Elevated Liver Enzymes and Life Insurance: Insider Tips to Secure Affordable Coverage!

Are elevated liver enzymes standing between you and life insurance? You’re not alone. Many people face this challenge, but with the right approach and expertise, you can navigate underwriting and secure the protection your family needs.

In this guide, we’ll uncover the key factors underwriters consider, explain how liver enzyme levels impact your life insurance options, and share insider tips to help you find affordable coverage – even if you’ve been denied before!

Yes, life insurance is still possible with elevated liver enzymes. Life insurance underwriters assess enzyme levels using tests like:

• Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT)
• Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP)
• Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST)
• Bilirubin
• Gamma Glutamyl Transferase (GGT)

They analyze whether your elevations stem from manageable conditions, unknown factors, or serious issues like liver disease, hepatitis, or alcohol-related damage.

Even if your liver enzymes are elevated, affordable life insurance is often within reach when you work with the right experts who will guide you to the correct companies.

When evaluating your application, life insurance underwriters focus on:

Which liver enzyme tests are elevated

How many tests are elevated

The degree of elevation (e.g. 2x, 3x, etc.)

Underlying medical conditions

Evidence of liver disease

Unknown causes

Pro Tip: Many people first learn about their elevated liver enzymes from their paramedical exam. If this happens to you, don’t panic – you still have options! It’s a common condition with several possible causes.

We’ll ask you the following to help us find the best rates available based on your medical history.

1. Do you have a history of elevated liver enzymes or was the paramed exam the first incident of elevated liver functions?
2. What were the results for the following:
   • Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP)
   • Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT)
   • Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST)
   • Bilirubin
   • Gamma Glutamyl Transferase (GGT)
3. Were any other lab results outside of normal ranges?
4. If yes, which tests and what were the results?
5. Have you had elevated liver enzymes in the past? If yes, when and what were those results?
6. Do you drink alcohol?
7. If yes, what do you drink, and how often?
8. Has your physician recommended further testing such as an ultrasound or biopsy?
9. If yes, what tests were completed and what were the results?

Your lab results may have been skewed if you were taking certain medications or sick at the time of your lab tests.

We work with life insurers specializing in high-risk life insurance to help you get the best rates.

The impact of elevated liver enzymes on your life insurance rates depends on your test results. Here are general guidelines based on enzyme levels.

• Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP): Normal is 44-147 IU/L
  • 3-5x normal = standard rates
  • >5x = postpone/decline
• Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT): Normal is 45 U/L
  • <4x normal = standard
  • 4-5x normal = Table 2
  • >5x = postpone/decline.
• Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST): Normal is 45 U/L
  • <5x normal = standard
  • >5x normal = postpone/decline.
• Bilirubin: Normal is 0.3 – 1.2 mg/dl
  • <6 mg/dl = standard
  • >6 mg/dl = postpone/decline.
• Gamma Glutamyl Transferase (GGT): Normal is 65 U/L
  • <4x normal = standard
  • 4-5x = Table 2
  • >5x normal = postpone/decline.

When two or more liver enzyme tests are elevated, life insurance underwriters will carefully review how elevated each enzyme is compared to normal levels. Underwriting becomes more complicated for multiple elevated results. Underwriters look at how elevated the enzyme results were:

• Less than 2x normal = Standard rates
• 2-3x normal = Table 2 (50% extra)
• 3-4x normal = Table 4 (100% extra)
• 4-5x normal = Table 6 (150% extra)
• Greater than 5x normal = postpone/decline until evaluated.

Keep in mind these are general guidelines. Your outcome could be better or worse.

If you were denied coverage, don’t worry! Many insurers don’t specialize in high-risk life insurance.

We work with life insurance companies that understand how to underwrite liver enzymes and should try to get a policy in place with the existing labs first.

Once coverage is in place, we can explore additional testing to see if we can get a better rate elsewhere.

If you receive a table-rated policy (higher premiums due to health risks), it’s usually best to accept that policy temporarily, before having tests completed.

The Underwriting Trap:

In 20+ years of high-risk underwriting for elevated liver enzymes, most elevations are temporary, but now and then it is due to having a serious liver condition.

We’ll be able to get you a better rate if nothing is wrong. If the insurance company tells you to get a sonogram or biopsy to improve your rate, don’t do it! For any test that shows a cyst, hepatitis, fibrosis, cirrhosis, etc., the underwriting trap is that the company will pull your offer and decline you.

Here’s what you should do instead.

Accept the policy temporarily and contact us! We’ll tell you if your current policy is the best available. If not, we move you to the best rate available before getting a sonogram or biopsy.

Once done, you can decide if repeat testing is worthwhile. If the results are favorable, we’ll shop the market again for a better rate. If not, you’ll know that you have the best rates available.

If you’ve been declined or received higher rates than expected, don’t hesitate to contact us. Here’s how we can help:

• Quick Quote Process: We’ll gather your medical history from you and summarize it for insurers specializing in high-risk cases. You’ll receive feedback in 3-5 days.
• Expert Recommendations: We identify the best life insurance companies for your unique situation.
• Rate Re-Evaluation: Once coverage is in place, we can explore additional liver testing to secure better rates in the future.

When you apply for life insurance, underwriting will check the MIB for prior application activity and review your medical history, including the possible reasons for the elevations.

If you have other health issues like heart disease, AFib, skin cancer, or a history of prostate cancer, underwriting will consider those issues when making an offer.

Certain health conditions can cause elevated liver enzymes, including:

• Hepatitis – Is a severe inflammation of your liver that may lead to cirrhosis.
• GI conditions – Ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease may elevate liver functions.
• Cirrhosis – Causes irreversible scarring and damage to your liver.
• Alcohol Abuse – This may cause significantly elevated liver enzymes.

• Exercise – Temporarily elevates liver functions. Avoid exercise the day of your paramed.
• Medications – Over-the-counter medications like aspirin or Tylenol may elevate liver functions.
• Sickness – Being sick during your exam can elevate results. Reschedule when sick.
• Alcohol – Avoid alcohol before the paramed to prevent elevated levels.

Other prescription medications like Dilantin, Truvada, phenobarbital, antibiotics, acne treatment medications, and arthritis medications all elevate enzymes. The same goes for some herbal remedies.

Fatty liver is diagnosed when more than 5% of the liver is made from fat and is traditionally classified as alcoholic or nonalcoholic fatty liver.

Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) is the liver’s enlargement due to fat accumulation in the liver cells. Some causes of fatty liver include obesity, diabetes, and excessive alcohol use.

If there is inflammation and cell death in the liver, that is a more serious condition called non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Fibrosis (scarring) and cirrhosis are severe medical conditions and difficult to insure.

Does fatty liver disease affect life insurance approvals?

Yes, getting life insurance with elevated liver enzymes and fatty liver disease is more expensive than for people without these conditions.

Simple fatty liver with no additional inflammation or scarring is often insurable at “standard” to “Standard with a 50%” rating.

If the liver health issue is due to alcohol consumption, the only option available will be guaranteed issue-type policies.

Don’t let elevated liver enzymes hold you back from securing the coverage you need. Each insurer evaluates liver enzymes differently, but with the right strategy, you can still find affordable life insurance.

At RiskQuoter, we specialize in high-risk life insurance underwriting and will guide you every step of the way.