When you apply for life insurance, the company is going to look at several different factors when they are deciding between acceptance or rejection. One of the most significant factors is your health. The health questions and the medical exam play a huge role in the rate calculations.
Aside from high blood pressure, or high cholesterol, one of the more common abnormalities on life insurance exams that we see is an elevation in liver function tests. Sometimes the person doesn't know until the exam that they have above normal elevations, and sometimes a person has been previously declined, or knows from getting a physical with their Doctor that their levels are high. The good news is that some life insurance companies are more apt to approve you if you have an elevation in your liver function tests. In this blog post I’ll cover questions that we will ask you when applying for life insurance that can help us find you the best rate for life insurance with an elevated liver function test.
Life insurance companies care about the results of an Elevated Liver Function Tests because an elevation can be a sign that your liver is not functioning as it should. There are several conditions that can lead to an an elevation that is outside the normal range - such as hepatitis,excessive drinking (alcohol), liver cancer, cirrhosis. There are also medications that can cause an increase in liver function tests, such as Dilantin, phenobarbital, allopurinol and many others.
Understanding the reason for your elevated liver functions can be helpful in determining your ability to get approved for coverage, and at the best rates.
Understanding the cause and knowing how high above normal the elevations are will determine the health rating that you get, and in turn the rate you pay for a life insurance policy.
It’s possible to get Preferred rates if elevations are only slightly outside the normal range. For elevations and for conditions that are more serious, the health rating can range from Standard to Table 6 (also called Table F).
If you have elevated liver function, you might have received expensive life insurance rates, or you might have even been declined for life insurance in the past. If you fall into either of these categories, don’t assume you can’t get affordable and quality life insurance coverage for your family. There are several ways that you can improve your chances of getting approved for affordable life insurance.
The first thing that you should do is cut out any tobacco that you currently use. If you’re listed as a smoker or you use chewing tobacco, then you’re at a drastically higher chance of being diagnosed with various kinds of health problems. If you’re a smoker, you should expect to pay at least twice as much for your life insurance. If you smoke, coupled with the elevated liver function, there is a chance that you’ll be declined for life insurance because you’re too much risk. If you want to save thousands of dollars every year, quitting smoking is one of the best ways to do that.
Another way that you can save money is to focus on your health. As we mentioned, your health is one of the biggest determining factors in calculating your premiums. Before you can get accepted for life insurance, you have to take a medical exam (unless you buy a no exam policy). The results of that medical exam directly impact your premiums. Getting better results equals lower rates.
The two best things that you can do for your insurance rates are to start a diet and get regular exercise. Both of these will help you lose weight, lower your blood pressure, and much more. If you’re overweight, then you’re going to pay at least 50% more every month for insurance protection. Trimming down your waist is not only good for your health, but it’s good for your wallet as well.
The best way to secure the lowest possible insurance rates is to compare dozens of quotes before you decide which one is best for you. There are hundreds of companies on the market, all of them have different medical underwriting and rating systems. Don’t buy from the first company that you contact. Finding the perfect company can save you hundreds of dollars.
Instead of wasting your time calling those companies, let one of our independent insurance agents do all of that hard work for you. We work with dozens and dozens of highly rated companies across the nation. We can bring a personalized set of quotes directly to you.
We specialize in high risk life insurance and knowing which life insurance company will offer you the best rate based on your levels and condition. We have successfully helped many people get approved for coverage even with elevated function tests. The key is getting as much information as possible and knowing the guidelines of all the major life insurance companies, and guiding you in the right direction. We can save you both time and money on your life insurance search.
Because you can’t predict the future, you shouldn’t wait another day to get the life insurance that your family deserves. If you have any questions about getting life insurance with elevated liver function, please contact one of our agents today. We would be happy to answer those questions and connect you with the best life insurance plan.