Gout impacts over 3 Million adults across the United States. And as you already probably know if you are reading this article gout can cause pain and discomfort on one occasion (called a “flare up”) or on a regular basis which is called chronic gouty arthritis.

Life insurance carriers will want to find out more about your gout diagnosis and treatment, as well as your overall medical history.

If your gout is caused by another chronic health condition or your gout is very severe, then the life insurer may consider you a higher risk applicant.

However, living with gout will not automatically exclude you from securing a cheap life insurance plan.

Make sure that you work with an experienced agent that understands how to find the right insurance company and the right policy for your particular situation.

To get you started down the right path, this article will let you know what you should expect when applying for over 50 life insurance with gout.

What to Expect When Applying for Life Insurance with Gout

Applying for a traditional term or whole life insurance policy means having to disclose all kinds of personal information such as health history and lifestyle choices (i.e. occupation, hobbies, alcohol and tobacco use).

Your gout diagnosis is only part of the equation when it comes to getting affordable life insurance.

Having said that, if you are over 50 and have gout what should you expect when applying for life insurance?

Best Outcome: If you experience acute flare-ups from gout then the insurance carrier will look to see if your gout is being well-managed by exercise, diet, and medication like colchicine or allopurinol.

If your gout is under good control then you should anticipate a “Standard” Rating.

Average Outcome: If you experience frequent inflammatory flare-ups then this indicates uncontrolled gout.

You should probably expect a “Sub-Standard” (aka Table Rating) in the table 2 to 4 range.  This means you would have to pay about 50% to 100% more than the standard rate.

Each level of a Table Rating represents about a 25% premium increase above the Standard Rate.

It is very unlikely for a life insurer to deny you for coverage strictly because of gout.

There usually must be several other high risk factors involved to result in a flat decline.

If you are declined for traditional coverage there are still options available.  to you.

First I’d look at a final expense life insurance policy, and if you could not get approved for there is still guaranteed acceptance life insurance.

Applying for Life Insurance Over 50 with Gout

So what types of application questions do life insurance company use to determine if they can approve you for life insurance.

And if they can approve you how do they determine what rate class they can approve you for?

I put together a list of the most common questions regarding a gout diagnosis. I will go over these questions with you during the application process.

Make sure that you answer all questions truthfully.  Understand that every insurance company looks at you differently based upon your medical history, lifestyle habits, etc…

The more information you share with me the better I can match you to the company that is going to look a your application most favorably.

Basic Application Questions

Let’s start with the easiest questions first that everyone answers when applying for life insurance.

No tips necessary for these questions. You already know what to say!

• What is your age?
• What is your current height and weight?
• What is your occupation?
• Do you have any risky hobbies or activities (i.e. skydiving or rock climbing)?
• Are you married or single?
• Do you use tobacco?

Tobacco users should plan to pay at the very least DOUBLE the premium of a non-smoking peer. However, if you use only certain forms of tobacco you could qualify for non smoker rates.

Gout Application Questions

Now let’s look at the questions specific to gout.

1. How many years since you were first diagnosed with Gout?

Living with gout for a long period of time can sometimes result in long-term adverse effects from the prescribed medications. Like many conditions, the longer you’ve suffered from gout then the high probability of complications.

In fact, some individuals experience life-threatening infections stemming from their gout. This is obviously a concern for the insurance company.

2. Do you take medications for your gout? What types of medications? How long have you taken these prescriptions?

As I mentioned earlier, the longer you’ve been taking a prescription gout medication then the higher your chance of having other health complications.

For example, you may develop hormonal problems or gastric ulcers because of long-term steroid use.

3. When did you last visit with your rheumatologist?

First, the life insurer will want to receive copies of medical records from your rheumatologist. They will take into consideration the doctor’s evaluation.

Regularly visiting your doctor as scheduled is a big plus! This shows your commitment to managing your gout.

Life insurance companies see you as less of a risk, because you are being proactive about your health.

4. In the last 12 months, did you have any laboratory testing completed?

The insurance carrier will want to know your most recent lab test results.

They will be looking specifically at your Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR) or, as it is more commonly known, the “Sed Rate”. As you might know, the ESR shows the amount of inflammation occurring in your body.

The insurance company will also check your blood uric acid results.

5. Have you had any continuous gout symptoms within the last six months?

This is important! Symptoms of swollen tissues and joints, pain, loss of function in an affected area are all signs of a flare-up.

If you are in the middle of a gout flare-up, the insurance carrier may consider giving you a “Sub-Standard” (aka Table Rating).

6. Has your gout ever impacted your ability to do ADLs (activities of daily living)?

This question is pretty basic. The life insurer wants to know if your gout has impeded your ability to bathe, eat, and/or use the toilet.

The insurance carrier may also inquire as to whether your doctor prescribed a rehabilitation program to deal with the ADL challenges your gout causes.

Additional Gout Questions

• Which part of your body is most impacted by gout?
• How many gout flare-ups do you typically have each year?
• Have you ever developed an infection related to your gout?
• Have you ever been hospitalized as a result of your gout?

You May Need To Do a Medical Exam

Besides the many questions you’ll answer and documents you’ll provide, unless you are applying for no exam life insurance you will be required to complete a medical exam too.

The life insurance company will coordinate a qualified medical specialist (usually a nurse) to carry out the exam.

You will provide urine and blood samples. The nurse will also assess your vital signs such as height, weight, blood pressure, and pulse.

The insurance company will include all the results from this medical exam in their review of your application.

Gout and Other Conditions

For some people, gout is a temporary sickness resulting from a diet too high in purine or the use of medications like diuretics (aka water pills).

After receiving the proper treatment and avoiding the cause of their gout, these individuals may be able to avoid ever going through such terrible pain again.

The insurance company is going to consider the probability of your gout being a one-time deal or an ongoing chronic condition.

Triggers for gout are important factors in determining the rate class you’ll be approved for and the rates you’ll have to pay.

So the life insurer will pay close attention to the following:

• Being overweight
• Excess alcohol consumption
• Continuing to take certain medications like aspirin and water pills
• A diet high in fructose (sugar)
• A diet high in red meat, trout, tuna, anchovies, sardines, and other purine-rich foods.
• Hypertension (high blood pressure)
• Insulin resistance
• Diabetes
• Congestive heart failure
• Metabolic syndrome
• Kidney disease

Now that you know all the facts about buying life insurance over 50 with gout, it’s time for the next step.

You are finally ready to buy the peace of mind you and your family need.

Let’s get you insured today!

Time to Get Insured

Gout is called the “disease of kings” and yet it is affecting the general public now more than ever before. Millions of American adults experience the warm, throbbing joint pain associated with gout and gouty arthritis.

The number of Americans experiencing chronic ailments such as obesity, diabetes, and high blood pressure is increasing as well.

So insurance companies will certainly be curious about your gout diagnosis, as well as any other important medical conditions. They all go hand-in-hand and can make you a slightly higher insurance risk.

The good news is that gout itself will not keep you from securing an affordable life insurance plan.

I can help you obtain a high quality life insurance plan at a reasonable price.

Feel free to fill out the form for an instant quote, and/or just give me a call.  Your family will thank you!