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 Myasthenia Gravis (MG).

Questions that will be addressed will include:

• Can I qualify for life insurance if I have been diagnosed with Myasthenia Gravis (MG)?
• Why do life insurance companies care if I have been diagnosed with Myasthenia Gravis (MG)?
• 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 Myasthenia Gravis (MG)?

Yes, individuals who have been diagnosed with Myasthenia Gravis can and often will qualify for a traditional term or whole life insurance policy. In fact, some may even be eligible for some of the best no-medical-exam life insurance companies at a Preferred rate!

The only problem is…

For some, Myasthenia Gravis can prove quite severe, which is why most (if not all) of the top-rated life insurance companies will want to ask an applicant a wide range of questions about their disease so that they can get a better idea of how “serious” your condition is and what kind of “risk” you might pose to them should they decide to approve your application.

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

The main reason a life insurance company will “care” if an individual has been diagnosed with Myasthenia Gravis is that, in extreme cases, this disease can actually “attack” the muscles one uses to breathe, causing someone to either have difficulty breathing or become unable to breathe on their own!

For this reason, even though the vast majority of individuals suffering from Myasthenia Gravis will never experience symptoms like this, insurance companies have to wonder…

“What if…?”

This is why we wanted to take a moment and describe what Myasthenia Gravis is as well as highlight some of the most common symptoms of this disease so that we might gain a better understanding of what it is that a life insurance underwriter will be looking for when making their decision about your life insurance application.

Myasthenia Gravis Defined:

Myasthenia Gravis is considered a chronic autoimmune disease that attacks specific skeletal muscles, causing them to become weak over time. The most commonly affected muscles are those involved in breathing and moving parts of the body, including arms and legs.

Common symptoms may include:

• Difficulty speaking,
• Facial paralysis,
• Difficulty breathing,
• Problems walking upstairs,
• Difficulty lifting objects that wouldn’t otherwise cause someone trouble,
• Fatigue,
• Raspy voice,
• Double vision,
• Etc…

Serious complications may include a condition referred to as Myasthenia Crisis, whereby the muscles responsible for allowing one to breathe become impaired.

Unfortunately…

There isn’t a cure for Myasthenia Gravis (MG); however, there are several different therapeutic options available to those suffering from MG, which may provide some relief from many of the previously mentioned symptoms. It should also be noted that in some cases because one’s symptoms are so minimal, no treatment may be required, which is why you’ll find that individuals who have been diagnosed with this condition cannot only qualify for a traditional life insurance policy but also for a Preferred rate!

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 you’re looking for.

But…

It’s it’s not so great if you’re looking for 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?

Common questions you’ll likely be asked may include:

• When were you first diagnosed with Myasthenia Gravis?
• Who diagnosed your Myasthenia Gravis? A general practitioner or a specialist?
• What symptoms (if any) led to your diagnosis?
• Have you been diagnosed with any other pre-existing medical conditions?
• Are you currently taking any prescription medications?
• How would you rate the “severity” of your MG? Mild? Moderate? Severe?
• In the past two years, have you been hospitalized for any reason?
• In the past 12 months, have you used any form of tobacco or nicotine products?
• Are you currently working now?
• In the past 12 months, have you applied for or received any disability benefits?

What rate (or price) can I qualify for?

As one can see, many factors can come into play when trying to determine what kind of “rate” an individual will be able to qualify for after being diagnosed with Myasthenia Gravis. This is why it’s almost impossible to know what kind of “rate” an individual with MG might be eligible for without first speaking with them for a few minutes. That said, however, there are a few “assumptions” that we can make that will generally hold true about “Myasthenia Gravis applicants” that will generally hold true.

For example…

Suppose you have been diagnosed with a “mild” case of MG, and your condition has remained stable for the last six months. In that case, it’s reasonable to assume that you may be able to qualify for a Standard or Better rate when applying for a traditional life insurance policy.

As for anyone else…

You will generally find that you are either considered a “higher-risk” applicant, in which case you may be able to qualify for a “Sub-standard” rate, or your life insurance application may be denied because, according to the insurance company, your condition represents too high of a risk.  In cases like these we here at IBUSA may want to try applying with another life insurance company or seek out an alternative product, such as a Guaranteed Issue Life Insurance Policy, which will not require one to be able to “medically qualify” for coverage.

The good news is…

That regardless of your situation, we here at IBUSA can help because we have tons of experience helping folks with pre-existing medical conditions like yours. We are committed to helping all 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 see the “best” life insurance policy for them are those that:

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

And 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!