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 with sclerosis or crept syndrome.
Questions that will be addressed will include:
- Can I qualify for life insurance if I have been diagnosed with Scleroderma or Crest Syndrome?
- Why do life insurance companies care if I’ve been diagnosed with Scleroderma or Crest Syndrome?
- 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’ve been diagnosed with Scleroderma or Crest Syndrome?
Yes, individuals who have been diagnosed with Scleroderma or Crest Syndrome can and often will be able to qualify for a traditional term or whole life insurance policy. In fact, some may even be able to qualify for a no-medical exam term life insurance policy at a Preferred rate!
The only problem is simply knowing that you have been diagnosed with this condition isn’t going to be enough information for a life insurance underwriter to make their decision about your application because this disease can vary so significantly from one patient to the next. This is why, before being approved for coverage, one should expect to be asked several questions about their Scleroderma.
Why do life insurance companies care if I’ve been diagnosed with Scleroderma or Crest Syndrome?
The main reason why most of the best life insurance companies (in our opinion) are going to “care” if you have been diagnosed with Scleroderma is that, in some cases, it can cause someone to develop some pretty significant complications.
This is why we wanted to take a moment to discuss precisely what Scleroderma is and highlight some of its most common symptoms/complications so that we might better understand what a life insurance underwriter will be looking for when deciding on your life insurance application.
Scleroderma or Crest Syndrome Defined:
Scleroderma is a connective tissue disorder that can also affect the skin by causing it to contract and harden. This condition can be limited to a small area or occur throughout the entire body.
When Scleroderma…
Is limited to just one part of the body, it is often referred to as “limited scleroderma” or CREST Syndrome, which is an acronym referring to the five main features that make up this disease, which include:
- Calcinosis,
- Raynaud’s Phenomenon,
- Esophageal dysmotility,
- Sclerodactyly,
- And T
Although the cause of this disease remains unclear, it does appear to be caused by an autoimmune response, which causes the production of anti-nuclear and anti-centromere antibodies.
Symptoms may include:
- Fatigue,
- Difficulty breathing,
- Pain in one’s hands and feet,
- Sensitivity to cold,
Serious complications may include:
Fortunately…
Not all cases of Scleroderma will be “severe.” In those that do, various therapeutic techniques can help minimize the severity of one’s symptoms and slow down the progression of this chronic disease.
“This brings us to an important point we think we ought to mention.”
First…
If you have a medical issue, don’t use the internet to diagnose yourself. After all, if you do and you’re correct, you’ll still need to see the doctor, and if you’re wrong, the time you spend being your own doctor could harm you!
Second…
Nobody here at IBUSA is medically trained; we’re certainly not doctors. All we are all a bunch of life insurance agents who just happened to be good at helping individuals find and qualify for the life insurance they’re looking for. So please don’t mistake any of the medical information we discuss as medical advice because it’s not!
We’re just trying to “prep” you for what it might be like to apply for a life insurance policy after you have been diagnosed with Scleroderma… that’s it! This brings us to our next topic, which is…
What kind of information will the insurance companies ask me or be interested in?
Typical questions you will likely be asked may include:
- When were you first diagnosed with Scleroderma or Crest Syndrome?
- Who diagnosed your Scleroderma? A general practitioner or a specialist?
- What symptoms led to your diagnosis?
- What “type” of Scleroderma have you been diagnosed with? Localized or Generalized?
- Have you been diagnosed with any other pre-existing medical conditions?
- Are you taking any prescription medications now?
- In the past 12 months, have you used any tobacco or nicotine products?
- 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 disability benefits?
What rate (or price) can I qualify for?
As you can see, many variables can come into play when determining what kind of “rate” an individual diagnosed with Scleroderma might qualify for. This is why knowing what kind of “rate” you might qualify for is almost impossible without first speaking with you directly. That said, however, most individuals diagnosed with Scleroderma will usually fall into one of three categories that we can make some “assumptions” about that will generally hold true.
Category #1.
The first group we’ll commonly encounter is those diagnosed with a localized Scleroderma that doesn’t seem to be causing significant complications. In cases like these, you’ll generally find that most life insurance companies aren’t going to use your previous Scleroderma diagnosis to discriminate against you.
This is how some people who have been diagnosed with Scleroderma will still be able to qualify for a Preferred rate because, in many cases, whatever rate they would have been able to qualify for before their Scleroderma diagnosis is the same rate that they’ll be able to qualify for after their Scleroderma diagnosis.
Category #2.
Individuals who fall into this category will suffer from a “general” case of Scleroderma in which different body parts are affected or may be exhibiting signs that their disease could be causing them to suffer from more significant problems than a “mild” localized case would.
In cases like these, you’re usually going to find that qualifying for a traditional life insurance policy may still be possible. Still, it’s doubtful that you’ll qualify for a Standard or better rate. Instead, if you can still qualify for coverage, it will most likely only be at a “high risk” table rate.
Table rates…
These are life insurance rates typically reserved for “higher risk” applicants. They range from Table A, considered the “best” or least expensive table rate, to Table J, regarded as the “worst” or most expensive table rate.
The good news is…
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 see 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 exactly what you’ll find here at IBUSA!
Now, can we help out everyone previously diagnosed with Crest 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 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 they CAN qualify for.
So, if you’re ready to explore your options, call us!
