Sleep apnea can bring on a multitude of complications, including uncontrollable snoring and being completely exhausted throughout the day, but this sleep disorder can also impact your ability to get life insurance. If you have sleep apnea and are looking for life insurance coverage, here’s what you need to know.
What is sleep apnea?
Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder in which breathing is repeatedly interrupted during sleep. If left untreated, sleep apnea can potentially lead to hypertension, lung damage and heart problems.
What causes sleep apnea?
When the throat and tongue muscles are relaxed while sleeping, the soft tissue can cause your airway to become blocked. The most common cause of sleep apnea is excess weight and obesity, but there are many other factors associated with the condition in adults. Typically men, overweight individuals and people over 40 are at greater risk for sleep apnea.
Types of Sleep Apnea
The main types of sleep apnea are:
- Obstructive Sleep Apnea – The most common type that occurs when the throat muscles relax.
- Central Sleep Apnea – When the brain doesn’t send proper signals to the muscles that control breathing.
- Complex Sleep Apnea – Occurs when someone has both obstructive and central sleep apnea.
Sleep Apnea Symptoms
Common symptoms of sleep apnea include loud snoring, gasping for air during sleep, waking up with a dry mouth and difficulty staying asleep.
Sleep Apnea and Life Insurance
Unfortunately, sleep apnea can be considered a pre-existing condition for life insurance companies, meaning the life insurance applications of those with sleep apnea can often be denied. Insurers use the Apnea-hypopnea index, which indicates the severity of your sleep apnea and will play a role in how your rates are determined. The good news is that complying with sleep apnea treatments, such as using a CPAP machine, can make it possible for those with sleep apnea to find affordable life insurance coverage.
Managing Sleep Apnea to Lower Your Life Insurance Rates
As it goes for any chronic condition, it’s necessary to be completely honest about your health. It’s important to provide as much information as possible about your compliance with your treatments, as life insurance companies want to see an applicant that has put forth effort to control their condition. If your sleep apnea is an effect of being overweight, making the effort to lose weight is a good indication of your commitment to achieving better health.
Affordable Life Insurance for Individuals with Sleep Apnea
A key feature of term life insurance is that it’s pre-existing condition-friendly, making it a good option for those with sleep apnea.
SelectQuote Can Help Individuals with Sleep Apnea Find Affordable Life Insurance
Many of the life insurance companies we work with often provide favorable rates for individuals with health conditions. We can help you compare all the available options to find the right coverage with the right carrier at the right price for you.
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