I have been seeing more applicants lately who have been diagnosed with sleep apnea.  What is sleep apnea it and how does it affect life insurance underwriting?

Apnea is cessation of breathing.  There are three types of apnea that occur during sleep:  obstructive, central and mixed.  According to Prudential life insurance, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is the most common type, affecting approximately 4% of men and 2% of women, but it is greatly under-diagnosed.  Common symptoms are excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) and loud snoring.  In addition, the sleep partner often reports the cessation of breathing.

The dangers associated with untreated sleep apnea, and those of interest to life insurance underwriters, are hypertension (and other cardiovascular impairments), obesity and the risk of motor vehicle accidents.

Underwriting rating for sleep apnea is determined by the severity of the disease, as measured by the number of apnea episodes per hour and the degree of hypoxia (low blood oxygen level).  Type of treatment, age and co-existing disorders such as heart or lung disease are also considered in the final assessment.

With sleep apnea, we will often get multiple offers for our clients, as underwriting results for this disease can vary significantly.  Your agent or broker should be able to get multiple offers through an informal or inquiry application.

This information is intended for insurance informational purposes only and should not be used for personal medical advice.