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 for scoliosis.

Questions that will be addressed will include:

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

Yes, individuals diagnosed with Scoliosis 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 problem is simply knowing that someone has been diagnosed with Scoliosis isn’t enough information for a life insurance underwriter to decide on your life insurance application because Scoliosis is a pre-existing medical condition that can vary significantly from one patient to the next.

Why do life insurance companies care if I’ve been diagnosed with Scoliosis?

Most of the top life insurance companies will “care” if an individual has been diagnosed with Scoliosis because when an individual suffers from “severe” Scoliosis, they may begin suffering from some pretty significant complications, particularly as they get older. This is why we wanted to take a moment to discuss scoliosis and some of its most common symptoms/complications. We can better understand what the life insurance underwriters will be looking for when deciding about your life insurance application.

Scoliosis Defined:

Scoliosis is a medical condition whereby one’s spine begins to take on a sideways curvature. The “curvature” will most often occur during a growth spurt just before puberty. In most cases, there may not be a medical “cause” for one to develop Scoliosis; however, in some cases, it may be caused by cerebral palsy or muscular dystrophy.

Common symptoms may include:

• A rotating spine,
• Uneven hips,
• One shoulder blade is higher than the other,
• A visible curvature of the spine as one bends over.

Serious complications may include:

• Breathing problems,
• Persistent pain if the curvature causes excessive wear and tear to one’s spine,
• Spine or nerve damage,
• Spinal fluid “leakage”.

Fortunately, scoliosis is a condition that can be treated should the condition become severe enough to warrant treatment. Treatment options may include bracing or surgery.

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 it’s not so great if you’re seeking answers to any 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’ll likely be asked may include:

• When were you first diagnosed with Scoliosis?
• How severe is your Scoliosis?
• What symptoms (if any) led to your diagnosis?
• Have you had your Scoliosis treated?
• Do you suffer from any “serious” complications as a result of your Scoliosis?
• Have you been diagnosed with any other pre-existing medical condition?
• Has your doctor recommended or suggested you may need any surgical procedures in the future?
• 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 variables can come into play when determining what kind of “rate” an individual diagnosed with Neuritis might qualify for. This is why it’s pretty much impossible to know what kind of “rate” you might be able to qualify for without first speaking with you directly.

That said, however…

Most individuals diagnosed with Neuritis will fall into one of two categories, which we can make some “assumptions” about that will generally hold true.

Category #1.

The first group will consist of those who may have been diagnosed with scoliosis and had it treated (cured) or suffered from such a mild case that their doctor determined that no treatment would be necessary. In cases like these, you’re generally going to find that this previous Scoliosis diagnosis is not going to be something that most life insurance companies will discriminate against you for.

Which means that…

Whatever “rate” you would have been able to qualify for before being diagnosed with scoliosis will probably be the same “rate” you would be able to qualify for AFTER being diagnosed with scoliosis.

Category #2.

The second group of folks we’ll encounter will be those who haven’t had their Scoliosis treated and DO suffer from a rather severe case of Scoliosis. In cases like these, what you’re likely to find is that most will still be able to qualify for a traditional term or whole life insurance policy only now; they’re probably not going to be able to qualify for a Preferred rate and will most likely have to settle for a “high risk” or “sub-standard” 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 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!

Now, can we help out everyone previously diagnosed with Scoliosis?

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 Final Expense 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!