Look, there’s no getting away from the fact that insurance companies aren’t the most progressive places in the world.
Everything moves at a snail’s pace.
Some still use fax machines, I kid you not.
So, you can imagine, I was a bit anxious when I approached underwriting with a query regarding life insurance for a transgender person.
I was expecting dead air then a hurried “eh, we’ll have to refer this to our reinsurers” but I must admit, they were much better than I expected.
*Please note: The statements are the un-edited responses of underwriters at some of our insurers and do not reflect the views of lion.ie
But one insurer (who shall remain nameless) didn’t let me down:
Nick, not sure to be honest. I’d imagine we must adhere to certain guidelines. I’ll review with the reinsurer and revert.
Quickly followed by:
No issues with this, we’d get a PMAR and underwrite as normal based on the medical history!
You can get a standard rate life insurance quote here.
Generally when you apply for life insurance, if your sex at birth was female, you should apply as female.
If your sex at birth was male, your should apply as male.
European life insurance providers now offer the same premiums to both sexes since December 2012.
So in effect,  for transgender individuals this means that you can apply for life insurance as male or female depending upon your gender identity and not your biological sex
No, it’s not that simple I”m afraid.
Gender transitioning is a complicated process, financially, legally, physically and emotionally, so there are many factors in play when underwriting an individual for life insurance.
Many individuals participate in counseling, hormone therapy, and are on a number of prescribed medications.
Some of these factors could affect your final premium.
So while a transgender person can get the normal price for life insurance, it is likely that the insurer will increase their price due to other medical disclosures.
If you have no health issues, the insurer wiull accpet you at their standard price.
This is more difficult as there is likely to be ongoing surgery which presents a risk for the insurer.
Therefore the insurers are likely to postpone offering cover until after you have recovered from surgery.
As I hope is clear from the above, all the insurers can offer the normal price to a transgender person.
But it’s the additional medical conditions that could cause the issue.
Some insurers will increase the premium if there have been mental health issues surrounding the gender transitioning, other insurers are more sympathetic.
It’s up to me to find the right home for your cover.
If you’d like me to help, please complete the quick outline form below and I’ll be right back.
I will discuss your case, strictly on a no-name basis with my underwriters before you complete an application form.
And I will help you get the best policy for your individual situation, at the best price, with the least amount of hassle.
Don’t worry, I’ll take all the stress and worry off your shoulders by arranging your cover discreetly.
But please try to be patient because life insurance application forms are still binary, unfortunately, and you may be asked stupid questions!
Nick McGowan
lion.ie | making life insurance easier
As Ireland's leading life insurance broker, we specialise in comparing the rates and policies from the top five Irish life insurance providers and offering the very best value quotes to suit the individual needs of our clients. Our expertise lies in finding a suitable insurance plan for those with specific needs, be it a particular illness, occupation or claim history, we've got you covered in every sense!
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