Topic: Ability to get life insurance after medical transition

[Birdie on a Wire]

I started hormone therapy about five months ago and things have been going surprisingly well.


However my business partner (who I am NOT out to as transgender) told me about a month or so ago that we should get into a buy/sell agreement with each in the event of our death and I thought it was a really good idea. It’s probably something we should have done two years ago when we started the business together.

Our plan was to fund our respective buy-out amounts with life insurance. Well, as it turns out it can be very, VERY difficult to get life insurance if you’ve been on hormone therapy. In fact, I’m find it to be near impossible.

Word to the wise... if you haven’t started hormone therapy yet, get life insurance now.

And if anyone here has been able to get life insurance after starting hormone therapy (testosterone to estrogen) can you comment please and let me know which company you used.

Birdie


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[sarahc]

This is really helpful for me to know! Thanks.

And I too would love to hear from other post-transition women who tried to buy life insurance. This would help me a lot from a professional standpoint.

Sarah

[TheWomanWithinMe]

Please note that not all insurance companies are allowed to write policies in every state. In order to do so they must agree to follow set guidelines on underwriting and payouts. Most states have a regularity body that oversees insurance companies and are supposed to ensure policy underwriting reflects accurate mortality rates. "If" those individuals undergoing transgender hrt treatment have a legitimate increase in mortality rates than this entity should have addressed how they expect insurance companies to handle such a customer. You might consider sharing your rejection letter and insurance application with this entity and ask for a review  You are simply attempting to become insured for altruistic purposes not self gain, as such you are hopeful of their help in providing guidance on how you might best proceed to get insured at an equatable rate.

[sarahc]

Good advice, @TheWomanWithinMe.

@Birdie On A Wire, if you are comfortable doing this and you live in a fairly progressive state that has laws forbidding discrimination based on gender identity, you can highlight how this issue affects the transgender community for the regulator. The insurance commission may not actually be aware that this is an issue facing the community.

Sarah

Please note that not all insurance companies are allowed to write policies in every state. In order to do so they must agree to follow set guidelines on underwriting and payouts. Most states have a regularity body that oversees insurance companies and are supposed to ensure policy underwriting reflects accurate mortality rates. "If" those individuals undergoing transgender hrt treatment have a legitimate increase in mortality rates than this entity should have addressed how they expect insurance companies to handle such a customer. You might consider sharing your rejection letter and insurance application with this entity and ask for a review  You are simply attempting to become insured for altruistic purposes not self gain, as such you are hopeful of their help in providing guidance on how you might best proceed to get insured at an equatable rate.

[Birdie on a Wire]

I unfortunately live in Texas and there isn’t any protections toward LGBTQ folks.  It’s pretty disheartening.