Life Insurance?

[Chuck]

would that be a pipe-dream for us?

I ask because I've been browsing through here, and read several posts that say that our life expectancy is the same as the general population. I've also read that we HCMers are at increased risk of SCD. these "facts" seem to be in direct conflict, to my neanderthal brain.

anyone care to explain?


I've always assumed that more life insurance would simply be unavailable, due to that pesky SCD side-effect. However, I've never actually "asked". I have what I had before my diagnosis, plus what my employer provides...plus the extra I can get without any questions being asked...which is about as much as I figure I can afford, anyway.

[Sarah]

insurance

It is all in the statistics. I think it is only about 2 or 3% of all HCM patients who die suddenly each year (it may be higher, but I don't think it is more than 6%).

However, because HCM is a form of cardiomyopathy and cardiomyopathy (dialated) make up 90% of the transplant list, AND the fact that we do die at a higher rate than the general population AND we are very expensive to keep around, any form of cardiomyopathy is an automatic decline for any kind of individual life or health insurance.

Group coverage is always available to those with jobs and sometimes in an industry that has guilds or associations that offer it (eg actors, lawyers, etc) and some states have risk pool health insurance for the likes of us.

[Reenie]

My husband spoke to an underwriter for life insurance last year and he isn't uninsurable, but he'd have to pay a LOT.

Reenie

[Sarah]

correction

R. yes, i stand corrected. Most insurance companies will decline you outright, a few others will take your money but at insanely high rates. and it is probably term (not whole life which you have equity in).

[Reenie]

I forget which plan we were looking at, but I think you're right. I think it was a lifetime term plan. Our company (that I work for) rates you A, B, C, etc. Hubby would've been rated an F I think, which is VERY expensive. Thank God he still has insurance he bought when he was young and he still has insurance through the military!

Reenie

[Chuck]

Well, that doesn't make sense to me. and I'm only talking about life insurance, here. not "health". and life insurance is simply a bet that we're going to die prematurely. we bet that we will, the insurance co. bets that we won't, and the odds are stacked in favor of the house. if the odds (statistics) say that we ARE likely to die prematurely, they won't take the bet.

since they won't take the bet, that can only mean that they think we aren't going to live long enough for them to profit from our premiums before they have to pay out. which means that we have a lower life expectancy.

now, I don't know all the ins and outs of the inner workings of the actuarial system that they use, but I didn't think they used similies to assess risks..."kinda like this disease, kinda like that disease...". it is what it is. "cardiomyopathy" is way too broad a term to use to lump a whole bunch of people together. and I thought they were a little more sophisticated than that.

oh, well.

[Lisa Salberg]

Life insurance is going to be based on diagnosis, family history and medical management. The diaganosis alone does NOT exclude you from insurance - it will cost a great deal more then your friends policies but it is obtainable.

For this reason we always recommend that all family members get a life insurance policy PRIOR to screenings. If you are past that point then it is best to shop around for the best price. Sometimes it is through your employer others through group associations (sorry no takers yet to write a group policy for the HCMA!).

Best wishes,
Lisa