Some years ago, I was approached by a persistent insurance agent who wanted to sell me life insurance.  A small purchase of life insurance then turned into a purchase of disability insurance.  My employer-provided disability insurance as a benefit, but the salesman convinced me that I needed additional insurance to supplement any income I might get in the event that I was partially or totally disabled and no longer able to work.  Reluctantly, I agreed.

As my family grew, I continued to increase my life insurance, so that my boisterous family would be protected in the event of my untimely demise.  Each of these purchases required a physical.  And a lengthy questionnaire about my medical history.  I passed each time with flying colors.

I recently met up with my insurance agent and discussed my current medical situation.  I had avoided the meeting until I knew more about my medical condition.  I had a sinking suspicion of how the conversation might go.  But I also needed actual confirmation of a diagnosis before having the conversation.  I expressed my concern about whether I would able to retain all of my coverage without any further underwriting.  He confirmed that I could.  But then the bombshell.  Due to my current medical diagnosis, no increases would be permitted to my disability insurance.

That’s when it hit me.  I’m high risk now.  Virtually un-insurable on the disability insurance front.

The thought is rather daunting.  Think about it.  I am able to work full-time and carry on most any activity that I want.  There are limitations.  There are some changes.  But the prospect of being unable to work, even full-time, seems unconscionable at this point.

Then you think about the group of underwriters and actuaries crunching numbers and determining how to properly price a premium for disability insurance.  The research and statistics they review in terms of the possibility that the insurance company will eventually have to pay out on a disability insurance policy.  They cannot predict risks like sudden accidents or casualties, which are unforeseeable.  (Unless you disclose to them that you enjoy extreme sky diving and amateur drag racing in your spare time.)  But they can analyze medical conditions and diagnoses and compare data on the likelihood that the prospective insured may eventually seek payment on the disability policy.  In other words, they can look at predictors that indicate the likelihood that you will eventually be partially or totally disabled.

The thoughts slowly get processed in my mind.  I can retain my current policy, because there is no additional underwriting requirement for continuing that policy at its current level.  However, I am ineligible for any additional coverage.  Period.  The insurance company, if the time comes, will pay out on the policy it already issued and that I continue to pay for.  But it will not accept any more risk.  The statistics are not good.  The probability of a pay out on the policy is high.  It is not a risk the insurance company will take.

This is not quite the same as being turned down for a loan or a job or…well, anything, really.  It is a message from the insurance company that there is a high probability that you will eventually be partially or totally disabled.  And there it is. Not even forty years old, and already virtually un-insurable on the disability insurance front.  Damn.

Now, for some good news.  Not all insurance requires underwriting.  Employer-provided insurance benefits are often in the group insurance pool, where individual employees/insureds are not required to go through an underwriting process.  I happen to be with a company that provides disability insurance as a benefit, even now that I am a part-owner and not merely an employee.  That does not go away.  I do not lose that insurance because of my condition.  If I leave here for another job…well, it would be safe to assume that benefits will be a big part of the conversation and a big factor on whether I could ever leave where I am.

Up until recently, health insurance in the U.S. was very similar.  Pre-existing conditions could mark you as virtually un-insurable under private health insurance plans.  Group health insurance through employers was one of the only solutions, and only then if there had been no gaps in coverage from other group plans.  Now, however, under the Affordable Care Act, or Obama Care, pre-existing conditions cannot serve to bar access to health insurance.  It may not be inexpensive, but it is available.  The virtually un-insurable become insurable again.  At least until certain political factions or the justices sitting on the U.S. Supreme Court decide otherwise.

The long and short of it is that I am fortunate that, through a series of completely random and mostly unintentional decisions, I am presently covered with disability insurance through my employer, with supplemental insurance through my private insurance agent.  I am, however, un-insurable for any increased coverage for disability insurance.  At least I know that I am virtually un-insurable.  I’m high risk.  I will not have to go back through the underwriting process.  I will not have to fill out the long questionnaires about my medical history or my hobbies.

Of course, I think being high risk should result from something more awesome sounding.  Maybe I should look into this whole amateur drag racing thing.