skip to main content

We may earn money when you click on our links. Learn More

Icon Close  Light

Call Today! 888-234-8376

Top Prescription Medications That Life Insurance Companies Hate

Researcher & Writer
April 01, 2020

When it comes to a life insurance application, one detail that many don't expect to face is the fact that the insurer will perform a prescription history check. And when applying for life insurance, your prescription drug history may have an impact on whether or not you are approved for life insurance coverage.

Now with that said, one thing must be clarified right away:

If you’ve been prescribed one of the following medications in this article, continue following your doctor's advice. Don't alter your prescriptions without talking to your doctor and receiving professional medical supervision first.

Life insurance and prescription drug history

It’s important to understand that when you apply for life insurance you’ll most likely need to allow your insurer access to your medical history and prescription medication records. This is standard practice with most—if not all—traditional life insurance policies.

That means if you’ve been prescribed a medication in the past, the insurance industry is going to know about it.

If you should happen to see a medication that you’re currently taking listed below, that doesn't mean you can’t get insured or that you’re going to get a terrible deal on your life insurance.

What it does mean is that in most cases you’re going to want to work with an insurance agent that can shop your application around to several different life insurance carriers. Shopping around can help you find affordable life insurance because, due to your prescription history, you’re probably going to need high risk life insurance.

If you're denied life insurance due to prescription history, call an agent who can work with you to find a company that will accept you with a more lenient underwriting process.

Call today: 888-234-8376

Top 10 Prescription Medications that Life Insurance Companies Hate

1. Pain killers and Muscle Relaxers

Both pain killers (like opioids) and muscle relaxants are typically prescribed early in the course of treatment on a short-term basis. One reason for this is that they both run a high risk of dependency and abuse.

Additional concerns that an insurance company will have with these medications will also focus on the increased risk that can be associated with their combined use with alcohol. The sedative effect of both opioids and/or muscle relaxers intensifies with alcohol use and can easily become fatal when combined.

2. Prescription marijuana

When it comes to marijuana usage, the insurance industry is all over the place. Some insurance companies are simply going to deny anyone who either states on the application that they use marijuana (legally or recreationally) or tests positive on a medical exam for marijuana usage.

Conversely, there are other companies that will insure those who admit their usage upfront. However, they may decide that since the applicant is using marijuana, they shouldn’t be eligible for the lowest premiums any longer as a result of that—regardless of how they administer their marijuana. These companies will consider the marijuana user a tobacco user at best; which unfortunately means that their insurance rate will be significantly higher than their “non-tobacco” counterpart.

Lastly, there are a few insurance companies that understand that there is an enormous potential out there to take on these “high risk” marijuana users and offer them great “non-tobacco” life insurance rates.

When applying with a marijuana-friendly life insurance company, you’re typically going to find that those using marijuana recreationally (legally or illegally) will generally have a much easier chance to get insured and get a great rate vs. those who have a prescription for their usage.

This discrepancy is because all of those individuals who obtained a medical marijuana prescription card now need to explain the condition that they have that justified their need for a doctor’s prescription. Which means the insurance companies are going to want to know about their underlying conditions:

  • Anxiety or depression
  • Mood swings
  • Glaucoma
  • Chronic pain

This just means that finding the right life insurance company for you is critical.

Get a more detailed look into the life insurance industry’s view of marijuana usage.

3. Diabetic Medications

Diabetic medications make the “Top 10 list of medications that insurance companies hate” because diabetes raises risk for the insurer. But don't let that dissuade you: Diabetics can still and often do get really good deals on their life insurance.

The main problem to overcome is that once someone is diagnosed with diabetes, it stays on their medical record. And the diabetic life insurance application is considered a higher risk than someone who does not have diabetes.

When it comes to taking diabetic medications, make sure you're working with an insurance agent that knows which companies offer the best life insurance for diabetes. If you need help, call the number and a licensed agent can help you.

4. Dementia medications

Dementia is a condition which is usually uninsurable unless one is applying for a guaranteed issue life insurance policy.

This means that if you are an older adult and are taking medications that could possibly be prescribed for someone suffering from dementia, it’s going to be important for you to work with an agent that is not going to rush through the application process. Instead, you’ll want to take your time during this process so that a clear picture of your true health is established well before any insurance underwriter begins making his or her assumptions regarding your health.

5. Anxiety and depression medications

Any one a number of anxiety medications will raise a few red flags when it comes to applying for life insurance. The main reason for concern is that the use of these medications could indicate one of several different conditions ranging from mild situational depression all the way to suicide ideation.

Generally speaking, once your life insurance application goes into underwriting, the insurance company will most likely order medical records from your primary care physician so that a better understanding of why you were prescribed one of these medications can be determined. However, knowing which insurance company is going to be more “lenient” when it comes to underwriting for life insurance with anxiety and depression becomes paramount.

6. Schizophrenic medications

Schizophrenia is also a condition which is generally uninsurable through traditional term or whole life insurance options once an insurance company sees that one is using medications that are linked to the treatment of schizophrenia.

Even though we’re not aware of any insurance company that is willing to insure someone who has been diagnosed with schizophrenia for a traditional term or whole life insurance policy, we would encourage those who have been diagnosed with schizophrenia to look into considering guaranteed issue life insurance policy, which won't deny someone for being diagnosed as schizophrenic.

7. ADHD medications

The good news is that being diagnosed with ADHD isn’t automatically going to wreck your life insurance application.

In fact, depending on the severity of your condition and how well you manage it, you still may be eligible for some of the lowest life insurance premiums possible.

If you aren’t currently working, you’ve had to change medications several times over the past year, or you’ve been in and out of the hospital for your condition, chances are you’re not going to be approved for a traditional term or whole life insurance policy. This is why for those who have been diagnosed with ADHD we generally recommend that they speak with a life insurance agent before submitting their application.

8. Parkinson medication

Now the key to finding coverage for those with Parkinson’s disease is going to focus on the “progressive” side of this disease. What we mean by this is that if it looks like your condition has stabilized itself without any further progression of very slow progression, coverage for a traditional term or whole life insurance policy may be possible. However, if that’s not the case, it may be that you simply won’t be eligible for a traditional term or whole life insurance policy until your condition stabilizes itself.

Additionally, knowing which insurer will be the most lenient is going to play a major role in determining success which is why we recommend anyone suffering from Parkinson’s to call a knowledgeable licensed agent.

9. Bipolar medications

A bipolar diagnosis can potentially have a wide range of outcomes. Some folks with bipolar disorder may find it impossible to find coverage through a traditional insurance policy, while others may be able to qualify for some of the best rates out there. Ultimately it will come down to the severity of the condition.

For more information, call the number on this page. You'll get in touch with a licensed agent who can help you determine which insurance company might be best for you.

10. HIV medications

If you have HIV it can be unlikely that you will get approved for a typical life insurance policy. You should consider two other types of policies. The first would be an accidental death insurance product, which is an insurance policy that only covers accidental causes of death, and the second would be some type of guaranteed issue life insurance policy which would be limited to about $25,000 in coverage.

Conclusion

Although buying life insurance isn’t always easy depending on your history of antidepressants, opioids, or other medication history, it's not always impossible. It's crucial to get a quote from multiple insurance companies and find the insurer that is willing to take on your prescription history risk.

If you aren't sure where to start, call a licensed agent and they can help guide you through the process. Or get a quote.

Written by
TermLife2Go
We are a team of life insurance experts with the simple mission of helping you find the best coverage for your unique situation. We research, review, and rank life insurance companies to make that process easier.