Life Insurance

[AHands]

I'm running out of FMLA and have some decisions to make. i had a big life insurance policy through work, but i'll need to come up with $700/month to maintain it. it sounds like a lot of money, but even if i survive another decade, which does not seem likely, its worth it to my beneficiaries. i worry that we'll miss a payment and the insurance company will cancel and nobody will get anything. i want my kids to be able to ut a down payment on home and education. when i call the insurance co they ask if i have a claim number. i say, well i don't think i'm eligible for a claim, seeing as i'm not dead! i'm worried they'll weasel out of paying one way or another.

Anybody have insight or experience with life insurance claims?

[sharonca]

Does your policy have a disability clause so you don't have to make the future payments? Does it have a provision for accelerated death payment?

Since it is through your employer it may not have but it does not hurt to ask.

Sharonca

[andyvaughn]

Adrian,
At my work I also have a large life insurance policy, and do have the accelerated benefit rider but for myself only. I have life insurance on my Pals Jim and my kids, but the accelerated benefit rider doesn't apply to them - only to myself as an employee. I did however purchase a few years back supplemental life insurance for Jim and was able to secure 50% of that via an accelerated benefit rider. I know in some cases they consider it a loan, in our case it was cash paid, not a loan.
Sharonca has another great point, sometimes you can get disability payments, you say you are running out of FMLA, isn't that the family medical leave? Are you also caring for a ill family member? Couldn't you get SSDI as a PALS? I am probably making it more complicated than I need to, but see if your human resources department can help you navigate this...
Andrea - wife of Pals Jim

[Zaphoon]

I have a term policy through Primerica. They have a clause for accelerated benefit if you are termed terminally ill which will allow you to collect up to about 40% of the death benefit early. I would suppose that in such a case, all you would need to do is submit proof of "terminally ill" and submit it to the claims department. I have heard testimonies of people that have been able to collect this portion of the death benefit in order to replace lost income due to their illness. It really helped out with living and medical expenses while they were still around.

For those who have not yet been diagnosed, the best thing you can do is obtain a term life policy in addition to whatever you may have through your place of employment. Get set up now because once a fatal diagnosis is given, you become uninsurable. This comes straight from a life insurance agent.

[sharonca]

My accelerated benefit was paid as a "loan" for two years. I still have to pay the premium since I did not have the disability rider. I was able to receive 70% and needed a letter from my doctor stating I had less than a year to live.

Sharonca

[happy]

I have not been diagnosed yet but am very close...can I get life insurance with the pending dx als? If so how? Please advise need to hurry.
Thanks

[Zaphoon]

If you've not been diagnosed yet, go ahead and apply for a term policy. You get more protection for less dollars with term verses whole life. Primerica is a good company to go with but look around for who has a policy that will pay a portion earlier for terminal illness diagnosis. Medical records from doctor and hospital visits go into a central computer bank that health systems and life insurance companies have access to. Once the diagnosis of a fatal condition is given, you become very, very difficult to insure and what coverage you might get could be cost prohitive. I've been seen by the GP and 2 different neuros and have not been diagnosed yet. So, I have no definable illness as of yet and no one can say otherwise. Could be all in my head...

If you're covered at work, get additional coverage on a seperate policy outside of work. If you lose your job, you lose that group coverage. Hope this helps.

[happy]

Thank you..I called my disability specialist today after my appt with neuro, they said thateven my LTD benefits will be questioned because I went back to work with no moidifications after my origanal illness, I guess that is no concern to me since I really do have a medicall concern...weakness in my legs. But it may put me at a disability for getting more life insurance since I have apending illness. Can it be looked at like fraud since I know that I am ill and am seeking life insurance and my guess is that is it is not something I really want to disclose...Right now I only have 100,000.00 thousand dollar policy I have two minor children and two other children to care for 19 and 18. I am very scared for them. I cannot leave them like this. Sorry to be so morbid but I just need the facts hope you reading will understand.

Robin

[Zaphoon]

Boy, this is just one of those times when reality smacks you in the face and you have to start thinking and planning for when you are not going to be there for your children anymore; especially when it comes to the possibility of being diagnosed with a terminal illness. Here is what a good life insurance agent would recommend.

Have enough coverage in the policy for:
1. final expenses (i.e. funeral).
2. mortgage and any other debt owed.
2. replacing the breadwinner's annual income for 10 years.
3, college funding.

What the figure comes out to will surprise you but you are correct in thinking you should have more coverage than the $100k.

I don't know many people that get turned on by the subject of life insurance but is jus one of those necessary things you've got to have if you're not already indepently wealthy. I hope this helped.

[happy]

Zaphoon, I am very aware of the fact that my 100,ooo.00 wont cover my kids, my question is IS ther any way of me getting more insurance before my dx within the next two weeks. My neuro told me he could not rule out als but he could not give me a firm dx ultil a leg emg in two weeks...can some one please help me?

[Zaphoon]

Happy,
I apologize if I upset you. I use to sell term life policies. If you have a group policy through work, see if you can up the coverage on the face amount of that policy. You may have better luck doing this than applying for a new policy.
When you apply for a new policy, there are tough medical questions; even questions regarding pending test results and current medical issues that are being addressed. You seem to be a person with a lot of integrity and being honest with complete disclosure is always the right thing to do. The insurance companies have access to your records via a central data bank and they will be able to see recent medical documents anyway.
I would see about uping the coverage on a group policy first. Less questions to answer (if any) and you may be able to take the policy with you when you leave that place of employment but that is another question I would get an answer to. In some cases, when you leave the job, you lose the group policy.
Again, sorry for any upset. I hope your leg EMG results are good and that the final answer is you don't have ALS.

[happy]

Zaphoon,

You did not upset me, I am sorry for the way I responded. I am really scared right now and realize that I do not have enough to cover my kids. It's a sad situation. However, I do have at least something to leave them, it's better than nothing. Now all I need to do is pull myself together, again, and figure out how I can stay at work and keep my current policy. I went through this same thing 6 months ago and my first neuro ruled out als, but now here i am again with an als specialist who thinks I have it...so I get to greive this all over again.

Thanks for responding
Robin

[awieleba]

robin,

let me know how this works out. I am looking for insurance too. We have 1.2 million on my husband and never thought about me. We have 3 kids under 6 and my husband will need help. lets face it, us moms are invaluable! He will need some sort of nanny and cleaner. He works alot hours and will need to work less, he is commision income, so he could work less but will make less.(that is the dad he is, he would want to be there more). I am also afraid that we will go through our investments and retirement money to take care of me and make modifications to the home. And I want to travel with kids and make memeries. sorry to drag on, this has been on my mind heavy. My husband did not think a good idea in May but has since seen a decline and thinks that it is has become a need.

april (not happy, either)

ps.
I dont have a dx yet.

[brendapals]

Hey there folks,

I never even thought about seeing if I could increase my life ins policy at work. I think it is provided to each employee free, so I will certainly ask my boss tomorrow.

I would have never even thought of it without reading the forum tonight!

Thank God for all the good things we can learn,
Keep the faith,
brenda

[rose]

Hey there folks,

I never even thought about seeing if I could increase my life ins policy at work. I think it is provided to each employee free, so I will certainly ask my boss tomorrow.

I would have never even thought of it without reading the forum tonight!

Thank God for all the good things we can learn,
Keep the faith,
brenda

I recently converted my life insurance policy provided through my employer to an individual policy. Just as the original poster of this thread learned, individual policies are pricey. The monthly payment is no where near what all of those ads on TV tell us we can get life insurance for..... However (finally getting to the point here!) There was a clause in mine having to do with pre-existing conditions. It required that I had the policy in place for at least three years before any symptoms manifested, were diagnosed, or treated. I believe that three year guideline is the amount of time that this particular company uses, and that it will vary from company to company. I kept the policy as it had been for the $$$ amount, and just did the conversion. I did not explore if increasing my coverage would have in effect voided it due to the pre-existing condition, because of the prohibitive cost involved, but I'm pretty sure it would have.

[awieleba]

thanks rose,

I will have to check in to pre exisiting time frame. Some of us go years w/o dx. So, I wonder if I got the policy and stayed away from docter for a few years if that would help, although things could force me there.
I have to get working on this asap! I was thinking a cheap term since I dont have dx. I was very sick with alot of other issues and if my biopsy doesnt reveal anything, maybe she will dx me with something that will not hinder the insurance. I KNOW that I have this, but it may not show for a year or 2.

thansk

april

[happy]

I have done some searching around and found that no one will touch me with a pending dx. My work insurance policy is in 50,000.00 dollar incriments I guess awhile ago I opted up and only pay about 7 amonth. I asked if I could increase it now but they said to go any higher I would have to submit a medical form. What that means I am not really sure but I suppose it would ask if I have anything pending.

At this point, I am just grateful that I have something...I am still clinging to the hope that my strength is what is going to divert me from this dx even though I have searched around and see that not everyone stops walking or using their arms completely when they are first dx.

I saw him again yesterday (my neuro) because I could not sleep or eat...I couldnt stop crying all day 2 days in a row now and my stomach is doing flip flops. I am a mess. I asked him to give me time off a couple of days to soak all this in and something to help me sleep. His exact words were "buck up" get a stiff upper lip, and you need to go to work to help keep your mind off this! In a way I guess i could look at this attitude as good for me..I"ll need to learn how to controll myself but right now I am having a hard time. His final words to me were, that if I do end up having Lou Gerhigs I can be assured that he will take very good care of me. Then with that he said now come here gorgoues and gave me a hug. Weird, huh? :?
So with all that being said, i have a whole body emg in 2 weeks. I wonder why I have to even have another emg since my first one was abnormal...what could they be looking for now?

Learning to submit
Robin

[awieleba]

Hi robin,

My insurance guy called today and I was upfront with him about it all. He is sending out a nurse to do a physical and do bood work (it will be fine.). I told him I am seeing a slew of docters and he seemed ok. I dont have dx and my records are open. A nurse is coming to the house next week for a $500,000 policy.(hey I am worth one million, really). We will see what happens. If my biopsy is bad, that could change it all! I told my hubby to do this in May, but being a man, he did not listen and thought I was being hysterical. (no offense men).

Happy, about your doc, men can be jerks! (no offense again). When I was really sick and in the hospital, my cardiologist was just that way. I was having all these problems and he checked it out and said it was autonomical valve thing or whatever. He then said, please come follow up with me, I need more young cute patients like you. I was PISSED off! Are you kidding me? I am sick and scared and the last thing I need is that type of comment. Men will be men.

I know how you feel, I find myself crying too much lately as my symptoms get worse. I Just can not believe that this would be happening to me. Then I think why not me? IT is happening to alot of great people, just hard to accept that it could be you! Are you on anything? I am on lexapro, it helps me. I do feel tired, but I will take that over falling apart. I was sooooooooo bad before the lexapro. I could not function from the fear. I have 3 kids under 6 yrs old...need I say more? They need me.

About your ulnar nerve thing. My first neuro after my ncv said that I had ulnar nerve irratation. OK. At the als clinic, they did anther one and they had a problem with the ulnar nerve and then there were like 5 people in the room (it is a teaching hosp). me and my husband were really nervous at that point! After some poking and proding they said that my ulnar nerve was fine and I had a variant called..I dont remeber, maybe prachius plexus? They said that 25% of people have this. My point is that you may not have a problem with your ulnar nerve. Was it the ncv that detected or emg? I would wait untill you have the full body emg at a specialist before thinking you have anything with anything.

This is SOOOOOOO hard and I feel your pain. I try to only cry when no one is around so that my family will "think" that I am strong. I get it all and want to be strong like so many on here but often slip into self pity even though I have had a GREAT life. It has only been 36 yrs but my 36 yrs are better than 95% of the population. That I need to be thankful for.

you are in my thoughts and prayers!!!!

april

[happy]

Oh my heart just breaks when you mention the kids...my baby girl is 18 today. I just cannot imagine going through this with the kids being soooo little.. I had a cancer scare when I was pregnant with my son. My kids were small like yours..Thankfully it was nothing but the waiting made me just about insane.

I am not on anything right now as far as antidepressants..well the only thing I take right now is ultram for the aching I have in the spine and the weird tingling feeling i get in my shoulder. I dont know what that is all about. I went with my kids bowling the other day, first of all the ball was only 10 pounds and I could barely throw it long ways and then I woke up in the middle of the night and my bicep was just throbbing.
Yea, and i used to lift weights..probably 20 for each bicep curl. Maybe I jsut pulled it or something.

I will keep you in my prayers this week...your'e right you are worth a kazzillion dollars..hope you get it( even though you probably dont need it right now) it is the wisest thing t do.

Take care sweetie
Robin

[joelc]

April, your comments about men being jerks may be true for some men, but I have to tell you women can be a lot worse, the first neurologist I saw was a woman and I will not get into the kind of experience I had with her. Sorry you had a bad experience.

[AHands]

... my ulnar nerve was fine and I had a variant called..I dont remeber, maybe prachius plexus? They said that 25% of people have this...

probably lesions or something with the "brachial plexus" (shoulder)?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brachial_plexus

the brachial plexus is a complex arrangement that gets your nerves through the twisting muscle and bone of your shoulder. Its pretty easy to injure the brachial plexus in a fall, car wreck, or even by over-stretching.

[awieleba]

Joelc,

I was waiting for a man to step up and defend themselves! I knew when I wrote it that it may ruffle a few feathers! Honestly, the men in my life (my dad & husband) have been nothing short than perfect!!! There are jerks out there, but in my circle of life, they have been a blessing.

You are right about women too! My first nuero waaaay back 13 yrs ago was horrible. She told me I was a type-a personality and to go home.(well I am that, but no matter your type of personality, you can have health problems) I begged for a mri. Well, she called me at home and apoligized when the mri came back with lesions on it and referred me to a MS doc. Long story-wont get into it, but I dont have MS....kinda wish I did over this.

anyway, thanks for steppin up in defense of men!

[AHands]

I'm running out of FMLA and have some decisions to make. i had a big life insurance policy through work, but i'll need to come up with $700/month to maintain it. it sounds like a lot of money, but even if i survive another decade, which does not seem likely, its worth it to my beneficiaries. i worry that we'll miss a payment and the insurance company will cancel and nobody will get anything. i want my kids to be able to ut a down payment on home and education. when i call the insurance co they ask if i have a claim number. i say, well i don't think i'm eligible for a claim, seeing as i'm not dead! i'm worried they'll weasel out of paying one way or another.

Anybody have insight or experience with life insurance claims?

UPDATE: Life insurance company called and said they are waiving the premium--my family will get big bucks when i die and i do not need to pay monthly premiums. this is great! i should have it in writing, but i can no longer open envelopes.

[Tall John]

Insist on a referral to a major institution (UCLA,UCSF etc) asap. Local neuro's don't see ALS more than 3 or 4 times in a career.

[Thumbs Up]

Not sure if this is of any help to anyone out there. When my sister was put on long term disability from her work. I got in touch with her employer and got approval from her employer and the insurance company that they used. She could have cashed in on her policy before her death due to the diagnosis of ALS. I wanted to give my sister and her husband the options in case the wanted to do things while she was alive (travel etc). You can't take it with you.

[sharonca]

I was told by my agent that most Life policies come with a premium waiver in the event of disability. My policy unfortunately didn't include that since I had had a workers' compensation claim a couple of years before taking out the policy. I got my money (accelerated benefit) but still have to pay the premium!
Sharonca