you: qualifying for a Standard rate can be tricky! This is why we here at IBUSA usually provide our clients with both a Standard rate quote and a Table B rate quote. This way, they can compare themselves for both possibilities, seeing how, ultimately, this decision will be made by the life insurance company and not us here at IBUSA.

Table Rate defined.

Depending on how you count them, there are approximately 16 different life insurance rates that an individual can qualify for. The best would be a Preferred or Preferred Plus rate, followed by Standard Plus and Standard. From there, you then enter into what would generally be considered your “higher risk” rates, called table rates.

Table rates….

Range from Table A would be the “best” and least expensive table rate available to Table J, which would be the “worst” or most expensive. This brings us to the last topic that we wanted to take a moment and discuss here in this article, which is…

How can I help ensure 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 who can help guide you through the application process and be perfectly “frank” with you about what options may or may not be possible.

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 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 ensure you’re completely honest with your life insurance agent before applying for coverage. By doing so, you will be helping them narrow down what options might be the “best.”

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

No, probably not. But we can tell you 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. This way if someone can’t 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, call us!