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 Gilbert’s Syndrome.

Questions that will be directly addressed will include:

• Can I qualify for life insurance if I have been diagnosed with Gilbert’s Syndrome?
• Why do life insurance companies care if I’ve been diagnosed with Gilbert’s Syndrome?
• 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 if I have been diagnosed with Gilbert’s Syndrome?

Yes, individuals who have been diagnosed with Gilbert’s Syndrome can and often will be able to qualify or a traditional term or whole life insurance policy. In fact, some may even be able to qualify for a preferred rate when applying for a no exam term life insurance policy!

The only problem is…

That because the primary symptom of Gilbert’s Disease is jaundice which is a condition that can also be caused by many other much more serious pre-existing medical conditions, most (if not all) of the best life insurance companies will want to make sure that any individual who is suffering from jaundice is only suffering from it due to Gilbert’s Disease and not because of some other “kind” of pre-existing medical condition.

Why do life insurance companies care if I’ve been diagnosed with Gilbert’s Syndrome?

As we just stated, most life insurance companies aren’t going to care all that much about the fact that an individual has been diagnosed with a pre-existing medical condition like Gilbert’s Syndrome, simply because at the end of the day, Gilbert’s Syndrome is something that is going to cause anyone to suffer from any “serious” consequences.

In fact…

The only symptom that someone might cause someone to think that they may have a condition like Gilbert’s Syndrome is jaundice. And here is where we may run into a “bit” of trouble, because while suffering from jaundice as a result of having Gilbert’s Syndrome may not be a problem.

While…

Suffering from jaundice as a symptom of some other “kind” of pre-existing condition like hepatitis, a gallstone attack, or some type of tumor could definitely become a problem. 

This is why…

Even though an insurance underwriter might not be worried about the fact that you have been diagnosed with Gilbert’s Syndrome, they’re still probably going to want to ask you some questions about you condition.

Which is why…

We want to take a moment and briefly describe what Guilbert’s Syndrome is so that when moving forward with our discussion, we’ll all be sure to be on the same page.

Gilbert’s Syndrome Defined.

Gilbert’s Syndrome is an inherited condition caused by a gene that alters the livers’ ability to process bilirubin. As a result, those suffering from this condition may experience symptoms of jaundice from time to time.

The good news is…

That in spite of this genetic defect, many individuals who “technically” have Gilbert’s Syndrome may go their whole life without realizing it because in many cases, this defect does not keep the liver from being able to process bilirubin completely so it’s quite possible that someone may live their entire life symptom-free.

As for those…

Who do go on and develop jaundice from time to time, they will likely experience feelings of:

• Fatigue,
• Abdominal pain,
• Unexplained weight loss,
• Nausea and/or vomiting,
• Flu-like symptoms including fevers and chills,
• Pale stools,
• Dark urine,
• Etc…

Fortunately…

These cases are not typically the “norm” for those diagnosed with Gilbert’s Syndrome, which is why, in most cases, someone with this condition won’t require any medical treatment.

Now at this point…

We usually like to take a moment and remind folks that nobody here at IBUSA has any kind of “official” medical training, and we’re certainly not doctors. All we are is a bunch of life insurance agents who just happen to be really good at helping folks with pre-existing medical conditions like this one, find and qualify for the life insurance coverage that they are looking for.

But…

Not so great if you’re looking for answers to any specific medical questions. In cases like these, we would recommend that you contact a true medical professional who has the training to help. For everyone else, you’re in luck because now we’re going to get into some of the “nitty-gritty” about what you may or may not be able to qualify for.

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

Common questions you might be asked may include:

• When were you first diagnosed with Gilbert’s Syndrome?
• Who diagnosed your Gilbert’s Syndrome?
• What symptoms (if any) led to your diagnosis?
• Have you been diagnosed with any other pre-existing medical conditions?
• If you are prone to developing jaundice, how often does it occur?
• Are you currently taking any prescription medications?
• In the past two years, have you been admitted to a hospital for any reason?
• 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 from the questions above, when it comes to determining what kind of “rate” an individual might be able to qualify for after they have been diagnosed with Gilbert’s Syndrome, most life insurance companies are going to spend most of their time focusing on “why” your condition was discovered.

And do you suffer…

From any other conditions which might have let to the “accidental” discovery that you also have Gilbert’s Syndrome.

This is because…

At the end of the day, most life insurance companies aren’t going to care all that much that you have been diagnosed with Gilbert’s Syndrome. Or to put it another way, when it comes time to determine what kind of “rate” you might be able to qualify for after having been diagnosed with Gilbert’s Syndrome, it’s reasonable to assume that whatever “rate” you would have been able to qualify for PRIOR to being diagnosed with Gilbert’s Syndrome should be the same “rate” that you will be able to qualify for AFTER having been diagnosed with Gilbert’s Syndrome!

Which segues very nicely into the last topic, which we wanted to take a moment and discuss with you 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 professional who will work as an advocate for you.

Such an agent…

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 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!

Now, will we be able to help out everyone who has been previously diagnosed with Gilbert’s Syndrome?

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 Burial Life Insurance Companies as well so that in the event that 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.