Archive for October 25th, 2007
There really isn’t anything funny about this situation, but I always find myself shaking my head and thinking how odd it is!
I talked to a man who inquired about life insurance today. He had an extraordinary health history. He had type 2 diabetes diagnosed about ten years ago, and it was not well controlled. Since being diagnosed with diabetes he has had two heart bypass surgeries because of progessive heart disease. He has had one heart attack. He had an implanted pacemaker and defibrillator.
He is married and has a mortgage. Responsibilities! And he smokes.
As I write this I am still shaking my head. What is this guy thinking? He obviously has a desire to die and get it over with, but he wants to buy life insurance on his way out. That is just not the way it works folks.
People who take care of themselves and are making an effort to prolong their lives can usually get life insurance. People who are running headlong in the opposite direction simply don’t.
Bottom line. Diabetes complicates heart issues to the extent that insurance companies would be very leery of insuring someone with chronic heart disease and diabetes. When you cap that off with the person smoking post heart attack……it’s just not going to happen.
October 25th, 2007
NBC’s weight loss “reality” show Biggest Loser crossed the line this week. I have steadfastly supported the show and the weight loss and have stayed the course in using this as a forum to discuss obesity and the collateral health issues it causes.
When a participant turns the whole thing into a complete game and abandons the intent and integrity of the show by gaining 17 pounds in a week, knowing that he had the votes to stay on the show, he is a loser that turned a good, well intended program into a loser.
I will continue to blog about the issues but I will not support the program any more.
Bottom line. Obesity and the collateral health issues make obtaining life insurance difficult, make life itself difficult, and are a serious subject worthy of a better effort than NBC put forth.
October 25th, 2007
In an effort to serve more completely the needs of those whose health can make getting affordable life insurance a challenge, Hinerman Group is moving ahead with new “health challenge specific” websites.
My passion has always been to foster discussion and provide information to those, like me, who don’t fit into the Superman rate classes that we all see advertised and would love to have. The truth is that, depending on the company, only 10%-15% of those who apply for life insurance actually qualify for those rates.
About 50% of those who apply have some challenge that will cause them to teeter between insurable and uninsurable, depending on the company they apply through. It is these people I hope to reach through our new websites. I want to provide an independent agent’s view to the subject and educate people on exactly how you attack finding the best possible rates.
To that end our diabetes website went live a few weeks ago and our obesity site came up yesterday. In the very near future you will find sites that are dedicated to prostate cancer, breast cancer, private pilots, sleep apnea, heart disease, and women. I am very open to suggestions for other sites to serve the under served.
Bottom line. Most agencies make their mark and their living providing life insurance to the healthiest 15% of clients. The other 85% need an advocate for their situation and an agency that will work hard to make sure they have the best possible opportunities to provide the family protection they need at affordable prices.
October 25th, 2007
