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How Will The H1N1 Virus Affect Your Life Insurance
Posted on November 5, 2009 at 5:42 pm
Filed Under Financial Planning, Insurance Planning, Personal Insurance
It is very easy to become caught up with the fear that naturally develops when we hear words like “life threatening”, “breakout”, “pandemic”, or even just the word “virus”. As a result, our team wanted to help you answer the question “How will the H1N1 virus affect my life insurance?”
The Good News
The good news for those that already own life insurance is that it won’t; not even a little bit.
One of the benefits of obtaining life insurance at a young age, or anytime for that matter, is that it’s as though the life insurance company is taking a snap shot of your health at that exact moment. As long as you are honest and truthful with the information you provide, you are forever covered as long as you keep the insurance premiums and policy up to date, regardless if your health status changes in the future.
The Not so Good News
For those who don’t own life insurance at this time, this new breakout could play a substantial role in the possibility of whether you can or will be able to insure yourself in the future, should you be exposed to it.
Just because an insurance company may not ask the direct question like “Have you been diagnosed with the H1N1 virus?” does not mean you don’t have to worry about this new virus. In fact, most insurance companies will ask broad sweeping questions in their application such as:
- Have you consulted any physician within the past five years for anything not covered in the above questions or in this application?
- Are you aware of any symptoms or complaints regarding your health for which you have not yet consulted a physician?
- Have you had any symptoms, illness, injury, surgery, treatment or investigation, or been advised to receive treatment or investigation, or examination not mentioned above?
A simple yes to any of these questions could not only postpone your approval indefinitely, but also raise red flags that as a potential life insurance applicant, you’d rather not face.
Most insurance companies will not accept a new client if they are currently undergoing testing or treatment for any illness within the last six months, H1N1 included. What that means is that if you are exposed or worse, diagnosed with this virus, the insurance company could either rate your request for life insurance, postpone your approval, or flat out decline you for life, depending on the severity of your specific situation.
Your Take-Away: If you are or have been looking to insure yourself or your family for life insurance, disability insurance or critical illness insurance, or may be considering raising your policy, we recommend that you consider doing so sooner rather then later.
Below are a couple of reasons you may want to consider when deciding if now is the time to look into adding to or setting up your insurance program:
1. You have visited a medical facility within the last 3 months and potentially been “exposed”
2. You have a friend, family member or colleague who has actually been diagnosed with H1N1
3. Insurance companies are far more flexible and lenient during the last two months of the year
Until next time, have Terrific Thursday!
Chris and Elisseos
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