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 being diagnosed with a Fistula-in-Ano.

Questions that will be directly addressed will include:

• Can I qualify for life insurance if I have been diagnosed with Fistula-in-Ano?
• Why do life insurance companies care if I’ve been diagnosed with Fistula-in-Ano?
• 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 if I have been diagnosed with Fistula-in-Ano?

Yes, individuals who have been diagnosed with a Fistula-in-Ano can and often will qualify for a traditional term or whole life insurance policy. In fact, they may even be eligible for a Preferred rate when applying for a no-exam life insurance policy!

The only problem is in some cases, a Fistula-in-Ano can cause one to suffer from frequent infections, which could worry a life insurance company. This is why you may be asked a few questions about your Fistula before being approved for a traditional life insurance policy.

Why do life insurance companies care if I’ve been diagnosed with Fistula-in-Ano?

Here at IBUSA, what we’ve typically found when working with someone who has been diagnosed with a Fistula-in-Ano is that most of the top-rated life insurance companies aren’t going to be all that concerned about it provided that you aren’t suffering from frequent infections as a result of it and that you don’t seem to be suffering from any symptoms that are preventing you from being able to live a “normal” life (whatever that is).

But…

When a life insurance underwriter does choose to consider a Fistula-in-Ano in determining a life insurance application, much of their decision-making process will be based on somewhat “subjective” information. This is why we wanted to take a moment to discuss what a Fistula-in-Ano is and highlight some of the most common symptoms so that we’ll know what a life insurance underwriter will be looking for should they choose to make this pre-existing medical condition a part of their decision-making process.

Fistula-in-Ano Defined:

A Fistula-in-Ano is a condition where an abnormal hollow cavity or canal connects to the primary opening inside the anal canal. This “connection” opens up a secondary opening in the perianal skin, which has the potential to cause a wide range of problems.

Common symptoms may include:

• Frequent anal abscesses,
• Pain and/or swelling in and around the anus,
• Bloody and/or foul-smelling drainage from the anus,
• Anal bleeding,
• Infections,
• Fever,
• Chills,
• Fatigue,
• Etc…

Fortunately…

It is possible to treat and correct for a fistula-in-Ano using techniques such as a seton placement, fibrin glue, and or ligation of the intersphincteric fistula tract. Fistula-in-Ano can also be extracted via a fistulotomy; however, this will usually require more recovery time.

Now, before anyone gets upset or begins to complain about the simplicity of the definitions we’re using here, it’s important to understand that we here at IBUSA aren’t medical experts or doctors. All we are is a bunch of life insurance agents who are really good at helping folks with pre-existing medical conditions like the one find and qualify for the coverage they’re looking for.

Which means that…

Because we won’t be the ones “diagnosing” your condition, all we need to do is have a very “basic” understanding of what it is and how its presence will affect how a life insurance underwriter will consider you a potential “risk.”

The good news is that despite how simple our definitions of these diseases may be, we have this down pat!

Which is why…

When we are approached by an individual who has been diagnosed with any of these “kinds” of conditions, we’ll know right away what questions a life insurance underwriter will want to know the answers to before they will be willing to make any decision about the outcome of your life insurance application. This brings us to the next topic we wanted to discuss in this article, which is…

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

Typical questions you’ll likely be asked may include:

• When were you first diagnosed with a Fistula-in-ano?
• Who diagnosed your Fistula-in-Ano? A general practitioner or a specialist?
• What symptoms (if any) led to your diagnosis?
• Have you experienced any infections as a result of your condition?
• What treatment options have you pursued?
• Have you been diagnosed with more than one “fistula”?
• Are you currently taking any prescription medications now?
• Do you have any planned surgical procedures?
• Have you been diagnosed with any other pre-existing medical conditions?
• 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, quite a few factors can come into play when determining what kind of “rate” you might qualify for after being diagnosed with a Fistula-in-Ano. But the truth is, unless you’re currently treating a Fistula-in-Ano or you have been suffering from frequent infections because of your condition, chances are having been diagnosed with a Fistula-in-Ano isn’t going to have a significant effect on the outcome of your life insurance application.

“Which is great!”

But that still leaves many other “factors” that could come into play when determining what kind of “rate” you may or may not qualify for. Factors such as:

• Your height and weight,
• Your driving record,
• Your family medical history,
• Your travel history,

Or any dangerous hobbies you would like to participate in. Not to mention whether or not you use any tobacco or nicotine products either. This is why, knowing what kind of “rate” you might qualify for is impossible without first speaking with you directly for a few moments. This leaves us with one final topic that we would like to discuss with you before we end this article:

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 will be able to 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 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, before applying for coverage, you should be completely honest with your life insurance agent. This will help them narrow down what options might be the “best.”

Now, can we help out everyone previously diagnosed with a Fistula-in-Ano?

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 if 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.