Various health issues can affect life insurance rates, including gastroesophageal reflux disease. Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) affects about 20% of people living in the U.S. and it can occur in people of all ages, but it’s most prevalent in those aged over 40. Thankfully, the condition is very manageable.
Many people with this health issue apply and are approved for life insurance coverage every day. Quotacy can help you find the life insurance company that will give you the best possible rate.
Buying Life Insurance with GERD
If you have gastroesophageal reflux disease, your best chances of getting affordable life insurance is to apply through a broker, like Quotacy. Brokers are not tied to one life insurance company and are able to shop the market.
We want you to get approved and will work hard to help you get coverage. Start the process by getting a free term life insurance quote or keep reading for more in-depth information about life insurance and GERD.
What do life insurance underwriters look for if I have GERD?
A life insurance underwriter is the person at the life insurance company that reviews your application and everything that goes along with it, such as your medical records. Based on their company’s underwriting guidelines, the underwriter approves or denies your application. If you can be approved, they then determine what risk class you are. Your risk class determines what you’ll pay for life insurance.
The life insurance underwriter will assess your case of GERD by reviewing the following:
- The frequency and severity of the symptoms
- Any complications that may have occurred, i.e. esophagitis and Barrett’s esophagus
- History of treatment, including surgery
Sometimes GERD can cause complications that can lead to some very serious problems. This is why a life insurance underwriter will want to take a closer look at your health records and life insurance medical exam results.
See what you’d pay for life insurance
GERD and Term Life Insurance Rates
The cost you’ll pay for life insurance is determined by your mortality risk. The life insurance underwriter evaluates this and puts you in a risk class based on your individual risk factors.
Basically, the lower your risk of death, the better your risk class will be. A better risk class means lower premium payments on policies. These risk classes are typically organized as follows, though some companies may use different names (example: Preferred Best instead of Preferred Plus).
| Risk Classes | |
|---|---|
| For Non-Tobacco Users | For Tobacco Users |
| Preferred Plus | Preferred Tobacco |
| Preferred | |
| Standard Plus | Standard Tobacco |
| Standard | |
| Table Ratings (Substandard) | |
Preferred Plus is the best possible risk class you can get, which means it’s the best pricing. Smokers and tobacco users have their own set of risk classes. If the risk to insure you is higher than an average person, you’ll be table rated.
| Example of monthly pricing per risk class for a 40-year-old male applying for a 20-year $250,000 term policy | |
|---|---|
| For Non-Tobacco Users | For Tobacco Users |
| Preferred Plus = $19.31 | Preferred Tobacco = $69.05 |
| Preferred = $21.61 | |
| Standard Plus = $27.70 | Standard Tobacco = $95.40 |
| Standard = $32.24 | |
| Table B = $38.97 | Table B = $140.52 |
| Table C = $44.61 | Table C = $163.08 |
| Table D = $50.24 | Table D = $185.64 |
An otherwise healthy individual with well-managed GERD can still be considered for preferred rates. If you have any complications, such as an esophageal ulcer or hiatus hernia, then your classification will reflect these extra risks.
Also, life insurance companies will look at your overall health and lifestyle. Not just the GERD. Additional issues will affect your risk class. For example, if your GERD is well-managed and you have never had any complications but you had an unrelated DUI two years ago, you’re not going to get approved at the preferred risk class.
There are many factors involved when applying for life insurance. Quotacy can help make the process go smoothly and work with you to find the best life insurance company for your particular situation.
Being Diagnosed with GERD After Purchasing Life Insurance
If you already bought a life insurance policy and then get diagnosed with GERD, you do not have to worry. Changes in your health will not affect your policy as long as it is already inforce, or “active”. This is one of the many reasons why it is wise to buy life insurance sooner rather than later.
The situation changes, however, if you bought a non-portable policy through your group plan with your employer. Should you leave that company, your policy would end and you would need to apply elsewhere. Your GERD diagnosis would then be taken into consideration. Because most employer-sponsored life insurance policies are only valid as long as you are employed there, it advisable to look into purchasing an individual life insurance policy outside of your group plan.
A benefit to working with Quotacy is that we work with multiple A-rated life insurance companies. We have years of experience getting clients life insurance coverage, including those with GERD. Our in-house underwriter has worked in many insurance company home offices, knows how to navigate each individual’s health history, and can advise which life insurance company would be the best option for your individual case.
If you are ready to buy life insurance coverage, get a term life insurance quote now and let’s start the process. You do not need to give up any personal contact information to get quotes. Nor will we ever sell your information. We’re your advocates in the life insurance buying process.
Many health conditions impact your life insurance eligibility and potential costs. Learn more about life insurance and pre-existing conditions in our guide.
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