In today’s article, we will be reviewing several frequently asked questions such as, “How is COPD Diagnosed”, “What is the life expectancy for COPD?”, and “Can I get Life Insurance for Final Expenses with COPD”?
If you’re interested in these or any of our other life insurance options, call us at (866) 786-0725 to learn more. Be sure to check our free online quoting tool for personalized pricing estimates.
How is COPD Diagnosed?
According to Healthline.com, “The most effective and common method for diagnosing COPD is spirometry. It’s also known as a pulmonary function test of PFT. This easy, painless test measures lung function and capacity.
To perform this test, you’ll exhale as forcefully as possible into a tube connected to the spirometer, a small machine. “
Sometimes when a condition worsens, you’ll see things known as “COPD with acute exacerbation” or “COPD with exacerbation ICD 10”.
What is the Life Expectancy for COPD?
Your life expectancy if you’ve been diagnosed with COPD varies depending on different factors such as your age, health, tobacco usage, symptoms, and where you fall in the COPD Gold Criteria.
The way doctors assess the severity of your COPD is by using the Global Initiative on Obstructive Lung Disease system.
According to the GOLD criteria, there are four stages of COPD:
1
COPD Stage 1
COPD Stage 1 (GOLD 1) is Mild COPD. This typically means you scored more than or equal to 80% on the forced expiratory volume test.
2
COPD Stage 2
COPD Stage 2 (GOLD 2) is Moderate COPD. This typically means you scored between 50-80% on the forced expiratory volume test.
3
COPD Stage 3
COPD Stage 3 (GOLD 3) is severe COPD. This typically means you scored between 20-50% on the forced expiratory volume test.
4
COPD Stage 4
COPD Stage 4 (GOLD 4) is very severe COPD. This typically means you scored less than a 30% on the forced expiratory volume test.
Can I Get Life Insurance For Final Expenses With COPD?
If you’ve recently been diagnosed with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease COPD and are wondering if having COPD disqualifies you from purchasing life insurance, the answer is no.
Above all, having COPD will determine your rating class, and whether or not you can acquire coverage. When it comes to COPD, each life insurance company has its own set of rules.
However, whether you have mild, moderate, or severe COPD will determine whether you can get reasonable life insurance premiums. Also, whether you’re on oxygen and what kind of treatment or meds you’re on.
The good news is, even with a pre-existing condition like COPD, you can still get a final expense life insurance to cover your funeral expenses. This does pose a risk to insurers since they may have to pay out benefits sooner, but there still is hope.
Cigarette (and cigar) smoking is the leading cause of COPD, according to experts. Tobacco smoking is thought to be responsible for 80 to 90 percent of all cases. The remaining 20% is made up of long-term exposure to industrial air-borne contaminants, according to these specialists.
Each of these exposures can cause inflammation of the linings of the lungs’ airways, as well as a loss of flexibility in the airways.
If you haven’t yet, check out our article on The Best Final Expense Insurance For Smokers.
What Life Insurance Plans Can I Get With COPD?
Even for seniors without a pre-existing condition like COPD, it can be difficult finding a life insurance policy simply due to age.
The good news is, final expense insurance is designed to accommodate older folks that have pre-existing health conditions, with fixed incomes who simply cannot get regular life insurance.
With face amounts from $1,000 all the way up to $50,000, final expense life insurance is a great alternative and the insurance that you need.
What COPD Means
What is COPD? COPD is also known as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease is a condition involving constriction of the airways and difficulty or discomfort breathing.
Because there is no known cure for COPD, the severity of the disease, as well as your overall health, will determine whether or not an insurance company will issue your policy and how much it will cost. Individuals with COPD can often obtain life insurance.
Given that about 15 million Americans have been diagnosed with COPD, and another 12 million may have the condition but have yet to be diagnosed, the disease is well-known among individuals across the country.
How Much Does Final Expense Insurance Cost?
On average, final expense insurance can cost between $40 and $170 per month.
This is going to depend on how severe your COPD is and how it’s managed. As long as your condition is manageable, your monthly premium should be affordable for final expense insurance.
It takes minutes to apply and some of the top insurance carriers don’t even ask you medical questions.
How Long Are the Waiting Period If I Have COPD?
Some life insurance plans have “Graded benefits.” This means that you usually have to wait two years before your plan takes effect. You would continue paying your normal monthly premium however if you pass away before the two years are over, your beneficiary would receive $0.
Luckily, at Final Expense Benefits, we have plans that provide your death benefit the very next day. This means there is no two-year waiting period, even if you have a pre-existing condition, like COPD.
Some plans give you partial benefits. For example, you might have a two-year waiting period however, if you were to pass away during that time, your beneficiary would receive a “Return of premium” which is a refund of what you paid monthly.
Best Insurance Companies For COPD
Plenty of companies that offer life insurance for finals expenses cover seniors with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).
We recommend Aetna (CVS Health) as our go-to carrier for individuals with COPD because you will receive a standard underwriting class which means monthly premiums that never increase and day 1 coverage with no waiting periods.
Final Expense Insurance Quotes
Final expense insurance is a type of life insurance that can help cover the costs of your funeral and other end-of-life expenses. If you’re looking for final expense insurance quotes, there are a few things you need to know.
First, you’ll need to find a life insurance agent who specializes in final expense insurance. Second, you’ll need to provide some basic information about yourself and your health. And third, you’ll need to decide how much coverage you need.
Once you have all of this information, you’ll be able to compare final expense insurance quotes from different life insurance companies. With a little research, you can find the right life insurance policy to help your loved ones cover the costs of your final expenses. Generally, all final expense plans include the same benefits.
- Your rates will never increase
- Your benefits will never decrease
- you don’t have to take a medical exam
- The death benefits is paid in 48 hours
Even though they all offer the same benefits, they all calculate your monthly rate in different ways. A final expense quote is determined by your age, gender, sex, and health conditions. All these are factors that determine the price you receive. If you have pre-existing conditions like COPD, then you will most likely be purchasing a guaranteed life insurance.
Guaranteed life insurance asks you no medical questions. The price is purely based off your age, at the time of application. Regardless if you COPD or Diabetes, your final expense quote will be the same.
Conclusion
Pre-existing conditions can make it seem impossible to find a life insurance to take care of your family.
We are here to say, you still have hope. A final expense life insurance is the absolute best option for you if you have a pre-existing condition, like diabetes.
Call us today at 1 866-311-4338 and let our licensed agent bring you and your family, peace of mind.
