Trans, and insurance

[AnneB]

As I sit here, in my room, saddened at not getting and E or Spiro from my Endo,  and watching The Matrix (yeah, again), I remember seeing a commercial about life insurance, and a chilling thought came into my mind.  I have a couple policies for my family's support, should I.. you know.. but a horrible thought arose.  My policies are in my male name, and based on my male makeup, actuarial tables, lifeline, etc.. you know what I mean..

But if I transition, completely or not, name/gender change also, what will that do for my policies, my coverage, my.. family?  Of course, I do -not- want to tell my insurance company (yet) until I know what will happen.   

What have you girls done for your coverage, policies?  My occupation will not change (still kind of dangerous), I will just be doing it as a female (maybe).  As women live longer (chemical makeup I guess), would that change the advantage?  Make me a worse risk?  Leaving the stinkin' O-Care out of this, has anyone's -life- insurance been cancelled being trans?

I gotta know, will this f-up my coverage?

Paula

[Umiko]

technically from what i read, that new laws are being passed so you cant be denied coverage even if you are trans but my insurance is through the state so they definitely cant deny me my coverage. my suggest is try to find a gender friendly endo. i lucky out with such understanding doctors but i understand why you are frustrated. 

[AnneB]

This is life insurance, not medical insurance.   Like..  say I have life insurance policies thru MetLife (which I do not)..  what will happen if I gender or name change, what will happen to my insurance policies?  What did you do for your Life Insurance policies?

[Umiko]

This is life insurance, not medical insurance.   Like..  say I have life insurance policies thru MetLife (which I do not)..  what will happen if I gender or name change, what will happen to my insurance policies?  What did you do for your Life Insurance policies?

they shouldnt since your technically paying for it so if you change your name than they should honor that. life insurance is basically money you have so your love one's donthave have to pay the final expenses so my thought would be no, they wont deny you becuz again, you are paying their premium for your insurance

[Sydney_NYC]

I also have a Met-Life life insurance policy. I will have to update the policy with my name change so I suppose I will find out for sure. From what I've read, the policy should stay in effect. They asses your health at the beginning of the policy and no matter what happens medically, they can't cancel for any health changes until the end of the term (if term life insurance.) However getting coverage after transitioning may or may not be an issue depending on where you are in you transitioning. You have to list any surgeries, so unless you transitioned a while ago, they are going to find out between the HRT and and surgeries in the last few years.

[E-Brennan]

Life insurance has numerous exclusions and conditions.  You need to dig up a copy of your policy (or ask the insurance company to send one to you) and read them.

Bottom line, don't give the insurance company any reason to deny payment.  Err on the side of caution.  Sure, you might end up paying a little more if they re-underwrite your policy, but surely that's infinitely better than having your spouse denied payment upon your death because you tried to hide something from the insurance company?  Remember that the insurance company will be looking for reasons to not pay when the time comes.  But Sydney_NYC is on the money - this is a medical condition, and the insurance company took the risk that you'd have this (and any other medical condition) when they agreed to insure you.

The only problem I can see is if you knew you were trans before you applied for the policy and hid this from the insurer.  Is there a paper trail that exists documenting you as trans before you applied?  Therapy paid for by insurance?  Anything that the insurer could point to and say, "Look!  We'd never have insured him/her if we knew about this beforehand."

My suggestion?  Give them a call - anonymously if possible - and ask.  I think you might be pleasantly surprised that they will cover you if you transition, but I'd be interested to find out the answer.

On a side subject though: you sound like you're having suicidal thoughts.  Do you need to talk to someone or get help?  (And remember that life insurance usually will exclude suicide, so if you did anything to yourself, your policy would not pay out.)  Just be careful, okay?   

[AnneB]

there wasn't anything done/said until this past Oct, when I began transitioning...nothing in print prior to that..  and the policies have been in effect for last... 3 or 4 yrs with nothing in writing to indicate trans-ness.  But feeling this since.. what... Age 5 or 6, would possibly make it pre-existing?
Payment is auto-pay, so that precludes any possibility of missing a payment and being dropped.  And part of the monthly premium is paid thru investing.   I'll see if there's a way to phone them, anonymously, without caller ID, and ask.  Problem is usually, to be routed to the proper desk, you have to do the "Say or Type your policy number"  so I'll see what can be done abt that.   I was just hoping someone here had actually had to tell their underwriter, change whatever, and still be covered ok.  I guess they won't know until they ... um... pass, and their spouse gets, or doesn't get, the payout.

As for being a danger to myself.. No, I'm good, honest.  Bummed, depressed, moping, but  I'm only a danger to runways, and tires. (Professional joke)   

Thanks for your suggestions!   Paula

[helen2010]

Not strictly on topic but today I was told that my application for life cover was denied.   This is the first policy I have sought since starting hrt and being diagnosed as tg with significant GD.  Nothing else has changed.  Health is good and by all measures I am fit and well.  They  are not obliged to give their reasons for refusing cover so very disappointed!  Am in Oz so need to do some research to understand my options, if any

Aisla

[AnneB]

No, hon, you're good, it was on topic, as it could be info for others in Oz as well, I know there are quite a few "down unda'"..  I hope this doesn't make anyone scared their families won't be covered anymore, but in this day of disclosure, anything's possible, more likely, probable..   I hope you find a good company that will cover you.

I wonder if the reported suicide rates are what makes us bad risks, tho suicide is usually automatic grounds for not paying out.  The companies would get their money but just not pay out.  Would seem like a win win for them..

[Jenna Marie]

I had life insurance before, and it remains in effect after; they just changed the name and gender on the account. I actually get cheated that way, since the premiums were higher for men. But I'm OK with it.

[AnneB]

 thanks Jenna, I will look for a way to contact my company and ask.. (anonymously..)

[Teela Renee]

When I transitioned all my insurence companies dropped me, all but my car insurence. My rate got cheaper somehow.

[Ryan55]

When I transitioned all my insurence companies dropped me, all but my car insurence. My rate got cheaper somehow.

you pay more for car insurance as a guy than a girl, they think guys are more reckless drivers so they pay more than women

[LordKAT]

Mine went down when I changed name and gender on my auto insurance. I don't know why.

[AnneB]

Thanks for that, but this is Life... LIFE insurance I'm talking about..  you without families don't have to worry or think about it yet, but these of us with families, kids have to worry about thier future after you're gone. If you are dropped, cancelled, what then???!!!

LIFE Insurance worries!!