I Have Rheumatoid Arthritis and Need Life Insurance

I just received a call from a woman who is disabled due to rheumatoid arthritis, and she really wants to have life insurance for her family and help pay for her final expenses. 

There are some life insurance companies that will not offer insurance to anyone that has issues that are serious enough for them to be totally disabled. as this alone has underwriting ramifications. However, I know of some companies that will offer coverage if I explain that the disability income is required by the family and there will be a financial loss to the family in the event of this woman’s death.

Many life insurance companies have as big an issue with the drugs used to treat RA compared to the disease itself.

Immunosuppressive drugs like Methotrexate, Leflunomide, Plaquenil, Aralen, Prednisone and Medrol seem to help the people that I’ve spoken to greatly that have RA, but they do suppress the immune system, which is one concern for life insurance companies. 

Most life insurance companies will charge a small additional premium to people with RA that use any immunosuppressive drug. 

I have gotten some RA cases a “Standard” or Regular rate with no additional premium when not on one of the immunosuppressive drugs or when health was really good otherwise, and there was no real debilitation that was caused by the RA, even when taking an immunosuppressive.

Like many underwriting issues, it comes down to how well controlled the RA is and your overall health otherwise.    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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