Sleep Apnea Life Insurance – Great Rates are Available

You can get affordable life insurance if you have sleep apnea.

Sleep Apnea Overview

Obstructive sleep apnea is the most common type of sleep apnea and the main focus of our life insurance underwriting.

An estimated 12 million Americans have sleep apnea.

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Underwriting Questions for Sleep Apnea

If you have obstructive sleep apnea, life insurance underwriters want to review your Polysomnogram.

The price you will pay for life insurance is based on your Polysomnogram test results and other medical risks.

Sleep apnea tests evaluate:

1. Respiratory Patterns
2. Chest Muscle Activity
3. Oxygenation

A number of high-risk life insurance companies will do a good job underwriting your obstructive sleep apnea history.

The best-case underwriting scenario for most people with obstructive sleep apnea is “standard” life insurance rates,

Although there are a few companies that will consider better rates if everything else about you meets their guidelines.

We need to know:

1. Your age at the time of diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea?
2. How is your Sleep Apnea being treated?  Observation, CPAP machine, Weight Loss, Surgery, other?
3. Are you taking any medications for your obstructive sleep apnea?
4. What are your height and weight?
5. What is your blood pressure?
6. Do you suffer from depression?
7. Do you smoke?
8. Have you had any other health problems?

Especially important is to let us know if you have any type of heart disease such as a heart attack as that is a concern for underwriting.

If you can get us a copy of your sleep study, we will shop life insurance companies for underwriting offers.

Please note that if your medical records indicate that you should have a sleep study performed and that has not occurred,

Or your records indicate that you do not use your CPAP,

Most companies will postpone you until the test is complete.

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Sleep Apnea Life Insurance Rates

Obstructive Sleep Apnea is the most common type of sleep apnea.

From a life insurance underwriting standpoint, life insurance companies tend to offer their standard life insurance rates.

There are occasions when it is possible to receive a better life insurance rate than “standard”.

Keep in mind that not all life insurance companies will be competitive with underwriting obstructive sleep apnea.

We know which life insurance companies are most aggressive based on your specific obstructive sleep apnea circumstances.

Life insurance underwriters want to know what your Apnea Index is and what your Oxygen Saturation Levels are. 

In addition, it is critical that you are compliant with your doctor’s orders.

Any additional medical factors that you can control such as your build, weight, smoking, alcohol consumption, high blood pressure, etc.

Will affect your life insurance rates.

If your medical records indicate that you have taken the steps to improve these areas,

This will help you from a life insurance underwriting standpoint.

How Apnea Index Affects Your Insurance Rate

Apnea Index of:

• 0-10 – typically no additional life insurance cost
• 11-20 – 50% table rating increase over standard life insurance rates
• 21-30 – 100% table rating increase over standard life insurance rates
• 31-40 – 150% table rating increase over standard life insurance rates
• Above 40 – decline.

This assumes Oxygenation Levels in 90% range. 

Typically for every 10% decrease in oxygenation levels, life insurance companies will add a 25% table rating to the life insurance rates.

Table ratings typically increase the rate you pay 25% for each table assessed to your rate.

Mild, Moderate, and Severe Obstructive Sleep Apnea:

Is your sleep apnea mild, moderate, or severe?

Some possible life insurance ratings for your obstructive sleep apnea:

Mild Obstructive Sleep Apnea – Doesn’t require treatment. 

The most likely scenario is a standard life insurance rate from life insurance companies,

Preferred life insurance rates may be possible with some life insurance companies.

Moderate Obstructive Sleep Apnea – Requires the use of a CPAP machine. 

If you are compliant with doctor orders, the most likely scenario is “standard” to standard plus a 50% table rating increase.

If you are not compliant with doctor’s orders,

The most likely scenario is a 50% table rating increase over the standard rate to possible decline.

Severe Obstructive Sleep Apnea – Requires use of CPAP machine. 

Most likely scenario if compliant is a 100% table rate increase over the “standard” life insurance rates. 

If not compliant, most likely you will be declined by life insurance companies.

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Apnea Definitions

Sleep Apnea is caused by complete obstruction of the airway or by a partial obstruction called Obstructive Hypopnea.

The obstruction occurs when the muscles in the upper part of the airway relax to the point where the airway collapses.

The Apnea Index – AI.  The Apnea Index is a commonly used measure of the severity of obstructive sleep apnea during a sleep study.

The apnea index is calculated by dividing the total number of apneic events by the number of hours of sleep. 

The higher the number, the more you will be charged for insurance.

Oxygen Saturation.  Oxygen saturation is measured by a skin sensor.  Normal levels are greater than 90%.

Levels of less than 90% for a prolonged period of time typically indicate sleep apnea.

Chest Activity – The sleep study measures heart rate and patterns while sleeping.

Conclusion

Keep in mind that these are just sample underwriting guidelines as every life insurance case is different. 

We take the time to learn about your medical history. 

We then shop your medical information out to multiple life insurance companies in order to obtain the best possible life insurance rates for you.

There is never any pressure or obligation with our life insurance service. 

We’ll give you the information you need in order to make an informed decision about your life insurance.

Please take a moment to complete our life insurance quote request.

Thank you.