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Life insurance for quadriplegics
You may face higher premiums, but there are a few ways to cut the cost of coverage.
As with many health conditions, insurance companies treat quadriplegia differently based on their specific underwriting criteria. But there are a few things you can do to get the best possible policy and premium.
Can I get life insurance if I’m a person with quadriplegia?
Yes, you can still get life insurance with quadriplegia. In most cases, insurers take one of three actions depending on their underwriting criteria, how your condition is being treated and the underlying cause of your quadriplegia:
- Exclude the condition from coverage. Quadriplegia may be excluded from coverage, meaning that the insurer wouldn’t pay the benefit if you passed due to complications brought on by it. Carefully review any policy options to determine if they provide the coverage you need.
- Offer coverage at a higher premium. An insurer may offer full coverage but do so at a higher cost. Whether the policy is worth the additional cost will depend on your coverage needs and budget.
- Deny the application. It’s possible that your application will be rejected. You may find you have a better chance of acceptance if you work with a provider that specializes in insuring people who have conditions considered higher risk.
How do I buy life insurance if I have quadriplegia?
These are the best ways to go about getting coverage:
- Go through an independent agent. An independent insurance agent can help you track down insurers that specialize in working with people who are considered higher risk. They can also help you put together what documentation you’ll need, prepare for questions that may be asked and find several policy options.
- Look into group life insurance. Check with your employer to see if they offer life insurance as part of your employee benefits. In some cases group plans can be more flexible when it comes to preexisting conditions.
- Approach insurers directly. Focus on finding insurers who work with high-risk applicants or those who have certain health conditions.
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What type of information will I need to provide about my quadriplegia?
Every insurer will have its own set of questions and requirements, but there are some basics you’ll probably want to have on hand.
- The cause. Insurers are going to evaluate your condition differently if it was caused by something that has a likelihood of recurring, such as a stroke, than if it was due to a one-off incident.
- Location of injury, if any. If your quadriplegia is due to physical trauma, the location of the spinal injury will likely have bearing on how serious it’s considered.
- Current treatments. Any care regiments in place to treat the spinal injury, physiotherapy and regular doctor visits are typically seen as positives by insurance providers.
What options do I have if I’m denied coverage?
If you’re ineligible for a traditionally underwritten policy and don’t have access to coverage through work, you can look into a no medical exam policy:
- Guaranteed issue life insurance skips both the health questionnaire and medical exam, and coverage is guaranteed. But since the insurer doesn’t have a complete picture of who they’re covering, you can expect to pay higher rates.
- Final expense life insurance policies are designed to cover end-of-life costs, like funeral and burial expenses. If you purely want to take out a policy to cover those expenses, you can purchase this policy — and no medical exam is required.
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Bottom line
Your options will be more limited, but you can still find life insurance with quadriplegia. Working with an independent agent may help you to navigate insurers that cater to your needs, but it’s worth comparing life insurance companies on your own to get the best possible rate.
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