In this article, we wanted to take a moment and try and answer some of the most common questions we get from folks applying for life insurance after they have been prescribed Mirapex or its generic form Pramipexole to help treat Parkinson’s Disease and/or Restless Leg Syndrome.

Questions that will be directly addressed will include:

• Can I qualify for life insurance after I’ve been prescribed Mirapex?
• Why do life insurance companies care if I’ve been prescribed Mirapex?
• 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’ dive right in!

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

Yes, individuals who have been prescribed Mirapex can and often will be able to qualify for a traditional term or whole life insurance policy.  In fact, some may even be able to qualify for a Preferred Plus rate class.  The problem is that a vast majority of individuals who have been prescribed Mirapex won’t be able to qualify for such rates, and some may not be able to qualify for a traditional term or whole life insurance policy at all!

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

The main reason why life insurance companies “care” if an individual has been prescribed Mirapex is because it is a prescription medication that is commonly used to help folks treat/manage Parkinson’s Disease. And while it’s also used to help folks treat and manage Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS), restless leg syndrome isn’t a pre-existing medical condition that’s really going to make many life insurance companies all that nervous, provided that it’s causing someone to suffer from other “significant” complications as a result to their condition.

This is why…

One of the first things that a life insurance underwriter is going to want to determine once it has been discovered that you have been prescribed Mirapex is “Why.”  From there, they’ll likely ask you a series of questions, all designed to learn just how “serious” the underlying pre-existing medical condition that has warranted your prescription is.

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

Common questions you’ll likely be asked may include:

• When were you first prescribed Mirapex?
• Who prescribed your Mirapex? A general practitioner or a specialist?
• Why have you been prescribed Mirapex?
• Have you been diagnosed with Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS)?
  • If so:
    • Who diagnosed your RLS?
    • Aside from being an “uncomfortable” medical condition to deal with, are you suffering from any other “consequences” preventing you from living a “normal” life?
  • Have you been diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease?
    • If so:
      • What symptoms (if any) led you to be diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease?
      • How have these symptoms progressed?
      • Within the past 12 months, has your condition become any “worse,” or has your Parkinson’s disease seem to have “stabilized” itself?
    • Are you taking any other prescription medications?
    • Have any of your prescription medications changed in the past 12 months?
    • Have you been admitted to a hospital in the past 2 years for any reason?
    • Have you used any tobacco or nicotine products within the past 12 months?
    • Do you have any issues with your driving record? Issues such as multiple moving violations, a DUI, or a suspended license?
    • Are you currently working now?
    • In the past 12 months, have you applied for or received any form of disability benefits?

What rate (or price) can I qualify for?

As you can see, there are a lot of factors that can come into play when trying to determine what kind of “rate” an individual might be able to qualify for.  This is why it’s pretty much impossible to know what kind of rate you might be able to qualify for, only knowing that you have been prescribed Mirapex in the past.

That said, however, there are a few “assumptions” we can make that might give you a general idea about what kind of rate you “might” be able to qualify for.  For example, if you have been prescribed Mirapex for the sole purpose of treating your Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS) and your restless leg syndrome isn’t creating any “significant” consequences to your life or lifestyle, chances are having been prescribed Mirapex isn’t going to affect the outcome of your life insurance application.

Now as for those…

Who have been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, all that we can really tell you is that there is a chance that you will still be eligible for a traditional term or whole life insurance policy, only now you’ll most likely only be able to qualify for a Sub-Standard or “high risk” rate class and it will be important for you to be able to demonstrate that you’re Parkinson’s disease appears to be Stable at best or only slowly progressing at worst.

And while…

This may not be the news that you’re looking for, but on the bright side is that here at IBUSA, we have a ton of experience helping folks all along the Parkinson’s Disease “spectrum” find coverage that they can qualify for and afford, it’s just a matter of you giving us a call so that we can have an opportunity to help you out. This brings us to the last topic that we wanted to take a moment and discuss with you here today, 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 profession who will work as an advocate for you. Such an agent who can 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 prior to applying for coverage.  By doing so, you will be helping him or her narrow down what options might be the “best”

So, what are you waiting for?  Give us a call today and see what we can do for you!