Overcoming Ratings & Declines
3 Easy Steps
It’s very frustrating hear your case has been rated or declined due to tobacco use, marijuana smoking, elevated liver functions, build, diabetes…
Our industry has many highly rated insurers, most of which have underwriting niches to help you place challenging policies.
You want answers, FAST! We have worked on your colleagues’ rated and declined Special Risks for decades. Our easy 3-Step Second Opinion Underwriting Service delivers answers, QUICKLY!
Step 1: Quick Preliminary Second Underwriting Opinion / Pricing Estimate
First, contact one of our Marketing Representatives for a quick strategy call or Zoom to review the information you already have. Tell us about your client’s insurance need and the concerns your underwriter has uncovered. We underwrite hundreds of challenging cases at any given time, enabling us to give you quick feedback with alternate pricing estimates, often in just a few minutes.
If, based on the above, you and your client determine the pricing via another carrier is acceptable, let’s dig a little deeper. Submit existing info. via secure email or upload via our Second Underwriting Opinion portal. Our medical underwriting directors will then negotiate details with their counterparts at the insurers to fine tune carrier selection and pricing. For a fine-tuned case analysis, please send:
- Prior application (key pages that tell us important applicant data)
- Recent paramedial exam
- Lab RESULTS sent to your client, not just the lab ticket (your client either has been sent results – or can request them)
- EKG
- Medical underwriting, aviation, foreign travel, or avocation questionnaires you may already have
- Written comments or explanatory letters from the underwriter explaining their underwriting decision & options for reconsideration
- Signed HIPAA; e-signatures OK
Step 2: Review of Options
- Our medical underwriting directors will apply their experience to recommend the most aggressive carrier(s) and what underwriting class to expect.
- We will model solutions for you, considering the type of product desired, benefit needed, and the applicant’s premium tolerance.
- You and your client decide on the best course of action.
Step 3: Formal Underwriting
- If your client gives you the green light, we’ll obtain a formal application and related forms.
- We order additional medical records required but not provided as part of Step 1 (typically Attending Physician Statements).
- Our underwriting directors will negotiate the risk with their counterpart at the appropriate insurer and confirm a formal offer.
- The policy is issued, placed, and you get paid.
Avoid Ratings & Declines in the Future
Avoid Exams & Labs with Intelligent Underwriting
De-risk underwriting by encouraging your clients to take advantage of exam and lab-free intelligent underwriting programs for all healthy, eligible applicants. Up to $5M of life insurance is now available through age 50 from a highly rated mutual insurer. Use our easy online life insurance quote request form to pre-qualify applicants.
Optimize Insurance Paramedical Exam and Lab Results
For applicants who cannot qualify for exam and lab-free underwriting, skew the odds in their favor! Coach them on how to minimize the introduction of avoidable adverse underwriting evidence with these important pre-exam recommendations.
Obtain Multi-carrier HIPAA
For any application you write with any carrier, obtain a signature on our multi-carrier HIPAA; e-signature is OK. Your client will be impressed with your ability to deliver the best possible solution from among all those highly rated, well-known insurers! With a signed HIPAA, you have the option to explore ideas for Plan B, in case the initial app did not produce the most desirable underwriting outcome.
