medications

Apache is functioning normally

Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information.

As a traveler, I am firmly team carry-on and will very rarely check a bag, while some of my colleagues prefer to always check a bag.

Even if you insist on checking a bag, certain items should always go in your carry-on.

Here are 10 items to never check, according to our TPG travel team.

Identification documents

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This one should go without saying since your identifying documents, such as a passport or valid driver’s license, are among the most important items for a traveler to keep close, especially if you’re traveling abroad.

If you’re traveling domestically and don’t need a passport, all travelers age 18 and older still need a driver’s license or other state photo identification card from their state’s Department of Motor Vehicles (or equivalent) to pass through security at U.S. airports. A full list of Transportation Security Administration-accepted forms of identification is available here.

Once you’ve reached your destination, you’ll likely need to show some form of ID to check into a hotel or rent a car. If traveling abroad, we recommend carrying a picture of your passport with you while keeping your passport (and other valuables) securely locked in your room (in a hotel safe, if available).

Additionally, consider printing your travel itinerary and other important documents in case something happens to your phone or you can’t access Wi-Fi, says Erica Silverstein, TPG senior cruise editor.

Phone and charger

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A phone is among the most helpful tools when traveling, especially if you have a plan that allows you to use your data internationally.

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From navigating and figuring out directions in a new place to visiting cities you’ve visited before, your phone can be a lifeline when traveling. This also means frequently having to charge your phone, which is only possible if you’ve brought the right charger and any converters to be able to use the plugs (if applicable).

Keep all of your electronics and chargers in a carry-on for easy access on the plane, where you can also use the in-seat charging portal. Charging inflight ensures your phone is fully charged before exiting the plane, minimizing the chance of a dead battery en route to your hotel or other accommodations since your room may or may not be available for check-in when you arrive.

This is also helpful if you have a lengthy layover between flights since you can’t guarantee you’ll find access to a charging station at an airport.

As a female traveler who sometimes travels solo, a working phone is crucial. All travelers, solo or not, should pack a portable charger in their carry-on and always bring that with them when they go out and about.

Headphones and electronics

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In addition to your phone, some travel with other Apple products, such as an iPad and Apple Watch, requiring separate chargers. If you’re like me, you’ll never travel without two sets of headphones (one wireless and one not) since wireless ones may run out of battery.

This is also courteous for your fellow passengers since most airlines prohibit flyers from listening to shows or music out loud while also potentially providing you with headphones, depending on the airline and route.

Keep your headphones and AirPods within easy reach at all times.

If you happen to travel with a suitcase with a battery pack for charging, such as those from Away, remember that these must be carried on per TSA rules.

A change of clothes

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Per my earlier comment, the last time I checked a bag, it was a huge mistake. I missed my connecting flight due to inclement weather and my luggage was sent without me to my final destination. That left me spending the night in an airport hotel in Miami with just my backpack and the clothing I had been wearing for almost an entire day.

I’m not alone in this experience.

“I always keep at least one change of clothes for myself and each of my kids in my carry-on, even if I am checking a bag,” said Tarah Chieffi, TPG travel news reporter. “If our checked luggage is delayed or lost, or if inflight accidents occur, we always have a fresh change of clothes.”

This scenario is exactly why it’s important to pack at least one spare outfit in your carry-on item.

She also recommends throwing in a grocery bag or large zip-close bag for dirty clothes in your suitcase. Some suitcases even come with a reusable laundry bag.

You’ll likely appreciate having a fresh change of clothes, especially on long-haul flights and those with long layovers. You might even be able to access an airport lounge or an aircraft with showers, which is even better for freshening up.

Even if your flight is short and direct, it’s still helpful to pack a change of clothes in your carry-on in case your baggage gets delayed.

Reusable water bottle

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Another item we recommend traveling with is a reusable water bottle. Just make sure the bottle is empty before you pass through airport security since most airports limit the number of liquids you can take through security.

Once you head to your gate in the post-security area, you’ll likely find free water refill stations where you can fill up your reusable bottle, including some with filtered water.

During your flight, request water and then pour that water into your bottle so it’s full at all times. Just remember to take your water bottle (along with your other items) off the plane when you disembark. I’ve lost two Hydro Flasks this way.

Also, flying can dehydrate you, especially if you’re drinking alcohol. It’s important to pay attention to your water consumption on travel days and make sure you are getting enough.

Considering how much airport stores charge for water and other items, bringing your own water bottle saves money — and eliminates single-use plastic.

Snacks

Not unlike the water, don’t rely on the airport or inflight snacks since food options when traveling may not be available or open when you need them.

“I always bring snacks, which are especially helpful if your flight is unexpectedly delayed while you’re on the plane with no option to get off,” said Senitra Horbrook, TPG credit cards editor.

Prescriptions and other medications

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If you take medication daily, it’s wise to pack any prescriptions into your carry-on luggage along with any over-the-counter medications you take frequently or might need, such as pain relievers or allergy medicine.

For example, I always bring several days’ worth of Tylenol, Benadryl, vitamins, probiotics, etc., as well as a few extra supplements of my daily medicine in case I end up staying longer than anticipated.

I also pack a few extra pairs of contact lenses. I wear dailies and prefer them over wearing my glasses, though I bring my glasses as a backup. I also bring adhesive bandages, just in case.

Assistance items

For senior travelers or those who require assistance, do not keep any assistive/medical device item, such as a walking stick or handicapped placard, out of reach.

A good rule of thumb — if it’s anything you can’t live without for half a day or more, put it in your carry-on, says Erica.

Hand sanitizer, wipes, paper towels and tissues

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Since the COVID-19 pandemic, many travel with hand sanitizer and sanitary wipes to wipe off seats, tray tables, seat belts, etc., upon boarding.

These items are small and can easily fit in your carry-on item. Just ensure your hand sanitizer does not exceed 12 ounces, which is an allowance specifically for hand sanitizer that the TSA implemented during the pandemic. All other liquids must still meet the 3.4 ounces or 100-milliliter size requirement.

Other items to consider bringing in your carry-on are paper towels and a washcloth in case of spills or other situations where you need to dry your hands.

You might be able to find tissues and band-aids at airports and on planes, though they’re likely not going to be great quality. Tissues are small enough to pack a few in your carry-on in case of unforeseen circumstances, from the sniffles to a paper cut.

Valuables

Beyond your phone and important travel documents such as your passport, keep your most important items close to you while traveling, including jewelry.

These items would fall under the “hard to replace if not irreplaceable” category, depending on how sentimental they are to you.

Bottom line

Once you’ve decided on the items most essential for your carry-on, be sure to decide what carry-on item makes the most sense for them to go in.

For example, if you have two carry-on bags, one smaller one that fits underneath the seat in front of you or one suitable for the overhead bin, think about what items you might need most often throughout the flight and position those in your smaller bag.

For everything else, you can always get up and retrieve items from your larger bag from the overhead bin.

Related reading:

Additional reporting by Ben Smithson.

Source: thepointsguy.com

Apache is functioning normally

For anyone with a health complication, like an irregular heartbeat, finding affordable life insurance coverage can be a painful task, but it doesn’t have to be.  Regardless of your health, you can find affordable insurance coverage.

One of the scariest conditions that an individual can deal with is issues to do with the heart.   As an independent life insurance agent, we work with several clients that have high-risk conditions and heart disease is no exception.

We’ve been able to work with clients that have had heart attacks, bypass surgeries, and in this case irregular heartbeat.

 Before you apply for life insurance coverage, it’s important to understand what the insurance companies will be looking at in regards to this condition.

Here’s what you need to know regarding applying for life insurance with me would be.

In working with applicants that are seeking life insurance that have a previous health issue, we can’t stress enough how important it is to be upfront with the underwriter.

Applying for Life Insurance with Irregular Heartbeat

We have many applicants when applying for life insurance omit certain facts hoping that the insurance company won’t find out about it.

Newsflash: The insurance company will find out about it as they will request your medical records and an APS (known as attending physician statement). If you’ve been treated for any type of heart condition in the past, it will certainly come up, so if you are applying for life insurance and have some sort of heart condition, be ready to spill the beans.

At the end of this post, you’ll see a sample questionnaire that the insuring underwriters will want to know regarding your irregular heartbeat.

In short, be prepared to share the date it was diagnosed, any treatment you’ve had since the date of diagnosis, and also what medications you may take.

They will also want to know how the condition affects you on a day to day basis.

  • Has the condition improved since your original diagnosis or has it worsened?
  • Also, what steps are you doing to take care of that condition?
  • Are you exercising?
  • Are you eating right?

The big fear from insurance companies is that not just the lone heart condition, but also how that might transfer over to other areas.

For example, we had an applicant that had an irregular heartbeat but also had high cholesterol, diabetes, and on top of that was a tobacco user. (Here’s more information regarding life insurance for smokers). The irregular heartbeat on its own would have made the life insurance coverage affordable but by having the other conditions on top of the smoking the life insurance premium ended up being fairly pricey but even so we were able to get him coverage.

Irregular Heartbeat Questionnaire:

  1. Date or frequency of episodes of irregular heartbeat.
  • Date of first episode
  • Recent frequency of episode
  • Date of the most recent episode.
  1. The irregular heartbeat has been diagnosed as-
    1. Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation (or flutter)
    2. Premature supra ventricular (atrial) contractions (TPACs)
    3. Chronic atrial fibrillation (or flutter)
    4. Premature ventricular contractions (PVCs)
    5. Other
  2. Provide dates of any of the following tests or procedures that have been done to evaluate the irregular heartbeat-
  • Resting EKG
  • Stress EKG
  • Thallium Stress EKG
  • Echocardiogram
  • Holter Monitor
  • Chest X-Ray
  • Other
  1. Please check the cause for the irregular heartbeat, if known-
  •  Unknown
  • Heart disease —- type:
  • Thyroid disease
  • Alcohol use
  • Other
  1. Are there any symptoms that accompany episodes of irregular heartbeat?  If yes, check all that apply-
  1. Dizziness or lightheadedness
  2. Blackouts
  3. Chest pain
  4. Palpitations
  5. Other
  6. Do you currently take any medications, yes or no?
  1. If so, please name details.
  2. Name of medication, dates used, quantity taken, frequency taken.
  3. Has a pacemaker been installed to control irregular heartbeat?  If yes, date of installation

These are only a few of the questions in the insurance agent is going to ask you, and your answers will impact if you are accepted or not. They are also going to be used to calculate your monthly premiums. As we mentioned earlier, the insurance company isn’t only concerned with your irregular heartbeat, but your overall health as well.

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Want to improve your chances of being accepted? Start walking! Cardio exercises can improve your health. It will help you lose some of the extra weight that you’ve been packing on for years. Losing weight will not only help you feel better, but will decrease your risk of health problems later in life. Both diet and exercise are going to lower your weight, lower your cholesterol, and lower your blood pressure.

Additionally, if you have an irregular heartbeat, smoking can cause your rates to go through the roof, in drastically increase the chances of you being denied coverage. If you’re looking for the most affordable term life insurance, you’re going to have to kick the cigarettes. When dealing with a heart condition, companies are going to look for anything that could increase the risk of further heart complications, and smoking is one of them.

If you want the lowest monthly premiums available to you, work with an independent agent. Instead of only representing one company, independent agents represent some of the most highly rated companies across the United States.

Don’t let your family be stuck under all of your final expenses. Having quality life insurance is the best decision you can make for your family. Make that decision today.

Not having life insurance is one of the most selfish things you can do for your family members. They are your debts, don’t let them become someone else’s responsibility.

It’s not impossible to get affordable life insurance with an irregular heartbeat. You just have to know how to approach it. 

Source: goodfinancialcents.com

Apache is functioning normally

Six of the highest-selling prescription medications in the United States will be “off-patent” before the end of 2012. The costs associated with those currently pricey meds will drop faster than the Dow on a bad day.

Here’s one example: The generic form of Lipitor might cost as little as $10 per month, compared to the $150 it can cost now. Yowza!

It’s a very big deal even if you have health insurance. The average co-pay for a generic formula in the U.S. is $6, as opposed to $24 for non-generics with “preferred status” and $35 for non-preferred brand. That doesn’t help much if you use a medication not afforded rock-star status by your insurer — or, worse, if you can’t afford insurance.

As welcome as these new generic formulas will be, you needn’t wait around for prices to tumble. There’s more than one way to cut the cost of medications.

Start With the Cheap Stuff

Plenty of generics already exist. Doctors sometimes prescribe the designer drugs out of habit, but maybe 10 days’ worth of penicillin would vanquish that upper-respiratory infection just as well as a pricier antibiotic. Speak up, already: Explain that you’re on a tight budget and in the market for a just-as-good-but-cheaper formula.

Taking maintenance meds? You can pay as little as $4 for a month’s worth of pills at places like Target, Wal-Mart and Safeway. Visit store websites to find which drugs are available, then ask your doctor which ones will work for what ails you.

Note that while generics generally perform as well as the pricier pills, a few of them might not. If your doctor is adamant about your staying with the name-brand stuff, there might be a good reason. Of course, it wouldn’t hurt to seek a second opinion.

Walgreens has a “Prescription Savings Club” whose $35 annual fee gets you and your immediate family discounts on more than 8,000 different meds. Of those, more than 400 generics are available for $12 for a 90-day supply.

Once you’ve gotten a prescription established, either by bringing it in or having your doctor phone/fax it in, you can refill over the phone or online. The store might even offer free shipping. Ask.

And speaking of the Internet: Sites like Drugstore.com sell prescription medications, as do online pharmacies such as Caremark and Medco Health Solutions Inc.

Caution: The National Association of Boards of Pharmacy recently issued a public health alert about fake online pharmacies, noting that 96% did not comply with U.S. pharmacy laws. The organization recommends buying only from verified internet pharmacy practice sites.

Drugs that Are Free

You might not have to pay for meds at all. Once that strep throat is diagnosed, ask if the doc has any drug samples. Pharmaceutical reps drop off boxes of free meds along with those fabulous calendars, pens and tote bags. Your doctor might reserve these drugs for desperately broke patients — but maybe that’s you. It can’t hurt to ask.

Tip: Some drugs, such as prenatal vitamins and certain antibiotics, are free at Top Foods, Meijer and Publix supermarkets.

If you’re living on a very low income, you might qualify for free medications through patient assistance programs offered by most pharmaceutical companies. NeedyMeds and its ilk can help with the cost of drugsGroups such as NeedyMeds, the Partnership for Prescription Assistance, the Chronic Disease Fund and HealthFinder.gov can tell you more.

Several drug companies also joined forces to create the Together Rx Access Program, designed for people under the age of 65 who have no prescription drug coverage. This free, income-based program makes it possible to save 25% to 40% on more than 300 medicines and medical products, and is accepted in most major pharmacies in the United States and Puerto Rico.

Using Less, Buying Big

If the subject is painkillers, you might not need the 20-count dose on the prescription. Ask if you can fill only a few tablets’ worth at a time. Use good judgment on this one, obviously, but I’ve filled pain prescriptions in the past and used only one or two tabs. Infuriating.

You can cut the price of certain meds in half quite literally, by splitting the pills. For example, if you have a 10-mg drug prescription request a 20-mg tablet (the cost is often about the same) and then use a pill splitter to halve the dose. The gadget can be had for as little as $3 on Amazon.com, which means it’ll probably pay for itself the first time you use it.

Caution: Do not cut pills with a paring knife. The dose has to be exact, not almost half. Spring for the pill-splitter now or for an ambulance co-pay later. Your choice.

Again, splitting works only on certain medications.

Or what about bulk discounts? No, you won’t be asking for 50 pounds of Percodan — you’ll be using the power of group buying by getting your meds at Costco or Sam’s Club. You don’t need to be a member to use the pharmacies in those warehouse clubs.

Make ’em Beg

Pharmacies now bid for your business the way travel agencies and insurance companies do. In his new book, Living Large in Lean Times: 250+ Ways to Buy Smarter, Spend Smarter and Save Money, frugal dude Clark Howard suggests a service called BidRx.com. You register and post the drug you need, and independent pharmacies will instantly throw bids at you.

The site is free but you need a referral code to register. The author has his own code, clark, but stresses that he receives zero compensation. BidRx simply set it up after Howard’s mention of the site caused a leap in business.

Brick-and-mortar pharmacies often lure us with gift cards cards for new or transferred prescriptions. Any time you see such offers, clip them out and put them in your wallet. When your spouse gets bronchitis or your daughter breaks her arm during hockey practice, head for the pharmacy with the best signing bonus.

Obviously it’s important to tell the new place about any other meds being taken. One would hope the pharmacist would ask, but maybe s/he won’t. I’ve dropped off ‘scripts and been asked only if I were allergic to any medications, not whether I was on another pill that would clash with the new meds. That’s why some people don’t think it’s safe to hop from pharmacy to pharmacy.

If this makes you uncomfortable, then don’t do it. But back when my health insurance didn’t include discounted drugs, I filled and transferred prescriptions whenever I could get a gift card. It was a nice budget-booster, whether I used the cards for groceries or gewgaws.

Here’s my favorite example. Before a minor health procedure I needed to get two tablets of a tranquilizer (pre-surgery) and an antibiotic (post-procedure). Both were generic and therefore super-cheap, and they earned me a $10 from Target and a $20 gift card from Walgreens. I used part of the Walgreens card for a special offer: Buy four 12-packs of Diet Pepsi for $10 and then get a $10 rebate.

At that time I happened to have coupons for two free 12-packs, which I’d received after calling Pepsi to complain about the tabs snapping off some cans of soda. Thus I wound up paying just $5 for the soft drinks but still getting the $10 rebate.

And in fact, I didn’t even pay the $5. I had the gift card, remember?

Please refer to me by my Latin name, illegitimus frugalis. And yes, I know that diet soda isn’t good for me. But I didn’t care — I was on Valium!

Source: getrichslowly.org

Apache is functioning normally

How much do you need to retire? The usual suggestion provided by financial planners and retirement calculators is 75% to 85% (roughly 80%) of your pre-retirement income. But is that really enough money to retire with security? Does the 80% rule-of-thumb work under all circumstances, or is it merely a rough approximation to simplify the retirement planning process? Let’s examine these issues more closely…

Is 80% Of Pre-Retirement Spending A Realistic Budget?

The basis for the 80% spending rule is that your living expenses are expected to decline once you retire thus your spending should decrease without forcing you to lower your lifestyle. For example, you’ll no longer need to purchase expensive professional clothing and your transportation costs will drop without a daily commute to work. Additionally, your children will probably be grown and out of the house, and you will no longer have to fund your retirement savings. You may even have your home paid in full thus eliminating your mortgage payment and you may be in a lower tax bracket. All these factors indicate your spending should drop during retirement.

Unfortunately, the issue is not as clear as it might appear on the surface. The analysis above assumes certain types of spending will decrease while all other spending remains the same. That is not realistic. For example, many new retirees like to hit the open road and see the world thus increasing their travel budgets. Similarly, it is the rare retiree who does not face rising health care costs.

In short, the 80% rule of thumb is a generalization designed to simplify the retirement planning process at the expense of accuracy. It makes many assumptions about your future that may not be true for you. It is no substitute for making a real budget based on your actual plans for retirement, and it could actually jeopardize your financial security. To make this point clear we will examine five reasons why your expenses may actually increase during retirement instead of decrease…

Longer And More Active Retirements

People are living longer and more active retirement lifestyles than ever before. Increasing longevity has made 60 the new 40. If you plan an early retirement so you can sail around the world or take frequent wine-tasting trips to France and Italy, the cost of those leisure activities and travel can easily offset any decrease in work-related expenses. Alternatively, if you are planning an early retirement it will mean you need more money to support a longer life of leisure. A longer retirement means you can’t spend as much investment principal each month, and a more active retirement means you need more savings and income to support a more expensive lifestyle.

Health Care In Retirement

Health care costs have risen steadily and there is every reason to believe that trend will continue. Additionally, your chances of serious illness or need for expensive medications increases with age. A single medical event can be devastating to your retirement savings if you are not prepared, and if you don’t have long term care insurance then assisted living or nursing home expenses can deplete your retirement savings.

Other Ways Expenses Could Rise

Maybe you haven’t paid off your house, or possibly you took out a home equity loan to remodel. The 80% rule-of-thumb assumes you no longer support dependents, but you may still be paying a child’s college expenses. Alternatively, you might be caring for an aging parent who is living in your home. These expenses certainly won’t go away just because you retire.

Lower Taxes May Be Wrong

The assumption that your taxes will drop during retirement could be totally incorrect. After all, if your retirement income level is similar to pre-retirement income then where will the tax relief come from? In addition, growing budget deficits at all levels of government combined with entitlement program problems indicates a greater likelihood of rising tax rates rather than falling tax rates. In short, the idea that your tax rate will decrease during retirement may turn out to be just the opposite.

Spending Statistics Misrepresent Real Spending

Many research studies have been conducted on the spending patterns of the elderly. One of the more famous studies comes from Ty Bernicke in the Journal of Financial Planning where he cites numbers from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Consumer Expenditure Survey indicating that retirees spend less as they age. A typical 75-year-old spends about half as much as the average 45-to-54-year-old. Overall, spending declines about 25% each decade from age 55 to 75.

This appears to be conclusive evidence that spending does in fact decline with age during retirement; however, there are a couple of major flaws in the research. The first problem results from these figures failing to include long term care costs. You can solve that problem with insurance but there is no solution to the next problem…

Bernicke’s analysis was based on a snapshot in time thus it only compares nominal dollar spending and does not adjust for inflation. In other words, it compares the spending habits of a 75 year old today to the spending habits of a 45 year old on the same day. It does not track a 45 year old over a period of 30 years to determine if their spending decreases with time as the study would imply. Instead, it compares the two different groups at a single point in time.

The problem with this approach is it fails to adjust spending for inflation. A mere 3% inflation will double spending in just 25 years which will more than offset the expected reduction claimed by Bernicke’s research. In fact, it could potentially cause an increase in spending – contrary to what his research would imply.

A More Accurate Approach For Determining How Much Money You Need To Retire

In summary, you would be wise to forget the oversimplified rules of thumb when trying to figure out how much money to retire. Your financial security is at stake and you deserve better. Instead, it is far more prudent to develop a realistic budget for your retirement spending based on your actual retirement plans. You don’t have to make it perfect because nobody can predict the future, but you do want to make it as accurate as you can.

A personal budget for retirement is necessary because your life situation is unique. Only you know the financial situation facing your maturing children and aging parents that might affect your budget. Only you know about your globetrotting plans to travel the world for a decade or two before slowing down. That means you will need to add that expense into your budget for a decade or two before removing it. If you have long term care insurance then add the premiums as an expense into your budget, and if you don’t then build a cushion into your savings for self-insurance. In short, develop a plan for retirement and then develop a budget to reflect your plan.

When you complete the budgeting process you may be happily surprised to learn you only need 60% of pre-retirement income making you better off than expected – or your dreams could require 140% of pre-retirement income causing a challenge. This is key to your financial security because the difference between these two numbers can either break the back of your retirement savings or make a meager nest egg look plentiful. Because the range of outcomes is so wide and the stakes are so high, the only realistic solution is to replace the rule of thumb with a carefully developed retirement budget based on your unique needs to figure out how much you really need for retirement.

It is the only prudent thing to do.

About The Author

Todd R. Tresidder is a financial coach who blogs about retirement planning, wealth building and investment strategy. He wrote the book How Much Money Do I Need To Retire teaching you how to overcome the hidden problems behind retirement calculators that threaten your financial security.

Source: goodfinancialcents.com

Apache is functioning normally

When applying for life insurance, a variety of factors affect your eligibility for insurance. These factors include your lifestyle, health, and mental health. The goal is to estimate your mortality rate and your lifestyle, health, and pre-existing conditions that greatly affect this. That is why people who have pre-existing conditions are less likely to be approved for life insurance because their mortality rate will be higher because of the condition, especially if the condition is serious.

Those individuals who have a disease known as Lupus will have an especially difficult time getting life insurance. The majority of life insurance companies will not insure people who have Lupus. However, there is hope in the few life insurance companies that are willing to work with sufferers of Lupus. If you’ve been told that you don’t qualify for cheap life insurance because of your Lupus, don’t believe it. There are several options to give your family the protection that they deserve.

Symptoms of Lupus

Lupus is an inflammatory disease that occurs when the body begins to attack its own organs. It can affect the lungs, heart, skin, kidneys, and joints. In many cases of Lupus, a butterfly-shaped scar will appear on the affected person’s face. It is hard to diagnose because many of the symptoms are similar to those of other ailments. Lupus most commonly occurs in women. There is no cure for Lupus, but many treatments are available to help those with the disease live normal lives. The symptoms tend to come and go in what are called “flares.” The cause for Lupus is unknown. Previously, there were many fatalities due to the disease, but with advances in treatment for the disease, fatalities have now become a rarity. However, given the unpredictable nature of the disease, most insurance companies are hesitant to insure those who have it.

Life Insurance Approval with Lupus

There are four different types of Lupus. Those who have a less severe type will have a better chance at being able to get life insurance. However, people with Lupus can purchase life insurance policies with lower benefits. There are many top U.S. life insurance companies that will offer life insurance for people with Lupus. Since the death rate for people with Lupus is fairly low, these companies are willing to provide policies to people who have the disease. In order to get an adequate life insurance policy, people with Lupus will have to find those companies who are knowledgeable of Lupus statistics. Here are some ratings you can expect to see when purchasing life insurance with Lupus.

Life Insurance with Systemic Lupus

With Systemic Lupus, a lot will depend on the age of onset of the disease.

  • Age 20 or under when onset occurs – DECLINE

If You are 20 and over, a lot will depend on how long ago you were diagnosed.

  • Diagnosed in the past 12 months – Postpone
  • Diagnosis 1-3 years ago – around Table 8 is the best rating you will see
  • Diagnosis 3-4 years ago – around Table 6
  • Diagnosis 4-5 years ago – around Table 4
  • Diagnosis 5+ years ago – possible Standard to Table 2 Rating

Some additional information that will determine your rating.

  • If you are over 60 when onset of Lupus occurs, subtract 2 Table ratings
  • If you are treated with higher doses of steroids, add 2 Table ratings
  • If you are on disability because of the disease, it will be a DECLINE
  • If certain organs are affected such as lungs, kidneys, or there is cardiovascular or CNS involvement, it will also be a DECLINE

Life Insurance with Discoid Lupus

The best rating you could receive with Discoid Lupus is Standard Plus – Standard. This is only the case if no oral steroids are taken and you have favorable lab results. If the diagnosis of Discoid Lupus is recent, you can expect Table 2 to be the best rating you will see.

With Discoid Lupus you can also see different ratings depending on how it is treated.

  • Low dose of oral steroids ( less than 15mg per day), add 1 table rating
  • High dose of  oral steroids( 15mg or more per day), will be a DECLINE

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Factors to Consider

During the application, the agent is going to look at just about every single aspect of your life, and your health is one of the most important. Lupus is only one of the factors. Sure, it makes you a high-risk applicant, but there are several ways you can lower your risk.

You have lupus, which is a red flag on your application, to get started, improve the rest of your health. Do the basic things, eat healthily and be active. These simple lifestyle habits can help you get approved.

Additionally, if you want to improve your chances of getting the best coverage possible, you’ll need to kick any bad habits like smoking. Smokers pay twice as much as non-smokers for their life insurance protection. Couples with any pre-existing conditions, like Lupus, you’re looking at premiums at could break your bank.

When to Apply

It is better to apply for insurance when the Lupus has been in remission for at least six months.  If you regularly take your medications and take the steps to control your disease you will also have a better chance. However, it is important to be truthful when applying for insurance. Do not exaggerate how long your Lupus has been in remission or about the severity of your disease. While it may be a little more difficult, it is very possible to get insurance if you have Lupus. You just have to investigate the right insurance companies to find the right policy.

Because there are so many different companies to choose from, you could spend weeks and weeks calling different companies to find the best one for you. Each company has different standards on lupus patients. We know which ones are the best.

You probably know an agent or have worked with an agent in the past, but those are traditional agents. We are different. We’re independent agents, meaning we can give you quotes from more than a single company. We can deliver your rates from over 50.

Source: goodfinancialcents.com

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Being diagnosed with prostate cancer can make getting life insurance seem like an impossible task.

However, depending upon your specific situation, it is still possible to find good quality coverage with a highly rated insurer.

American Cancer Society studies have shown that prostate cancer is the second most common type of cancer that affects American men today – and it is estimated that approximately one in six men will become diagnosed with this condition at some time during their life.

The good news is that as medical treatment becomes more advanced, and the survival rates continue to improve, the best life insurance companies will typically update their underwriting guidelines, making it at least somewhat easier for applicants to qualify for coverage.

If you are in remission and/or your cancer is being successfully treated, a life insurance company may accept you for a policy with an additional premium surcharge – a flat extra amount of premium cost.

However, after a certain period of time has passed – especially if you have become cancer free – this surcharge will be removed. And, in certain instances, under ideal circumstances, you may even be able to qualify for a “standard” premium rating on your policy.

Many would think that having been diagnosed with prostate cancer would make it nearly impossible to get approved for term life insurance coverage.

In case that’s what you believe, let me be the first one to tell you that is a myth.  Men that have been treated and/or diagnosed can, in fact, get approved for a life insurance policy.

Recently, I encountered a 70 year old male who had been diagnosed with prostate cancer approximately 4 years ago. 6 months later he had a prostatectomy to have the cancer removed. Since then he has had no metastasis and everything seems to be in the clear.

He was looking to obtain a 15 year, $150,000 term life policy. It was time to do my homework.

What the Life Insurance Underwriters Will Need to Know

When moving through the life insurance application and approval process, the insurance company’s underwriters may request specific information in addition to that which is already included on the initial application. This may include reports from your doctor, blood and/or urine testing, or even a third party medical examination.

Likewise, should you be approved, there are several factors that are likely to affect the amount of premium that you will be charged. These criteria include:

  • The stage and the extent of the cancer’s progression
  • Your age at the time of diagnosis
  • The type of treatment that you are currently receiving (if any)
  • When treatment was completed (if applicable)
  • Results of any follow-up medical testing

It is important to keep in mind that the less the underwriters know about your situation, the more likely they are to assume that you are a high risk case – substantially increasing your chances of being denied for coverage.

Therefore, in addition to following your doctor’s treatment plan, be sure that you are ready with any and all additional information that the insurance company requests. This will give the underwriters a much more complete picture of your health history, as well as your prognosis going forward. In addition, having this information up front can also help in reducing underwriting delays during the overall application process.

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Increasing Your Chance of Getting Approved

In order to increase your chance of approval for coverage, there are several steps that you can take. First, it is a good idea to consider working with a life insurance agent who has experience in locating coverage for those who are cancer survivors.

Oftentimes, agents will specialize in working with clients who have health conditions that may make it more tricky to qualify for a policy. These representatives will typically know which insurance companies are more apt to provide the best rates for their clients’ particular circumstances.

Life Insurance with Prostate Cancer Questionnaire

If you are interested in purchasing life insurance and have been diagnosed with prostate cancer, it’s important to uncover all the circumstances behind it. Below is a sample questionnaire that you’ll need to answer to make sure we get you with the best life insurance company.

1. a. Please provide diagnosis. b. Please provide date of last treatment.

2. What was the stage of the cancer diagnosed? This information should be contained in the pathology report.

A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, C2, D1, D2, Recurrent.

3. What was the prostate cancer’s Gleason score? What was the prostate cancer’s grade?

4. a. What was the PSA prior to treatment? b. What was the latest PSA?

5. How has the prostate cancer been treated?

  • Observation only.
  • Radiation therapy.
  • Transurethral prostatectomy.
  • Hormone therapy.
  • Radical prostatectomy.
  • Castration.
  • Biological therapy.
  • Castration (chemical)

6. Has the proposed insured taken any medications to treat the cancer in the past and/or is he or she currently taking any medications?

  • Name of medication(s), prescription(s) or otherwise.
  • Dates they were taken or prescribed.
  • Quantity, including dosage, taken.
  • Frequency taken, by day.

7. Has there been any evidence of any recurrence: yes or no?

8. Does the proposed insured have any medical conditions? If yes, please describe.

The insurance company is going to look at all of these factors to determine how much of a risk you are to insure. The higher risk you are, the lower your chances of being accepted, as well as the more you’ll pay for coverage if you are accepted. There are also dozens of other aspects that are going to impact your chances of being accepted for life insurance.

Bottom Line

Prostate cancer can keep a lot of people from getting the coverage that they deserve. Everyone deserves to have quality life insurance, and our agents can help you get it. Your health shouldn’t stop you from getting insurance protection that can give your family the resources they need if you were to pass away.

Aside from getting a quality plan, you’ll need to ensure that you get enough coverage for your family members. Not having enough coverage can be just as detrimental as not having a policy at all.

Source: goodfinancialcents.com

Apache is functioning normally

There are dozens of different factors that could impact your life insurance plan.  If you are suffering from Crohn’s Disease, you may think your medical condition will prevent you from ever getting life insurance.

This simply isn’t true.

There are plenty of affordable options to get you the life insurance protection that your family deserves.  While Crohn’s Disease is a serious medical condition, just having this disease isn’t enough to disqualify you from getting approved for life insurance.

The cheapest life insurance rates and coverage for you depends on the severity of your disease and your personal situation.  In this article, we will look at the life insurance underwriting guidelines for people with Crohn’s Disease so you know your insurance options.

 

Life Insurance Underwriting With Crohn’s Disease

As you begin your life insurance application, every carrier’s questionnaire will likely have the same types of questions, with slight variances. They’ll be something to the tune of:

  • When were you diagnosed?
  • When did you last show symptoms of Crohn’s Disease?
  • How many episodes have you had over the past 6 months, 5 years, and in total?
  • Have you ever had to go to the hospital because of your condition?
  • Are you taking any medications for your condition?
  • Has surgery even been recommended and have you ever had surgery?
  • Was your condition ever bad enough to qualify you for disability?

Common medications include for Crohn’s Disease include:  Sulfasalazine, Mesalamine, Azathioprine, Purinethol, Infliximab, and Adalimumab.  Thought it does depend on other factors, none of these should be an immediate declination.

You’ll want to disclose any and all medications to your agent or underwriter as soon as you can, especially on the application itself. If an insurance underwriter doesn’t have a complete picture of your condition, your chances of a rated policy or a rejection go way up.

Your Crohn’s disease information isn’t going to be the only factor that the life insurance company looks at when deciding to insure you or not. Additionally, they are going to want a full overview of your health. This will include your heart rate, blood pressure, weight, and much more. After the application process, expect to provide blood and urine samples by way of an exam before any further underwriting can be completed.

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Life Insurance Quotes With Crohn’s Disease

While Crohn’s Disease is a chronic condition, it is usually not fatal. This is why applicants with this disease can typically qualify for life insurance. It’s only when the disease is severe enough to cause frequent diarrhea, weight loss, and inflammation of the kidneys and livers that applicants run into high risk life insurance problems as these issues can lead to other serious health risks.

Your life insurance quote depends on your answers to the questions above as well as your insurer’s underwriting guidelines.

  • Preferred Plus:  Applicants with Crohn’s Disease almost never qualify for Preferred Plus, the best possible rating. The chances of future complications are just too high.
  • Preferred:  Possible in rare cases. Crohn’s Disease symptoms must have been in remission for at least 36 months and never have been serious enough to cause hospitalization. A perfect health record otherwise will also be required.
  • Standard:  Best possible rating for most applicants. Symptoms are in remission for at least 36 months. No hospitalizations and only mild symptoms during past flare-ups.
  • Table Rating (substandard):  Most applicants. Your rating will depend on the severity of your symptoms, the age you were diagnosed, whether you went to the hospital and/or needed surgery, and whether your condition is ongoing or in remission.
  • Declines: If there are signs of dysplasia on any biopsies or sclerosing cholangitis.  Recent hospitalizations can also lead to a decline.

Just to be clear, your rating directly impacts your premiums, or the amount you pay. The better rating that you get, the less risk you are to insure, and the less that you’ll pay every month for your insurance protection.

Crohn’s Disease Life Insurance Case Studies

To get approved for life insurance with Crohn’s Disease, you need to be up front and honest on your application.

Here are a couple case studies that highlight the benefits of a proper application.

Case Study: Male, 32 y/o, non-smoker, single flare-up. Short period of steroid use for symptoms. In remission for 4 years.  No health issues.

This client was only able to receive Standard rates or worse with his previous applications. We suggested he submit a letter describing his healthy lifestyle, solid work history, and otherwise perfect medical records. We also told him to make sure he listed the steroid use on his application, something he neglected on past applications. With this more clear application, he was able to obtain a Preferred rating on his policy and get a rate discount. This is not typical but can definitely happen.

Case Study #2:  Female, 42 y/o, non-smoker, ongoing symptoms of diarrhea and mild bleeding, hospitalized 4 years ago for symptoms.

With fairly severe symptoms, this applicant had trouble receiving anything better than a rated policy. However, her condition had improved significantly since her hospitalization because she started taking better care of her symptoms. We set her up with a company that specialized in applicants with Crohn’s Disease and better understood her condition. We also recommended she ask her doctor for an explanation of her history and improvement. This helped her upgrade to a more affordable Standard rating.

Bottom Line

When you have Crohn’s Disease, the right application and insurance company make a big difference for your rating. Working with a broker that understands this condition will make sure you handle this process correctly.

Source: goodfinancialcents.com

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While everyone understands the importance of life insurance, very few people follow through and actually purchase a plan. Nobody wants to think about his or her own death, but not planning for it is an awful mistake.

It can be daunting to obtain life insurance after you have had a major illness.

High deductibles and even higher premiums can make getting decent insurance seems almost impossible.

However, breast cancer survivors are becoming more and more insurable thanks to medical advancements and a stronger prognosis and survival rate.

It is not likely that you will be able to obtain an insurance policy if you are currently being treated for cancer or undergoing chemotherapy or radiation, or if you have been diagnosed with advanced stage breast cancer.

However, if you have been diagnosed with stage one breast cancer, the outlook on obtaining life insurance with cancer is much better.

For more advanced cancer, say, stage 2 or above, some life insurance companies may require that you have been in remission for at least 3 years. At the very minimum, they may require that three years have passed since your last treatment without signs of advancement.

New Research on Breast Cancer Favorable for Life Insurance Applicants

However, new research has shown that many breast cancer survivors can have a mortality rate that very closely matches the general population. In other words, being a breast cancer survivor does not mean that your life expectancy is shorter than someone who has not been diagnosed and treated for breast cancer, provided you seek proper treatment.

This does not mean that if you have been diagnosed with breast cancer you have to wait years to get the cheap term life insurance or should expect massive premium increases, though. More and more often, early detection and treatment are the keys to survival, and since awareness has increased, screenings are more common, and treatments have improved, it is completely possible to have a very good prognosis as a breast cancer survivor, allowing you to obtain life insurance, or even switch companies if your companies rates begin to skyrocket.

Declined for Life Insurance?  Don’t Get Discouraged

Don’t be discouraged if you get turned down initially. Some companies shy away from insuring “high risk” clients, including those with medical diagnosis such as cancer, but also those with high-risk jobs (offshore workers) or poor family history (generations of heart disease).

This does not mean, though, that you as a breast cancer survivor are necessarily high risk to insure, and many companies are starting to recognize that.

Some companies are better for high-risk applicants. These high-risk companies have tons of experiencing working with breast cancer applicants and can give you a quality and affordable life insurance policy.

Client Case Study

We had a female client that was looking for burial expense and to pay off her mortgage.  She was initially diagnosed with Stage I breast cancer in 1986 and then had a mastectomy.   In 1993 she had radiation and oral chemo therapy for 5 years.   According to her doctor, she’s currently Stage 0.  She gets regular mammograms and even more importantly has no family history of breast cancer.

Note:  For a female applying for life insurance that doesn’t have breast cancer, she can still be rated if her mother was diagnosed with it.  Even more so if it was a young age.

In this women’s case, our underwriter felt comfortable rating her at Standard (possibly Standard Plus) since the occurrence was well over 10 years ago.

Many of the top term life insurance companies are now changing their underwriting guidelines so that even clients with a history of breast cancer diagnosis and treatment can obtain a more favorable rating. A more favorable rating means less of a wait to obtain insurance, as well as lowered premiums and deductibles.

Since the prognosis for breast cancer survivors has improved so greatly, and, as mentioned earlier, the mortality rate is comparable between breast cancer survivors and the general population, life insurance is completely attainable if you find a company that understands this prognosis.

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Life Insurance Breast Cancer Questionnaire

1.      Date of diagnosis, date of last treatment.
2.      Exact name of the type of breast cancer that has been diagnosed.
3.      What is the stage of the cancer?

  • Stage 0, Ductile carcinoma-in-situ
  • Stage 0, Lobular carcinoma-in-situ
  • Stage 0, Paget’s disease of nipple
  • Stage I
  • Stage II
  • Stage IIIA
  • Stage IIIB
  • Stage IV

4.      Was the cancer graded?  If so, what grade was assigned?

  • Grade I
  • Grade II
  • Grade III
  • Grade IV.

5.      How has the cancer been treated?  Please check all that apply.

  • Excisional biopsy (limited excision)
  • Lumpectomy (wide excision)
  • Partial Mastectomy
  • Modified Radical Mastectomy
  • Radical Mastectomy
  • Radiation Therapy
  • Chemotherapy
  • Hormone Therapy
  • Bone Marrow Transplant

6.      Does the proposed insured take any medications at this time, yes or no?  If yes, please name the medication, dates used, quantity taken, and frequency taken.
7.      Has there been any evidence of recurrence?  If yes, please share details.
8.      Has there ever been any kind of other cancer diagnosed for the proposed insured?
9.      Does proposed insured have any other medical conditions?

Each of these questions will impact your chances of getting life insurance for high risk people and how much you will pay for your coverage.

There are a lot of different factors that the insurance agent will review when you’re applying for life insurance. Your breast cancer diagnosis is a major part of it, but it’s not the only factor that they are going to look at. Just like with every other applicant, they are going to want an overall picture of your health. This is why they require a medical exam.

During the exam, they want to know your blood pressure, weight, and heart rate. Additionally, they will take a blood sample and urine sample. All of these are going to be used to determine how good or poor your health is. The better the results form the medical exam, the higher your chances of getting cheaper coverage.

There are several different things that you can do to improve your chances of getting life insurance and getting a more affordable life insurance policy. While there are some things that you can’t change, like your family history or if you are 50 and looking for life insurance coverage, there are some aspects that you can improve, which increases your chances of getting lower insurance rates.

If you want cheaper coverage, you have to do some shopping around. Each company has different views on applicants with a history of breast cancer. Some companies have much better standards, and you need to shop with one of those companies.

There are 6,000 carriers. Most are going to automatically decline you because of breast cancer. You could spend several days sifting through the companies. Or you can work with an independent agent to take that work off your plate.

Source: goodfinancialcents.com

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