Affordable Burial Insurance Options for Individuals with Crohn’s Disease

Discovering affordable burial insurance with Crohn’s disease should not deter you from seeking coverage. In the majority of cases, you won’t encounter questions specifically related to gastrointestinal conditions during the screening process for final expense insurance.

To find low-cost burial insurance despite having Crohn’s disease, we recommend working with an independent insurance agent who can help you understand your eligibility and find a policy that offers level benefits without a waiting period. In situations where you have other health conditions, our team can assist you in obtaining a guaranteed issue policy.

What is important to know about Crohn’s Disease?

Crohn’s disease is an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that causes inflammation in the digestive tract. This condition may lead to symptoms such as abdominal pain, severe diarrhea, fatigue, weight loss, and malnutrition. You may also experience fever, cramping, blood in your stool, mouth sores, reduced appetite, or pain and drainage due to an anal fistula.

The inflammation can occur in the small or large intestine and may affect multiple segments or solely the colon. During active periods of the disease, you may also experience inflammation in the skin, eyes, and joints, as well as the liver or bile ducts, kidney stones, iron deficiency, or delayed growth and sexual development in children.

If you notice any signs and symptoms of Crohn’s disease, including abdominal pain, blood in your stool, persistent diarrhea despite over-the-counter treatments, prolonged fever, or unexplained weight loss, we encourage you to consult with your doctor.

Crohn’s disease is generally diagnosed in individuals before their 30s. If you have a parent, sibling, or child with the disease, you may have a higher likelihood of developing it.

While there is no cure for Crohn’s disease, treatment options are available to alleviate inflammation and achieve remission of symptoms.

Understanding Burial Insurance

Burial insurance, also known as final expense insurance, is a type of life insurance policy designed for seniors. It provides coverage for a modest death benefit, typically ranging from $10,000 to $20,000 but potentially as low as $2,000 or as high as $50,000, based on individual needs and eligibility.

The purpose of burial insurance is to assist in covering the expenses associated with funeral arrangements, cremation, or burial. When the policyholder passes away, the beneficiaries receive the death benefit as a cash payment from the insurance company.

Final expense insurance policies are specifically tailored for seniors, and most applicants fall within the age range of 55 to 85. The relatively small death benefits make these policies affordable for individuals with fixed incomes.

One significant advantage of planning for final arrangements is that funeral homes often require upfront payments for goods and services obtained from third-party vendors, such as caskets or printed materials. By purchasing low-cost burial insurance in advance, you can help your family and loved ones focus on remembering you rather than dealing with logistical aspects during the grieving period.

Qualifying for Burial Insurance

Final expense policies are designed with seniors in mind, which means the qualification process is straightforward. There is no need for a medical examination, and you will only need to answer a few health-related questions. Insurance companies are aware that seniors, due to their age, are more likely to have experienced certain health conditions. Their primary concern is to ensure they do not insure individuals at high risk of imminent death, as it poses greater risk for the company.

Common Health Questions

Typically, the health questions you can expect include:

• Do you have a history of alcohol or drug abuse?
• Are you currently bedridden or hospitalized?
• Do you have heart disease, a history of heart attack, or underwent heart surgery?
• Have you ever had a stroke?
• Do you have congestive heart failure?
• Have you been diagnosed with cancer?
• Do you have Alzheimer’s disease or dementia?
• Have you tested positive for HIV or AIDS?
• Have you taken medication or received treatment for any of the aforementioned conditions in the past two years?

The good news is that insurance companies primarily inquire about a history of smoking, cancer, stroke, heart attack, and similar conditions. It is unlikely that you will come across a health question specifically addressing irritable bowel disease such as Crohn’s. Even if such a question arises, we can assist you in finding a policy that disregards your Crohn’s disease diagnosis.

When you can answer “no” to all the health questions, it is highly likely that you will be easily accepted and approved for a level death benefit. In some cases, final expense insurance companies may include a waiting period of up to two years for individuals who answer “yes” to certain health conditions. During this waiting period, beneficiaries would receive a partial benefit or an amount equal to the premiums paid with interest.

We understand the importance of honesty when answering these questions, as it directly affects the well-being of your beneficiaries after you’re gone.

Rest assured that you won’t be required to provide any additional medical records beyond answering the health questions. However, the final expense insurance company may request a pharmacy report to verify the medications you have been prescribed.

Inquiring About Your Prescription Usage

The burial insurance company will inquire about the prescription drugs you are currently taking to gain a better understanding of your medical situation. This information helps them identify the conditions you are being treated for. With Crohn’s disease, there are several medications commonly prescribed, and each may have varying implications for the insurance company.

Corticosteroids

If you are taking corticosteroids, there’s no need to worry as these medications are commonly used for various conditions and do not raise significant concerns for the burial insurance company. Although one aspect they might consider is the potential risk of developing diabetes as a side effect. However, this is generally not a problem for individuals with Crohn’s disease or those applying for final expense insurance. It’s important to note that insurance companies typically do not screen specifically for diabetes. Only severe complications resulting from diabetes would receive closer attention.

Imuran & Methotrexate

These medications are used to prevent transplant rejection and treat autoimmune disorders. If an insurance company identifies an autoimmune disorder, they will still provide a level death benefit, so there’s no need to worry.

Mercaptopurine

Mercaptopurine is used to treat both cancer and Crohn’s disease. When a final expense insurance company sees this medication on your list, they may become cautious. If you have taken this medication in the last two years, your independent insurance agent will need to obtain a letter from your doctor explaining that the medication was used for treating Crohn’s disease rather than cancer. Once this concern is addressed, you will be able to secure a level death benefit.

Cyclosporine

Cyclosporine is primarily used to prevent organ transplant rejection but can also be utilized for treating Crohn’s disease. Burial insurance companies may initially decline coverage, assuming the worst-case scenario. However, your independent insurance agent can obtain a letter from your doctor clarifying that the drug is solely being used to manage Crohn’s disease and not due to organ or tissue transplant.

Other medications you may take to treat Crohn’s disease should not pose an issue with the burial insurance company.

Addressing the Question About Upcoming Surgery

The final expense insurance company may inquire about any planned surgeries, hospitalizations, or pending diagnostic test results. This helps them assess any potential upcoming medical risks. Since surgeries carry inherent risks, it’s preferable to apply for coverage after recovering from the procedure as it increases the likelihood of being accepted for a final expense policy.

Questions About Side Effects and Cancer

Weight loss is a common experience for some individuals with Crohn’s disease. You may be asked if you have lost more than 10 pounds in the past year. Answering “yes” to this question should not automatically disqualify you, but it may prompt the final expense insurance company to exercise caution.

With Crohn’s disease, there is a slightly higher risk of developing colon cancer. The final expense insurance company will carefully review your answers for any indications of cancer or other serious health concerns. In such cases, they may not accept you for a policy with a level death benefit.

Guaranteed Issue Burial Insurance

We want to assure you that even if you have cancer, you can still obtain final expense insurance through a guaranteed issue policy. These policies do not require any health questions, but they do involve higher premiums compared to level benefit policies.

While Crohn’s disease does not prevent you from purchasing low-cost burial insurance, other health conditions may impact your eligibility. If you have to answer “yes” to any of the standard health questions, it’s advisable to consider a guaranteed issue final expense policy.

Finding Affordable Burial Insurance

The key to finding a low-cost burial insurance policy with Crohn’s disease is to seek the assistance of an independent insurance agent. Independent agents possess the expertise to help you compare coverage and rates from reputable final expense insurance companies, ensuring you secure the best possible policy for your specific situation.

Before initiating the application process, inform your independent insurance agent about your health conditions. This will enable them to accurately assess your chances of approval for different levels of coverage among the most reliable providers, ultimately securing you the most suitable coverage.

The Importance of Burial Insurance

Burial insurance is a life insurance solution specifically designed for seniors.

Providing peace of mind to your family during their time of mourning is essential. The death of a loved one can be a sudden shock or an anticipated event, but in either case, it plunges the family into grief. By alleviating the additional worry of finances, your loved ones can focus on healing and remembering the departed.

Funeral services can be costly, often exceeding $9,000 in the United States. Many expenses associated with funerals need immediate funding, which can create sudden financial stress for those left behind.

Planning your memorial according to your vision is possible with final expense insurance companies. They often offer a service where you can document your wishes for your final arrangements. This documentation is securely held by the insurance company and shared with your beneficiaries along with the death benefit when the time comes. Pre-arranging also allows you to have some agency over the unknown and unwelcome reality of death, providing closure in advance for many policyholders.

Not everyone can leave behind a substantial inheritance for their loved ones. However, by purchasing a low-cost final expense insurance policy, even those without existing life insurance coverage can secure up to $50,000 to support their friends and family. The beneficiaries have the freedom to utilize the funds as they see fit, with no restrictions on their use solely for the final arrangements.

If you want to learn more about finding low-cost burial insurance, we are here to assist you. Contact us today to explore how you may qualify for life insurance tailored to your needs.