Life Insurance?

kcragman

Regular Member

Joined : May 2008

Posts : 241

Posted 8/27/2008 8:55 AM (GMT -6)

Maybe this has been discussed before. If so, please point me in the right direction.

As someone who might be out of work in the near future, what have you guys experienced when it comes to applying for life insurance? I've been told you can get it, but it costs a bundle for a reduced amount. As long as I am in a large corporation, I can get a substantial amount without having a physical. But if I am out there on my own, it is a different story.

Do any of you have any recommendations - or experiences good or bad?

Thanks,

kcragman

Age: 52
March 2006: PSA 2.5

Dec 2007: PSA taken for insurance application. I did not see the results until late Jan '08 - after I was rejected. Their lab said PSA 4.5. PSA again in Feb '08: 3.7.

March 2008: Biopsy. Gleason 7 (4+3) 12 cores taken. 5 on the left side were cancerous and the 6th did not look good.

May 5, 2008: Da Vinci robotic laparoscopy at GW Hospital, Washington DC.

Post op: Gleason 9 (4+5). 15% of prostate involved. Stage: pT3a. Negative margins. Lymph nodes and associated glands all appear to be cancer free.

July 2008: PSA at 7 weeks was undetectable.
August 2008: PSA at 14 weeks (3 months) was undetectable.

Steve n Dallas

Veteran Member

Joined : Mar 2008

Posts : 4852

Posted 8/27/2008 9:54 AM (GMT -6)

I've seen tons of stuff on TV that advertise like the following:

There is no physical examination required, and no health questions to answer. Coverage can be retained for life. AARP members age 50 to 80 may apply for this coverage. Spouses of AARP members may apply beginning at age 45.

Age 53 - 5'11' 205lbs

Overall Heath Condition - Good

PSA - July 07 & Jan 08 -> 1.3

Gleason - 6

(biopsy done March 4, 2008-> 2 of 12)

06/25/08 - Da Vinci robotic laparoscopy

Jetlagged

Regular Member

Joined : Jul 2008

Posts : 29

Posted 8/27/2008 11:14 AM (GMT -6)

I was told that I couldn't get any additional for at least a year after the operation...if then.

Robotic RP 12/07
Age 46
Pre-surgical PSA 5.02
Bone scan/Chest X-ray clear
All margins, seminal vesicles, 17 lymphs clear
3+4=7
Three Post-surgical PSA's <0.01

lvdgs

Regular Member

Joined : May 2008

Posts : 70

Posted 8/27/2008 12:04 PM (GMT -6)

I just talked to a salesman from AFLAC that came in and he told me my husband wouldn't be eligible for 5 yrs.

RBinCountry

Regular Member

Joined : Apr 2008

Posts : 270

Posted 8/27/2008 3:23 PM (GMT -6)

I had gone to Select Quote who initially gave me a great quote thru Banner Life. However, they required me to have a physical. This is when I first discovered my high PSA. After going thru the surgery and even with no positive margins I re-applied, and was told they would not insure me. They said to come back in 3 years, and suggested even with that the premium would be out of sight.

Either the insurers know something we don't, or they are not looking at the same statistics that all of us are given about life expectancy after treatment. At any rate that is the way it is....RB

I had no PC in my family so this whole thing caught me by surprise. However, I had a doctor friend tell me they now know that breast cancer in women is the same gene as PC in men. When he told me that he did not know that boty my mom and sister have had breast cancer. Well, of course I don't know if any of this is true, but it is obvious from all the guys on this sight who have PC in their family and they have PC that it does run in the genes. I also have always been very healthy, and also eat well. I really doubt that has much to do with it. I would have to think it is in the genes. RB

Age 61
Original data - pre-operation
PSA: 5.1
T1C clinical diagnosis, Needle biopsy - 10 cores, Gleason 7 = 3+4 in 1 core (40%), 7 cores Gleason 6 = 3+3 ranging from 5% to 12%
All scans negative
Lupron administered 4/9/2008 for 4 months (with idea I would undergo external beam radiation followed by seed implants - then I changed my mind).
Robotic DiVinci surgery - Dr. Fagin (Austin) May 19th
Post operative - pathology
pT2c NX MX
Gleason 3+4
Margins - negative
Extraprostatic extension - negative
seminal vesicle invasion - uninvolved
1st Post PSA .04

Paul1959

Veteran Member

Joined : Nov 2007

Posts : 598

Posted 8/27/2008 7:55 PM (GMT -6)

As i understand it, most insurance companies will not insure until sometime after treatment. With surgery it can be three years...without surgery, it is much longer. Usually five years. anyway, the days of getting 500K for 50 bucks a month are over. You are most likely looking at 100K for a couple hundred a month. This is not the tragedy it might seem. It means planning differently. Talk to a financial planner.

I've got 100K through work, but that's it for me!
Paul

47 at Diagnosis.

Father died of Pca 4/07 at 86.

1/06 PSA 3.15

1/07 PSA 4.6 (Biopsy 3/07 just suspicious)

10/07 PSA 5.06 (Biopsy 11/07 1 of 12 with 8% involvment) (1mm)

Da Vinci surgery Jan 5, '08 at Mt. Sinai Hosp. NYC www.roboticoncology.com

Saved both nerve bundles.

Path Report: Stage T2cNxMx

-Gleason (3+3)6

-totally contained to prostate,

-10% involvement in L & R Mid lobes

PSA 0 at six weeks

Pad free on March 14 - (10 weeks.)

ED - Take 100mg viagra every night.

Totally usable erections at 10 weeks.

Tony Crispino

Veteran Member

Joined : Dec 2006

Posts : 8128

Posted 8/27/2008 11:42 PM (GMT -6)

Great post, and yes it's been posted here before.
And great response, Paul! I get mine through work also, so no physical. But my research says it's there, but it's a high price. AND I require a physical. I haven't researched it, but my guess is thay see my numbers and will make a house payment out if it!

The carriers will carry you, but count on the premiums to be relative to your status with PCa!!!

Tony

Age 46 (44 when Dx)

Pre-op PSA was 19.8

Surgery on Feb 16, 2007 @ The City of Hope

Post-Op Pathology: Gleason 4+3=7, positive margins, Stage pT3b (Stage III)

HT began in May, '07 with Lupron and Casodex 50mg

IMRT radiation for 38 Treatments ending August 3, '07

Current PSA (May 9 '08): <0.1

I will continue HT until May '09.

Years in Remission (3/23/07): 1

Visit my Journey at:

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/tonycrispino

And at:

http://prostatecancerinfolink.ning.com/profile/TonyCrispino

STAY POSITIVE!

LV-TX

Veteran Member

Joined : Jul 2008

Posts : 966

Posted 8/28/2008 9:30 AM (GMT -6)

Back when I was in my early 20's...I had a child hood heart murmur that caused inflated life insurance policy premiums as a result until sometime in my late twenties. And that was after years worth of doctors stating in writing that childhood murmurs are just that...childhood and go away in adult hood. Insurance companies bank on the statistic that you will be in the minority not the majority when in comes to prognosis for any type of medical condition. Sad but true. They take that 1% that will not survive 10 years after PCa diagnosis and will classify you as that 1% not the 99% you most likely will be. I was one of the fortunate ones that jumped on the band wagon with cancer insurance a year ago at work. Little did I know at the time that I would be using it. Insurance is one of those things that you get for your family in case you're not around anymore...and hope you (they) will never have to use.

Age 58 at Diagnosis

Oct 2006 - PSA 2.6 - DRE Normal

May 2008 - PSA 4.6 - DRE Normal / TRUS normal-Gland 38 cc

July 2008 - Biopsy 4 of 12 Positive 5 - 30% Involved Bilateral (Perineural Invasion present at base)

Gleason (3+3) 6 Stage T1C

Robotic Surgery scheduled Sept 18, 2008

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