impaired risk

A tumor with a very serious prognosis, mesotheliomas are primary neoplasms that arise from either the pleura surrounding the lung or the peritoneum.  Most mesotheliomas are diffuse and malignant, while a minority (less than 25 percent) are localized and benign in activity. It’s important to recognize these growths as they have serious and rapid progressions when diagnosed in many cases.

Thyroid testing has become more sophisticated and much easier to interpret as the state of the art has progressed.  Whereas much of the old testing required a reference test in addition in order to correct for different individual body protein status, newer testing is much more sensitive and spot-on as a single reported value.  Each condition has one or two tests that make the best diagnosis as a primary test and tell the best story for diagnosis and treatment.

The world's biggest life and health insurers may be putting more energy into developing new underwriting strategies for older, sicker people than for younger, healthier people.

Liver diseases can range from mild fatty liver disease to complete decompensation and loss of liver function,  Some are acquired by virus, some due to diet and alcohol use, some secondary from other body illnesses, and some are primary arising directly in the liver and bile ducts.  Two such primary diseases of a very serious nature are primary sclerosing cholangitis and primary biliary cirrhosis.

Generally we think of lymphoma as a blood cancer (like Hodgkins and non-Hodgkins disease)—diagnosable diseases from blood testing and lymph node involvement.  Occasionally, the lymphomas may arise from primary skin disease.

From the initial recognition of HIV virus in 1981, HIV infection has turned from an almost universally fatal infection, to one that could be managed with medication to extend life, to a disease which can be controlled with newer and revolutionary medication therapies.  While many companies continue to see the HIV virus as uninsurable, that corner has also been turned, and life insurance in selected cases of treated HIV infection is now possible.  Even though the conditions that must be met are numerous and the criteria stringent, applicants with HIV now have the possibility of acceptable insurance offers.

Once a disastrous disease with markedly shortened life expectancy, hemophilia is now both a treatable as well as insurable disease in most instances.  It is important to realize that hemophilia not only comes in many types, but also in many degrees of severity.

Most of us are programmed to know what our cholesterol levels are, and doctors are constantly cautioning us to watch our cholesterol or to take medication which helps in lowering our blood level.  High cholesterol in addition to such health conditions as heart disease, diabetes, hypertension and vascular disease pose higher risks in overall health and in underwriting.  How about triglyceride levels however?  They are part of virtually every comprehensive medical panel and enter into underwriting and health risk as well.

Blood pressure readings are part of virtually every physician encounter and of course every paramedical exam for insurance. Hypertension, or high blood pressure, has been well studied as a risk factor in health and disease. The term white coat hypertension, or white coat syndrome, is used to describe individuals whose blood pressure in a clinical setting is significantly higher (or out of normal range) than in normal daytime situations, and believed to be due to transient anxiety during a doctor or medical visit.

Once upon a time, being a standard risk in the underwriting process was the best you could hope for. It meant that your health was at the top of the group of insured lives being considered and eligible for the best rate, and that you would live all the way out to the prediction of the actuarial life tables. Now, life insurers have created a whole tier of preferred and super preferred pricing that makes a standard issue almost seem like a rated policy.