Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) And Over 50 Life Insurance

Buying over 50 life insurance when you have Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is not all that difficult and usually does not result in extra premium costs.

Sure, IBS can be quite a nuisance to your daily life.

Yes, it is true that IBS has no cure.

However, IBS is a functional disorder that will not increase your chances of getting colorectal cancer or any other serious health risks.

Plus, Irritable Bowel Syndrome is quite common. Studies suggest more than 39 Million Americans have IBS.

That’s around 12% of the U.S. population.

All things considered, you can see why life insurance companies are not put off by applicants with IBS.

If insurance carriers aren’t all that worried about covering you, then why should you worry about it?

Look here’s the bottom line… there’s no reason to be overly concerned about finding cheap 50+ life insurance with IBS.

Mostly life insurers are curious about things like the severity of your symptoms, types of prescribed medications, test results and treatments, as well as any other chronic medical conditions you may have.

I’m glad to talk with you one-on-one about your diagnosis and its impact on securing and paying for life insurance.

Or keep reading for more detail as to how the application procedure goes when you are over 50 with Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

Common Life Insurance Results: Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

This is a basic overview of how IBS may impact your life insurance application.

·         Impact on Application: Usually Minor

·         Best Rating: Often Standard (Average Rates), Possibly Preferred (Lowest Rates)

·         Worst Rating: Substandard/Table Rating (minimum of 25% rate up)

·         Main Factors: Severity, Medications, Treatments, Other Health Conditions

Remember, your life insurance rating is based on your entire profile….not just your Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

You’ll be evaluated based on all aspects of your health and lifestyle.

That means your IBS may not impact your rating much but your diabetes or your hobby of skydiving could.

To make things a bit easier to understand, I put together the below examples of common ratings for applicants with IBS.

What Rating Can I Expect with Irritable Bowel Syndrome?

It’s not unusual for my clients to be very confused by how life insurance ratings work.

That’s why I’m here….to make buying life insurance a lot less puzzling!

I put together all this info to help you figure out how ratings are determined and what your rating might be with IBS.

Life insurers tend to follow similar rating guides as the one below. Of course, there can be some variance among carriers.

Pro Tip #1: Substandard (aka “Table”) Ratings generally have up to 16 levels below the “Standard” Rating.

Each of those Tables (levels) will add another 25% in premium above the average cost of a “Standard” rating.

This means if you are assigned a Table Rating of 4 then your price will be 100% higher than the Standard pricing.

Not all life insurers will have 16 Tables and not all will add a 25% up-charge to your premium for each Table Level assigned. There can be some variances among insurance carriers.

Give me a call if you want to find out more specifics about any particular policy or company.

I’ve been doing this a long time so I know the best life insurance companies for people over 50 and how they may rate your application.

Common Ratings for Irritable Bowel Syndrome

The most popular outcome for men and women living with Irritable Bowel Syndrome is a Standard Rating with an average price. However a Preferred Rating is possible.

To secure a Standard Rating or better, you will have to meet the following criteria:

• You have mild IBS symptoms which are usually under good control
• You are able to manage your IBS with diet, exercise, supplements
• You had IBS surgery more than 1 year ago and it was considered successful
• You had a colonoscopy test done within the last 2 years, results were good
• You take over-the-counter medicines or mild prescription medications

Applicants that get a Substandard or Table Rating with higher than average premiums, usually experience the following:

• Your IBS symptoms are considered severe
• Your doctor recommends you have IBS surgery to relieve symptoms or you’ve had surgery within the last 12 months
• You regularly receive corticosteroid treatments, especially if you’ve had them for many years
• You regularly or frequently need to take painkillers or muscle relievers to help alleviate your IBS pain and muscle spasms
• You haven’t had a colonoscopy within the last 24 months or your colonoscopy results were abnormal
• You’ve had an intense IBS flare up within the last 6 months that required an ER visit or hospitalization

From what we’ve seen over the years, there are two main reasons why an applicant with IBS will get the Substandard/Table Rating:

1. The individual does not have good control over their IBS
2. The person has multiple pre-existing conditions, not just IBS

No matter how Irritable Bowel Syndrome has changed your life and health, we will most definitely be able to find you an affordable 50+ life insurance policy.

Don’t sweat it….call our office and get some peace of mind!

Pro Tip #2: Tell the whole truth. The life insurer will always sniff out a lie anyway. Why waste everyone’s time? Make it easy on yourself and be honest.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) Case Studies

Case Study 1

Male, Age 63, Non-Smoker. He was diagnosed with IBS at age 42. Symptoms include constipation and stomach  pain. Our applicant eats a high fiber diet, walks 3 miles each day, and keeps stress levels very low whenever possible. He had a “normal” colonoscopy 18 months ago. Our applicant usually takes ibuprofen and probiotic supplements when he is having an IBS flare up.

This applicant received a Standard Rating and average pricing.

Case Study 2

Male, Age 75, Non-Smoker. Symptoms include both constipation and diarrhea with frequent gas and stomach pain. Our applicant has relied on corticosteroids for the last 10 years, He also takes ibuprofen, fiber supplements, and vicodin (when the pain is really severe). He has no other chronic medical issues.

This applicant received Substandard Table Rating 1 with a 25% premium rate up.

Case Study 3

Female, Age 55, Non-Smoker. She’s had IBS since her teenage years. The symptoms are usually mild and mostly flare up when she’s under a lot of extra stress. The applicant had her last colonoscopy at age 50. It was normal. She mainly takes probiotics to control her bowel issues. The applicant also has Generalized Scleroderma.

This applicant received a Substandard Table Rating of 4 with a 100% premium rate up.

The 15 Life Insurance Questions about IBS

Insurance carriers want to determine one thing….how high of a risk you will be for their company.

To figure all that out, life insurers ask plenty of questions.

To help you prepare for the life insurance application, I put together the most often asked IBS questions.

1. When were you diagnosed with Irritable Bowel Syndrome?
2. What are your IBS symptoms?
3. How often do you suffer from IBS symptoms?
4. When was your last IBS flare up?
5. Do you know what triggers your IBS symptoms? Or what makes them worse?
6. Has your doctor been able to identify an underlying cause such as stress or anxiety?
7. When was the last time you visited your doctor?
8. When was your last colonoscopy? And what were the results?
9. Have you ever had IBS surgery? If yes, did it help alleviate your IBS symptoms?
10. Does your doctor recommend you have IBS surgery?
11. Have you ever been hospitalized or visited the ER because of your IBS?
12. What, if any, prescribed medications do you take for your IBS?  
13. How long have you been taking those prescribed medications?
14. How has lifestyle changes or medications helped (or not helped) your IBS?
15. Has living with IBS caused you to develop depression or anxiety?

The Basic Life Insurance Questions

It probably goes without saying, you’ll be asked basic questions about the following….

• Date of birth
• Height and Weight
• Occupation and Hobbies
• Family health history
• Alcohol and Drug Use
• Complete medical history (including hospital visits & surgeries)
• Other chronic illnesses
• Tobacco Use

Pro Tip #3: Obviously using tobacco increases your chances of developing serious illnesses like cancer and COPD.

For this reason, tobacco users normally receive “smoker rates” which are quite a bit higher than non-smoker rates.

I’m very familiar with all the best “smoker rates” out there so I can connect you to the right life insurance company for your needs. Reach out to me today!

Get Covered Before It’s Too Late

We all think there’s “always tomorrow” and someday we’ll find the time and money to secure life insurance coverage.

What if you wait a little too long? What if you miss your chance to protect your family’s financial future?

Don’t wait until it’s too late. Get covered now.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome isn’t a good enough reason to keep you from submitting a life insurance application.

IBS is a fact-of-life for 1 out of 5 Americans. You aren’t alone when it comes to dealing with this chronic illness.

Life insurers are very familiar with Irritable Bowel Syndrome. In fact, IBS usually has a minimal effect on ratings and pricing.

So why keep putting it off? Why not give me a call and get the application started?

Get started now by completing a 50+ life insurance quote for FREE right here.

Or call me for one-on-one help.

You’ll be glad you did!

I will go over all your coverage options and get your life insurance application submitted right away.