Most sleep apnea is diagnosed first by the spouse of the person who has it. Usually they would consider themselves to be the one that suffers from because one of the possible signs of sleep apnea is extraordinarily loud snoring. Actually sleep apnea, left untreated, is a real health issue and can lead to collateral health problems.
The American Sleep Apnea Association on their website www.sleepapnea.org kind of sums of sleep apnea like this” Sleep apnea is very common, as common as adult diabetes, and affects more than twelve million Americans, according to the National Institutes of Health. Risk factors include being male, overweight, and over the age of forty, but sleep apnea can strike anyone at any age, even children. Yet still because of the lack of awareness by the public and health care professionals, the vast majority remain undiagnosed and therefore untreated, despite the fact that this serious disorder can have significant consequences.
Untreated, sleep apnea can cause high blood pressure and other cardiovascular disease, memory problems, weight gain, impotency, and headaches. Moreover, untreated sleep apnea may be responsible for job impairment and motor vehicle crashes. Fortunately, sleep apnea can be diagnosed and treated. Several treatment options exist, and research into additional options continues.
So, from a life insurance standpoint there is good reason to evaluate the risk carefully. While most well controlled sleep apnea can be underwritten at better than standard rates, it still comes down to compliance and control. The use of a cpap machine while sleeping is not the easiest thing to get used to and many people with sleep apnea are not as compliant with doctors orders as they should be. Occasional use is not what was prescribed and does not provide the control that is needed to avoid collateral health issues.
Sleep apnea can cause sleep deprivation and underwriters, for instance, will take an especially cautious look at a private pilot with sleep apnea. Falling asleep at the wheel can have definite mortality risk ramifications.
Surgical repair of obstructive sleep apnea often completely resolves the issue with no further treatment needed. In these cases, as long as all other risk factors are in balance, preferred rates may be available. Remember though. All other risk factors in balance!!!! If you have the apnea surgically corrected and still weight 290 #’s, don’t expect preferred rates.
Seek out an independent life insurance agent to help you analyze your situation and track down the best possible life insurance quotes for you.
This post is somewhat dated. Life insurance underwriting is changing and evolving continually. For more updated information check out some of the key word links. If you have a specific question or topic you need information for do a search. If you don’t find the answers you need contact me and we’ll make sure you get the information that is important to you.
Having been diagnosed with OSA several years I was refused life insurance. I am 67 and on my last physical exam including a stress text the doc said I havent see lab results this good around here in a long time and the cardiologist said that the few people can handle the treadmill for as long as I did.So what to do? I suspect that I have had this malady for a long long time but it evidently has produced no ill effects. I tried CPAP but it was a nightmare. I would like to get life insurance.
Mr Accetta,
At least on the surface it sounds as if you may have been a victim of applying with the wrong company. As long as your doctor is not opposed to you stopping use of the cpap and backed by a strong stress test, reasonable offers should be expected. Contact me so we can discuss further.
Respectfully, Ed