According to the World Health Organization there are over 30,000 diseases known to modern medicine. Of those, two-thirds have no known effective treatment. Yet, medications have vastly improved over the last several decades, as have treatment methods. People are living longer, and as immune systems and lifestyle habits change, certain medical conditions increase and create widespread problems.
People all over the world have endured the Corona virus, but there are many other diseases that result in longer term concerns. Many individuals are generally sedentary, and such a lifestyle leads to morbid obesity, a very serious problem in America.
Arizona life insurance and disability insurance underwriters are witnessing a substantial increase in applications from those with disproportionate Body Mass Indexes (BMI.) As a result of elevated BMI’s, coronary artery disease, vascular disease, diabetes mellitus, and sleep apnea conditions are listed on many applications. Prescriptions for anxiety and mood disorders have increased dramatically over the past decade as well, along with drug and alcohol rehabilitations.
In the life and disability insurance business, insuring those with many of these medical conditions can be challenging. Often, such applicants are denied coverage in the standard-traditional market, turning to what’s known as the substandard and impaired-risk market for possible coverage.
Fortunately, there are veteran actuaries, underwriters, and physicians in the US and European disability markets that have recently formulated the most progressive underwriting methodologies in the nation. As a result, many disability insurance applicants previously declined may now be insured with policies that provide lump sum “own occupation” coverage. Those that have previously been denied life insurance may also find coverage today, thanks to these updated underwriting methodologies.