Over the next few months, we will be identifying various factors (called underwriting factors) that may have an impact on your life insurance costs. Last month we discussed how underwriting factors such as high cholesterol or blood pressure and above-average weight can affect your life insurance costs, especially if you have any combination of more than one factor. This month's article will focus on how asthma and other breathing disorders can impact your rates. Check back in future months to see how other underwriting factors can affect your life insurance costs.

Asthma
Asthma, a long-term inflammation of the airways that makes breathing difficult, affects an estimated 17 million people in the U.S. Some of the most common triggers that can bring on an asthma attack are allergens (pollen, dust, hay, animal dander), irritants (tobacco smoke, air pollution), exercise, infections of the respiratory system, and abrupt changes in weather. According to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), each year in the U.S., an average of 500,000 people are hospitalized for asthma, and over 5,000 die from the condition. The NIAID reports that asthma is on the rise, evidenced by a 75% increase during 1980-1994. Besides the obvious risks associated with having asthma, there is also the risk that your life insurance costs may be higher.

While children are much more likely to develop asthma (especially inner-city children due to their larger exposure to irritants), it is possible for adults to get asthma for the first time. Studies show that approximately 2.5 million people over age 65 have been diagnosed with asthma at some point in their lifetime. Treating older asthma victims can be a bit more complicated, as older people are more likely to have other health problems which may prevent them from taking asthma medications. Seniors suffering from asthma should consult with their doctor to see which treatment option is best for them.

With the utilization of prevention techniques and proper treatment, nearly all asthma patients can expect to be symptom free. Which, getting back to life insurance, is good news as far as your costs go. Insurers usually base the price of your life insurance on the severity of your asthma, how you are responding to treatment, and how it affects your daily life. If you have asthma, and it has been more than two years since your condition caused an unscheduled doctor visit or trip to the hospital, and it hasn't caused you to miss work or school, you should see little to no difference in your life insurance rates (you may, in fact, still qualify for preferred rates). However, if your asthma is severe and interrupts your life on a regular basis, you may have to pay more to get life insurance.

Other Breathing Disorders
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) COPD is a condition characterized by a long-term reduction of the flow of air when you exhale and includes two related but unique problems: chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Chronic bronchitis is a condition where increased mucus blocks your lung passages and causes shortness of breath and decreased airflow. This is usually accompanied by frequent coughing (AKA the "smoker's cough"). Emphysema causes your lungs to enlarge, which traps air and makes it difficult to exhale. Both of these components of COPD are usually caused by one factor: smoking. Studies show that anywhere from eighty to ninety percent of COPD cases are caused by smoking. COPD is a very serious disease that can be easily prevented by not smoking, or by quitting smoking as early as possible.

As we discussed earlier, if you have controlled and/or properly treated asthma, you may still be able to qualify for preferred life insurance rates. But if you have COPD, it is unlikely you will qualify for any type of special rates. This does not mean you cannot get life insurance, it just means you may have to pay more for it. COPD is a serious condition that has a high mortality rate; therefore it is a major red flag to insurers.

Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea means that your breathing temporarily stops while you are sleeping. While the pause is always temporary, it can last anywhere from a few seconds to over a minute, and can happen rarely or frequently each night (from either a couple of times to over 500 times in one night). Sleep apnea is much more frequent in men, and it is difficult to diagnose, as most people who have it have no idea that they do. In fact, it is often diagnosed by a spouse or roommate, who hears the victim snoring and/or gasping for breath. Nearly all patients with sleep apnea are snorers (but this does not mean all snorers have sleep apnea).

Like asthma, if sleep apnea is properly treated, you may see no rise in your life insurance costs. However, if it is not treated, any sleep-disordered breathing condition may increase the chances for hypertension, heart attacks and mortality. If this is the case, a life insurance company is taking on a severe risk when they insure someone with sleep apnea, and this will be reflected in the cost of purchasing a life insurance plan.

In Summary
Underwriting factors such as asthma and other breathing disorders - along with high cholesterol, blood pressure and above-average weight - can affect your life insurance costs, especially if you have any combination of more than one factor. Life insurance companies reward good health, and we all know good health is also rewarding in many other ways. Remember, it is always important to shop around before you purchase any life insurance policy. This is especially true for people who have asthma or other conditions that may affect their costs. And since underwriting factors can vary from company to company, make sure to compare quotes and find out which policy is best for you.

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