You may be shocked to learn that your family’s medical history could negatively affect your life insurance underwriting, especially if you end up with the wrong life insurance company…we’ll help you find the right carrier.
This Family History Life Insurance Guide Covers:
- Family History Life Insurance Overview
- Heart Disease Family History
- Cancer Family History
- Diabetes Family History
Family History Overview
Family history weighs heavily in life insurance underwriting, especially if you are applying for the “preferred best” or “preferred” rate classes.
Life insurers are interested in your parents’ medical history, and secondarily your siblings’ medical history.
Grandparents and cousins are not factored into underwriting reviews.
Most important to keep in mind as we’ll explain later is that each life insurance company has its own set of family history guidelines.
Heart Disease in the Family
Heart disease family history carries more weight in life insurance underwriting than cancer, diabetes or cerebrovascular health issues.
The following are general rules to keep in mind about your family’s medical history.
Parent Heart Disease:
- Death of a parent before 60-65 eliminates the availability of best rates with all companies.
- Heart disease in a parent before age 60-65 eliminates the best rates with some companies.
- If you are currently age 60-70, some companies disregard family history.
Sibling Heart Disease:
- Death of a sibling before 60-65 eliminates the availability of best rates with some but not all companies.
- Heart disease in a sibling before age 60-65 eliminates the best rates with some companies.
- If you are currently age 60-70, some companies disregard family history.
It’s rare to get exceptions to the best life insurance rates if there was an early death of a parent from a heart problem, although there are some programs where you may qualify for wellness credits that get you to the best rates.
If you’ve had a stress test completed or another full cardiac workup, let us know as that may help you with underwriters.
In some cases when there are 2 parents with heart disease, it may impact the above rules.
Getting to the right company will save you a lot of money. When we discuss your request, we’ll tell you which companies are best for you.
Here’s a great guide about life insurance with heart disease that may be helpful to you.
Cancer in the Family
A family history of cancer may still allow you to obtain the preferred best rate classes as long as you know the rules and get to the right companies.
Some histories such as familial malignant melanoma when 2 or more parents and/or siblings have melanoma need to be discussed with underwriters upfront.
Here’s what you need to know:
Parent Cancer History:
- Death of a parent prior to age 60-65 will still allow the best rates with some companies.
- The incidence of cancer in a parent prior to age 60-65 is rarely an obstacle in underwriting.
Sibling Cancer History:
- Death of a sibling from cancer prior to age 60-65 is rarely an obstacle in underwriting.
- The incidence of cancer in a sibling prior to age 60-65 is never a problem.
Gender-Specific Cancers – If the history was gender-specific cancer such as breast, ovarian or prostate cancer, life insurers will disregard if you are the opposite sex.
As researchers continue to better understand the genetic link amongst cancer histories of family members, we expect more companies will improve their underwriting.
If you have a history of cancer, check out our guide to life insurance after cancer.
Diabetes in the Family
There are a few companies that will hold the death of a parent or sibling from diabetes prior to age 60-65 against you in diabetes life insurance underwriting.
If your siblings or parents currently have diabetes or another type of endocrine disorder, we’re not aware of any company that will penalize you for the diabetes history.
Cerebrovascular Disease
Much like diabetes, there are only a few carriers that will stop you from getting the best rate classes if there was a death of your parent or sibling from a stroke or brain aneurysm.
From experience, we’ve been able to get exceptions on this, especially when it involves a sibling as there is typically an underlying health issue involved.
How will my family history affect the life insurance rate I pay?
Every life insurance company has its own set of life insurance underwriting guidelines that we have access to and use in order to get you to the most competitive term life insurance company.
When we work on quotes for you, we factor in your family history. We’ll then show you which life insurance companies are best based on your individual history.
Family History if You Are Age 60 or Older
The good news is that many life insurance carriers recognize that it’s foolish to penalize you when you’re older than your parent or sibling was when they had their health issue.
There are enough companies available to get you a great rate without having to worry about family history.
I Don’t Know My Family Health History
If you were adopted, let us know as there are companies that will waive family history requirements.
In some cases, the insured did not know one of the parents and may not be able to answer that question.
Most companies will not penalize you for not knowing the history.
Lying About Family History
First off, there’s no need to lie about family history as there are many companies available for you.
As part of underwriting, companies typically obtain your medical records from your physician.
In those records, there are usually notes about your parents and siblings medical history.
Usually, when there is a discrepancy between your application and medical records, underwriting will ask us to review those questions with you.
Bottom line – Tell us your family history and we’ll make sure you get to the best company available.
What can you do to get the best life insurance rate?
We’ll give you the information you need in order to make an informed decision about your life insurance. When we speak, we will ask you about your family’s medical history as part of our life insurance underwriting process.
Whatever your history is, whether you are in great health or have health issues, we will match you to the best possible life insurance rate available based on your individual health circumstances.
In conclusion, underwriting guidelines vary by company.
We know the rules and know which life insurers will be best for you based on your unique history. We specialize in life insurance underwriting, including high risk life insurance.
We’ll help you determine what type of life insurance and how much life insurance to get.
Keep in mind that there is never any pressure or obligation with our service.
We will give you the information you need to make an informed decision about your life insurance.
Would you rather discuss your request?
Please call us at Toll-Free (800)909-2040. Thank you.
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