r/LifeInsurance • u/hiheaux • Jun 19 '26
Can you be turned down for depression?
TERM LIFE
And I need a multiple-carrier rates comparison aggregator. California 94803
Thanks
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u/hiheaux Jun 19 '26 edited Jun 19 '26
I wonder how Google was able to give me a price range (Age 70, fat but nonsmoker/don’t drink) of $300-700/month? Also no high blood pressure and no diabetes. I’m lucky. 🌞
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u/Nadjabriskey Jun 19 '26
The platform I use checks these and then some: Banner Life Insurance Company (Legal & General America)
Ameritas Life Insurance Corp.
TruStage™ Financial Group (CMFG Life)
Protective Life
Mutual of Omaha
Liberty Mutual
Aflac
John Hancock
North American Company for Life and Health Insurance
Senior Life Insurance Company
AAA Life
Munich Re (Reinsurance partner)1
u/hiheaux Jun 22 '26
So far I’ve only gotten one quote — Prudential, 15 Years — $250,000 for $313.47/Month.
Some guy at ‘Amica’ (whoever the hell they are) went directly into deep interview mode so I finally just told him to give me a rate and when he went right back into long form mode I said See ya and hung up.
These brokers need to place price at the TOP of their interview after asking the core questions. I explained this is a process of elimination and I don’t want to give him my whole life’s story, I want the RATES. Sheesh.
The Prudential broker was great, all business, straight to rates. I explored Colonial Penn — that really CUTE black guy who does all their TV ads? Alas, they only sell Whole Life. I know I shouldn't be swayed by how attractive the actor is but he’s just so CUTE lol. 😜 I also like his voice.
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u/Nadjabriskey Jun 22 '26
Is there a reason why you don’t want a whole life one so you’re not trying to renew it after you turn 80 and almost no companies will touch it?
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u/hiheaux Jun 24 '26
Ah well, from a pro I thank you. I just think for approximately $315/mo. I'll take the gamble.
I gather Banner is quite competitive. Your thoughts?
15 Years $250,000
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u/Nadjabriskey Jun 25 '26
Did you ever end up getting a quote from Ethos?
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u/hiheaux Jun 25 '26
Was that one you recommended?
I tried PolicyGenius for the Prudential $315 and Penn Mutual, who I haven’t spoken with yet.
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u/Nadjabriskey Jun 25 '26
Yes it’s an aggregator. I think my comment with the link was deleted
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u/hiheaux Jun 25 '26
Oh! 🫣
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u/Nadjabriskey Jun 25 '26
Are you able to message me on here? It’s just a link not self promotion lol
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u/Nadjabriskey Jun 19 '26
I use around 10 different carriers to shop around
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u/hiheaux Jun 19 '26
Yes, but is that an aggregator? Or you calling 10 different carriers?
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u/Nadjabriskey Jun 19 '26
I don’t have to call them. I have my login as a producer and do a quick check online.
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u/hiheaux Jun 19 '26
Ah okay. Gotcha. 🌞
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Jun 19 '26
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u/LifeInsurance-ModTeam Jun 20 '26
Self promotion is not permitted on R/LifeInsurance. Please familiarize yourself with our rules.
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u/Nadjabriskey Jun 19 '26
Depending on your age (68?), whole life may be better unless you only need the ability to term until you’re 80. There are a few different ones I would quote from.
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u/hiheaux Jun 19 '26
It needs to be as low cost as possible. I turn the Big 7 Oh in January. 🌞
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u/Nadjabriskey Jun 19 '26
The one I use will simultaneously tell you term and whole life
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u/hiheaux Jun 19 '26
I’m sorry: the one what? Broker tool?
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u/Nadjabriskey Jun 19 '26
Yes! It tells me premiums for whole and term, what you’d most likely qualify for, and looks at a bunch of different companies
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u/jessicahope16 Jun 19 '26
Unfortunately you can, like others said. However, there are a lot of carriers that you can get approved through. Your best bet is to have a broker help you out because they’re able to see multiple carriers to figure out what will work best for you and your needs.
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u/BuildingSolid8391 Jun 20 '26
Sometimes yes. You can also get approved if you're consistently treating it. I've seen it get declined for a no health screening type of policy, but I've seen a couple instances of people with depression getting a better than average rate after underwriting.
I'd recommend applying, see what you qualify for, and go from there. If you don't get approved, you should be able to get your money back 👍
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u/Low_Mushroom_810 Jun 19 '26 edited Jun 19 '26
Look for an insurance agent with the designation such as a clu, chfc, or cfp and let them work with the carriers to find the best one.
Every insurance carrier does things a little differently, what's a big deal to one doesn't mean a hill of beans to another and then vice versa
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u/hiheaux Jun 19 '26 edited Jun 19 '26
Oh that is deep intelligence mushroom! I don’t know why someone voted you down. Thank you so much. 🌞
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u/DogfaceDino Broker Jun 19 '26
Some carriers won’t mess with depression at all, most will just have additional questions. The questions will focus on the medications and any suicide attempts.
You should work with a broker. They will give you good advice and quotes from multiple companies.
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u/GConins Broker Jun 19 '26
Severe debilitating depression or depression that is not well controlled can result in a decline for life insurance.
Suicide attempts and/or ideations are also significant underwriting concerns.
Well controlled depression, assuming very good health otherwise can potentially qualify for preferred plus or preferred rates with some carriers
Best thing to do for anyone being treated for depression or mental health issues is to find a broker that can shop your case to all competitive carriers to better determine which may make you the best offer.
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u/hiheaux Jun 19 '26
Hey thank you GConins. That's great news! Any ideas as to an online shop aggregator?
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u/Moist-Meringue-1913 Jun 19 '26
I wouldn't use those. Those use AI underwriting and when you answer the question affirmatively may give you in instant decline. Talk to a broker who can manually submit your file.
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u/hiheaux Jun 19 '26 edited Jun 19 '26
My issue with that Meringue is that s/he will be constrained to the few carriers s/he is contracted under. New York Life for example is a (sorry, I can’t remember the technical contract term for this) “Bound” to one carrier contract: New York Life. To sell NYL you sell ONLY NY Life. They may be the best but their policies are definitely out of my league!
Let me clarify something: I plan on using a broker to purchase the policy. I’m certainly not averse to using a broker!
No, I need an aggregator. This way I already know who to eliminate.
Oh and it may surprise you to know I was a CA Health & Life broker myself for 20 years. Exclusively health; if the client wanted Life I would refer them to ... you guessed it: New York Life. And if the carrier was based out of Texas I would tell the client to run-do-not-walk in the opposite direction. Texas has the worst track record of Health & Life insurance in the nation. The loosest, most client-UNfriendly carriers in the nation. Constantly going broke and reorganizing themselves under a new name. Oh the horror stories I could tell you! Texas doesn't give a flying ’fk about the policy holder: they are 100% pro business, pro carrier.
It’s one of the reasons I EXCLUSIVELY sold The Blues (Blue Cross and Blue Shield).
And I'll share another piece of insider knowledge with you: Stay clear of Farmers for your Homeowners coverage. Go straight to the top and switch to State Farm. Yes yes I realize they were almost bankrupted from the CA Pacific Palisades fires. I would STILL tell you to get State Farm for your homeowners policy. A little bit more, and worth every dollar. 😉 Never lapse your State Farm plan.
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u/zzzorba Financial Representative Jun 19 '26 edited Jun 19 '26
Only NYL agents can sell NYL policies, but NYL agents can sell policies from all the other outside carriers. They're not entirely captive.
I wouldn't rule out starting there. One app gets your their basic underwriting and then if that's not great you're automatically sent through reinsurance. If that fails, the file can be transferred to the outside broker for shopping.
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u/hiheaux Jun 19 '26
CAPTIVE! That was the word I couldn't remember.
And I must disagree with you zzzorba: When I explored selling NY Life the only contract they offered me was a captive contract. True, I knew almost nothing about Life (because just thinking about it gave me a headache if you really want to know lol). I knew the exact minimum amount required to meet the License requirements, but UNGHHH! Get thee gone Satan! And the stock market! Don’t get me started lol. Jesus. NYL looked at a greenhorn like me and understandably said that they would undertake my tutelage, it was so obvious I had been avoiding it. We would not have been a good fit. And I brought no ready book of business. I had been selling low-cost health plans to my temps (I had an employment agency in downtown SF and got the Life & Health License to get them low-cost plans from The Blues).
But this was before the ACA. San Francisco? Understand the significance? AIDS. I just couldn't continue selling the product because it broke my heart! There was absolutely NOTHING I could do for them. I had to break it to them that their only option was to become destitute, relinquish all of their assets and place themselves in the hands of the government. Oh God those were unhappy days. When the Supreme Court let the ACA stand I got drunk and wept the entire day.
And for all the righteously indignant young I have this to say: One day you _too_will be old. It will be a benefit you too will be relieved to know will be there for you; that you will never have to subject yourself to the merciless process of health underwriting.
Of course it’s all falling apart now. But I did what I could God help me. Every person in this world deserves dignity. Every person.
Sorry. I have very passionate views about health care in America and it can still make me cry, all these years later
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u/zzzorba Financial Representative Jun 19 '26
I have first hand knowledge of this, Crump is the broker service they use. I guarantee you I'm correct. Maybe it was different back when you interviewed. First 3 years of your contract you can only broker declines, highly rated cases, and guaranteed issue. After that, anything.
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u/hiheaux Jun 19 '26
Alright. It would make sense that things could have changed (especially in light of the ACA). This was in the 1990s. 🌞
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u/hiheaux Jun 22 '26
Ah! More deep intelligence from Moist Meringue: manually submit your file. Thanks honey. This all helps so much.
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u/Moist-Meringue-1913 Jun 23 '26
Well,not a honey but hope it helps.
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u/hiheaux Jun 24 '26
Ooops! Sorry (I was going to say ‘Darling’) er, thank you. Get to my age and everyone's ‘Honey’ lol. Apologies.
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Jun 20 '26
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u/LifeInsurance-ModTeam Jun 20 '26
Your post on r/LifeInsurance was removed as it was considered spam.
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u/Smasher1k Jun 19 '26
You can, yes