In this article about life insurance with GERD or acid reflux, we aim to answer some of the most common questions we receive from people applying for life insurance after being diagnosed with either acid reflux disorder or gastroesophageal reflux disorder (GERD).

The following questions will be addressed in this article:

• Can I qualify for life insurance after being diagnosed with a pre-existing medical condition like acid reflux or GERD?
• Why do life insurance companies care if I have been diagnosed with acid reflux or GERD?
• What kind of information will insurance companies ask me or be interested in?
• What rate (or price) can I qualify for?
• What can I do to ensure I get the best life insurance policy?

Without further ado, let’s dive right in!

Can I qualify for life insurance after I’ve been diagnosed with acid reflux or gastroesophageal reflux disorder (GERD)?

Yes, individuals who have been diagnosed with either acid reflux disorder or gastroesophageal reflux disorder (GERD) can and often will be able to qualify for a traditional term or whole life insurance policy. In fact, many may even qualify for a Preferred Plus rate! Which is why a lot of our clients who

That said, however…

it’s safe to say that the outcome of your life insurance application will likely vary significantly depending upon “which” of these two conditions you have been “officially” diagnosed with.  It may also make a massive difference in determining whether you may be eligible for a No Medical Exam Life Insurance Policy.

Why do life insurance companies care if I’ve been diagnosed with acid reflux or GERD?

Most life insurance companies consider Acid Reflux Disorder a concern because, over time, it can become a severe chronic medical issue. This is especially true if your doctor is considering diagnosing your heartburn as GERD or Gastroesophageal Reflux Disorder.

While chronic heartburn may seem like a minor issue, if left untreated or uncontrolled, GERD can cause serious complications such as Esophagitis, Barrett’s Esophagus, strictures, and even increase the risk of developing esophageal cancer.

These complications make life insurance underwriters nervous when deciding whether to approve your application and what rate you should qualify for. Once the underwriter sees that you have been diagnosed with acid reflux or GERD or have been prescribed medication for these conditions, they will want to know more about why you have this condition and how serious it is.

This applies whether you use it for a traditional term, whole life insurance, or a no-medical exam policy.

What kind of information will the insurance companies ask me or be interested in?

Insurance companies typically ask similar questions about your medical condition.

Some of the questions that you are likely to be asked include:

• When were you first diagnosed with acid reflux or GERD?
• Who diagnosed your acid reflux or GERD? Was it a general practitioner or a specialist?
• How are you treating your condition?
• What prescription medications have you been prescribed, if any?
• Have any of these medications changed in the past 12 months?
• Has your doctor recommended surgical procedures in the past 12 months to help you treat your condition?
• What symptoms led to your diagnosis?
• What symptoms are you currently experiencing, if any?
• Have you been hospitalized for any reason in the past two years?
• Have you been diagnosed with any other severe medical conditions?
• Does your acid reflux or GERD become worse due to certain external stimuli such as stress, lack of sleep, certain kinds of food, etc.?
• Have you been diagnosed with ulcers, esophageal scarring, Barrett’s esophagus, stomach cancer, or esophageal cancer?
• Are you currently working?
• Have you applied for or received any form of disability benefits in the past 12 months?

It’s important to remember that while IBUSA has a lot of knowledge about various medical conditions, we are not medical professionals. All we are is a bunch of life insurance agents passionate about helping people qualify for life insurance, especially if they have been diagnosed with a pre-existing medical condition.

So…

If you need medical assistance, it’s always best to consult a licensed medical professional for a proper diagnosis and medical advice. But if you’re looking to qualify for a life insurance policy, you’re definitely in the right place.

What rate (or price) can I qualify for with GERD or Acid Reflux?

Generally, what you’re going to find is that if your acid reflux or GERD is considered the “primary” pre-existing medical condition and not a symptom of another more “serious” medical condition (think stomach tumors, ulcers, or some other kind of gastrointestinal condition), most life insurance companies will still consider you eligible for a Preferred or Preferred Plus rating.

To qualify for…

At such a rate, we would also have to assume that you are not suffering from any significant complications directly related to your acid reflux disorder or GERD, including any significant esophageal scarring or esophagitis, or have been diagnosed with Barrett’s esophagus.

In cases like these…

Where someone may be suffering from a more “serious” case of GERD or who has been diagnosed with other “complications” associated with their GERD, what you’ll typically find is that you may still be eligible for a traditional term or whole life insurance policy only now you’ll probably only be able to qualify for a Standard rate at best and may even be considered a “higher risk” applicant by many life insurance companies. This brings us to the last topic that we wanted to take a moment to discuss with you here today, which is…

How can I help ensure I get the “best life insurance” for me?

Probably the “best” thing that an individual can do to help ensure that they find the “best life insurance” for them is to be sure to take their time when initially shopping for insurance and to be sure that right from the beginning; they are completely honest with their life insurance agent!

The reason for this…

This is because when it comes time to qualify for a life insurance policy, there are a lot of top-rated life insurance companies out there, each of which is going to have its own “rules” and underwriting guidelines that it will follow when determining who it will and won’t insure. These “rules and regulations” will also determine the price you may pay for your life insurance coverage.

This is why…

It is so important to ensure that your life insurance agent has all of the information they will need to help narrow down “which” life insurance company is most likely to provide you with the “best” opportunity for success.

You see, there are a lot of factors that can come into play when determining what kind of “rate” an individual may be able to qualify for. Many of these factors will focus on “health” issues, but a surprising number will also focus on “non-medical” or “lifestyle choices.”

Examples of such factors may include:

• Family medical history,
• Travel history,
• Driving record,
• Criminal background check,
• Any previous bankruptcies within the past two years,
• Use of any tobacco or nicotine products,
• Use of any marijuana products,
• Participation in certain hobbies or recreational sports,
• Etc.

But…

Knowing all of this is only half the battle because, in addition to being completely honest with your life insurance agent, you’re going to want to make sure that your agent also has access to a wide variety of different life insurance products so that they don’t have to try and apply a “one size fits all” approach to your life insurance needs.

The good news is that here at IBUSA, we have a ton of experience helping folks with all sorts of pre-existing medical conditions find and qualify for the insurance they seek. Plus, we have access to dozens of different life insurance carriers so that when it comes time to determine which life insurance company will provide you with the best opportunity for success, we don’t have to rely on just one or two choices!

Instead…

We can “simultaneously” shop dozens of different insurance companies and spend more time determining which ones will provide you with the most for your money.

Now, can we help out everyone previously diagnosed with GERD or Barrett’s Esophagus?

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 if 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, call us!