Life insurance for Graves Disease is an important topic for anyone who suffers from Graves’ disease, but it’s something that can give you peace of mind. Life insurance helps take care of your loved ones if anything were to happen- which might be just what they need!
Individuals diagnosed with Grave’s Disease can, and frequently are, eligible for a traditional term or whole life insurance coverage. In addition, they may qualify for a no exam life insurance policy at a preferred rate.
It’s essential to understand all the implications of a life insurance policy before signing up. First, let’s look at life insurance and Graves’ disease and dispel some common myths about the two. So read on for more information!
What is Graves’ Disease?
Graves’ disease is an autoimmune disorder that can cause hyperthyroidism or overactivity of the thyroid gland. The location of the thyroid gland is in your neck, right below where you think it would be hard to reach with both hands and most accessible on either side near the Adam’s Apple (the lump). Thyroid hormones control how your body utilizes energy. As a result, they impact many of your body’s organs, from how your heart beats to how you breathe. In non-elderly adults, Graves’ disease is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism.
Graves’ disease is non-contagious and can’t pass from person to person. Instead, this autoimmune condition causes hyperthyroidism or an overactive thyroid gland. This condition may lead many people with the disorder to feel overheated. In addition, graves’ disease can cause serious long-term effects, so Graves’ patients need to have life insurance coverage if something happens down the road.
Common Symptoms of Graves Disease
- Anxiety and irritation are common.
- The palms or fingers may also experience a minor tremor.
- Increased sensitivity to heat and an increase in sweating or warm, moist skin
- Despite everyday eating habits, weight loss is possible.
- Thyroid hypertrophy (goiter)
- Menstrual cycle changes
- Erectile dysfunction or a lack of sexual desire
- It is common to have frequent bowel movements.
- Bulging eyes (Graves’ ophthalmopathy)
- Exhaustion
- Graves’ disease (Graves’ dermopathy) causes thick, red skin to appear on the shins or tops of the feet.
- Irregular or fast heartbeat (palpitations)
- Sleeplessness
Can I Get Life Insurance With Hyperthyroidism?
Yes, you can get Life Insurance at conventional rates from certain insurers. Graves’ disease is not a condition listed under the Graves’ Disease Exclusion in most life insurance policy forms. Suppose you have had the proper medical treatment for the past 24 months. Graves’ ophthalmopathy, Graves’ dermopathy, and thyroid cancer are conditions that life insurance policies still may cover.
Does Graves Disease Shorten Your Life?
Compared with antithyroid drugs or surgery, treatment with radioactive iodine for Graves’ disease has a decreased quality of life at 6-10 years. Graves’s disease is primarily manageable with medication. However, graves patients often become anemic and need frequent blood transfusions until their problem is solved. Graves disease can also affect eye muscles, leading to double vision or loss of eye movements, but this is rare.
Graves patients may develop carpal tunnel syndrome or Raynaud’s phenomenon (fingers turn white when exposed to the cold). Graves patients are prone to goiter forms of swelling at the front of the neck caused by an enlargement of thyroid gland cells around the esophagus wind (-pipe). Graves can lead to dramatic weight gain and a condition where the thyroid gland is overactive and produces too much thyroid hormone. Graves can lead to osteoporosis because of bone loss caused by the long-term effects of Graves hyperthyroidism. Graves also increase your risk for heart attack or stroke.
Having Graves Disease Does Not Mean You Can’t Get Life Insurance
Several health issues can arise when individuals cannot properly manage their Grave’s Disease. Sufferers should be prepared to answer a series of questions about their condition before being accepted for conventional life insurance. An underwriter will want an idea of the severity and risk that comes with having this disease, so they can make sure you’re worth protecting as well. Graves Disease is not one of the “health conditions” that are typically deemed too risky to be insured.
Radioactive iodine or surgery can treat Graves Disease. However, suppose Graves Disease treatment were to require radiation. In that case, a life insurance underwriter may likely ask more questions to see if you are a good fit for the life insurance. Therefore, the applicant would not qualify for a standard life insurance policy.
The first thing you will need to prepare yourself for getting life insurance if Graves Disease is your diagnosis is the questions that will be asked to you by a life insurance agent and those requested by an underwriting department. Graves Disease questions are typically extensive because life insurance companies want to make sure they understand how Graves Disease fits into your overall health. What kind of effect could it have on them financially should they decide to issue you a life insurance policy. Some common Graves Disease questions may include:
- Graves Disease medications you are currently taking
- Frequency of Graves Disease checkups
- History of Graves Disease, including a family history of Graves Disease or similar autoimmune conditions.
- Have you ever encountered Graves Disease symptoms before? If so, what were the symptoms, and how long did they last?
- Are you taking any other prescription medicines besides those used to treat your condition?
- Have you been admitted to a hospital in the last two years for any cause?
- Have you applied for or received any form of disability aid in the last year?
- Do you have any of the Grave’s Disease symptoms now?
- When were you first diagnosed with Grave’s Disease?
Remember, though, that health condition does not mean instant “denial” when applying with most companies. For example, Graves Disease is not an extremely high-risk condition. Therefore, having Graves Disease should not automatically disqualify you from getting a life insurance policy.
Take the time to do a little research on Graves Disease and life insurance policies. So you know what to expect going into your Graves Disease diagnosis, as well as how Graves Disease will affect your life insurance needs. There are many different life insurance quotes available for those who need them, Graves Disease or not.
Whatever you do, Graves Disease is not reason enough for an applicant to be automatically disqualified from getting a life insurance policy. So keep looking around until you find one that meets your needs.
The Best Grave Insurance Providers for Your Needs
You can get lower rates, immediate coverage with no waiting period, and no pre-existing condition limitations when you use these insurance providers.
- Aetna
- Royal Neighbors of America
- Mutual of Omaha
- Americo
- Transamerica
- American Amicable
- Liberty Bankers Life
- Foresters Financial
- Prosperity Life Group
- Sentinel Security Life
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The second thing to prepare yourself for is the physical examination that will be required prior to finalizing any life insurance application, Graves Disease or otherwise. This examination will likely include blood work and your doctor may also order an EKG (electrocardiogram) in order to get a better “picture” of the condition of your heart since Graves Disease can affect both your body’s metabolism as well as how it regulates organ function. Whether you are diagnosed with Graves Disease, high cholesterol, cancer, or some other kind of terminal illness, there are many different kinds of life insurance policies that can meet whatever need you to have while also considering whatever medical conditions you happen to have.
