What is Marfan syndrome?
Marfan syndrome is a genetic disorder that affects connective tissue, which is the material that holds your body together and supports your organs, bones, blood vessels, and eyes. People diagnosed with Marfan syndrome have a defect in a gene called FBN1, which makes a protein called fibrillin. Fibrillin helps give strength and elasticity to the connective tissue. When fibrillin is abnormal, it can cause problems in different parts of the body.
Marfan syndrome can affect people differently, depending on how severe their mutation is and which parts of their body are involved. Some common signs and symptoms of Marfan syndrome include:
- Being tall and thin with long arms, legs, fingers, and toes
- Having flexible joints and an abnormally curved spine
- Having a chest that sticks out or sinks in
- Having a high-arched palate and crowded teeth
- Having heart murmurs or problems with the valves or walls of the heart
- Having an enlarged or weakened aorta (the main artery that carries blood from the heart to the rest of the body)
- Having extreme nearsightedness or other eye problems such as dislocated lenses or glaucoma
- Having lung problems such as asthma or emphysema
Marfan syndrome is inherited from one parent who has the disorder. Each child of an affected parent has a 50% chance of inheriting the defective gene. Sometimes, Marfan syndrome can occur as a new mutation in someone who has no family history of it. There is no cure for Marfan syndrome, but there are treatments that can help manage its complications and improve quality of life.
People with Marfan syndrome need regular check-ups with doctors who specialize in different aspects of their condition, such as cardiology, ophthalmology, orthopedics, genetics, and pediatrics. They may also need medications to lower their blood pressure and prevent damage to their heart and aorta. In some cases, surgery may be needed to repair or replace a faulty heart valve or aneurysm.
People with Marfan syndrome should avoid strenuous exercise and contact sports that could put stress on their heart and blood vessels. They should also wear glasses or contact lenses to correct their vision and protect their eyes from injury. They should also follow a healthy diet and lifestyle to prevent obesity, diabetes, high cholesterol, smoking, alcohol abuse, etc.
Marfan Syndrome Life Insurance
If you have Marfan syndrome, you may face some potential risks and challenges that make life insurance even more important for you and your family. Some of these are:
- Increased risk of sudden death due to aortic aneurysm rupture or dissection.
- Reduced life expectancy due to heart or blood vessel complications.
- Need for regular monitoring and treatment by specialists such as cardiologists, ophthalmologists, orthopedists, etc.
- Reduced quality of life due to physical limitations or chronic pain
- Higher medical expenses due to surgeries, medications of therapies.
Types of Life Insurance Available for People with Marfan Syndrome
1) Traditional life insurance.
Traditional life insurance is a type of policy that pays out a lump sum to your beneficiaries if you die during the term of the policy. This type of policy usually requires a medical exam and underwriting to assess your health condition and risk level. Most traditional life insurance companies will consider people with Marfan syndrome ineligible for coverage because of their high risk of cardiovascular complications.
However, there may be some exceptions depending on your individual circumstances and the severity of your condition. Some factors that can affect your eligibility and rates for traditional life insurance include:
- When you were diagnosed with Marfan syndrome
- What symptoms do you have
- What treatments you are receiving
- What complications you have had or may have in the future
- Your family history of Marfan syndrome or related conditions
If you are able to qualify for traditional life insurance with Marfan syndrome, you will likely pay higher premiums than someone without this condition. You may also have some exclusions or limitations on your policy, such as reduced coverage amount or shorter term length.
2) Guaranteed life insurance.
Guaranteed life insurance is a type of policy that does not require any medical questions or exams, and accepts anyone who applies. This type of policy usually has lower coverage amounts and higher premiums than traditional policies. The main advantage of guaranteed life insurance is that it can provide some financial protection for people who cannot qualify for other types of policies due to their health condition.
However, guaranteed life insurance also has some drawbacks and limitations. For example:
- Guaranteed policies usually do not cover any pre-existing conditions such as Marfan syndrome or anything related to it.
- They have a waiting period before they pay out full benefits. This means that if you die within the first few years after buying the policy, your beneficiaries may only receive a partial or no payout.
- have lower coverage amounts than traditional policies. This means that they may not provide enough financial security for your loved ones in case of your death.
3) Accidental death insurance.
4) Critical illness cover.
How to get Marfan Syndrome Life insurance?
Many of you might get difficulty finding the best coverage for you or your loved ones. Quantalifeinsurance well researches and compares the available policies available in USA and UK. here are some ways how to get life insurance with Marfan syndrome.
1) Work with a specialist agent or broker.
One of the best ways to find life insurance with Marfan syndrome is to work with an agent or broker who specializes in high-risk cases and has experience with this condition. They can help you compare different policies and providers, and advise you on the best option for your situation. They can also help you prepare your application and medical records, and negotiate with underwriters on your behalf.
2) Be prepared for additional underwriting.
Most life insurance companies will require additional underwriting for people with Marfan syndrome. This means that they will ask you more questions about your condition, such as when you were diagnosed, what symptoms you have, what treatments you are receiving, what complications you have had or may have in the future, etc. They will also likely request your medical records from your doctor or specialist to verify your information and assess your risk level.
3) Consider guaranteed or accidental death policies.
If you are unable to qualify for traditional life insurance policies due to your Marfan syndrome, you may still be able to get guaranteed or accidental death policies. These are types of policies that do not require any medical questions or exams, and accept anyone who applies. However, they also have some limitations and exclusions. For example, guaranteed policies usually do not cover any pre-existing conditions such as Marfan syndrome or anything related to it. Accidental death policies only pay out if you die as a result of an accident that is not related to your condition. These policies may also have lower coverage amounts and higher premiums than regular policies.
4) Shop around and compare quotes.
As with any type of insurance product, it is important to shop around and compare quotes from different providers before choosing a policy. Different companies may have different criteria and rates for people with Marfan syndrome, depending on their underwriting guidelines and risk appetite. You may be able to find a better deal by comparing multiple options and choosing the one that offers the best value for your needs.
5) Review your policy regularly.
Once you have secured a life insurance policy with Marfan syndrome, it is advisable to review it regularly and update it if necessary. Your health condition may change over time due to new treatments, complications, or improvements. You may also experience changes in your personal or financial situation that affect your coverage needs. By reviewing your policy periodically, you can make sure that it still meets your requirements and expectations.
6) Ask questions and seek expert advice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I qualify for life insurance if I have been diagnosed with Marfan syndrome?
A: It depends on your individual circumstances and the severity of your condition. Most traditional life insurance companies will consider people with Marfan syndrome ineligible for coverage because of their high risk of cardiovascular complications. However, there may be some exceptions depending on factors such as when you were diagnosed, what symptoms you have, what treatments you are receiving, what complications you have had or may have in the future, and your family history of Marfan syndrome or related conditions. You may also be able to qualify for other types of policies such as guaranteed life insurance, accidental death insurance, or critical illness coverage.
Q: Why do life insurance companies care if I have been diagnosed with Marfan syndrome?
A: Life insurance companies care if you have been diagnosed with Marfan syndrome because it is a genetic condition that affects the connective tissues of the body and can cause various complications such as heart problems, eye problems, blood vessel problems, and skeletal problems. These complications can increase your risk of premature death or disability and make you a higher-risk customer for the life insurance company.
Q: What kind of information will the life insurance companies ask me or be interested in?
Life insurance companies will ask you or be interested in information such as:
- When you were diagnosed with Marfan syndrome
- What symptoms do you have
- What treatments you are receiving
- What complications you have had or may have in the future
- Your family history of Marfan syndrome or related conditions
- Your height, weight, and blood pressure
- Your lifestyle habits such as smoking, drinking, and exercise
- Your occupation and hobbies
Q: What rate (or price) can I qualify for?
The rate (or price) that you can qualify for depends on several factors such as:
- The type of policy that you choose (e.g. traditional life insurance, guaranteed life insurance, accidental death insurance, or critical illness cover)
- The amount of coverage that you need
- The term length that you want
- Your age and gender
- Your health condition and risk level
Generally speaking, the higher your risk level is due to your Marfan syndrome diagnosis or other factors, the higher your premiums will be. You may also have some exclusions or limitations on your policy, such as reduced coverage amount or shorter term length.
They may also request a medical report from your GP or specialist to verify your information and assess your risk level.
Q: How do I apply for life insurance with Marfan syndrome?
A: The best way to apply for life insurance with Marfan syndrome is to consult an expert life insurance broker who can help you find the best type of policy for your needs and budget. They can help you compare different policies and providers, advise you on the best option for your situation, help you prepare your application and medical records, and negotiate with underwriters on your behalf. They can also answer any questions you may have about life insurance with Marfan syndrome.
Q: What are the benefits of life insurance with Marfan syndrome?
A: The benefits of life insurance with Marfan syndrome are that it can provide financial security and peace of mind for you and your loved ones in case of an unfortunate event. Life insurance can help cover expenses such as funeral costs, mortgage payments, debt repayments, education costs, living costs, or inheritance tax. It can also help ease the emotional burden and stress that may come with losing a loved one.