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Life Insuance Frustration

Jaimepsalm63

By Jaimepsalm63
in Coping with Celiac Disease

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Jaimepsalm63 Rookie
Jaimepsalm63
Posted

This is more of a vent than anything else so please forgive me.

My husband and I applied to another company for life insurance for us both. We have a policy with one company and thought maybe of getting one through another as well because of the excellent rates and the connection with an organization my husband belongs to.

Long story short....I was told I could have life insurance if I was willing to pay triple the original stated rate because of the Celiac and the gastroparesis along with the secondary conditions that are associated to it. I was actually told by some "bean counter" that I wasn't going to live another 10 years.

I was so mad!

How long do they know I'm going to live? I believe only God knows when I'm going to die....not them. I explained to the original agent I adhere to the gluten free diet and don't cheat because I know the consequences if I don't and I don't mean just the immediate reaction. I explained to him that I'm within the normal weight range, have normal blood sugar, normal cholesterol, normal/low blood pressure, no signs of heart disease, I'm perfectly healthy besides the two diseases. He told me that there were no medications I can go on to improve my health like someone with high cholesterol can go on.

He reminded me I wasn't denied, but in a couple of years they would because of the life span THEY gave me.

I'm very angry!

At least I have that one policy that we got years before I was diagnosed. They told me I couldn't increase the the policy because of my "new" diagnosis. All the insurance companies are saying that to me now.

My husband is 13 years older than I and has heart conditions....and he got a super low rate compared to mine. Is this just now the fact of life for me until Celiac and gastroparesis is more understood?

Has anyone gotten this from their insurance companies or trying to get insurance?

Thanks for letting me vent. UGH!!!! :angry: :angry:

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Piccolo Apprentice
Piccolo
Posted

Jamie,

I can relate. My problem is weight. I have never made a weight chart in my life. I am in perfect health. I got turned down be several companies because of this. I finally got one at a higher rate just so I'd have life insurance. I was still under 100 pounds when I was 9 months pregnant. He is now 19 years old. :D

Susan

dilettantesteph Collaborator
dilettantesteph
Posted

Thanks for mentioning this. I am self diagnosed and haven't told my doctor yet. Maybe I won't.

missy'smom Collaborator
missy'smom
Posted

Yes, good to know. Sorry that you're faced with this though. My new doc. wants to do a blood test for celiac disease now(never been tested or officially diagnosed and I don't care), even though he knows I've been gluten-free for two years. I said go ahead to humor him, not sure why he wanted to-did say gluten-free diet was healthy and no reason I couldn't stay on it and that maybe he could get it taken off the record(I had reported it to another doc.) as he heard it can cause insurance problems. Maybe he really is trying to be in my corner.

Piccolo, I didn't know that about the weight either! I'm petite and don't always make the weight charts either. My new doc. says he doesn't believe in them and strongly wanted me to know that I was OK as I am, as long as I'm healthy, have enough energy etc. It was kind of cute.

DarkIvy Explorer
DarkIvy
Posted

Oh man, that must be so frustrating. That was actually one of the reasons that I was originally torn between trying to get an "official" DX and not... but in the end all my tests came back negative and it didn't make a difference anyway. My regular physician said she strongly believes that the tests are all inaccurate anyway, and has several other patients in the same boat as I am. She basically said that I most likely *do* have celiac and that I should absolutely stick to the gluten-free diet. I suppose it's lucky that I have the benefits of not having a DX, as well as a Dr. that's really supportive. Makes me glad I never really was DXed.

I just can't imagine how that must feel. That's awful. Celiac is perfectly manageable, it's not a death sentence! I'm sure some people cheat and don't care, and I realize companies have to take that into consideration, but surely there's some way for them to take into consideration good preventative measures. Maybe you could get a statement from your current doctor, saying that you are following the diets and are not experiencing any issues as a direct result of your celiac?

Man, I've always considered it a bonus that I don't have to take any medication for this disease. :/

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