Live Insurance News

Life insurance medical exam may soon be a thing of the past

August 9, 2017August 7, 2017 Julie Campbell

Technology and data services may soon provide an accurate and cost-effective replacement to health tests. A life insurance medical exam is often one of the most dreaded parts of applying for that type of coverage. That said, as systems and data continue to improve, this requirement may not be needed for much longer. This could mean that the added need for blood and urine samples, weigh-ins and blood pressure checks may stop. The reason is that the information obtained through a life insurance medical exam may be replaced by technology…

Life insurance premiums may soon be selfie-based

April 25, 2017April 22, 2017 Julie Campbell

Facial recognition technology could be used to better understand a person’s overall wellness. Selfies have become exceptionally commonplace, but these self-portraits may soon have an impact on life insurance premiums. In fact, as facial recognition and analysis technology continues to improve, it may one day determine whether or not someone even qualifies for a policy. The reason is that selfies provide a great deal of information about a person’s health and aging. The various details picked up by a selfie, such as drooping skin, fine lines and wrinkles, contours and…

Life and disability insurance companies penalize women with postpartum depression

March 2, 2016March 1, 2016 Julie Campbell

pregnant mothers postpartum depression disability insurance

As mental illness gains more awareness and people seek diagnosis and treatment, drawbacks are appearing. This year kicked off with the recommendation from a government-appointed panel that all new moms and pregnant women receive depression screenings, and while this move toward mental health care improved, drawbacks are being experienced by life and disability insurance customers. The move to help women to obtain assistance for maternal mental illness is being applauded as a much-needed step. Public health advocates have been very pleased that pregnant women and new moms will be better…

Life insurance for federal employees may soon be more expensive

August 12, 2015August 11, 2015 Julie Campbell

Some workers may find that their rates will be rising, but others will be seeing them fall. Just as federal employees just faced an increase in the premiums that they pay for long term care coverage, they have now discovered that some life insurance rates may also be rising for their policies in 2016. This latest change in insurance rates will affect a much wider number of people, as many opt out of LTC. According to the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), while some people will be seeing a rise…

Life insurance companies could use iPhone apps to calculate rates

October 7, 2014October 4, 2014 Julie Campbell

Speculations are swirling about the use of data from health and fitness applications by insurers. As apps and gadgets focused on health and fitness tracking become increasingly popular, many are beginning to speculate that these tools could provide the life insurance industry with valuable data for determining the rates that they are charging individual consumers. In an idea that is similar to usage based auto insurance, iPhones could measure actual policyholder risk levels. Among the elements that have been introduced to the new mobile operating system from Apple is one…

Life insurance premiums will be rising for older vets

May 27, 2014May 24, 2014 H. Cutner

Veterans who are over a certain age could soon find that their coverage is becoming more costly. According to a statement that has been released by Veterans Affairs Department officials, as of July 1, 2014, older vets will find themselves facing higher life insurance premiums for their Veterans Group Life Insurance policies. The increase will apply only to vets who are aged 70 years and older and it will be for 2.2 percent. This life insurance rate increase is the first one to have been put into place for veterans…

Life insurance companies discriminate against marijuana users

April 1, 2014March 29, 2014 Julie Campbell

A newly published report suggests that insurers require these consumers to pay more for policies. A website that provides consumers with life insurance quotes has now released a new report that suggests that people who use marijuana will usually have to pay more for their policies than people who do not. The report is drawing industry attention from both insurers, agents, and consumers alike. This recent news was published under the title “Marijuana Users Discriminated Against by Life Insurance Companies.” It was released on the LifeAnt website and explained that…