CPS Sacramento Underwriting

March 14, 2025

Client’s Family History Have You Down? We Have a Solution!

If you feel challenged with significant adverse family history compromising your client’s ability to achieve Preferred rates, we have a solution.

Our Underwriting Team is here to help with all your impaired risk cases.

Here are some examples:

Example #1

67- year- old male
5’10”, 190 lbs.
BP averages 140/84, total cholesterol 218, & Chol/HDL ratio 4.6
Father died at age 45 due to a heart attack and mother died at age 60 due to advanced breast cancer
No other adverse medical history in his APS records

Underwriting Decision: Preferred Best!

Key Factor: Family history is NOT considered when the proposed insured is older than 65. Therefore, the fact that our individual had two parents dying of heart disease/cancer at age 60 and younger had no bearing on the final decision.

Example #2

42- year- old female
5’3”, 154 lbs.
BP averages 130/80, total cholesterol 220, & Chol/HDL ratio 4.2
Both hypertension and cholesterol are currently being treated with medications
Father passed away at age 59 due to prostate cancer
No other adverse medical history in her APS records

Underwriting Decision: Preferred Best!

Key Factor: Gender specific cancers are not considered on proposed insured’s of the opposite sex. Since our female applicant’s adverse family history was due to a male disease, it also had no bearing on the final decision.

Please contact us today for more information about this carrier and how we can help boost your sales.

March 7, 2025

Preferred Is Possible For Thyroid Cancer

CPS Insurance Services

The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland located at the front base of the neck. It produces hormones that regulate heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature and weight.

Thyroid cancer occurs when abnormal cells grow in the thyroid gland. The incidence of thyroid cancer seems to be increasing as new technology is allowing doctors to find small thyroid cancers that may not have been found in the past. The most common type of thyroid cancer is papillary carcinoma and has a good prognosis, particularly in individuals less than 50 years old.

One of our A+ carriers takes an aggressive approach to underwriting thyroid cancer and in some cases, can offer Preferred rates.

Take a look at this case study:

Female, age 43, non smoker
Stage I papillary thyroid cancer diagnosed and treated 2 years ago
Completes regular physician follow ups
May qualify for PREFERRED Non Tobacco rates

Contact our Underwriting Team on your thyroid cancer cases and lets work together to get the offer you need!

February 28, 2025

Extended Shelf Life Of Medical Requirements Can Help Boost Your Sales!

CPS Insurance Services

The idea of getting your client examined for life insurance can be a challenge.

Asking for a second exam after one was done in the not so distant past can jeopardize a sale. Worry no more.

Consider the following:

A 70 year-old female applied for $10 million of life insurance coverage with another company, was approved, and the policy placed in-force over six months ago. She now desires additional coverage for the same amount, but does not want to go through another exam. Her previous exam, lab and resting EKG were completed over nine months ago.

Many of our A-rated carriers will accept the older requirements for up to 12 months, so your client does not have to be inconvenienced by scheduling new testing as long as a non-med part 2 is completed along with the application.

Another of our carriers has some other special guidelines they follow: They can use another company’s inspection report for up to a year; and for those clients ages 70 and older, they can accept cognitive testing previously done for up to one year in addition to resting EKGs and inspection reports – although they will need a new exam and labs after a 6 month time-frame.

Take advantage of these guidelines when you can, give us a call to discuss the details of your cases – the Underwriting Department is here to help.

February 21, 2025

Placing Sleep Apnea Cases: A Breath Of Fresh Air

CPS Insurance Services

Imagine the thought of not being able to take in a breath, then suddenly gasping for air when you’re able to breathe in again. Now, you’re probably thinking to yourself this sounds a lot like the feeling you sometimes get with certain not-so-favorable offers on impaired risk cases!

All kidding aside, this is actually what happens with people who have sleep apnea. An individual suffering from sleep apnea may not even be aware of it while it’s happening, but could still experience symptoms – most commonly, daytime sleepiness, morning headaches and loud snoring. Sleep apnea restricts oxygen to vital organs and if left untreated, it can lead to more serious conditions such as heart arrhythmias, stroke and diabetes.

Diagnosis is usually made after undergoing an overnight sleep study. Severity is measured by the Apnea/Hypopnea Index (AHI) which represents the number of episodes per hour. An AHI score of 5-14 indicates mild severity, 15-30 indicates moderate and over 30 is considered severe.

CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) is usually the recommended treatment. Other treatments may include dental appliances or surgery. Follow up sleep studies to monitor the effectiveness of treatment are also often recommended.

So what does all this mean for life underwriting?

The key to favorable outcomes isn’t as much the severity at diagnosis as it is the follow up and compliance to treatment.

In some cases, lack of compliance or failure to follow up can lead to highly rated offers and declines.

Take for instance this case involving severe sleep apnea but with good follow up and compliance:

66 year old male applying for $500k of Term coverage
Lifetime non-smoker
Height 6’ 4”, weight 220 lbs
Hypertension, well controlled on Amlodipine
High cholesterol, well controlled on Pravastatin
A sleep study done in 2016 revealed severe obstructive sleep apnea with an AHI of 78 and CPAP treatment was initiated
Sleep apnea is well controlled, without symptoms, and good compliance on nightly CPAP use.

Underwriting decision: Preferred NS for the sleep apnea history!

Place more business and earn more commissions! Our Underwriting Team is here to help you get the best possible underwriting offer on each and every case.

February 14, 2025

1st And Goal: A Carrier Winning Play In Underwriting

CPS Insurance Services

Have you ever had a case resistant to the end zone, defeated by a carrier’s strong defense?

On the field of impairment risk underwriting and in a contest of carrier vs. carrier, the final scoreboard can be unpredictable.

Let’s review the highlight reel of a recent case to get to a carrier winning play:

A 70 year old male seeking $1 million of term coverage, Non-Smoker, 5’10” 180 lbs., takes medication for cholesterol. Was diagnosed with non-obstructive heart disease by coronary calcium score in 2016 and showing some progression in 2023 on a repeat calcium score. He is well followed and up to date on cardiovascular testing, including a nuclear stress test and carotid ultrasound in late 2023 with normal findings. He also has well controlled and stable pre-diabetes with current normal A1c reading.

What does the scorecard look like?

Carrier #1 – A giant loss as they declined to offer.

Carrier #2 – Their tentative Table D NT offer fell short of a first down.

Carrier #3 – Despite a healthy crediting program in their playbook, Table B NT was their best offer.

Carrier #4 – Touchdown with Standard Plus NT!

When you’re at the line of scrimmage, making the right call is essential to moving the ball down the field and into the end zone.

Our Underwriting Team, made up of experts and all-star level talent, is here to help you scout the carriers, even the playing field – and win cases.

February 7, 2025

Preferred Is Possible For Your Clients With Asthma

CPS Insurance Services

Asthma is a disease that affects the lungs and results in temporary narrowing of the airways. Symptoms include difficulty breathing, wheezing, coughing and tightness in the chest. It affects over 8% of adults in the United States.

Diagnosis and severity of asthma is determined by lung function testing known as Spirometry. Results are measured in percentages and values of 80% or greater are generally considered normal.

Individuals with this impairment may represent a significant underwriting challenge. However, PREFERRED may be possible for your asthmatic clients!

Criteria that could help applicants qualify for Preferred include:

No tobacco use
No hospitalization for asthma in the last 5 years; no other ailments
Spirometry showing normal results of FVC (Forced Vital Capacity) and FEV1 (Forced Expiratory Volume in one second)
Treatment may include intermittent (as needed) use of inhaled bronchodilators, brief courses of corticosteroids or low dose medication
No time off of work or school due to asthma symptoms
No underwater or high altitude avocations, whether ratable or non-ratable
Must meet all other regular, published Preferred criteria

So, breathe easier for your clients with an asthma history.

Call the Underwriting Team today for more information on this carrier and to see how we can help get the underwriting offers you need to make the sale!

January 31, 2025

Underwriting Recreational Marijuana

CPS Insurance Services

Did you know that Non-Smoker rate classes are available on marijuana use? In some cases, Preferred Non-Smoker rate classes may be possible.

Take a look at these potential rate classes for recreational marijuana use:

8 or less days per month may qualify for Preferred Plus Non-Smoker
Up to 3 times per week may qualify for Preferred Non-Smoker
If no more than 1 time per day and up to 4-6 times per week may qualify for Standard Non-Smoker

Contact the Underwriting Team for best possible outcomes on marijuana use.

January 24, 2025

Using Existing Exam Requirements

CPS Insurance Services

“Can we still use the same exam?”

We often hear this question in underwriting. Perhaps a client recently placed coverage and is considering applying for more. Or maybe they did not receive the rate class they applied for and wish to apply to a different carrier.

Whatever the scenario, it’s always good to hear that it’s not too late to use the same exam!

For several carriers:

Ages 0-70: Paramed, blood and urine specimens and EKGs are often good for up to 12 months
Ages 71 and over: Paramed and blood and urine specimens are good for up to 6 months. In some cases, EKGs are good for up to 12 months

*Current medical declarations or good health statement must be within 90 days of policy issue.

Call the Underwriting Team today to find out more!

January 17, 2025

Best Rates Are Possible For History Of Gastric Ulcers

CPS Insurance Services

Gastric ulcers, also known as peptic ulcers, are localized areas of erosion in the stomach lining that result in abdominal pain, possible bleeding and other gastrointestinal symptoms.

The most common cause of these ulcers is infection of the stomach by bacteria called Helicobacter pylori (H.pylori). Other risk factors include alcohol use, smoking and use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

Ulcers that are successfully treated with good follow up and documentation of healing generally get more favorable underwriting outcomes.

Take a look at this case study:

59 year old male
$1 million of Term coverage
5’9”, 140 lbs
Lifelong non-smoker
No adverse family history
Diagnosed with a non-bleeding gastric ulcer in 2018. Takes over-the-counter medication for heartburn symptoms
No alcohol use

Underwriting Decision: Select Preferred!

Contact our Underwriting Team for more information and let us help you find ways to generate more sales with great underwriting offers!

January 10, 2025

Why Cholesterol Isn’t Half Bad: Underwriting Successes

CPS Insurance Services

It may surprise you to know that cholesterol itself isn’t bad. Cholesterol is one of the many substances created and used by our bodies to keep us healthy. Some of the cholesterol we need is produced naturally while some of it comes from what we eat.

There are two types of cholesterol: HDL, the “good” cholesterol, and LDL, the “bad” cholesterol. A healthy level of HDL helps protect against heart disease and stroke.

The total cholesterol-to-HDL ratio (chol/HDL ratio) is also an indicator in determining an individual’s risk of developing heart disease. This ratio is obtained by dividing the total cholesterol value by the value of the HDL cholesterol. Healthy, higher levels of HDL – the “good” cholesterol – helps to drive down the ratio. This is a good thing! Low ratios indicate a lower risk and, thus, are more desirable.

Some carriers no longer look at total cholesterol in assessing risk, but reviews only the cholesterol/HDL ratio instead.

Now clients with high total cholesterol but lower, favorable ratios can still qualify for best rates.

Consider these examples:

Case #1

Male client, age 45, NS
Seeking $2 mil of Term, Cholesterol on exam was 298 with a Chol/HDL ratio of 5.0
Does not take any medication

Underwriting outcome: PREFERRED BEST!

Case #2

Female client, age 60, NS
Seeking $1 mil of UL, Cholesterol on exam was 275 with a Chol/HDL ratio of 6.0
Takes a prescribed cholesterol medication

Underwriting outcome: PREFERRED!

Case #3

Male client, age 52, NS
Seeking $500k of Term, Cholesterol on exam was 260 with a Chol/HDL ratio of 7.0
Takes a prescribed cholesterol medication

Underwriting outcome: STANDARD PLUS!

*Total cholesterol cannot exceed 299

We also have other top rated carriers who use only cholesterol/HDL ratios in their underwriting criteria.

Contact our Underwriting Team today for more information and let us help you boost your sales this quarter!

CPS Sacramento Underwriting

Here are some examples:

Take a look at this case study:

Consider the following:

Take for instance this case involving severe sleep apnea but with good follow up and compliance:

Let’s review the highlight reel of a recent case to get to a carrier winning play:

What does the scorecard look like?

Criteria that could help applicants qualify for Preferred include:

Take a look at these potential rate classes for recreational marijuana use:

“Can we still use the same exam?”

For several carriers:

Take a look at this case study:

Consider these examples:

Subscribe to our newsletter