Problems getting life insurance for autistic children (autism, baby, accident)

[jersgrl1969]

My 5 year-old daughter has autism, and I tried getting life insurance for her (I won't say which company, but they manufacture baby food). I received a letter from them asking a bunch of questions about her condition, then later I got a letter stating they were sorry but they couldn't offer her coverage.
Has this happened to anyone else? Is this discrimination? Why would they deny her coverage when she doesn't have a life-threatening condition?

[Floridamom1970]

I have an eleven year old daughter with severe low functioning autism. I have never tried to get the life insurance for her though. My guess is that they were using all those questions to try to determine if she is at high risk for life threatening injury. Their refusal was probably based on your answers.

Myy child is not hyperactive like some autistics, but she has limited safety mechanisms. For example, she will walk right out into the middle of the road placing herself at serious risk of injury or death.

[jersgrl1969]

Originally Posted by Floridamom1970

I have an eleven year old daughter with severe low functioning autism. I have never tried to get the life insurance for her though. My guess is that they were using all those questions to try to determine if she is at high risk for life threatening injury. Their refusal was probably based on your answers.

Myy child is not hyperactive like some autistics, but she has limited safety mechanisms. For example, she will walk right out into the middle of the road placing herself at serious risk of injury or death.

Yes, I kind of figured that's what the rub is-her increased risk of injuries due to her autism. Thanks for replying!

[Movie Lover]

Originally Posted by jersgrl1969

My 5 year-old daughter has autism, and I tried getting life insurance for her (I won't say which company, but they manufacture baby food). I received a letter from them asking a bunch of questions about her condition, then later I got a letter stating they were sorry but they couldn't offer her coverage.
Has this happened to anyone else? Is this discrimination? Why would they deny her coverage when she doesn't have a life-threatening condition?

Boy oh boy, thats discrimination all the way. Aren't we(I have Aspergers Syndrome)worthy of being equal?

[Inthesierras]

We haven't tried to get life insurance yet, but we have been talking about it. We have the paperwork for the baby food company also. Good to know, thanks.

[ggluvbug]

I will say the name--Gerber Life Insurance. And my son, who is bipolar, was denied life insurance as well. There was no real explination. Just a denial.
My work coverage, however, did cover him.

[jtur88]

Why do you think you need life insurance for her? The purpose of life insurance is to fix what money will fix, in the event of death. How severe is her autism? Is there a realistic expectation that she will at some point in her life have dependents that will depend on her? If not, there is nothing to protect with life insurance. You should not be buying life insurance simply with the expectatin that there will be some windfall. Unless you expect her to die sooner than the underwriters do, you can just set aside the premiums and do just as well in the long run.

[kdmiller]

jtur88, I would have to disagree with you regarding the purpose of insurance and insuring Children. The purpose of insurance is not to fix anything....the prupose is quite simple, INCOME REPLACEMENT. The idea is not to give someone a pile of money so they feel like they have won the lotery, the idea is to have some way of replacing an income should one of the income earners pass by pulling the set amount out monthly for life. The purpose of insurance on children is a little different, look at it this way, say someone has children, one day something happens and one of them dies. First of all funerals are expensive, so the moeny for that has to come from somewhere. Secondly, if you had a child that was in an accident and died, would you want to go back to work right away???? Probably not, and if you had insurance on that child you would be able to take the time you need to mourn and adjust. No one ever wants to think of this but it does happen, and children can not be replaced so to say that "there is nothing to protect" is a pretty harsh statement, my children are worth a lot more than nothing to me and I don't think there is any amount of insurance that could ever offset the value of the life of my child.....

Just my 2 cents

[rockinmomma]

as a friend of someone who has had a child pass at the age of 10, I can say that insurance was greatly appriciated. A child's policy is usually minimal (theirs was 5000.00 I believe) and by no means a windfall. Other than the before mentioned aspects of greif time and the funeral itself.... what about the headstone, the actual plot? Do you know how much one of those things are?!?!?!

Her child was a seemingly healthy girl.... she had a brain anurisim (sp?).

[dolphinsonchest]

Originally Posted by jersgrl1969

My 5 year-old daughter has autism, and I tried getting life insurance for her (I won't say which company, but they manufacture baby food). I received a letter from them asking a bunch of questions about her condition, then later I got a letter stating they were sorry but they couldn't offer her coverage.
Has this happened to anyone else? Is this discrimination? Why would they deny her coverage when she doesn't have a life-threatening condition?

As a financial adviser life insurance is a major piece of my practice. A few years ago I gave my new nieces and nephews what I call, "The Gift of Life". Insurance carriers will allow you to purchase life insurance after 14 days of birth. I always recommend this for all my clients in purchasing a small whole life policy of $25,000. Typically the premiums run about $14.00 per month and about age 36 they should vanish if you purchase this from a Mutual Insurance Co. This will be with about every insurance carrier in the market. Unfortunately most don't really think about this. Sidebar** My little nephew was just diagnosed with Autism. Who would have guessed? He now has a whole life policy and I will execute the Waiver of Premium for disability and the premiums will be paid in full until age 65. Now I have built a nice nest egg for this little guy that he will have at retirement. Just transfer the ownership of the life policy to a "special needs trust" and, Whala... Magic.