Simplified Issue Life Insurance

Simplified Issue Life Insurance is a version of final expense insurance that offers a quick acquisition process, does not necessitate a medical exam, and provides a larger death benefit compared to other types of final expense insurance.

Instead of undergoing a medical exam, applicants for simplified issue life insurance answer a health and lifestyle questionnaire. While approval is not guaranteed, the majority of applicants are accepted.

What is simplified issue life insurance?

This form of whole life insurance is designed for individuals with mild health issues, usually offering a smaller death benefit compared to term life insurance due to the associated higher risk. One significant advantage is that it takes effect immediately. Additional benefits of this final expense version include:

  • The premium remains constant
  • The coverage does not decrease
  • It offers a higher death benefit and lower premium than guaranteed issue

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The medical questionnaire

The distinguishing factor between simplified issue and guaranteed issue life insurance is the medical questionnaire. Your responses determine eligibility for the lower premium with the larger death benefit. To give you an idea, here are some sample questions you might encounter:

  • Have you ever been diagnosed, treated, tested positive for, or received medical advice for conditions such as:
    • Congestive heart failure?
    • AIDS, AIDS Related Complex, or HIV?
    • Lou Gehrig’s disease?
  • Within the past 12 months, have you been advised to use or used oxygen equipment for breathing (excluding use for sleep apnea)?
  • Are you using a wheelchair or electric scooter due to an ongoing diagnosed illness, medical condition, or disease?
  • Are you a resident in, or have you been advised to move into, a nursing home or skilled nursing facility?

Note that these are examples, and each insurance company has its own questionnaire. Qualification may vary between companies, so consulting a life insurance agent is crucial for guidance.

Available riders

Similar to most insurance policies, simplified issue life insurance in the final expense category offers various riders, depending on the company. Some of the common riders you may find available to add to your policy include:

  • Accelerated Death Benefit — Allows policyholders to use the death benefit for terminal illness-related medical costs instead of a post-death payout
  • Accidental Death — Doubles the payout if death is caused by an accident
  • Long-term care — Covers the cost of long-term care if your health insurer does not provide coverage
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