Abstract
We sought to determine life insurance underwriting practices for children diagnosed with multicystic dysplastic kidney or unilateral neonatal hydronephrosis, and evaluate whether management options (observation versus operative intervention) have an influence on such practices. A questionnaire and history of 1 child with multicystic dysplastic kidney and 1 with unilateral neonatal hydronephrosis were distributed to 348 insurance companies licensed to issue life insurance policies in New Jersey. The medical director of each insurance company was requested to indicate the current underwriting practices for life insurance policies based on these 2 case scenarios, and asked whether observation or operative intervention influenced such decisions. Of the 348 insurance companies licensed to issue life insurance 130 (37.4%) responded, including 5 (3.8%) that did not choose to participate in the study, 56 (43.1%) that did not issue life insurance to children and 69 (53.1%) that completed the questionnaire based on current life insurance underwriting practices. For a child with multicystic dysplastic kidney 10 companies (14.5%) would issue life insurance if treatment involved observation only, while 49 (71%) would do so after nephrectomy. For a child with unilateral neonatal hydronephrosis 19 (27.5%) companies would issue life insurance if treatment involved observation only, while 46 (66.7%) would do so after pyeloplasty. Despite limited long-term data on and uncertainty about the natural course of multicystic dysplastic kidney and unilateral neonatal hydronephrosis, treatment options offered a child with a congenital urological anomaly may have a significant impact on the ability to obtain life insurance. Children with multicystic dysplastic kidney and unilateral neonatal hydronephrosis can usually obtain life insurance after early operative intervention (nephrectomy and pyeloplasty, respectively), although sometimes at higher cost.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.