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Anemia and Life Insurance

Researcher & Writer
April 08, 2020

If you currently have a low red blood count, or have a history of such, you may be anemic. As a person with anemia, you may be wondering how and if it will affect your chances of getting life insurance coverage. We are here to answer your questions about applying for life insurance with anemia.

What is Anemia?

We’ll start by addressing this simple question. As stated, anemia is when your blood has less red blood cells than it should. It can also mean that you have a lower hemoglobin count in your blood. Both of these are important because your red blood (and hemoglobin) together carry oxygen to your body, thus giving it energy. When your blood count or hemoglobin is low, then your body is getting less oxygen, and organs are not performing optimally. Life insurance companies are interested in your overall health, and anemia is a complex issue that could be the result of many other health concerns. That is why your anemia is something life insurance companies will want to know about in detail.

How do I get Anemia?

Anemia can be caused by many things, and is not always permanent. The most common cause of anemia is iron deficiency. Low iron levels can occur because of:

  • Poor diet; not enough iron
  • Ulcers, polyps or colon cancer
  • Infection
  • Pregnancy and Child Birth
  • Uterine Fibroids
  • Recent surgery, including gastric bypass and other weigh loss surgeries that may inhibit vitamin and mineral absorption

You can also have anemia because of vitamin deficiency. If you lack Vitamin B12, then your body will not process iron. Folic acid is also required to make red blood cells. Or your body could have a problem in overall vitamin absorption, causing anemia. Sometimes this absorption problem only occurs with vitamins; your body might not process tablets or syrups. Once an overall healthy, balanced diet is established and maintained for a number of months, absorption problems may no longer occur.

Other Causes of Anemia

Because anemia has to do with the blood, it is sometimes a symptom of another underlying health issue or as a symptom of a blood disease such as sickle cell anemia.

Why Do Insurance Companies Care About Anemia?

It is a life insurance underwriter’s job to assess your overall health and lifestyle to determine the risk. While anemia is not a life threatening disorder in many cases, it could cause complications or point to other more serious issues. This in fact, it what an insurance company is likely trying to determine. If your anemia is due to a more serious health issue you may need to consider purchasing life insurance from the best final expense and burial insurance companies available.

What questions are life insurance companies going to ask me?

Once a life insurance company determines that you have been or are currently considered anemic, they will want to know more information to assess your risk level. Some of those things will be:

  • Is there any underlying cause to your anemia?
  • What kind of anemia do you have? (Iron deficiency, sickle cell, etc)
  • Have you been further tested for other diseases?
  • How long have you been anemic? What is the lowest your blood count/haemoglobin has ever reached?
  • Have you ever been hospitalized due to anemia or anything related to anemia?
  • Have you ever had a blood or iron transfusion for treatment?
  • In the last six months, what symptoms have you had due to anemia (lack of energy, headaches, general fatigue, fainting, dizzy spells, etc)
  • Are you receiving any ongoing treatment?

Your preferred life insurance agency may ask you for follow-up tests to gather more information regarding your anemia.

Will I receive life insurance coverage as a person with anemia?

This question depends completely on what type of anemia you have and the overall severity. Millions of people live with anemia, and may not even know it because the symptoms are so mild. However, if anemia has taken a major medical toll on your body and your life, then you should be prepared to pay a premium on your coverage.

In the event that you have very severe anemia or anemia caused by a severe underlying health issue, you may even be rejected. You will also likely be rejected if you have aplastic anemia disease, which is a blood disorder. If you are rejected by a life insurance company, it is because they see you and your specific health situation as a high risk. Overall, the amount you pay and whether or not your life insurance police is underwritten, is determined by your risk level, and that includes the risk attributed to your anemia.

How do I find a anemia-friendly life insurance company?

No two people are alike, and neither are your specific life insurance needs or blood health levels. The great thing about life insurance is that there are dozens upon dozens of companies out there ready to offer life insurance policies. If you are rejected by one life insurance company due to your anemia, there is always another to try. This can, however, be a time consuming process if you are left to sort through all the life insurance companies out there.

Our partners work with all kinds of people with special cases, such as anemia or health issues related to anemia. They'll work for you to find the best possible anemia friendly life insurance policy for your current state.

If you are interested in knowing more about obtaining life insurance with anemia, please contact us today or just visit our Best Life Insurance Quotes page first so that you can get a general idea about what your life insurance might cost.

Written by
TermLife2Go
We are a team of life insurance experts with the simple mission of helping you find the best coverage for your unique situation. We research, review, and rank life insurance companies to make that process easier.