Time To Take Another Look?

Most people that read my blog and call or email about life insurance for people with bipolar disorder or other serious mood disorders seem to be in their mid forties and below. Most but not all. We have had a fair number of successful professionals my age (55+), CEO’s, physicians, attorneys who we’ve been able to help after meeting with decline after decline.

I’ve been told that more people are diagnosed correctly today than when I was younger and I think there are a couple of reasons that we see more younger people asking for our help.

1. Bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders and depression today are better understood and less feared by underwriters than when I was younger. If, for instance, I had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder 20 years ago my chances of getting any insurance company at all to consider accepting my mortality risk would have been somewhere very close to 0. I might have tried several times to get life insurance for my young family but with the chances at or near 0 of approval, I would likely have just racked up a string of declines.

2. By now, in my post mid 50’s, I would have done the best I could to put some other plan in place knowing that life insurance companies didn’t want anything to do with me. Why, at this point, would I want to back track and put myself through the humiliation again?

It may just be time to take another look. More seasoned socially challenged folks actually, in the mind of underwriters, have something of a leg up on younger clients in that they are survivors and have stability written all over them. Bipolar disorder is one of those things that can tear you down at its’ worst and make you a stand out success at its’ best. By age 50 if someone has bipolar disorder they have most certainly taken one road or the other (through no fault of their own), and someone in their 50’s on the good side of things has established stability and control, business and family life with some certainty.

From the view of a life insurance underwriter, whether you are a 32 year old software engineer or at 56 year old actor or CEO, the same criteria lead to the best rates.

1. Someone who has not been hospitalized for bipolar disorder other than for diagnosis?
2. Someone who has not attempted suicide or had bouts with suicidal ideations?
3. Someone who is compliant with their treatment, both medications and regular followups?
4. Someone who is leading a stable family life or social life?
5. Someone who is exhibiting a stable work life?
6. Someone who is not on disability for bipolar and does not have issues with drinking or drugs? If there’s a problem here, then the answers to 3, 4 and 5 are no.
7. Better rates come with fewer drugs and without the need for anti-psychotic drugs.

Bottom line. So, don’t let past bad experience guide you today. Life insurance underwriting has changed and changed dramatically in the last two decades.