Can you get life insurance with lupus? Lupus patients can experience more hurdles when they apply for life insurance. These obstacles exist because insurance carriers consider people with lupus high-risk applicants. However, it’s not impossible to get life insurance for lupus patients.
Insurance carriers will evaluate each case differently and consider disease severity, medications, lifestyle, and other conditions. If you were diagnosed lupus and have concerns about qualifying for life insurance, you aren’t the only one. The CDC reports that systemic lupus erythematosus, or SLE, impacts 200,000 U.S. adults.
The most common form of lupus is SLE, but it’s not the only one. Drug-induced lupus and discoid lupus erythematosus also exist. SLE is often the most difficult form of the disease to qualify for insurance since it can impact the body’s organs and systems. That said, SLE patients have had success obtaining life insurance coverage. Let’s review the options different patients have.
What Is Lupus?
Lupus is an autoimmune disorder that causes a person’s body to attack organs and systemic tissues, including the skin. In most cases, the body will respond with different levels of inflammation.
Typical symptoms of lupus include the following:
- A rash shaped like a butterfly across the nose and cheeks.
- Thinning hair or hair loss.
- Joint pain and stiffness.
- Skin rashes get worse when someone is outside in the sun or exposed to UV light.
- Fever and feelings of exhaustion.
Because most of these symptoms match other diseases, it can be challenging for doctors to diagnose lupus. However, doctors will usually use a combination of lab and blood tests to determine that someone has lupus. Medical professionals may also order images, X-rays, or tissue biopsies.
People with lupus can be born with the condition. But most people develop lupus as the result of DNA and triggers in the environment. Like most autoimmune diseases and disorders, the exact cause remains unknown.
Can You Get Life Insurance With Lupus?
Life insurance for lupus patients does exist. However, not every person with lupus will be able to get coverage. It depends on the age of diagnosis, the medications someone is on, and the dosage of those medications, among other factors. The criteria carriers use to approve or deny life insurance for people with lupus is complex and individual.
Despite this, there are certain standards or sets of criteria insurance providers will use. For example, carriers will deny coverage to patients who receive a lupus diagnosis at age 20 or younger. Insurance companies will also postpone application decisions for patients within 12 months of a diagnosis.
So, you may be over 20 years old. But if your doctor gave you a lupus diagnosis six months ago, most carriers won’t insure you right away. The longer it’s been since your initial diagnosis, the more favorable your chances are. You also stand a higher chance of getting lower premium rates. That’s because carriers consider you a lower risk.
The more time between your initial diagnosis and life insurance application, the better. More time signals that your body’s ability to fight or accommodate the disease is greater. Additional time also demonstrates you and your medical team can effectively manage your lupus and maintain a good quality of life.
Other Factors Life Insurance Companies Consider
Some of the additional factors life insurance companies look at when reviewing a lupus patient’s application are:
- Whether they’re on disability or working.
- How many organs the disease is impacting, and which ones.
- Whether they’re on steroids and the daily dosage amounts.
- The type of lupus.
Generally speaking, an SLE diagnosis raises more red flags than non-systemic lupus. SLE tends to cause inflammation in the entire body and may shut down organs over time. Insurance companies view forms of lupus that only impact or impair the skin as less serious or risky. Therefore, carriers are more willing to issue life insurance for lupus patients without SLE.
Additional factors that increase the chance an insurance company will deny a lupus patient’s application include:
- Being on disability.
- Taking high levels of corticosteroids, such as prednisone.
- Having another serious underlying health condition, such as heart disease or diabetes.
But you’re more likely to get approval if those factors don’t apply to you. Lupus patients who are employed, lead healthy lifestyles, and manage their conditions without high doses of steroids are at a lower risk. Just remember that carriers will evaluate each person’s risk individually. Maybe you work full-time, but your smoking habit may lead to a declined application.
Life Insurance for People With Lupus
Since life insurance options for lupus patients can be more limited, it can be difficult to know where to start. Sometimes it’s easier to gravitate toward major insurance carriers or company names. But independent agents and online comparison tools can open up your options and streamline the process.
Independent agents, for example, aren’t linked with a specific insurance company or underwriter. They sell and arrange policies for multiple carriers, focusing on applicants’ needs and wants first. Online comparison tools or insurance finder services can do the same. This way, you can get a feel for which carriers are more willing to work with you.
Going through an online service or independent agent may also save you time and frustration. These options will help set realistic expectations, and you won’t have to explain your circumstances more than once.
Final Thoughts
Obtaining life insurance for lupus patients may be more challenging, but it’s an investment that is worth it. Some carriers will issue you a policy depending on your medical history, prognosis, and lifestyle factors. That said, each lupus patient’s likelihood of getting life insurance coverage can vary.
ALIA Quotes is the perfect resource for finding life insurance for lupus patients. Individuals may obtain the appropriate coverage while eliminating the burden of looking through numerous possibilities since they have access to a large selection of providers and plans. It offers useful tools and guidance to help persons afflicted by lupus make educated decisions. Whether you’re seeking life insurance or want to learn more about life insurance coverage, ALIA Quotes can assist. Schedule a call with our team to get a free life insurance quote and to review the options available to you.
Also Read: What Is a Tertiary Beneficiary?
