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Information about all aspects of finances affected by a serious health condition. Includes income sources such as work, investments, and private and government disability programs, and expenses such as medical bills, and how to deal with financial problems.
Information about all aspects of health care from choosing a doctor and treatment, staying safe in a hospital, to end of life care. Includes how to obtain, choose and maximize health insurance policies.
Answers to your practical questions such as how to travel safely despite your health condition, how to avoid getting infected by a pet, and what to say or not say to an insurance company.

Summary

If you do decide to use a professional to assist you to purchase any type of insurance, it is important to choose one wisely. (To help decide whether to use a professional, see: Should I Use A Broker Or Other Professional To Help Me Buy Insurance?).

Whether you pay an insurance professional for his or her time, or not, it is helpful to have at least a speaking background of the types of coverage that are available. You can find the discussion in our articles on each common type of insurance.

Let your professional know immediately when you acquire any major assets, have a change in work status, change jobs or start a new business. Also let the professional know when you dispose of any assets so your coverage, and premium, can be reduced.

What If I'm Buying Insurance That Might Require Disclosure Of Health Information?

If you do have to disclose your health condition, you must tell the truth. If you don't, it's considered fraud. Not only is fraud a crime, you may find that while you pay premiums year after year -- the insurance company refuses to pay a claim when a loss happens.(To decide whether to use a professional, see:Should I Use A Broker Or Other Professional To Help Me Buy Insurance?)

If you're thinking of buying health, life, or disability insurance that requires you to disclose health information, be careful to whom you disclose your condition. Some professionals, eager to make a commission, will submit your application even if there is almost no chance of your being approved. If you're turned down, the information that's used in making that decision will unnecessarily be reported to the Medical Information Bureau.

How Do I Choose An Insurance Professional

When deciding which insurance professional to use, consider the following:

State licensing:

  • Make sure the person you're using is licensed in your state to sell the types of insurance you need.
  • Ask to see the person's license. (It may already be hanging on the wall.)
  • If there's any doubt, check with your state's insurance department offsite link.

Credentials:

  • Generally, the more time your professional has spent becoming an accredited expert, the more likely he or she will work for you and your needs regardless of commission.
  • If you are considering purchasing life insurance, look for someone who has the initials CLU (Chartered Life Underwriter) after his or her name.
  • If you need liability, home, auto, or other property/casualty insurance, look for someone who is a CPCU (chartered property casualty underwriter.)

Experience: Ask the person if he or she has experience working with someone of economic standing similar to yours. An agent who is used to writing multi-million dollar umbrella liability policies may not be the best person to help you save money on your car insurance. If you're considering buying life, health, or disability insurance, find someone who has experience assisting people with a history of health conditions.

Personal Recommendations: While the recommendations of a friend, colleague, relative, acquaintance or opinionated loudmouth on your bus might be helpful in choosing an insurance professional, you should still consider the above. Just because a person hasn't had a problem with a particular agent or broker doesn't mean you won't.

Do I Need To Disclose My Health Condition To An Insurance Broker?

Only if your health is a consideration involved in an insurance company's decision whether to insure the risk -- and if so, at what price. For example, with property and casualty policies such as Homeowners or Automobile insurance, your health condition is not relevant.

For insurance such as Life Insurance or Disability Insurance, your health is relevant.