Category: High Risk
There’s never been a better time to get life insurance if you have a history of hepatitis.
While gastrointestinal health issues such as hepatitis may complicate underwriting, improvements in treatments and medications have led to better underwriting offers from life insurers.
At RiskQuoter, we use a quick quote process that gets you underwriting feedback in days from high-risk life insurance companies that specialize in hepatitis.
The benefit is that you’ll know within a few days which companies are best for you based on your individual health.
We show you how to get approved for life insurance if you were diagnosed with hepatitis.
Find out just how affordable life insurance can be.
There is never any pressure or obligation with RiskQuoter’s service.
If you were diagnosed with Hepatitis C, life insurance is available from a number of companies that specialize in high-risk underwriting.
Underwriting is based on whether you currently have the virus or you’ve completed treatment to cure hepatitis C.
If you currently have hepatitis C (HCV):
Underwriters are looking for continuous follow-up with your physician, and test results that show minimal fibrosis, minimal fatty liver, no cirrhosis, and liver function tests that are no more than 2-3x normal limits.
Continued alcohol use is going to get you declined.
In terms of price, the offers vary widely by the company with standard rates plus a table rating that adds 50-150% to that standard rate.
If you were just diagnosed with hepatitis C, most companies will require a 12-month postpone period before underwriting, but let us discuss your coverage options and we’ll help you make a plan for the best rates in the future.
If your hepatitis C has been successfully treated, better life insurance rates are available.
Doctors look for a sustained virologic response (SVR), meaning hepatitis is not detectable 3 months after treatment.
Treatment consists of taking direct-acting antiviral medications such as Mavyret, Sovaldi, Harvoni, etc…
Follow-up lab tests and ultrasounds/biopsies are what companies look for.
Most life insurers make you wait 6 months after treatment because they want to see 2 follow-up negative lab test results.
It’s possible to get a “standard” to “standard plus” life insurance rate from some companies.
Factors that may negatively affect your underwriting include:
As more time passes, it may be possible to obtain a “preferred” rate with some companies.
Hepatitis “A” is a contagious virus that spreads from food, water, or contact with someone who is infected.
Most cases of hepatitis A will resolve on their own and do not affect life insurance rates once you recover from it as long as you have no lingering symptoms.
Hepatitis “B” is spread by contact with body fluids.
Life insurance for hepatitis B (HBV) is available when you meet the following:
If you meet the above, there’s a good chance that you may qualify for a “standard” rate now.
You may even qualify for a better rate as more time passes.
What if you don’t meet the above criteria?
It depends on what criteria you do not meet.
Life insurers will look at lab tests such as:
HBsAG – A positive result indicates you are currently infected with the virus.
If all other results are normal, a “standard” rate plus an additional rating (called a table rate) is added to your policy.
HBsAb – A positive result indicates you had hepatitis B but no longer have it.
Liver Functions – Underwriters look at your ALT, AST, and GGTP lab test results.
If liver functions are elevated, life insurance is based on the extent of the elevation.
Ultrasounds and Biopsies – If your liver is inflamed and indicates fibrosis, the degree of fibrosis determines the availability of life insurance.
An ultrasound or lab test may provide you with an estimated level of fibrosis, a biopsy is more exact with its determination of fibrosis.
Fibrosis is measured according to the METAVIR scoring system that measures the progression of fibrosis as well as the level of fibrosis.
Fibrosis Progression:
Level of fibrosis:
Any indication of cirrhosis will be declined or highly rated.
Alcohol Use – The current use of alcohol is a decline with insurance companies.
If you have any other health issues such as ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease, these conditions will affect underwriting.
With autoimmune hepatitis, life insurance is based on whether you have type 1 or type 2 autoimmune hepatitis.
Underwriters want to know:
Typically there is a 12-month postpone period from the time you recovered until life insurance is available.
Underwriting offers will include a table rating that adds 100 – 150% to a standard rate but some individuals may do better.
With a history of hepatitis, life insurance companies will most definitely require that you complete a paramed exam. As part of that exam, companies will test for the hepatitis virus.
Underwriters need to know:
We use a quick quote process to gather your medical history from you.
We shop the following companies for underwriting feedback.
Companies in bold tend to be the most competitive with hepatitis underwriting offers
The benefit of our proven approach is that it takes about 3 days to receive all underwriting feedback.
At that time, we’ll let you know what to expect in terms of underwriting and price for each company.
Keep in mind that there is never any obligation or pressure with our life insurance service.
Life insurance companies test for hepatitis. For non-med life insurance policies, companies check your medical records.
Life insurance is available if you had hepatitis B but have now recovered from it.
Conclusion
We’re going to help you find the best life insurance rates possible by doing everything we explained above.
Thank you.
We take our responsibility seriously and will do whatever we can to make sure you end up with the best life insurance company based on your unique life insurance needs and situation.
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