Life Insurance for Sonata users.

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 Sonata or its generic form Zaleplon to treat insomnia.

Questions that will be directly addressed will include:

• Can I qualify for life insurance after I’ve been prescribed Sonata?
• Why do life insurance companies care if I’ve been prescribed Sonata?
• 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 Sonata?

Because Sonata is a prescription medication that is used solely to treat insomnia, what we here at IBUSA have most commonly found is that its “presence” on a life insurance application will not negatively affect the outcome.

That said, however, like many other prescription sleep aids designed to help those treat insomnia, prolonged use of Sonata over time can “potentially” put a patient at risk for addiction.  As a result, prior to making a decision about an applicant who is currently using Sonata, most (if not all) life insurance underwriters will want to make sure that this medication is not being abused.

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

As previously mentioned before, because prolonged use of Sonata can lead to a “dependence” on this medication, insurance companies will want to make sure that you aren’t showing any “signs” of addiction and/or get a better idea of “how” you’re managing your insomnia so that they can be sure that you don’t pose an “unnecessary risk” to the insurance company should they decide to approve your life insurance application.

The good news is that…

Compared to some of the more common medications that are used to help folks treat their insomnia, Sonata is by far much less “habit-forming,” which is something that will definitely work in your favor during your application process.

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

Much of the information that the insurance companies will be interested in will typically be available once a “prescription database” check is performed, which is a routine report that most (if not all) life insurance companies will order during any traditional or simplified life insurance application.  But, don’t be surprised if, in addition to ordering a “prescription database check,” you might also be asked a series of questions about your Sonata prescription and/or about your insomnia as well.  Questions such as:

• When were you first diagnosed with insomnia?
• Is Sonata the only medication that you are taking to treat your insomnia?
• How long have you been prescribed Sonata?
• Do you take any additional over-the-counter medications to help treat your insomnia?
• How often do you need to take a sleep aid?
• In the past 12 months, have any of your sleep aid medications changed in any way?
• Do you have any history of drug or alcohol abuse?
• 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?

Now before you start freaking out and start asking…

“Why are these guys making such a big deal out of the fact that I’ve been prescribed Sonata?”

Let us reassure you that in the vast majority of cases, having been prescribed Sonata is not going to be a big deal.  In fact, in most cases, having been prescribed Sonata shouldn’t even affect your chances of being able to qualify for a Preferred Plus rate class (assuming that you would otherwise be able to qualify). The sole purpose of asking these questions is to simply make sure that you aren’t one of those “rare” cases where someone might be in danger of abusing their Sonata and thereby become not only a risk to themselves but also a risk to the insurance company as well.

Which brings us to…

The last topic that we want to discuss here in this article may be much more significant than the fact that you’ve been prescribed Sonata in the past.  You see, while it may be true in your mind that having been diagnosed with a pre-existing medical condition like insomnia is really the only thing that an insurance company could potentially be “worried” about.

The truth is that insurance companies use a lot of what some might think are completely “random” factors when determining who can and can’t qualify for a traditional life insurance policy and what that “price” should be in the event that they are approved for coverage. This is why we wanted to take a moment and discuss…

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

In our experience, what we have found to probably the most important thing an individual can do to increase their chances at being able to qualify for the “best” life insurance for them is to first:

• Make sure that they find a true-life insurance professional who will work as an advocate for you.

Agents like this 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 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” for you as well as helping him or her determine “which” life insurance company will most likely provide you with the best opportunity for success! So, what are you waiting for?  Give us a call today and see what we can do for you!