My disability has now left me uninsurable for medically underwritten life insurance. What are my options?

Being uninsurable is a confusing label, because it does not mean that you cannot get life insurance coverage. Instead, a medically uninsurable person is one who does not qualify for most private insurance coverage, primarily because of the acceptance regulations for private insurance and the necessity of medical exams to get the coverage. That does not mean you are without options, it only means that purchasing an individual life insurance policy may be difficult through traditional insurance venues.

Group life insurance policies, such as those available through an employer or community organization, do not require the medical exams that private insurance requires. Because group coverage has to be available for everyone, having a disability does not disqualify you or even result in paying higher premiums. If your employer does not offer group life insurance, check with other organizations you may belong to, including AAA, Sam's Club, and AARP.

Another option is to use guaranteed issue life insurance. This is typically thought of as high risk life insurance and comes at a much higher premium than group or private insurance. The advantage, though, is that this type of individual policy is available to people who are otherwise uninsurable. You would have to pay more for it, but this type of insurance is a viable option.

The only problem is that you cannot purchase a policy that is medically underwritten, with medically being the key word. As long as the policy you purchase does not require the medical exam and does not specifically exclude your disability, you can get insurance. If traditional insurance policies are too expensive, your last resort is to apply for basic death benefits coverage, sometimes called final expense insurance. This type of coverage typically pays directly to the funeral home of your choice, but other pay out options are available.