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 Scleroderma or Crest 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?
- What can I do to help ensure that 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…
That simply knowing that you have been diagnosed with this condition isn’t going to be enough information for a life insurance underwriter to make his or her 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 quite a few 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 and discuss exactly what Scleroderma is a well as highlight some of the most common symptoms/complications of this disease so that we might gain a better understanding of what a life insurance underwriter will be looking for when making his or her decision about 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 either be limited to a small area or can 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 “severe,” and in those cases that do, there are a variety of different therapeutic techniques that one can pursue that can help minimize the severity of one’s symptoms as well as slow down the progression of this chronic disease.
“Which brings us to an important point that we think we ought to mention.”
First…
If you think you have a medical issue, don’t use the internet to try and diagnose yourself. After all, if you do and you’re correct, you’re still going to need to see the doctor, and if you’re wrong, the time you spend being your own doctor could really harm yourself!
Second…
Nobody here at IBUSA is medically trained, and we’re certainly not doctors. All we ware is a bunch of life insurance agents who just happened to be really good at helping individuals find and qualify for the life insurance that they’re looking for. So please don’t mistake any of the medical information that we talk about 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! Which brings us to our next topic, which is…
What kind of information will the insurance companies ask me or be interested in?
Common questions you 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 2 years, have you been hospitalized for any reason?
- Are you currently working now?
- In the past 12 months, have you applied of or received any form of disability benefits?
What rate (or price) can I qualify for?
As you can see, there are many variables that can come into play when trying to determine what kind of “rate” an individual diagnosed with Scleroderma. This is why it’s almost impossible to know what kind of “rate” you might qualify for without first speaking with you directly.
That said however…
Most individuals who have been diagnosed with Scleroderma will usually fall into one of three different categories that we can make some “assumptions” about that will generally hold true.
Category #1.
The first group that we’ll commonly encounter will be those who have been diagnosed with a localized case of Scleroderma that doesn’t seem to be causing any significant complications. In cases like these, what you’re generally going to find is that most life insurance companies aren’t going to use your previous Scleroderma diagnosis to discriminate against you.
This is how…
Some folks who have been diagnosed with Scleroderma will still be able to qualify for a Preferred rate because in many cases, whatever rate you would have been able to qualify for PRIOR to your Scleroderma diagnosis will be the same rate that you’ll be able to qualify for AFTER your Scleroderma diagnosis.
Category #2.
Individuals who will fall into this category will be one’s that either suffer form a “generalized” case of Scleroderma were several 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…
What you’re usually going to find is that it may still be possible to qualify for a traditional life insurance policy only now it’s highly unlikely that you’ll be able to qualify for a Standard or better rate. Instead, if you are still able to qualify for coverage, it will most likely only be at a “high risk” table rate.
Table rates…
Are life insurance rates that are typically reserved for “higher risk” applicants and range from Table A, which would be considered the “best” or least expensive table rate, all the way to Table J which would be considered the “worst” or most expensive table rate.
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 that they can qualify for. Which brings us to the last topic that we wanted to take a moment and discuss, 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 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.
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 helping 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’re going to find here at IBUSA!
Now, will we be able to help out everyone who has been 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 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.
So, if you’re ready to see what options might be available to you, just give us a call!
