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 they have suffered from a Vasovagal Reaction or Vasovagal Syncope.

Questions that will be addressed will include:

• Can I qualify for life insurance if I’ve suffered from a Vasovagal Reaction or Vasovagal Syncope?
• Why do life insurance companies care if I’ve suffered from a Vasovagal Reaction or Vasovagal Syncope?
• 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 suffered from a Vasovagal Reaction or Vasovagal Syncope?

Yes, individuals who have been diagnosed with Vasovagal Reaction or Vasovagal Syncope 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 that…

Before being approved for a traditional life insurance policy, most (if not all) life insurance companies are going to want to make sure that the CAUSE of your low blood pressure “swings” is truly the result of having Vasovagal Syncope and not some “other” pre-existing medical conditions.

Why do life insurance companies care if I’ve suffered from a Vasovagal Reaction or Vasovagal Syncope?

A life insurance company will “care” if an individual has been diagnosed with Vasovagal Syncope because the main symptom of this disorder could also be caused by various pre-existing medical conditions, many of which could potentially affect the outcome of one’s life insurance application.

This is why…

Most (if not all) of the top life insurance companies will want to ensure you don’t suffer from any other pre-existing medical conditions, which could be the true cause of your Vasovagal Reaction.  For this reason, we wanted to take a moment to discuss a Vasovagal Reaction and highlight some of the most common symptoms/complications of this disease so that we can better understand what a life insurance underwriter will be looking for when making their decision.

Vasovagal Reaction or Vasovagal Syncope Defined:

A Vasovagal reaction is a “reflex” controlled by one’s involuntary nervous system that causes the heart to begin beating more slowly (bradycardia) while simultaneously widening the blood vessels in the legs. When combined, these reactions can cause a variety of symptoms.

Common symptoms may include:

• Fainting,
• Lightheadedness,
• Tunnel vision,
• Nausea,
• Pale skin,
• Feeling warm,
• Cold, clammy sweat.

Common causes of Vasovagal Reaction may include:

• Idiopathic or unknown cause,
• Standing for long periods,
• Seeing blood or having blood drawn,
• Heat exposure,
• Fear of bodily harm,
• Etc…

Diseases or conditions that…

Could cause one to suffer from a sudden loss of blood pressure that would not be considered Vasovagal Syncope; instead, this sudden loss of blood pressure would be regarded as a “symptom” of this other condition, which may include:

• Cardiovascular disease,
• Pregnancy,
• Endocrine problems,
• Dehydration,
• Blood loss,
• Septicemia,
• Anaphylaxis,
• Etc…

Fortunately, for those who only suffer from Vasovagal Syncope and haven’t been diagnosed with any other pre-existing medical condition that could be causing these symptoms, what you’re going to find is that there are a variety of different pharmaceutical options that one may utilize to minimize or reduce the most severe symptoms associated with this 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 really harm yourself!

Second…

Nobody here at IBUSA is medically trained; we’re certainly not doctors. We’re just a bunch of life insurance agents who just happened to be really 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 Vasovagal Reaction or Vasovagal Syncope… 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’ll likely be asked may include:

• When were you first diagnosed with Vasovagal Reaction?
• Who diagnosed your Vasovagal Reaction? A general practitioner or a specialist?
• What symptoms led to your diagnosis?
• Do you know what causes or “triggers” your Vasovagal Reaction?
• How frequently do you experience a Vasovagal reaction?
• Have you been diagnosed with any other pre-existing medical conditions?
• Are you currently taking any prescription medications?
• In the past two years, have you been admitted to a hospital 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 is diagnosed with Vasovagal Syncope. 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 who have been diagnosed with Vasovagal Syncope will usually fall into one of two different categories that we can make some “assumptions” about that will generally hold true.

Category #1.

The first group of folks that we’ll commonly encounter with Vasovagal Syncope will be those who have been diagnosed with this condition absent any other pre-existing medical conditions, which could either be causing one’s drop in blood pressure levels or exacerbating the effects of one’s Vasovagal Reaction.

In cases like these you’ll typically find that most (if not all) life insurance companies don’t necessarily use one’s previous Vasovagal Reaction diagnosis to discriminate against you during a traditional life insurance application. This is why some folks who have been diagnosed with Vasovagal Syncope will still be able to qualify for a Preferred rate.

Category #3.

The second group of folks that we’ll commonly encounter will be those who have been diagnosed with Vasovagal Syncope while simultaneously suffering from some “other” type of pre-existing medical condition, which may be contributing to one’s low blood pressure “symptoms.”

In cases like these, we’ll commonly find that many will still be able to qualify for a traditional term or whole insurance policy only now that they probably won’t be able to qualify for a Preferred rate. In fact, anyone may only be able to qualify for a Standard 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.

Additionally…

In some cases, one’s Vasovagal Reaction will be viewed more as a “symptom” of some other pre-existing medical condition, which will likely become the main determinant of what “kind” of insurance an individual will be able to qualify for and at what “price” they will need to pay for this coverage. In cases like these, we invite folks to check out our Pre-existing Medical Conditions page for more information about their “other” diagnosis.

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.

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!”

Which is precisely what you’ll find here at IBUSA!

Now, can we help out everyone previously diagnosed with Vasovagal Syncope?

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!