If you’re looking for hernia life insurance approval, you’ve come to the right place. Life insurance companies consider all medical conditions when determining whether to issue life insurance policies. If you have recently been diagnosed with a hernia and have an upcoming medical procedure, insurance companies must know this.
If you have had a hernia in the past that has been treated successfully, this is of less concern to an insurance company.
If left untreated, or in extreme hernia cases, a hernia can be a life-threatening condition that requires immediate medical care.
What is a hernia?
When an internal organ pushes through an opening in a muscle or tissue that holds it in place, this is called a hernia. An example would be when part of your intestines pushed through a weekend area in your abdominal wall.
Hernias most frequently occur in the abdomen. They also may appear in the groin, upper thigh, or belly button area. Fortunately, most hernias are not life-threatening medical conditions.
Hernias, however, do not go away on their own. Surgery is sometimes required to prevent other potentially dangerous medical conditions.
Common types of hernias
Inguinal hernia – this is the most common type of hernia, and they make up approximately 70% of all hernias. And Inguinal hernia occurs when a portion of your intestines push through a tear or weak spot in your abdominal wall; this often occurs in the inguinal canal.
The inguinal canal is in your groin area in both men and women.
Hiatal hernia – when part of your stomach protrudes up through your diaphragm and into your chest cavity; this is called a hiatal hernia. Your diaphragm is a sheet of muscles that allow you to breathe by expanding and contracting to draw air into your lungs. You diaphragm separates the organs from your chest from the organs in your abdomen.
Hiatal hernias are most common in adults over the age of 50. If a hiatal hernia occurs in children, it is typically the result of a congenital birth defect. Hiatal hernias are associated with gastroesophageal reflux (which means the stomach contents may leak backward into the esophagus, leading to a burning sensation).
Umbilical hernia – when children and babies under six months of age and their intestines bulge through their abdominal wall to the bellybutton, this is called an umbilical hernia. An umbilical hernia is often noticed as a bulge near your child’s belly button (often noticed while there are crying).
Incisional hernia – if a hernia occurs in the area of an abdominal surgery, this is called an incisional hernia. This is where your intestines pushed through the incision scar or surrounding areas that are weakened because of a surgery.
Causes of hernias:
- Age
- Chronic coughing
- Congenital defects, such as the failure of your abdominal wall to close properly in the womb
- Damage from a previous injury or surgery
- Strain in parts of your body:
- Constipation – this causes you to strain while having a bowel movement
- Fluid in the abdomen (ascites)
- Pregnancy – this causes pressure in the abdomen
- lifting heavy weights
- Persistent coughing or sneezing
- Sudden weight gain
- Surgery in an area
High-risk hernia conditions:
- Being overweight or obese
- Constipation
- Family or personal history of hernias
- Smoking (may trigger chronic coughing)
Symptoms of a hernia:
- Some hernias have no symptoms or cause no pain
- Pain or discomfort in hernia location (often when coughing, lifting, or bending over)
- A feeling of heaviness, weakness, or pressure in the abdomen
- Aching sensation, burning, or gurgling in the area of the bulge
- Acid reflux
- Chest pain
- Difficulty swallowing
How do doctors diagnose hernias?
Most hernias are diagnosed with a physical examination. Here are common ways that hernias are diagnosed:
- Your doctor will be observing you for signs of a bulge in your abdomen or groin area. This post will often get larger when you strain, cough, or stand.
- A barium x-ray or endoscopic procedure may be prescribed if your doctor suspects a hiatal hernia.
- An endoscopy may also be requested, so your doctor can observe your esophagus and stomach with a small camera attached to a tube inserted in your throat.
- Ultrasound test
Treatment options for a hernia
The size of your hernia and the severity of the symptoms you experience will determine what treatment options your doctor recommends. Your doctor may recommend dietary changes, weight loss, exercises, medication, or surgery.
Surgery is always the last option when treating hernias.
Complications of hernias
Hernias can become dangerous if a part of your bowel is obstructed or a section of your intestines does not get enough blood flow in the area of your hernia. Without enough blood flow in the intestines, strangulation occurs, and the affected intestinal tissue may become infected or die. This can lead to a septic infection within your body that is a life-threatening medical condition.
Does my hernia affect my ability to get life insurance?
If you have received hernia treatment and you have no further complications, this will rarely affect your hernia life insurance eligibility or rates. The life insurance company underwriters will consider your hernia and all other medical and physical conditions within your body.
If you have received hernia treatment and you are 100 pounds overweight, the 100 pounds of extra weight has more of an impact on your life insurance eligibility and rates than your hernia treatment or surgery.
If you have diabetes, heart problems, seizure problems, high blood pressure, thyroid problems, COPD, sleep apnea, or any other medical condition, these will be considered in addition to your hernia diagnosis before a life insurance company issues a life insurance policy. Your age, your medical conditions, and your overall health risk will determine your life insurance premiums.
Other hernia life insurance considerations
If you are scheduled for a hernia surgery, many insurance companies will want to wait until you have had the surgery and been medically released by your doctor. Because all surgeries increase the risk of negative health consequences, insurance companies will want to know of your positive surgery outcome before issuing your life insurance policy.
Because hernia surgeries occasionally have adverse medical complications, some people cannot work and may have to go on disability. If you’re disabled because of a hernia, insurance companies will also consider this before issuing and approving a life insurance policy.
When is the best time to purchase life insurance?
The best time to purchase life insurance is before you have a hernia. Life insurance is a great way to protect your family, income, and home from an unexpected death.
You always get your best life insurance rates when you are younger and healthier. Each year you grow older, your life insurance premiums will increase with age.
If you have a hernia and surgery is not yet recommended, now is a very good time to apply for life insurance. The lesser the risk you present to an insurance company, the better rates and coverage amount you will be eligible for.
If you are scheduled for a hernia surgery, call us, and we will help you understand your options.
If you have completed a successful hernia surgery and been released by your doctor, call us, and we will help you understand your options to get the best pricing and coverage amounts on your life insurance policy.
Conclusion
If you have been diagnosed with migraine headaches, call us to help you understand your life insurance options.
At Life Wealth Win, we specialize in healthy to high-risk life insurance cases. We can help you understand your life insurance options with migraines or any other medical problems.
We work with clients across the nation to get the best life insurance rates possible. If you have migraines, we can help you get the best life insurance rates.