Disability Insurance - rejected by underwriter

[Guest guest]

I have CMT type 2A which is relatively mild as the DNA sequence

abnormality exists on only one chromosome of the pair. I am trying to

get disability insurance and my neurologist wrote me a letter to " get

in front " of this pre-existing condition. He stated simply that I

have a " chronic sensory peripheral neuropathy which I do not suspect

will ever impair his ability to function, walk or engage in gainful

employment. " Privately, he told me that the progressive numbing of my

extremities is happening so slowly that, at worst, perhaps when I'm in

my 60s I may need to use braces to walk but that I am unlikely to lose

the use of my limbs.

The underwriter for RiverSource Insurance (the new American Express

Financial Advisors / Ameriprise insurance company) sent me a letter

denying me coverage and my financial advisor at Ameriprise says

" Its frustrating, but what I've been told is that this is an industry

wide standard for anyone with peripheral neuropathy. So we can

inquire with other companies, but I think shopping around and finding

a carrier is going to be a bit of a challenge. I am also told that an

exclusion rider is not able to be considered due to the unpredictable

nature of the condition. "

Do any of you know of a way that a CMTer can get disability insurance,

perhaps with an exclusion for CMT? Or, perhaps, share your own

experiences in this regard. I searched the group postings and found

nothing on this posted in the past.

Many thanks.

[Guest guest]

,

Do you mean " Long Term Disability " insurance? Or what other kind? If

it is LTD, your employer may offer this.

~ Gretchen

[Guest guest]

This is the problem with having yourself diagnosed. Once you let the genie out

of the bottle you must live with the consequences. If CMT runs in the family,

it's easier to simply accept the obvious and the insurance industry will never

know. It's not like the doctors can really do anything for you, when you're in

your 40's and 50's deal with it then. But honestly no insurer is going to take

on a pretty much sure future disability claim, they're in business to take your

money not give money to you.

[Guest guest]

Yes I am now working for a small employer, less than 10 employees and I too have

been rejected for short and long-term disability because of CMT, Sleep Apnea

(although had surgery to try and resolve) and GERD (same, surgery to fix). It

would be unusual to get rejected if you have a large employer because then it is

a larger group plan than small employers have.

RPM