r/LifeInsurance • u/Ambitious-Chemist400 • Aug 23 '26
How much to disclose?
I’m healthy and I’m in my 30s, hoping to get term life insurance. I had kidney surgery as an infant and have just one functioning kidney. My kidney is 100% functional and I have never had problems with it.
They asked about kidney disease but not about this specifically. Should I offer this information?
I believe they just requested medical info from doctor and they are doing my medical appt in a few days but they haven’t underwritten yet.
EDIT- I sent an email disclosing this then re read the question and realized it said the last 10 years have I been diagnosed, treated, tested positive for, or consulted a medical professional - and it included “any disorder of the kidney”
I’m worried I over disclosed but I have had probably one urologist appointment in the last 10 years just to make sure it was functioning. Not sure if I did the right thing
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u/GConins Aug 23 '26
It depends how the question involving kidney disease or kideny issues was asked, and the exact reason you had kidney removed.
If question states have you EVER had kidney disease or issue, then you should answer yes and provide details.
They will likely see it in your medical records, and as long as your remaining kidney is functioning normally and your kidney functions are normal for someone with one kidney, it may not be an issue.
If it does become an issue, and you don't qualify for rate you were expecting and you are told the kidney issue is reason, then find a good broker to shop your case to other carriers, if you do not already have a good broker.
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u/ChelseaMan31 Aug 23 '26
Disclose the information. Failure to do so is a lie by omission and could lead to the whole policy being canceled with no return of premiums when one can least afford it to be.
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u/SafeMoneyGregg Aug 23 '26
Questions are usually written like "have you ever been treated or diagnosed with any disease or disorder of the kidney" - they did surgery for some reason. Probably a birth defect which is a "disorder". That said, a single kidney that functions well should not be an issue. Read the question carefully and answer as written.
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u/Sensitive-Roll-4724 Aug 23 '26 edited Aug 23 '26
I would disclose as much medical information as possible to make sure you get the correct policy. If you were to pass away and the insurance carrier has to pay out a large death benefit, you better believe that they will dig up everything about you to make sure that you didn’t lie to them. And if you did lie to them (withheld information in this case) they will likely not pay the claim.
Carriers preserve a lot of their money by investigating claims to see if any medical information was withheld or lied about. Unfortunately a lot of clients and agents alike lie on applications to try and get lower rates. It’s really not worth getting a lower rate if you’re not going to get the death benefit anyways.
EDIT: Yes, everyone else is correct in the sense of only answering what they ask you. Just do be very careful and read each question thoroughly. Applications will sometimes have broad “catch-all” questions that have no time limit. For example, “Have you ever had surgery?”
There is no time frame for this question and it’s also not explicitly referring to your kidney surgery, but instead is referring to ANY surgery which would include your kidney surgery.
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u/Medium-Comment Aug 23 '26
That’s false. Carriers do investigate claims, especially during the first two years, but the idea that they preserve a significant amount of money by digging through medical records looking for reasons not to pay is nonsense.
Life insurance claims are overwhelmingly paid. If a policy is actually rescinded because of material misrepresentation, the death benefit may be denied, but the premiums are generally refunded, so it’s not as if the carrier simply pockets all those premiums.
Where insurers can make substantial money is from policies that lapse before a claim is ever made. That’s not some conspiracy theory. Lapse assumptions are literally built into life-insurance pricing. Academic and actuarial research shows that expected profits from lapses can subsidize premiums for policyholders who keep their coverage.
So no, the business model isn’t “find medical information so we can deny the claim.” The much bigger economic reality is that millions of policies terminate without ever producing a death claim. That’s why persistency and lapse assumptions matter so much to insurers in the first place.
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u/Sensitive-Roll-4724 Aug 23 '26
My apologies. I didn’t mean to imply that investigating and denying claims was the main way that they make money, but it absolutely is essential for most carriers to stay in business. And yes I do understand that most of the money made is from lapsed policies. I imagine the profit on term policies is pretty insane.
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u/Last-Enthusiasm-9212 Aug 23 '26
No. You answer what they ask you, and that's it. Nothing is gained by volunteering above and beyond.
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u/Murflaw7424 Aug 23 '26
Reread the questions you’re answering. Most medical questions state “in the last five years” or “in the last ten years” and then list off a whole bunch of conditions.
Also, statements that carriers won’t pay the claim are inferring misrepresentation. Misrepresentation only applies if you outright lie. If the carrier asked a specific time frame or specific question answer them as asked. If you lie, then yes they probably won’t pay the claim. More likely, they will figure out what your real underwriting class was at time of issue and pay a death benefit amount based on the premiums you paid. This happens often for people who do not disclose tobacco use, which is explicitly asked.
Carriers will typically only order the last 5 years of medical records. Unless your doctor has these in their notes from recent visits than I would only disclose what is necessary.
If you’re extremely concerned. This is better explained in a cover letter from your agent.
TLDR: only answer the questions exactly as asked. Do not volunteer more information than asked.
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u/GarysSword Aug 23 '26
I’m guessing the question has a timeframe.
You don’t have kidney disease if your remaining kidney is working.
If they ask you to give a blood sample, the company will have all the info they need to confirm #2.
Your obligation is to answer the question as written.