Sleep apnea is one of the more manageable high-risk conditions from a life insurance underwriting perspective. Applicants who are diagnosed, treated, and compliant with therapy often qualify for standard or near-standard rates — the key is documentation of compliance.
What Insurance Companies Look At
- Type of sleep apnea: obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is far more common and generally more insurable than central sleep apnea
- Severity: mild, moderate, or severe — determined by the Apnea-Hypopnea Index (AHI) from your sleep study
- Treatment compliance: CPAP or BiPAP therapy with documented compliance (download data from machine) is the single most important factor for favorable underwriting
- Untreated sleep apnea: if diagnosed but not treated, most carriers will rate significantly higher or decline
- BMI: obesity is commonly associated with sleep apnea; elevated BMI compounds the risk
- Associated conditions: hypertension, atrial fibrillation, or heart disease alongside sleep apnea increases concern
- Daytime symptoms: excessive daytime sleepiness, especially if affecting driving, raises underwriting flags
How Carriers Typically Respond
Treated and compliant sleep apnea — especially mild-to-moderate with good CPAP compliance and no significant comorbidities — can often qualify for standard rates with many carriers. Severe sleep apnea or untreated cases typically result in table ratings. Some carriers are significantly more favorable than others for sleep apnea, so shopping the market is important.
If you have sleep apnea and are on CPAP therapy, you may qualify for better rates than you expect. Contact us to find out.