When most people get blood work done, they might expect more common conditions such as high blood pressure, cholesterol, etc.
One uncommon finding that your lab work may present is what is called elevated liver function or LFT. According to Virtual Medical Centre,
Liver function tests are groups of clinical biochemistry laboratory blood assays designed to give information about the state of the patient’s liver.
If your blood work comes back having elevated liver enzymes, then it can be possible that you have beginning stages of some sort of liver disease.
Just because you test for elevated liver function, does that mean you’ll get denied when applying for term life insurance? Absolutely not.
Like any other high-risk condition, it’s all about being transparent with the underwriters and sharing everything you know about your condition. Elevated liver enzymes is no different. The top life insurance companies will take this into consideration and give you better rates if you can do this.
Elevated Liver Function Questions When Applying for Life Insurance
If you do have LFT, here are some of the items of information that the underwriter is going to want to know:
- Date of diagnosis.
- Your ALT (SGPT) score.
- Your ACT (SGOT) score.
- Your GGTP (GGT) score.
- If you have stability, yes or no.
- If you’re hepatitis negative, yes or no.
- If you’re CDT negative, yes or no.
It’s important that you consult with your doctor to get all your medical records in check. This will aid in the underwriting process.
What typically causes LFT?
There are many different health conditions that can cause the elevated liver enzymes in your body. Some of these include excessive alcohol use, hepatitis and cirrhosis. There are even certain types of medication that can cause this as well. When applying for life insurance and having elevated liver function, we try to demonstrate to the underwriter what exactly is causing the issue.The reason for the elevated levels are going to have a significant impact on how the insurance company looks at your application.
There are also a few simple things that could cause elevated enzymes in your liver. Normal things like over the counter drugs like aspirin could cause you to have an elevated liver enzymes reading, be sure to tell the paramedic of any medications that you’ve taken prior to your health exam.
Another factor to consider is sickness. There are a lot of common illnesses that can impact your liver enzymes. If you’re ill or have been fighting off a sickness, you should probably reschedule your health exam, otherwise you could get back some inaccurate results that cost you in monthly premiums.
If it’s something minor and getting rated a preferred may not be out of the question. In fact, I even read a few instances where individuals with LFT qualified at preferred plus rates which is the cheapest life insurance you can buy.
Saving Money on Life Insurance
The last thing you want to do is pay more for your life insurance than you need. That’s why working with an independent agent that takes the time to ask the right questions before applying will make all the difference in the world. An independent agent can compare quotes and connect you with companies that have experience working with applicants with elevated liver enzymes. Working with an independent agent isn’t the only thing you can do, there are several lifestyle changes you can make to save you thousands of dollars in monthly premiums.
One of the most important factors that is used to calculate your rates is your overall health. Aside from liver enzyme levels, the insurance company is also going to look at your height, weight, age, blood pressure readings both systolic and diastolic , and much more.
If you want to save money on your monthly premiums, take some time to focus on your health and make some changes. Being overweight or a smoker can double or triple your premiums. The best way to save money on your life insurance policy is to quit smoking or using tobacco. Either of these are automatically going to cause your premiums to go through the roof, regardless of how the rest of your health is. Regular exercise and a healthy diet are not only good for your waistline, but it is also great for your bank account.
Life insurance is one of the best things you can buy for your and your loved ones. Don’t let elevated liver enzymes keep you from getting the protection you deserve. If you’ve ever been told that you can’t get life insurance because of elevated liver enzymes, that couldn’t be further from the truth.
There are only a few rare cases that the condition keeps applicants from getting a traditional life insurance policy. In most cases, applicants are surprised to see just how affordable their life insurance plan is going to be. You can’t put a price on the peace that life insurance brings knowing that your family will be covered if anything were to happen to you.
How Much Life Insurance to Purchase
One of the biggest considerations of the life insurance purchasing process is deciding how large of a policy you need to get. There is no perfect number that everyone should get, the size of the plan is going to change depending on each person’s situation. There are a couple of different factors that you should consider when deciding on the size of your policy.
When calculating the size of your life insurance plan, look at how much debt you would leave behind and how many of your loved ones count on your annual salary to get by. Add up all of the debt that you have, mortgage, car payments, student loans, etc. and the number that you end up with is an excellent starting point for your policy. Additionally, consider how many of your family members rely on your salary to get by. Most financial experts suggest that you get a policy that is at least ten times your annual salary.
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