How well do you sleep at night? You may be in the market for life insurance so you can rest easier, knowing your family has financial protection in place. If you’ve been diagnosed with a sleep-related disorder like sleep apnea, though, it’s important to understand how it could affect your coverage.
Your health is one of the most important factors that life insurance companies consider when determining your eligibility and rates. A chronic condition, like sleep apnea, is something insurers will want to know about when you apply.
If you’re living with sleep apnea, life insurance is still within reach. It won’t automatically prevent you from obtaining life insurance, but it can play a role in the type of coverage you can buy. Here’s what to keep in mind to find a plan that will help you and your family sleep well at night.
Why is sleep apnea a risk factor for getting life insurance?
First, consider what sleep apnea is. This condition restricts or limits your airway while you’re sleeping, which prevents you from breathing normally. As a result, your breathing may start and stop many times during the night.
Though most people don’t wake up every time, they are unable to get a good night’s rest because the brain must wake up just enough to adjust the position of the head to enable breathing to continue. Many people with sleep apnea snore, which is often a telltale symptom of the condition.
According to the American Sleep Apnea Association, an estimated 22 million Americans are living with sleep apnea. Of those, about 80% have moderate or severe obstructive sleep apnea that’s undiagnosed. Beyond the lack of quality sleep, people with more severe forms of sleep apnea can end up with health complications like:
- High blood pressure
- Chronic heart failure
- Atrial fibrillation
- Strokes
- Other cardiovascular problems
- An increased risk of Type 2 diabetes
- Depression
- Increased risk of accidents involving driving or the use of heavy machinery
Sleep apnea is a complicated health condition. While the biggest day-to-day effect may be feeling tired even after hours of rest, life insurance companies are most concerned about the potential complications to your health.
Does sleep apnea disqualify you from life insurance?
In some situations, a diagnosis of this condition can limit your coverage options or increase your rates. Ultimately, your eligibility depends on the life insurance company and your own situation.
Since life insurance companies are insuring your life, they consider any factors that could lead to early death. That’s why they pay careful attention to your health and medical history during the application process. If a health condition makes you more likely to die at a young age, it means increased risk to the insurer.
Life insurance companies consider every applicant on a case-by-case basis, so a sleep apnea diagnosis is just part of the bigger picture. The company will likely look at factors like severity of the condition and treatment options available to you, along with other factors like your overall health, age, height and weight, and occupation and hobbies. In many cases, people with sleep apnea can still find the financial protection they need.
How to get life insurance with sleep apnea
Is sleep apnea as a preexisting condition impacting your ability to buy life insurance? There are several things you can do right now.
Work on Managing Your Condition
Treatment options are available for many people with this condition. The use of a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) could be one treatment option for eliminating or reducing complications from sleep apnea. Oral appliances may be another treatment. If you can show your insurance company you’re actively working to treat your condition, it can increase your chances of finding life insurance with sleep apnea.
Wait and Reapply
If your doctor believes your sleep apnea can improve with treatment, your best bet might be to wait six months and then apply for life insurance again. This does mean you’ll go a little longer without life insurance coverage, which could put your family at risk. However, if treatment may eliminate or significantly reduce your health complications, this can be a better way to get better coverage options or lower premium rates.
Consider a No Medical Exam Policy
If you’ve been turned down for coverage because of sleep apnea or other medical issues, no exam life insurance is often a good way to go. Fidelity Life offers several life insurance policy options for those who want to skip the medical exam or health questions. Speak to a life insurance agent to get more insight into the available options and compare insurance quotes.
Still have questions about life insurance and sleep apnea?
Let the team at Fidelity Life help you. Give us a call at (855) 291-6365 to learn about policy options. You can also request insurance quotes online right now.
At Fidelity Life, our goal is to make life insurance simple, affordable, and understandable for everyday families. This content is intended for educational purposes only. Each post is carefully fact-checked, reviewed, and updated regularly to ensure the information is as relevant as possible.
