What Lucentis Is

Lucentis (ranibizumab) is a biologic monoclonal antibody fragment administered via intravitreal injection (injection directly into the eye). It blocks vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), a protein that promotes abnormal blood vessel growth in the retina. Lucentis is FDA-approved to treat age-related macular degeneration (AMD), diabetic retinopathy, retinal vein occlusion, and other serious retinal diseases. The medication is well-tolerated and represents an important treatment for vision-threatening eye conditions. However, the need for Lucentis indicates a serious retinal disease requiring aggressive treatment—not a minor, routine health condition.

Important Context for Life Insurance

Unlike routine medications for common conditions, Lucentis is prescribed only for serious retinal diseases. These underlying conditions—particularly diabetic retinopathy—can indicate significant systemic health concerns. Diabetic retinopathy, for example, signals that diabetes is advanced enough to cause complications affecting the eye, which has implications for overall health and mortality risk. Age-related macular degeneration is common in aging populations but is still a significant health marker. Insurers understand that Lucentis use indicates you have a serious eye condition requiring specialized treatment. This requires careful underwriting that evaluates both the eye condition and your overall health status. Approval is possible, but it depends on the specific underlying disease and how well you’re managing it.

The Underlying Conditions

Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD): AMD is a progressive eye disease affecting central vision in aging adults. It’s common in people over 60, but significantly impacts the quality of life. While AMD itself is not life-threatening, it is a serious health condition. Underwriters may view it as an age-related marker or consider the overall health context.

Diabetic Retinopathy: This is a complication of diabetes where high blood sugar damages blood vessels in the retina. The presence of diabetic retinopathy indicates that diabetes is advanced enough to cause organ complications. This is a more serious underwriting concern because it signals significant diabetic disease and potentially increased health risks. Rates may be affected based on diabetes severity.

Retinal Vein Occlusion: This occurs when blood clots block the veins in the retina. It can indicate underlying vascular disease or blood-clotting disorders, which are concerns for underwriters. Approval may depend on identifying and managing the underlying cause.

Serious Eye Conditions Require Careful Review

Retinal diseases requiring Lucentis are not disqualifying conditions, but they are serious enough to warrant careful underwriter evaluation. Unlike routine medication approvals that move through quickly, Lucentis cases require underwriters to understand the specific eye condition, assess its severity, evaluate your specialist’s treatment plan, and consider how it relates to your overall health. This is legitimate underwriting scrutiny, not a rejection—it’s a thorough evaluation of a significant health factor.

The Underlying Condition Matters Most

Lucentis itself carries no safety concerns—underwriters recognize it’s an appropriate treatment for serious retinal diseases. However, the underlying condition is what insurers evaluate. If you have AMD and are otherwise healthy, approval at standard rates is likely. If you have diabetic retinopathy, underwriters will want comprehensive information about your diabetes control, kidney function, cardiovascular health, and other diabetic complications. If you have retinal vein occlusion, underwriters will investigate the cause. Each scenario is different. Being honest about your specific condition and providing complete medical documentation is essential.

Underwriters Will Assess Overall Health

Your age, overall health status, control of underlying diseases, and other health factors are all considered. Someone age 72 with well-managed AMD may receive approval at standard rates. A 45-year-old with poorly controlled diabetes causing retinopathy may face more difficult underwriting or rate increases reflecting the diabetic complications. Underwriters evaluate the complete health picture, not just the eye condition in isolation.

When Asked About Medications

✓ Always list Lucentis. Include ranibizumab by name, specify that it’s injected into the eye, and note how frequently you receive injections. Full, detailed disclosure is legally required and critical for a valid application.

✓ Disclose the underlying eye condition prominently. This is essential. Note the specific condition: “age-related macular degeneration,” “diabetic retinopathy,” “retinal vein occlusion,” etc. Do not minimize or downplay the condition. Underwriters need complete information.

✓ Include related conditions. If Lucentis is being used for diabetic retinopathy, disclose your diabetes, how long you’ve had it, your blood sugar control, any other diabetic complications, and any cardiovascular or kidney concerns. If retinal vein occlusion is the reason, mention any underlying blood clotting disorders, hypertension, or cardiovascular disease. Paint the complete health picture.

When Underwriters Ask About Your Eye Condition

✓ Be thorough and honest. Clearly explain what eye condition you have, when you were diagnosed, how it’s progressing, and what your eye specialist says about your prognosis. Do not minimize severity. Underwriters understand that retinal diseases are serious.

✓ Provide specialist documentation. Request records from your ophthalmologist or retinal specialist. Include diagnostic test results (optical coherence tomography, visual acuity measurements, etc.), notes about disease progression, and the specialist’s assessment of your condition. This documentation is crucial for approval.

✓ Explain your treatment plan. Describe your Lucentis regimen (how often you receive injections), your response to treatment, and whether the condition is stable, improving, or progressing. Explain any other treatments you’re receiving (laser therapy, supplemental vitamins, etc.). Show that you’re following medical guidance and managing the condition actively.

Best Case: Age-Related Macular Degeneration, Stable, Overall Good Health

Status: Approved at Standard or Standard+ rates

Timeline: 3-4 weeks

If you’re age 70+ with AMD that’s stable on Lucentis and otherwise in good health with no significant comorbidities, approval is likely at standard or near-standard rates. AMD is expected in aging populations. Underwriters will verify disease stability through your ophthalmologist’s records, then approve. No rate increase specifically for the eye condition—your age and overall health determine the final rating.

Moderate Case: Diabetic Retinopathy, Well-Controlled Diabetes

Status: Approved at Standard to Standard+ rates, depending on diabetes control

Timeline: 4-6 weeks

Diabetic retinopathy indicates advanced diabetes, which is a serious health concern. However, if your diabetes is well-controlled (good A1C levels, stable or improving kidney function, no other diabetic complications), approval is likely. Your rate may reflect your diabetes rather than the eye disease specifically. Underwriters will request a comprehensive diabetes evaluation: A1C levels, kidney function, blood pressure, cholesterol, and any other complications. Complete medical documentation is essential.

More Challenging Case: Retinal Vein Occlusion or Multiple Eye Issues

Status: Approval possible; rates may be elevated or specific carriers required

Timeline: 4-6 weeks or longer

Retinal vein occlusion can indicate underlying vascular disease or blood-clotting issues. Underwriters will investigate thoroughly to understand the cause and assess whether you have other cardiovascular or vascular concerns. If the underlying cause is well-identified and managed (e.g., hypertension controlled, no blood-clotting disorder), approval is possible. However, rates may be elevated to reflect the underlying vascular condition. More carriers may need to be contacted to find one willing to approve your case.

Rate Impact Summary

Rate adjustment for Lucentis itself: None. The medication carries no rate penalty.

Rate adjustment for underlying condition: Possible. The underlying eye disease and related health conditions determine the rate impact. AMD alone in an elderly person may carry no rate adjustment. Diabetic retinopathy reflects your diabetes severity and may increase rates. Retinal vein occlusion may reflect underlying vascular disease and could affect rates. The condition—not the medication—drives rate decisions.

Complete Honesty from Day One

Disclose everything about your Lucentis use and underlying eye condition on your initial application. Include the specific diagnosis, frequency of treatment, and all related health conditions. Underwriters will verify this information through medical records—dishonesty is grounds for policy denial or cancellation. Honest, complete disclosure leads to the fastest, most successful underwriting.

Gather Medical Records Proactively

Request comprehensive records from your ophthalmologist or retinal specialist before submitting your application. Include recent eye exams, diagnostic imaging (OCT scans, fundus photography), visual acuity measurements, and your doctor’s assessment of disease progression and prognosis. Having this documentation ready speeds up underwriting significantly. Your eye doctor’s records are crucial to showing that your condition is being actively managed.

If You Have Diabetes or Other Related Conditions

Provide recent laboratory work: A1C levels, kidney function tests (creatinine, eGFR), urinalysis, blood pressure readings, and lipid panels. If you have retinopathy, these additional records demonstrating diabetes control significantly strengthen your application. Show that you’re being actively managed by your primary care doctor and/or endocrinologist. Complete health management is a positive factor.

Get a Letter from Your Eye Specialist

Ask your ophthalmologist to provide a brief clinical summary. A statement like: “Patient has stable AMD/diabetic retinopathy managed with monthly Lucentis injections. Disease is stable/improving with treatment. No other ophthalmic concerns” is very helpful. This professional assessment from your specialist carries weight with underwriters and may expedite approval.

Work with an Experienced Agent

An agent familiar with complex underwriting can guide you through the process, anticipate underwriter questions, and present your case effectively. Some carriers have more favorable underwriting for specific eye conditions than others. An experienced agent knows which carriers to approach and can help navigate the evaluation process. This is not a simple approval—professional guidance is valuable.

Can I get life insurance if I use Lucentis?

Direct answer: Yes, but it requires careful evaluation.

Lucentis use is not automatically disqualifying. Carriers will approve applicants with serious retinal conditions on Lucentis, but underwriting is more involved than in routine cases. Approval depends on your specific eye condition, how well it’s managed, your age, overall health, and any related systemic diseases. Complete medical documentation is essential.

Will Lucentis increase my life insurance rates?

Direct answer: Possibly, depending on the underlying condition.

Lucentis itself doesn’t increase rates. However, the underlying eye disease and related health conditions might. If you have AMD and are otherwise healthy, you’ll likely receive standard age-based rates. If you have diabetic retinopathy with poor diabetes control, rates may reflect your diabetes. If you have retinal vein occlusion from underlying vascular disease, rates may be affected by those cardiovascular concerns. The underlying condition drives rate decisions.

Do I have to disclose Lucentis?

Direct answer: Yes. Always disclose completely.

When asked about medications, list Lucentis prominently. Include the underlying eye condition and any related health issues. Full disclosure is legally required and critical for a valid application. Withholding information about serious eye conditions is grounds for policy denial.

Will underwriters ask a lot of questions?

Direct answer: Yes. Expect a thorough evaluation.

Underwriters will ask about when your eye condition started, how it’s progressing, your treatment frequency, what your eye doctor says about your prognosis, and details about any related conditions (diabetes, vascular disease, etc.). They’ll request medical records from your eye specialist. This thorough evaluation is normal for serious conditions—it’s not a sign of rejection, just appropriate underwriting diligence.

How long does approval take?

Direct answer: Typically 3-6 weeks, longer than routine cases.

Lucentis cases require medical record review and more thorough underwriting than routine approvals. Timeline depends on how quickly your eye specialist provides records and how straightforward your underlying condition is. Complex cases may take longer. Plan for extended underwriting with this type of medical condition.

Will I need medical testing?

Direct answer: Standard testing, plus eye specialist records.

Routine health screening (blood pressure, cholesterol, basic labs) applies based on age and coverage amount. Additionally, underwriters will request medical records from your ophthalmologist or retinal specialist. No special medical testing is typically required from you—the underwriter review of existing eye care records is what’s needed.

What if my retinal disease is progressing or unstable?

Direct answer: Still possible to get approved, but underwriting is more challenging.

If your eye condition is progressing despite treatment or if your disease is unstable, underwriters will evaluate you more carefully. They want to understand whether the condition is being managed as well as possible and what the prognosis is. Approval is still possible, but rates may be higher, or you may need to work with multiple carriers to find approval. Be honest about disease progression—underwriters can verify this through medical records anyway.

Is a retinal disease considered a serious medical condition?

Direct answer: Yes. Retinal diseases are serious conditions requiring careful evaluation.

Retinal diseases requiring Lucentis (AMD, diabetic retinopathy, retinal vein occlusion) are considered serious medical conditions by underwriting standards. They are not routine or minor issues. They require specialists, aggressive treatment, and ongoing management. Underwriters treat them with appropriate scrutiny. However, serious doesn’t mean automatically denied—it means thorough, careful evaluation. Many people with serious eye conditions receive approved life insurance with appropriate underwriting.