Does anxiety medication affect life insurance?
Asked by: Haskell Medhurst | Last update: December 9, 2025Score: 4.8/5 (58 votes)
Will anxiety disqualify you from life insurance?
A mental illness does not automatically disqualify a person from life insurance eligibility. Each insurance company has their own underwriting guidelines, so talking to a financial professional can help find which coverage may be a good match.
Can I get life insurance if I take antidepressants?
Antidepressants and life insurance
Taking anti-depressants does not automatically disqualify you from life insurance coverage. When you fill out a life insurance application, you will be asked about any existing medical conditions you may have as well as any medications you may be on.
What medications will keep you from getting life insurance?
Many medications can affect your life insurance application, but some common examples include blood thinners, opioids, antidepressants, and medications used to treat chronic conditions such as diabetes or high blood pressure.
What will disqualify me from life insurance?
A few common examples of pre-existing conditions include high blood pressure, diabetes, cancer, and asthma. Previous injuries might be considered pre-existing conditions, depending on their severity and any lasting effects.
The Problem With Life Insurance And Mental Health
What will deny life insurance?
People are typically denied life insurance because they fall into a high-risk category. This is often due to health challenges like diabetes, obesity or a previous diagnosis of serious disease.
Does life insurance check your medical records?
Yes, life insurers will review your medical records if you are applying for a medically underwritten policy. They can do so only with the consent of the applicant, however. The consent agreement between the applicant and insurance company will specify the number of years of medical records that will be examined.
How far back does life insurance look at prescriptions?
And, depending on the service they use, your insurer may access as much as eight to ten years of your prescription history. This means that your taking medication used to treat a condition insurers associate with a higher risk may raise premiums or hurt your insurability for a long time.
What disqualifies you from whole life insurance?
Pre-existing conditions – meaning any health issue or condition that existed before applying for coverage – are often considered high-risk by insurance companies and can lead to disqualification. Chronic conditions that require long-term medication or treatment can also impact eligibility.
How to hide medication from insurance?
Drugs can be secret, too
Under HIPAA, you have the right to ask your pharmacist not to tell your health insurance company about any drugs you take. Again, pay in full so the provider or pharmacy does not need to get paid by your insurance company.
Does having depression affect your life insurance?
Many insurance policies do not cover pre-existing conditions. This means that they will not pay out on a claim related to a pre-existing condition, including mental health problems. For example, if you have a diagnosis of depression when you apply for insurance, this would be considered a pre-existing condition.
Can someone be on antidepressants for life?
For people with chronic or severe depression, medication may be needed on a long-term basis. In these cases, antidepressants are often taken indefinitely. That is, in part, because depression is not an illness that can be cured.
Does drugs affect life insurance?
Aside from the risk of claim denial, substance use can also impact your ability to obtain life insurance coverage from the start. Insurers assess the level of risk associated with each applicant, and drug use is considered a risk factor.
Do antidepressants affect life insurance?
Yes, you can still get life insurance if you take antidepressants. However, your premiums and coverage may be affected by your medical condition and the severity of your symptoms.
At what point is anxiety a disability?
You can prove to the SSA that your anxiety disorder is “serious and persistent” through medical records showing three things: You've had anxiety for at least two years. You receive ongoing medical treatment to help manage or diminish your symptoms. Treatment can include mental health therapy.
What disqualifies me for life insurance?
People are typically denied life insurance because they fall into a high-risk category. This is often due to health challenges like diabetes and obesity, as well as non-health related life insurance disqualifiers like a dangerous job or hobby, a history of speeding tickets or using tobacco products.
What makes a person uninsurable for life insurance?
Similar to high cholesterol, high blood glucose/sugar levels are another reason you may be denied for life insurance. High levels are typically a precursor for Diabetes, which is a much bigger risk for carriers to insure. Again, some companies are more lenient with diabetes than others, so don't lose hope!
What reasons will life insurance not pay?
- Nonpayment of Premiums.
- Death during the Contestability Period.
- Misrepresentation on Application.
- Employer Failed to Submit a Disability Waiver of Premium.
- Problems with the Beneficiary.
- Policy was included in a Trust or a Will.
- Denials Due to Suicide Exclusion.
Can nursing homes take your life insurance from your beneficiary?
A nursing home cannot take your life insurance policy if you have one or more named beneficiaries. If you pass away, the nursing home that was responsible for your care cannot attempt to claim any of the death benefits from your policy as long as you named a beneficiary to receive it.
Can you hide your prescription history?
A lot of hospitals and doctor's offices remove your name from your prescription history before sharing it with marketing or drug companies. If you don't want this to happen, ask your doctor to opt-out of having your information used this way. And remember to keep your pill bottles and receipts private.
Do life insurance companies call your doctor?
If you agree to let them go through your medical history, they'll contact your doctor and will look at your records over the last five to ten years. If you don't give your permission, they can't investigate your background and could either refuse to insure you or offer you insurance with higher premiums.
Do they drug test you for life insurance?
A life insurance medical exam looks for key health indicators such as blood pressure levels, cholesterol levels, blood sugar, and the presence of substances like nicotine or drugs. It also assesses overall health through physical measurements, a medical history review, and lab tests of blood and urine samples.
Can life insurance access mental health records?
Insurance companies can see mental health records, prescriptions you've filled, and much more when making their decision to approve or deny you. This information is used to determine your risk or rating class. The classification will determine how much you pay for the life of the policy.
What not to say when applying for life insurance?
Tobacco use: Lying about smoking on a life insurance application likely constitutes a misrepresentation, even if you only smoke occasionally. Drug and alcohol use: Someone who engages in drug or alcohol misuse may omit this information.
What is the 80% rule 1 point?
The 80% rule means that an insurer will only fully cover the cost of damage to a house if the owner has purchased insurance coverage equal to at least 80% of the house's total replacement value.