apnea and life insurance policy question

sbr3500 · Post by **sbr3500** » Tue Oct 03, 2006 12:53 pm

hey everyone,

It's been over a year since I have posted and probably 15 months on CPAP. It's going well ... i am actually mentally uncomfortable sleeping without my mask (if that makes sense). I am still tired often but that is likely the result of having a 2 year old and a 5 month old.

Here's my question. I have a term life insurance policy that was in effect before being treated or seeing a doctor regarding the sleep issues. Now, i am looking for more insurance given a 2nd child. I am otherwise perfectly healthy and not overweight. 5 foot 8 165 lbs and athletic. I am also only 32.

I obviously had to let them know on my application i had seen a doctor regarding sleep apnea. 3 years ago i was given preferred status. Does anyone have experience with how life insurance carriers view this?

thanks.

OwlCreekObserver · Post by **OwlCreekObserver** » Tue Oct 03, 2006 3:25 pm

I never really thought about this because I haven't carried life insurance for several years. Once you get those darlin' little kiddies all grown up and on their own, the need for a big cash influx after you check out pretty much goes away.

Anyway, I found a pretty informative insurance-apnea piece at the American Sleep Apnea Association website.

I was a little surprised to see that it's pretty common for life insurance weenies to jack up your rates, even though you're being successfully treated. However, it may be possible for you to get them to back off. Here's that portion of the article:

Whatever the decision, if it is not to your liking, you may appeal a company's decision. Discuss the company's reasoning with the insurance agent, and work with the agent and your doctor in appealing the decision. Because sleep apnea is typically not well understood by the insurance industry (or the medical community outside of the sleep field) and there are not yet sufficient studies to show the benefits of treatment, sometimes you must provide them with information about your specific case.

You should really read the entire article for more information on how to battle these guys.

OCO

mousetater · Post by **mousetater** » Tue Oct 03, 2006 3:42 pm

Seems to me this would be an excellent reason to justify getting the software for your machine. With that you could prove compliance - that you are actually using the therapy - and also how well you are doing on it - such as AHI less than 5.0, etc.

mousetater

Snoredog · Post by **Snoredog** » Tue Oct 03, 2006 4:40 pm

I've had State Farm Life Insurance since I was 21, it started as Whole Life (bad investement idea) and later turned into Term Life. I pay $48 a month, now 50yrs old, been paying that for as long as I can remember. It was only a 10yr term policy but it automatically rolls-over and renews possibly at a higher rate (hasn't increased yet).

My buddy was my agent for those 30yrs, he sold me that policy when I was 21, he recently retired from State Farm, the new agent that took over his clients said I could save money if I renewed my Life insurance (but it required extensive underwriting, medical exam, etc. etc.).

So I sent my retired buddy who lives in Mexico a email if I should go for it, he wrote back don't bother, with your medical history you won't qualify for it and if you reveal the past stroke and OSA it will surely be declined and they will jack up your rates. He said the policy he sold me can stay with me till I die and the premium shouldn't increase all that much. He said come down to Mexico and drink Corona's on the beach instead, so that was what I did.

So my suggestion: I doubt very much you will die from OSA. I would not voluntarily tell them about the OSA, I would sign the release for them to access your records and let them find it out for themselves.

I would suggest buying a 20-yr Term life insurance policy, the longer the term the better. I've been happy with State Farm they pay dividends on the policy, I pull it out every few years its a grand or so.

I recently had to obtain major medical insurance through Blue Cross. I let my medical lapse from prior job (COBRA was nearly $700mo. to continue it, I said forget that). In any case I didn't put down any pre-existing conditions, I just signed the release to get medical records from my doctor. They accepted me, may cancel me in the future but right now it is only $175mo. and covers me for major medical (hospital etc.) only. I am basically uninsurable, past stroke, malignant melanoma, basal cell carcinoma, hypertension, and OSA, reason buddy said stick with what you have.

Growing old SUCKS and it costs more.

jeepdoctor · Post by **jeepdoctor** » Tue Oct 03, 2006 9:17 pm

My insurance guy says obtaining life insurance isn't much of a problem. But that long term care insurance and medical insurance are virtually impossible to get if your medical records indicate sleep apnea.

Don't bother trying Allianz. They turned me down for a LTC policy recently.

Snoredog · Post by **Snoredog** » Tue Oct 03, 2006 9:34 pm

jeepdoctor wrote:My insurance guy says obtaining life insurance isn't much of a problem. But that long term care insurance and medical insurance are virtually impossible to get if your medical records indicate sleep apnea.

Don't bother trying Allianz. They turned me down for a LTC policy recently.

Life insurance might be hard to near impossible to get (don't let any lapse), but you can't spend it when yer dead anyway, but you can still get medical think it is called HIPPA? It may depend on the state in which you live, but it is like high risk or assigned risk car insurance, they put your name in the pool and insurance companies then get assigned by the state to cover you via some random process, they then have to cover you by law as long as you pay the premiums. California is one such state.