Hello Guest, Welcome to Apnea Board !
As a guest, you are limited to certain areas of the board and there are some features you can't use.
To post a message, you must create a free account using a valid email address.

or Create an Account


New Posts   Today's Posts

Apnea and life insurance
#1
Apnea and life insurance
I have recently been diagnosed with sleep apnea and have been using a CPAP machine (philips) for about a month - which is going great.
However, I applied for an increase in my life insurance cover and was refused based on the apnea. Is this common? They will review in 12 months following another sleep study (at my expense). 
Is it worth going to another life insurance company or will.it be the same across the board?
Any advise appreciated!
Cheers,
Post Reply Post Reply
#2
RE: Apnea and life insurance
Which company? The reason I ask is that a medical test is usually not a requirement for life insurance from the majority of companies in Australia. The only thing I could see as a constraint is age.
Post Reply Post Reply
#3
RE: Apnea and life insurance
Thanks for the reply, it is with Qsuper. I am 42 years old if that makes a difference.
Post Reply Post Reply
#4
RE: Apnea and life insurance
Life insurance companies are only interested in insuring immortals.

Or at least mortals that have NO medical condition that would increase the chance of mortality, even slightly, during the policy term. I don't think it's fair, but it is what it is. Smoker? No get policy. Take BP meds? No get policy. Significantly overweight? No get policy. Routinely get headaches? etc .... At least without further examination to rule out increased mortality during the policy term.

Insurance is not a right. I thnk of it like counting cards at the blackjack table. Counting cards is not cheating. It is every bit as legitimate as any other play strategy. It is using an organic mental factor to improve one's odds and erase the casino's structurally built in advantage. Without it, casinos are guaranteed to come out winners; players are guaranteed to come out losers. But when the odds are even, the Casinos want to walk away. And will throw out anyone suspected of counting cards.

So once the life insurance companies are not completely sure they'll make money on you, they walk away.

A few years back, the FAA had made preliminary rules that anyone that had a neck circumference equal to or greater than 17 inches would have to have a full blown sleep study to get/maintain a pilot's medical certificate.... Without any other indication of sleep apnea.

OMMOHY
Post Reply Post Reply
#5
RE: Apnea and life insurance
Hi, I recently changed my life insurance and I had to supply 3 - 12 months worth of data from my ResMed AirSense 10 sleepyhead data. I had 12 months to give them
Post Reply Post Reply
#6
RE: Apnea and life insurance
Yet another reason I'm so glad that I bought as much life insurance as I thought I needed when I was still young.

Best advice I was ever given.
Post Reply Post Reply
#7
RE: Apnea and life insurance
Seems kind of interesting that all the recent talk about the lack of data in xPAP decreasing mortality has not reached the life insurance companies yet, or maybe they are better at statistics and actuarial science than medical journal editors and contributors.
Post Reply Post Reply
#8
RE: Apnea and life insurance
For a single issue without complications: such as treating OSA with CPAP or taking BP meds, there are companies that will write a term life insurance policy. But, the premiums will be higher; and there may be exclusions. Thing is: They will put that info into the MIB. It will then be available for any insurer to see. Medical privacy in the US really doesn't exist. You can request to see your MIB file.
Admin Note:
JustMongo passed away in August 2017
Click HERE to read his Memorial Thread

~ Rest in Peace ~
Post Reply Post Reply
#9
RE: Apnea and life insurance
Hi Spaaarkz,
WELCOME! to the forum.!
Good luck to you with CPAP therapy.
trish6hundred
Post Reply Post Reply
#10
RE: Apnea and life insurance
Is your life insurance part of your super fund? (which could be bit different than out and out life insurance).

I read Qsupers brochure

https://www.google.com.au/search?q=qsupe...8ge7u6SwBQ

...and it strongly suggests that you can change your level of cover at any time.

Have a look at this

https://www.choosi.com.au/

It may or may not answer your question.

A final point. I bought travel insurance for my trip to London and declared my OSA and the fact that I used a CPAP machine. This did not addto the quote in any way whatsoever.
Post Reply Post Reply


Possibly Related Threads...
Thread Author Replies Views Last Post
  Invisalign to help sleep apnea and dental extractions as a cause of sleep apnea SingleH 6 453 03-10-2024, 12:42 PM
Last Post: RedNailz
Sad [Symptoms] Traumatic life event. Now I'm waking up every night suffocating. BostonEngineer 9 357 03-03-2024, 12:44 PM
Last Post: HalfAsleep
  Airsense 11 Auto and insurance compliance and data reporting to sleep doctor sausagesrolex 1 221 03-01-2024, 11:59 PM
Last Post: an4g745
  Life with Knightsbridge Dual Band Chin Strap cmpman1974 21 2,028 02-29-2024, 07:11 PM
Last Post: Columbiabill
  Changing CPAP Machine & DME/Insurance & Supplies StratCat48 3 254 02-10-2024, 06:19 PM
Last Post: Deborah K.
  Life of motor exceeded, Resmed S9 Reptile 13 12,187 01-21-2024, 04:31 PM
Last Post: dwd1249
  [CPAP] CPAP in Silent Mode and Mask Useful life meaning aconti 5 443 12-17-2023, 01:45 PM
Last Post: aconti


New Posts   Today's Posts


About Apnea Board

Apnea Board is an educational web site designed to empower Sleep Apnea patients.