Getting Affordable Life Insurance with Rheumatoid Arthritis
Did you know that Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) impacts life expectancy? Does rheumatoid arthritis affect life insurance? Research shows rheumatoid arthritis life expectancy is shorter compared to the general population. Survival rates are known to be similar to those for Hodgkin’s disease, diabetes mellifluous, and three-vessel coronary artery disease. Getting affordable life insurance with rheumatoid arthritis can be a challenge, but it’s not impossible.
Complications with Rheumatoid Arthritis
Patients suffering from RA are more likely to develop chronic kidney disease than the average person. They may also develop gastrointestinal problems associated with treatment.
Apart from the symptoms of the disease itself, medicines used to treat it can also cause additional side-effects. Treatments which involve gold salts, penicillamine and cyclosporine give rise to a host of renal complications. Additionally, RA patients have a higher risk of developing glomerulonephritis, and heart disease independent of traditional cardiovascular risk factors. Their increased risk for the kidney disease may be attributed to chronic inflammation, comorbidities, and renal toxicity caused due to antirheumatic drugs.
Prognosis and Possible Death
According to the National Institute of Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, the course of RA can vary from mild to acute. In several cases it is chronic, which means that it is ongoing —often a lifetime. For many people, periods of relatively mild disease activity are punctuated by flares or times of heightened disease activity. In others, symptoms are constant.
Progression of RA and the pattern of joint involvement varies widely from patient to patient. After a decade, approximately 20% don’t develop any disability or deformity of joints. However, without adequate treatment, 60% of patients with RA may develop significant functional impairment.
The most common reason for death in RA patients is circulatory system disease, cancer, and respiratory conditions. Poor prognostic factors for RA include older age, higher disease activity and early presence of erosions. Other factors that have the possibility of cutting back lifespan include severe disability, extraarticular disease or the potential toxicity of medications used.
Getting a Life Insurance with Rheumatoid Arthritis
RA, like hundreds of other medical conditions, makes life insurance providers take a second glance. While many mild cases of RA might qualify for preferred, most will need a rheumatoid arthritis insurance coverage rating depending on the condition of the disease. Most of the medicines used to treat the condition might have some toxic unwanted side effects. More than 50% of RA patients are work disabled within 10 years.
Each life insurance company has a varying set of rheumatoid arthritis life insurance underwriting guidelines they follow when underwriting an RA applicant. Because of these differences, when one company may deem an applicant as deserving a substandard rating, another company may decide that the applicant can qualify for a better rating.
Similar to any condition or disease you will need to shop for your rate among multiple insurance providers, especially given that some may give you a better price. If you wish to evaluate your life insurance options, a competent insurance agent will be able to help you.
Submitting the Life Insurance Application
When you submit your application for term life insurance, if you are getting life insurance with rheumatoid arthritis, you should be giving full details of your conditions. 6 most commonly asked details are provided below:
Date of Diagnosis
- The longer the treatment time, the higher the risk you pose
- RA symptoms usually progress over time
RA Flair-ups
- More flare-ups mean more risk for joint and body damage
Deformities due to Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Relevant information includes the type of deformity, body parts affected and the severity of the deformity
Disability
- The higher the ability to live independently and performing daily tasks, the better
Treatment
- Types of medicines being used
- Dosage and frequency at which the drug needs to be taken
- Possible side effects of the medication
Parts of the Body Affected
- Evaluating the extent of damage to parts of the body ranging from joints to major organs like the kidneys, lungs, and heart
This information you disclose will determine the type of life insurance you can qualify for, and how much the life insurance companies will charge you. Your details will also decide if you get an ordinary rate or special terms with an increased premium.
Rheumatoid arthritis life insurance coverage applications that detail mild symptoms, low strength medication and demonstrate that the illness is well under control may result in standard terms in a few circumstances.
Impact of Medicines on the Life Insurance Rates
Stronger medications like Infliximab that areTumor Necrosis Factor inhibitors or anti-TNFs, or anti-disease modifying drugs like Methotrexate, will likely end up in the policy being accepted with anincreased premium. Specifically, steroid-based medications have a tendency to raise the cost of life insurance as long-term use of steroids are known to impact liver functions possibly.
Excessive or narcotic pain medication use could also cause high rating or may necessitate using a ‘No Exam’ policy at somewhat higher rates.
Getting an Affordable Policy
Just like any other health issue, RA symptoms, severity, and prognosis vary highly from person to person. A competent life insurance agent will locate a life insurance coverage agency that carries multiple products and understands the impaired risk underwriting can help getting affordable life insurance with rheumatoid arthritis.
Another way for people suffering from RA of getting affordable life insurance with rheumatoid arthritis is to submit applications with companies that have a favorable view of people suffering from this condition. Not all life insurance companies perceive RA the same way. Some may take an unfortunately dim view of the disease while some may offer you products specifically designed for those suffering from RA.
How We Can Help
A competent life insurance agent will work with various term life insurance companies andwill have a good understanding of the ones that will work the best for people suffering from RA. Such a professional will stay on par with industry standards and monitor the outlook of various insurance companies towards different ailments, especially rheumatoid arthritis insurance coverage.
If you or your loved one has RA and needs rheumatoid arthritis insurance coverage, contact a life insurance agent who will be glad to checkyour case and help you obtain affordable life insurance with rheumatoid arthritis.