Life Insurance With Lupus

When applying for life insurance, a variety of factors affect your eligibility for insurance. These factors include your lifestyle, health, and mental health. The goal is to estimate your mortality rate and your lifestyle, health, and pre-existing conditions that greatly affect this.

That is why people who have pre-existing conditions are less likely to be approved for life insurance because their mortality rate will be higher because of the condition, especially if the condition is serious.

Those individuals who have a disease known as Lupus will have an especially difficult time getting life insurance. The majority of life insurance companies will not insure people who have Lupus. However, there is hope in the few life insurance companies that are willing to work with sufferers of Lupus. 

If you’ve been told that you don’t qualify for cheap life insurance because of your Lupus, don’t believe it. There are several options to give your family the protection that they deserve.

Symptoms of Lupus

Lupus is an inflammatory disease that occurs when the body begins to attack its own organs. It can affect the lungs, heart, skin, kidneys, and joints. In many cases of Lupus, a butterfly-shaped scar will appear on the affected person’s face.

It is hard to diagnose because many of the symptoms are similar to those of other ailments. Lupus most commonly occurs in women. There is no cure for Lupus, but many treatments are available to help those with the disease live normal lives.

The symptoms tend to come and go in what are called “flares.” The cause of Lupus is unknown. Previously, there were many fatalities due to the disease, but with advances in treatment for the disease, fatalities have now become a rarity.

However, given the unpredictable nature of the disease, most insurance companies are hesitant to insure those who have it.

Life Insurance Approval With Lupus

There are four different types of Lupus. Those who have a less severe type will have a better chance of being able to get life insurance. However, people with Lupus can purchase life insurance policies with lower benefits.

There are many top U.S. life insurance companies that will offer life insurance for people with Lupus. Since the death rate for people with Lupus is fairly low, these companies are willing to provide policies to people who have the disease.

In order to get an adequate life insurance policy, people with Lupus will have to find those companies that are knowledgeable of Lupus statistics.

Insurance Ratings for Specific Lupus Types

Navigating the insurance landscape with Lupus can be intricate, as ratings can vary significantly based on the specific type and severity of the disease. Below, we delve into how different types of Lupus might influence the life insurance ratings and the potential outcomes you might anticipate during your application process.

Life Insurance With Systemic Lupus

With Systemic Lupus, a lot will depend on the age of onset of the disease.

• Age 20 or under when onset occurs – DECLINE

If You are 20 and over, a lot will depend on how long ago you were diagnosed.

• Diagnosed in the past 12 months – Postpone

• Diagnosis 1-3 years ago – around Table 8 is the best rating you will see

• Diagnosis 3-4 years ago – around Table 6

• Diagnosis 4-5 years ago – around Table 4

• Diagnosis 5+ years ago – possible Standard to Table 2 Rating

Some additional information that will determine your rating.

• If you are over 60 when the onset of Lupus occurs, subtract 2 Table ratings

• If you are treated with higher doses of steroids, add 2 Table ratings

• If you are on disability because of the disease, it will be a DECLINE

• If certain organs are affected, such as lungs and kidneys, or there is cardiovascular or CNS involvement, it will also be a DECLINE

Life Insurance With Discoid Lupus

The best rating you could receive with Discoid Lupus is Standard Plus – Standard. This is only the case if no oral steroids are taken, and you have favorable lab results. If the diagnosis of Discoid Lupus is recent, you can expect Table 2 to be the best rating you will see.

With Discoid Lupus, you can also see different ratings depending on how it is treated.

• Low dose of oral steroids ( less than 15mg per day), add 1 table rating

• A high dose of  oral steroids( 15mg or more per day) will cause DECLINE

Factors to Consider

During the application, the agent is going to look at just about every single aspect of your life, and your health is one of the most important. Lupus is only one of the factors. Sure, it makes you a high-risk applicant, but there are several ways you can lower your risk.

You have lupus, which is a red flag on your application, to get started improving the rest of your health. Do the basic things, eat healthily, and be active. These simple lifestyle habits can help you get approved.

Additionally, if you want to improve your chances of getting the best coverage possible, you’ll need to kick any bad habits like smoking. Smokers pay twice as much as non-smokers for their life insurance protection. For couples with any pre-existing conditions, like Lupus, you’re looking at premiums that could break the bank.

When to Apply

It is better to apply for insurance when the Lupus has been in remission for at least six months.  If you regularly take your medications and take the steps to control your disease, you will also have a better chance. However, it is important to be truthful when applying for insurance.

Do not exaggerate how long your Lupus has been in remission or about the severity of your disease. While it may be a little more difficult, it is very possible to get insurance if you have Lupus. You just have to investigate the right insurance companies to find the right policy.

Because there are so many different companies to choose from, you could spend weeks and weeks calling different companies to find the best one for you. Each company has different standards for lupus patients. We know which ones are the best.

You probably know an agent or have worked with an agent in the past, but those are traditional agents. We are different.

We’re independent agents, meaning we can give you quotes from more than a single company. We can deliver your rates from over 50.

The Bottom Line – Life Insurance With Lupus

Securing life insurance with Lupus might initially seem like a daunting endeavor given the reservations many insurance companies have due to the unpredictability of the disease. However, with the right knowledge and a proactive approach, it’s entirely possible to find a policy tailored to your needs.

Key to this process is understanding the specifics of Lupus, knowing the different types, and identifying which insurance companies are open to accommodating individuals with the condition. It’s also essential to maintain good overall health, control the disease through regular medication, and be transparent during the application process.

Seeking out the expertise of independent agents can greatly assist in comparing rates from various providers, ensuring you find the best coverage available. Remember, Lupus is just one factor in the broad spectrum of life insurance considerations, and with diligence, you can secure the protection your family deserves.