Financial stress

Apache is functioning normally

In order to get life insurance from any long term illness it is necessary to work with doctors and try to get any condition under control. The better that your health is and the better that you follow your doctor’s orders, the higher chance you have of getting a life insurance policy at an affordable rate.

This includes listening carefully to doctor’s instructions and making the necessary lifestyle changes to gain control of the problem.

If insurers see that a condition is being properly managed then there is a chance that policy seekers can attain a lower premium. Patients may want to wait a while and make sure they are in good health before applying for a low cost term life insurance policy.

Always have the doctor write down a patient’s progress as time goes by. This will be a good record for life insurance companies.

Having life insurance is very important, especially for those with families. Those who are head of the household should not have to worry about leaving behind massive debt for their loved ones should the worst happen.

Every person with a family should have life insurance to protect loved ones from the added burden of dealing with financial stress. It is already hard dealing with the loss of a loved one, but dealing with financial stress should not be something that anyone has to go through during times of mourning.

The first thing that you need to add up is your debts. Those debts are going straight to your family when you die. This can overwhelm your family and leave them under a mountain of debt. Add up your mortgage payment, car bills, and any other unpaid expenses that your family members would have to pay off. You not providing them the insurance protection that they need.

Another factor that you should think about is your annual salary. They will inherit your debt, but lose your salary. Get enough coverage to replace the paychecks.

Life Insurance For High Risk Conditions

Life insurance may include higher premiums for those who have illnesses, especially when dealing with Cardiomyopathy. It is always best to work with insurance companies and let them know about any condition. As long as underwriters see that patients are doing their best to manage any disease then chances are that they will receive a favorable outcome in their policies.

There are various reasons why life insurance companies will increase rates for policy holders with illnesses; one of them includes viewing the sick as a potential liability. Let’s face it. If you have a high risk condition, then the insurance company will rate you as such. Does that always mean you should pay the highest rate? Not necessarily. That’s one perk in working with an independent life insurance agent that has the ability to work with high risk companies.

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Term Insurance with Cardiomyopathy

In order to get the right policy, it is best to shop around and compare rates. Get an upfront quote and ask directly how much a policy will cost for someone with Cardiomyopathy. Doing some research will increase the chances of getting a life insurance policy. There are even some insurance companies that will work with those who are suffering from long term illness.  Others will not help with a standard policy but will approve those with long term illness on a no exam term life policy.

Keep options open and keep looking until a policy fits within budget range. Life insurance should not be an overly expensive pursuit, even for those who have long term illness. If a higher rate is quoted then try looking elsewhere. Life insurance seekers are consumers, and they do not have to settle for a higher rate if it something they are not comfortable with.

Not every insurance carrier is the same. Some specialize in working with clients with serious health problems, event those with cardiomyopathy. Finding the right company could mean the difference between getting an affordable plan or getting declined for coverage.

There are options for those dealing with Cardiomyopathy. As long as insurance companies see that a person’s health is being managed properly then they have a chance of getting a lower premium policy. Always consult with a doctor when dealing with any illness and take the necessary measures to become healthier.

Questionnaire When Applying For Life Insurance

As mentioned above, it’s important to be upfront with your independent life insurance agent when you have a health condition such as cardiomyopathy.  Before we even apply, we want to make sure we get all the appropriate info to make sure we get you with the right company.  The below is a questionnaire that the underwriters will want before they will insure you.   Make sure you have all the info before you apply.

  • 1.      Date of diagnosis.
  • 2.      The condition has been diagnosed as:

a)      Dilated cardiomyopathy
b)      Myocarditis
c)      Myocardial fibrosis
d)      Myocardial degeneration
e)      Congestive cardiomyopathy
f)      Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
g)      Idiopathic hypertrophic sub-aortic stenosis
h)      Alcoholic cardiomyopathy
i)      Peripartum cardiomyopathy
j)      Restrictive cardiomyopathy

  • 3.      Provide dates if any of the following tests or procedures that have been done to evaluate the condition.

a)      Resting EKG
b)      Thallium stress EKG
c)      Holter monitor
d)      Stress EKG
e)      Echocardiogram
f)      Chest x-ray

  • 4.      Is there any family history of heart disease or premature death due to heart disease?
  • 5.      Name of medications, prescription or otherwise, taken.  Please identify dates used, quantity taken, and frequency taken.
  • 6.      Are there any other conditions that may impact life insurance underwriting?

All of these questions (and your answers) are going to change the premiums you get and how the company looks at your application. After you’ve answered these questions, the insurance carrier can get a completed picture of your health and they can decide how much to charge you.

Even if you have a pre-existing condition, there are plenty of life insurance options for you. Nobody should ever have to go without the coverage that they need.

Source: goodfinancialcents.com

Apache is functioning normally

A friend invites you for an evening out or a weekend away that you just can’t afford. Which of the following responses sounds the most like yours?

  • “I’d love to, but…” (Too many late nights already that week/feel guilty leaving Junior with a sitter after being away from him all day/mandatory check-in with your probation officer.)
  • “That sounds like fun, but it’s not in my budget right now.”
  • “Um…” (Waffles, hates to seem like a killjoy.) “Yes, let’s.” (Whips out plastic, mentally scribbles “self-recrimination, 30 minutes” on to-do list.)

All three strategies are problematical:

  • Excuses start to sound like, well, excuses. Friends think you just don’t want to hang out with them.
  • Using the B-word puts some people on the defensive, as though your financial goals are some kind of judgment on their choices.
  • Caving in and charging your fun creates debt/adds to existing arrears.

That’s why I’d like to suggest a fourth strategy: Compromise. Specifically, to propose less-spendy (but still fun) ways to socialize.

You shouldn’t have to decline time with friends just because their usual ideas for diversion involve serious spending. It works the other way, too: By suggesting fun outside of restaurants and bars, you don’t put financial stress on a BFF who hasn’t got the do-re-mi.

Some people seem to think that folks on a budget can never have fun. I disagree. In fact, I believe that sometimes you ought to spend money even if you think you shouldn’t.

But not all the time, and certainly not if you’re already barely making book. (Hi there, all you startled new grads! Wasn’t it fun to get that college loan repayment schedule? And isn’t ramen yummy?)

Obviously there are far more possibilities than I could list in one article. Here are 22 options to get you started.

Eat, drink and be merry
Restaurant lite. Your foodie friends love trying new places. You can afford to do this maybe once a month. Alternate strategy: Arrange to meet them for coffee and dessert two or three (or more) times a month.

Wine tasting. Provide one bottle and some snacks and ask a few friends to bring sips to share. It doesn’t have to be pricey plonk; there are some pretty affordable wines out there.

Picnic. Come on, it’s summer. Hit a city park or hike to the back of beyond, carrying vittles. Variation: Cookout in someone’s back yard.

Dessert buffet. Invite everyone to bring over his favorite sweet. You’ll all be half-sick before the evening is over, but who cares?

A happier happy hour. Search for bars that serve half-price (or free!) snacks in the early evening. Look for deals with help from apps/sites like BiteHunter or Cheapism.

The potluck. A win-win: Everybody gets fed, but no one person has to do all the cooking.

Diversion at a discount

Social buying. Groupon, Living Social, City Deals and other daily deal companies offer 50%-off vouchers for sporting events, outdoor activities, live entertainment and other fun stuff. Groupon and City Deals can be accessed through cash-back shopping sites like Extrabux, Fat Wallet or Mr. Rebates for additional savings of up to 6%.

Coupon books. National ones like The Entertainment Book or local publications such as Seattle’s Chinook Book are full of buy-one-get-one offers to all sorts of things. Note: The Entertainment Book is also available through those cash-back sites, for savings of up to 35%.

Discounted gift cards. Mostly I get movie gift cards at 15% to 20% off. Chain restaurants, from Big Boy to Ruth’s Chris, are well represented.

Low- or no-cost fun
Game night. You can get cutthroat and serious about this, i.e., actually keep score. Or just be a bunch of friends enjoying favorite games. (Don’t own any? Look in thrift stores and yard sales.)

Open mic. Coffeehouses, bookstores and bars host them. The results could be stellar or ghastly, but either one gives you something to talk about afterward.

Group activities. Sites like MeetUp, BigTent and GroupSpaces will put you in touch with casual clutches of folks who enjoy a huge variety of fun stuff. Join with a friend and learn everything from geocaching to cake decorating.

Go swimming. City pools. Public beaches. Bring sunscreen.

Learn a new language. Sites like Word2Word and LearnALanguage.com will get you started. Choose a language with a friend or friends, then watch a movie in that language (get it free from the library). Or do it with an eye toward traveling to that country some day.

Book signings. Can’t afford to buy? Listen to the author talk, then.

The big game. Suggest a sports-watching party at the apartment/home of whoever has the best television. Your contribution could be popcorn, the world’s cheapest snack, with intriguing flavors like Bombay Masala, dilly lemon, black sesame mustard and chipotle lime.

Start a club. Personal finance club. Book club. Dryer lint sculpting society. Whatever floats your boat.

Free movie previews. A site called Gofobo organizes advance screenings in partnership with newspapers, radio and colleges.

The lively arts
Pay-what-you-can night. Admission by donation to plays, museums or other events. Look for them in your area.

Theater vs. the small screen. Friends going to see “A Streetcar Named Desire,” “Priscilla, Queen of the Desert,” “Harvey” or some other show you can’t afford? Invite them over the next evening to watch the film version of the play they just saw, and discuss the differences. Set out coffee and freshly baked cookies.

But is it art? See if there’s a “First Friday” type of event in your area, during which galleries coordinate show openings and serve wine and cheese. Visually stimulating and you get fed, to boot.

Rush tickets. You can spend as little as $20 for a Broadway show if you work it right. (Read this article at Playbill to learn how.) Some regional companies have rush programs or discounts for the 25-and-under crowd, too.
All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. Also a lonely one. But fun doesn’t always have to cost an arm and a leg at 18% interest.

Get creative about your amusement and you can be both optimally socialized and fiscally responsible. You may also turn into one hell of an Apples to Apples player.

Readers: What are your favorite low- and no-cost ways to socialize? Do you and your friends enjoy these things out of necessity or by choice?

Source: getrichslowly.org

Apache is functioning normally

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A 2021 study from Pew Research Center found that the median annual income of Asian households in the U.S. was nearly 39% higher than the rest of the country.

But lived experiences are much more nuanced.

“In my experience, managing money doesn’t come up often in a typical Asian American household,” says financial influencer Max Do. “You assume it’s being taken care of, and it doesn’t come up until there is a problem.”

That same study noted that income and poverty rates vary widely among the many ethnicities that fall under the umbrella term Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.

Vivian Tu, another financial influencer, says her family loves to talk about money. Their experiences highlight just how varied the spectrum of financial exposure is within Asian American and Pacific Islander households, another reminder that the AAPI community isn’t monolithic.

We spoke to six AAPI financial influencers to learn more about financial challenges faced by Asian Americans, how to balance money and familial responsibilities, and the importance of focusing on your financial journey.

Responses have been edited for length and clarity. Learn more about each financial pro below following the questions.

What do you think are the financial challenges Asian Americans face?

Vivian Tu

Vivian Tu, Your Rich BFF: “Given that so many Asian Americans have parents or grandparents who are immigrants who likely lived through some challenging times, the culture of saving is deeply rooted in our community. This is passed on, meaning that even grandchildren or great-grandchildren who grow up in financially stable, upper-middle-class families may face a constant fear of scarcity.

What I think is important to acknowledge is that as important as saving is, it’s OK to also enjoy your life. Money is made to help you purchase goods and services that improve your daily living. We should also emphasize how important it is to invest and grow our wealth because saving money under the mattress is losing money over time to inflation.”

Aja Dang

Aja Dang, Mstrpln: “My experience might be unique because, as a fourth-generation Asian American, no one in my family ever taught me about money. No one talked to me about savings or even how difficult it was for my parents to support me when I was younger.

The one thing that was more important to everyone was getting into a ‘good’ school so you could get a good job, which was the catalyst for my six-figure debt. My parents and I naively believed that going to out-of-state private schools seemed like a necessary expense for a promising future. Ultimately, that didn’t end up happening, and I struggled with debt for a decade, but that experience indirectly taught me the importance of financial transparency and savings.”

Tae Kim

Tae Kim, Financial Tortoise: “Many second and third-generation Asian Americans grew up in working-class immigrant families where frugality and saving were the default. Our parents feared the new world and found comfort in saving as much as possible.

So we respond to our parent’s culture of saving in two ways. One, we carry on the tradition and continue to save, finding comfort in it as our parents did. Or two, we retaliate because we feel we were deprived and live the luxurious lifestyle our parents kept us away from. I was, unfortunately, the latter. Each generation has its unique view of the world and approach to managing money, so it is important that we find our own.”

How do you think the culture of saving influences how second- or third-generation Asian Americans manage money?

Simran Kaur

Simran Kaur, “Girls That Invest”: “We have the challenge of understanding that our parents or elders immigrated with limited resources and for them, their primary goal was stability and safety for our finances. We, on the other hand, have the privilege of focusing outside of the stability bubble — we have more appetite for risk and for creating long-term wealth.”

Aja Dang: “For many of us, the idea of living in, and supporting a multigenerational household is a unique financial challenge.

It’s not just about supporting yourself and your family, but also supporting your parents as they retire, and maybe also your grandparents. And for my generation in particular, how do you support multiple generations while still dealing with student loan debt?

It’s important to remember the best way to support our family is by putting ourselves and our needs first so we can make sure we’re in a solid financial place to be able to support others.”

Tae Kim: “One of the biggest challenges Asian Americans face when it comes to money is financial literacy. Many of us grew up under first-generation immigrant parents who didn’t understand how the economy and financial market worked.

The next generation of Asian Americans enters the workforce never having discussed 401(k) contributions, insurance, or investing in general. So many of us fall prey to the financial marketing machine. Buying high fee-laden investments, risky bets, and unnecessary insurance because we think that is what we should do with our money. We must prioritize financial literacy from an early age to better prepare the next generation.”

How do finances show up typically in Asian American households, and what tips would you give on managing money with family or relationships?

Vivian Tu: “Depending on what ethnicity you and your family are, money conversations may or may not be completely normal.

For example, my family is Chinese, and my relatives LOVE to talk about money. How much was that flat-screen TV? How much did you pay for that vacation? How big of a discount did you get on those new boots? However, talking about money can be seen as impolite in many other cultures.

That said, I really do encourage young people to learn more about their family’s finances. Learning more about money early on is the easiest way to gain those skills firsthand, ahead of being an adult and navigating those experiences yourself.”

Chris Chung, The Everyday Millennial: “In the majority of Asian American households growing up, the husband earns a large share of the income working a corporate job while the wife either stays home with the kids or earns a part-time hourly wage.

Chris Chung

However, in the last 10 years, I’ve seen a large shift as both spouses each focus on growing their respective careers and bringing in a relatively equal share of the income.

My biggest tip for managing money with your family or spouse is to be 100% transparent and focus on being a team! Even if you maintain separate bank accounts, you should be talking with your spouse about your financial goals and what you want to accomplish together.

I’ve seen family dynamics struggle due to money. I’d recommend keeping specific numbers private because the only people who need to know the specifics about your finances are you and your spouse — nobody else.”

Max Do, Max Miles Points: “In my experience, managing money doesn’t come up often in a typical Asian American household. You assume it’s being taken care of, and it doesn’t come up until there is a problem. Sometimes, it almost feels taboo to talk about. My tip would be to be open about it, talk about how much money you make, how you’re saving your money, and how you’re investing it.”

Max Do

Aja Dang: “Do not ever gift or loan money to friends or family that you cannot afford to lose. If someone says they will pay you back, don’t believe them because chances are they won’t. Do not be afraid to say no to something you cannot or don’t want to do. Also, do not feel pressured to support a multigenerational household. I think many of us want to, but if you can’t afford it, don’t do it. Do not put yourself in a state of financial stress because it’s the ‘right’ thing to do.”

What advice would you give to Asian Americans who feel as though they’re not yet in the same financial situation as their peers?

Max Do: “My advice is to focus on your own financial journey and avoid comparing yourself to others. Setting your own goals and working towards them at your own pace is crucial. Sometimes, it can feel like there’s competition among parents to see whose son or daughter is the most successful or wealthy. This sense of pride is especially strong for immigrant parents who came to the U.S. with nothing. This competition can also create additional pressure.”

Simran Kaur: “One of the best — but perhaps crippling — parts of our culture involves celebrating educational, career and financial success. It’s so easy to fall into the trap of comparing who has more, who bought their home first or who got the big promotion.

We are so proud of those around us who have hit milestones early on, but that does not come without the unfair comparisons that we put on ourselves. It’s so important to step back and remind ourselves that we are only in competition with ourselves and that as long as we are getting better than our past selves, that is all that matters.”

Chris Chung: “There’s always going to be someone you know earning more money or more successful than you. Instead of comparing or worrying about it, put that energy towards improving yourself and what you can control.

In 2023, there’s never been more free resources available discussing entrepreneurship, investing, real estate, which valuable skills to learn and how to build financial freedom for your future. Use these resources to your advantage and spend the time to build financial literacy yourself instead of worrying about what your peers are doing.

I started my first job working for a bobblehead company earning $25,000 while my peers were earning close to $100,000. I quickly realized early on that instead of wasting my energy asking myself, ‘Why not me,’ I needed to put in the work to create a new reality for myself.”

Vivian Tu: “It’s OK! We don’t all start our financial journeys at the same place. Some people are born with major generational advantages and others face significantly more adversity. It’s called personal finance for a reason, and comparison truly is the thief of joy. Focus on making smart money decisions for yourself and prioritizing your well-being. Don’t let FOMO or someone else’s Instagram feed make you feel like you have a bad life.”

More about the influencers

Aja Dang, Mstrpln

Aja Dang is a content creator and founder of Mstrpln. After getting out of $200,000 debt, Dang built the Mstrpln budget planner using the layout she created for herself during her debt-free journey. Since launching, Mstrpln has helped thousands of people set and track their financial goals.

Chris Chung, The Everyday Millennial

Chris Chung is the creator of The Everyday Millennial, a platform that helps millennials master their finances. He aims to bring financial literacy to the forefront and empower millennials to achieve financial freedom. Chris has helped over 175 students get started investing and taking control of their financial futures.

Max Do, Max Miles Points

Max Do is a content creator who teaches his over 400,000 followers and subscribers how to maximize airline miles, hotel points, and credit card points on Instagram, YouTube and TikTok.

Simran Kaur, “Girls That Invest”

Simran Kaur is the creator of a popular investing podcast for women and the author of “Girls That Invest.” She aims to provide access to investing education for women and underrepresented groups. She has been featured in Forbes and Vogue.

Tae Kim, Financial Tortoise

Tae Kim founded Financial Tortoise, a YouTube channel focused on building wealth slowly. After paying off $105,000 in student loans, he found his passion for educating others about money. He is a graduate of UCLA, a former finance director and captain in the Army.

Vivian Tu, Your Rich BFF

Vivian Tu is a former Wall Street trader turned educator, public speaker, host and entrepreneur. She is the founder and CEO of Your Rich BFF, which aims to make personal finance advice accessible and digestible for nonexperts and members of marginalized communities. She’s also the host of the new podcast “Networth and Chill.”

Source: nerdwallet.com

Apache is functioning normally

Every year, I fail to really account for the cost of Christmas. “A few hundred dollars,” I think, for gifts, and then by the first few days of December I’ve bought several pounds of butter, and lots of my favorite seasonal chocolate, and the big size of maple syrup because I’ll be baking and pancake-making a lot this winter. And suddenly I’ve already spent a few hundred dollars, and not a gift among them.

And because my children are children, having grown up in a big extended family of good Christians who are totally O.K. with Santa, (and let me reiterate: a big family, with traditions including fat, stuffed stockings and gift-giving to aunts and uncles and cousins and grandparents, going to public school and occasionally coming across those toy ads in the circulars from department stores like the local Fred Meyer… ) well, they expect something. Like, a big something. They want their Christmas-morning minds blown.

I’ve done this to myself.

This year as in years past I have, utterly without thinking or planning, built up the anticipation against my financial best interests and my professed desire for less consumerism. “Well, maybe you might ask for that for Christmas,” I’ll tell my five-year-old when he asks for a toy in September, while we’re shopping for a new lunch bag. “Why don’t you look at this LEGO catalog and tell me what you want for Christmas,” I’ll tell my oldest when he’s claiming boredom in October. “Christmas is coming and I want to save my money for that,” I’ll tell my middle child when he asks for yet another iTunes game around Thanksgiving.

And then the whole frenzy of Thanksgiving comes. I’m not much of a Black Friday shopper — ok, I have not seen the inside of a mall on Black Friday for as long as I can remember — but I do get caught up in the early holiday Pinterest-ing and the Instagram-ing and the Facebook-ing and the tweeting that starts about that time. Some of my knitting friends begin their annual holiday rush to knit gifts for everyone they know. My photographer friends are putting the final touches on calendars and coasters and everything else you can make with photos. There is a flurry of crafting and craft-desiring like none that will occur again until Valentine’s Day.

I get caught up.

And then come the Christmas tree photos.

Let me stop here and say that I am an enormous fan of Christmas trees. I love the smell of a Douglas fir and I love the look of lights glimmering on a tree and I never want to turn them off for weeks and weeks. But to get a medium-sized tree even here in the middle of this Christmas tree land (I think my uncle even grows them on his farm 20 miles away) is $40, plus the inevitable hot chocolate and sugar cookie that must be purchased during the ritual getting-of-the-tree. Usually, I agonize over the cost and then find it in my budget somehow and commence Christmas thrill.

But this year I feel done. I bike around Portland looking at the lots full of trees, trees everywhere, trees in wagons and bicycles and on Subarus and Volvos and I think how ridiculous it is. (I may get over this soon.) All this growing and fertilizing and trucking trees around, all this buying and decorating and lighting and watering, all this sawing and taking down and composting — for what? Over a billion dollars spent just on trees every year!

One day one of my friends (a person I know in real life, even) said on Twitter that her tradition was to get a different angel ornament every year for her tree. I’m quite certain that my friend, who has excellent taste and is not known for excess, had no idea that her little statement would send me into a tailspin of guilt and frustration. But I didn’t have any such tradition and I’d not even bought a baby’s first Christmas ornament for each of my boys and I thought, “maybe I should start a new tradition like that!” and at almost the same time thought, “I don’t wanna!”

I don’t wanna

I waited a respectable amount of time. And I tweeted something about not having energy for the holiday spirit, about getting myself into a tizzy about what I hadn’t done (no wreath-making party, what?) and then realizing I just wanted to write. Several people from a variety of internet circles chimed in, agreeing, commiserating. And then I kept seeing more and more expressions of exhaustion. One friend in the Midwest said she’d given over the reins of the holiday spirit to her husband. She felt conflicted about “raising little consumers.” Another friend was writing a post for a major food web site on the topic — enough with the cookies already!

I realized I was done spending money on Christmas just to take pictures of my family following a cultural tradition that brought up so many feelings of guilt, insufficiency, and financial stress. I could do this my way, right? Right!

Now, how to convert the kids?

I bought my oldest son’s big present for him around the first of December: a bike trailer, a very heavily-used one from a friend. I’d been meaning to get this for him anyway, because pulling his little brother around behind him is a big thrill. (For all of us!) And his pride and gratitude was a big inspiration for me. I came up with a several-pronged strategy that I hope will turn the holidays lower-key without making them feel cheated:

  1. Give the kids the power. Instead of handing down traditions from on high, I’m going to let them direct me as to which traditions they want to follow. “We could go Christmas shopping for each other at Fred Meyer with this money. Or go to the thrift store. Or go out to Little Big Burger. Or save it for gear for our next family camping trip.”
  2. Make the kids do the work. We’re going to go get a tree and Everett gets to pull it back in his trailer. I have an idea this is going to keep the tree pretty small — and cheap. (And if it doesn’t, I’m sure the bragging rights will be well worth the extra money.) I’ll let him do the setting up and decorating, too. This will hopefully keep me from that insane desire to buy new ornaments (so I too can start one of those traditions! Or go with an all-blue theme this year! Or…) and give them the chance to make ornaments if they like.
  3. Give gifts that are collaborative creative projects. We’re making calendars out of my photos and the kids’ art to give to grandparents and cousins. And my big gift to the boys will be wool traveling cloaks straight out of Harry Potter (also practical; they’ll be very warm while riding bikes). I’ll let them pick the fabric and help me design them, letting me engage all my creative energies with a minimum of time spent shopping.
  4. Only bake together. Those December issues of food magazines are like cocaine for me. (And I don’t need new ones; I have over a decade’s worth of Gourmet and Saveur and Martha Stewart Living.) I have three separate cookie cookbooks and I barely eat sugar any more! I will declare baking days and only make cookies if they’re helping the whole way along. And, sorry, no new cookie cutters!
  5. Cleaning before buying. Want a tree? We have to clean the living room first. Asking for new toys for Christmas? I’d better see room for said toys in your bedroom. It’s kind of working! I’ll take “kind of” right now.
  6. Everything used. I’m not buying any new toys this year. You know what they say about cars, that they lose value when you drive them off the lot? Same with toys. Open the package, zap, 50% of the value (if not more). But my kids don’t give a darn, as long as most of the parts are there. I’ll go thrift-store shopping for LEGOs and buy a couple of new-to-them Wii games at the CD and game exchange, and some used books at Powell’s.

The hardest part of all for me is to hold myself back from the desire to look like everyone else does (but with my own creative twist!). The holidays can be such a way to express the highest version of your cultural self. But really, my cultural self is a writer and a mother. I’ll try to remember that, and to resist the urge to see what everyone else is doing on Instagram, and think, “Oh, I can do that too!”

Source: getrichslowly.org

Apache is functioning normally

If you’ve had endometrial cancer in the past, you’re going to face some unique challenges when shopping for life insurance.

If you’ve fully recovered from your cancer treatments, you may be able to buy a policy at a decent rating.

To help you determine whether you would qualify and at what rating, we’ve put together a complete guide to insurance underwriting for applicants that have had endometrial cancer.

Having the proper life insurance plan can help make losing a loved one a little easier without the added financial stress.

 

Life Insurance Underwriting for Endometrial Cancer

During the application process, they are going to ask you a lot of questions. They are going to review several categories:

  • When were you diagnosed with endometrial cancer?
  • What stage was your cancer in (in situ through stage 4)?
  • How long did your cancer treatment last?
  • What treatments did you receive for your cancer?
  • How long has it been since you’ve recovered from your treatments?
  • Do you have a family history of cancer and have any close family members died of cancer?

This are only some of the basic questions they are going to ask about your cancer. Each insurance company has a different questionnaire. The more information the carrier gets about you, the better your chances of being approved.

Life Insurance Quotes after Endometrial Cancer

After you’ve had endometrial cancer, your life insurance rating will depend on a few factors. First, insurance companies will want to know how far the cancer spread, rated by the cancer stage. If the cancer didn’t spread beyond the uterus, you have a better chance of getting insured than if the cancer spread further.

In addition, the longer you’ve been cancer-free, the better. This shows insurance companies that you haven’t had any new problems or complications. Insurance companies will also review your overall health to make a decision. While each company treats uterine cancer a little differently, here are some general guidelines that you can use to predict your life insurance rating.

  • Preferred Plus: Impossible for someone that has had uterine cancer. The chances of a recurrence or other health problems are just too high for an applicant to receive a discounted policy.
  • Preferred: Also impossible. Insurance companies generally don’t give discounted policies to people that have had cancer.
  • Standard: Should not be expected for applicants that have had uterine cancer. In very rare cases, someone that has fully recovered and only had stage 0 or 1 uterine cancer may receive a standard rating Applicants would need to be in otherwise exceptionally good health and have waited at least four years since treatment.
  • Table Rating (substandard): Most likely rating for applicants that have recovered from stage 0 and stage 1 endometrial cancer. An applicant should wait at least two years after treatment and would likely get a better rating for waiting four or more years. Applicants with stage 2 endometrial cancer (only in the uterus and cervix) may also get a rated policy several years after recovering from treatment.
  • Declines: Applicants that have had stage 3 or 4 uterine cancer. There is just too high risk to qualify for a regular insurance policy. Applicants that had stage 2 uterine cancer and apply within 5 years of treatment are also likely to be denied.

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Life Insurance Case Studies after Endometrial Cancer

Qualifying for life insurance after endometrial cancer is difficult, but you can increase your chances. To help explain this, here are a few cases of previous clients we have worked with.

Case Study #1: Female, 58 y/o, non-smoker, had Stage 0 endometrial Cancer at 53, recovered fully after surgery and radiation therapy, tried applying for insurance right away and was denied.

This applicant caught her uterine cancer early and was able to successfully treat the problem without any issues. She tried to apply for life insurance right at the end of her radiation therapy and was denied, causing her to think she couldn’t qualify for insurance. We helped her complete her application because her first attempt didn’t include enough information on her treatment. By reapplying with our help, she received a substandard level 1 policy, only one level below standard and typically the best rating for someone that had uterine cancer.

Case Study #2: Female, 64 y/o, had Stage 2 endometrial cancer at 57, ended cancer treatment at 58

This applicant had Stage 2 endometrial cancer when she was 57. Luckily, she fully recovered after treatment. She tried applying for insurance at 64, but she couldn’t qualify. Insurance companies are generally wary of taking on applicants that have had Stage 2 uterine cancer. We suggested she go see her doctor for a complete check-up. The doctor verified that she was in great health and that there were no signs of cancer. After she did this, she qualified for a rated policy.

The Bottom Line

Qualifying for life insurance after endometrial cancer isn’t easy, but it is possible. It helps to work with a professional that understands this condition. Has plenty of experience working to get life insurance for people that have had uterine cancer. We can help you fill out your application and give you the best chance of qualifying for a fair rating. If you can’t qualify for regular life insurance, we can also guide you through your other options, like guaranteed issue life insurance.

Even if you’ve had a hard time getting life insurance with cancer in the past, we can show you several different options for life insurance coverage.

One option is a guaranteed issue policy. These plans allow anyone to buy life insurance, regardless of past health complications. All you have to do is give some basic info. These plans don’t provide nearly as much insurance, but some coverage is better than no coverage.

Source: goodfinancialcents.com