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 Hemochromatosis.

Questions that will be directly addressed will include:

• Can I qualify for life insurance if I have been diagnosed with Hemochromatosis?
• Why do life insurance companies care if I have been diagnosed with Hemochromatosis?
• 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 Hemochromatosis?

Yes, individuals who have been diagnosed with Hemochromatosis can and often will be able to qualify for a traditional term or whole life insurance policy. Some may even be eligible for a no-exam life insurance policy at a Preferred rate!

The only problem is…

Hemochromatosis is one of those “kinds” of diseases where, for some, it may simply represent a minor inconvenience, in which case you may qualify for a Preferred rate. In contrast, for others, it may be a condition that triggers all sorts of other potentially deadly complications!

Why do life insurance companies care if I have been diagnosed with Hemochromatosis?

As we just stated, the main reason why most of the best life insurance companies are going to “care” if an individual has been diagnosed with Hemochromatosis is that, in some cases, it can become a catalyst for causing all sorts of dangerous complications.

This is why…

We wanted to take a moment and just briefly discuss what Hemochromatosis is. As well as highlight some of the most common symptoms associated with this disease so that we can better understand what a life insurance underwriter will be looking for when making their decision about your application.

Hemochromatosis Defined:

It is a genetic pre-existing medical condition whereby one’s intestines absorb too much iron from the food the affected patient eats. As a result, these patients begin building up too much iron in their bloodstream without any way of getting rid of it. This is why this condition is sometimes called “iron overload.”

Symptoms may include:

• Joint pain in one’s hands, commonly referred to as “iron fist,”
• Lethargy,
• Loss of sex drive,
• Loss of body hair,
• Heart flutters,
• Unexplained weight loss,
• Abnormal skin color,
• Etc…

Potential complications may include:

• Cirrhosis of the liver,
• Congestive heart failure,
• Arrhythmias,
• Diabetes mellitus,
• Hypogonadism,
• Impotence,
• Etc…

Fortunately, once diagnosed, individuals with Hemochromatosis can begin monitoring the amount of iron they have in their body and, under medical supervision and care, create a diet low in iron and possibly undergo occasional rounds of phlebotomy to maintain one’s iron levels within a safe “range.”

Now, at this point…

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

But…

It’s not so great if you’re seeking answers to specific medical questions. In such cases, we recommend contacting an actual medical professional with 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?

Typical questions you might be asked may include:

• When were you first diagnosed with Hemochromatosis?
• Who diagnosed your Hemochromatosis? A general practitioner or a specialist?
• What symptoms (if any) led to your diagnosis?
• How are you treating your Hemochromatosis currently?
• How well have these treatments maintained a safe iron level in your bloodstream?
• How often do you see your primary care physician?
• Have you been diagnosed with any other pre-existing medical conditions?
• Have you experienced any serious complications due to your Hemochromatosis?
• Complications such as:
  • • Cirrhosis of the liver,
    • Congestive heart failure,
    • Arrhythmias,
    • Diabetes mellitus,
    • Hypogonadism,
  • Impotence,
  • In the past two years, have you been hospitalized 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, many factors can come into play when determining what kind of “rate” you might qualify for after being diagnosed with Hemochromatosis. This is why it’s almost impossible to know what kind of “rate” you might qualify for without first speaking with you briefly.

That said, however…

A few “assumptions” can be made about those diagnosed with Hemochromatosis that will generally hold true when applying for a traditional term or whole life insurance policy. For example, because Hemochromatosis is a genetic disorder, one can assume that the later one becomes aware that they suffer from this condition, the more likely it is that their disorder isn’t as “severe” as someone who might begin suffering from symptoms earlier in life.

 Which means that…

Suppose you are in your 40s or 50s and are just learning about the fact that you have this disorder. In that case, chances are your body’s iron absorption isn’t as “misaligned” as someone with this same disorder who discovers their condition during early childhood. Therefore, it would be reasonable to assume that those who found their condition later in life would be more likely to qualify for a “better” rate when applying for a traditional term or whole life insurance policy.

Conversely…

For those who may be suffering from some of the more “severe” complications that can be associated with this disease, it’s also reasonable to assume that they will have a more difficult time qualifying for coverage and may need to seek out a Guaranteed Issue Life Insurance policy to be able to qualify for any coverage at all.

The good news is that regardless of your situation, we here at IBUSA can help because we have tons of experience helping folks with all sorts of pre-existing medical conditions like yours and are committed to helping all of our clients find the “best” life insurance policy they can qualify for. This brings us to the last topic that we wanted to take a moment and discuss, which is…

How can I help ensure I get the “best life insurance” for me?

In our experience here at IBUSA, we have found that usually, the folks who seem to find the “best” life insurance policy for them are those that:

• Take their time reviewing their options.
• Ask a lot of questions.

Seek out those life insurance agents who not only have experience working with individuals who have been diagnosed with a wide variety of pre-existing medical conditions but also have access to dozens of different life insurance companies so that when it comes time to help a more “challenging” case, they don’t have to rely on a…

“One size fits all approach!”

The good news is that this is precisely what you’ll find here at IBUSA!