BPD Psychotherapy Resources

Many people who have or know someone who has bipolar disorder often wonder if they qualify for life insurance. In short, the answer is ‘yes’. However, just as with other types of high-risk health factors, there are limitations associated with this type of insurance cover.

Trying to obtain life insurance coverage when you have a diagnosis of Bipolar disorder can be very difficult, but it is not impossible. It will depend on many factors such as how effective the control methods are and the severity of the symptoms. The good news is that the majority of applicants can still qualify for a traditional life insurance cover, whilst the worst-case scenario will be denial or a guaranteed issue cover.

Bipolar disorder is a mental health condition that is frequently misrepresented and misunderstood in society. This leaves many people who have the diagnosis to feel intimidated at the idea of trying to get life insurance coverage.

What many fail to understand is that many people with this diagnosis can live normal lives and they are not negatively affected by their illness. Then, there are others who may have a sporadic episode and them to take medication so their symptoms stay under control.

It is clear that the two above examples are very different from each other, and this is why it is important to understand some things before you decide to apply for life insurance cover or critical illness cover.

It is important to find a reputable life insurance company such as Quote Leader to get the correct cover options.

Understanding Bipolar Disorder 

Before discussing the limitations of getting life insurance with bipolar disorder, it is important to first understand what bipolar disorder is. When a person is diagnosed with bipolar disorder, the person exhibits mood swings that alternate from one extreme to another.

The person can show signs of being depressed, then express moments of happiness and finally becoming angry or irritable. In other words, it is a medical condition that affects a person’s mood.

Even though each person who is diagnosed with this disorder have symptoms that are unique to them, it can cause a lot of distress not only to the person who has the disorder, but also those around them. There are typically three stages that are associated with bipolar disorder:

• • Feeling high (manic or hypomanic)
  • Feeling sad (depressive)
  • Potential psychotic symptoms (can occur during the depressive or manic episodes)

What Is Bipolar Life Insurance? 

Typically, people who have bipolar disorder and are looking for life insurance are able to get the cover that they need. This cover can also be very competitive with standard rates.

However, just as with other types of mental health conditions, the exact rate that a customer will pay will be based on the frequency and severity of their symptoms. The rate will also take into consideration the type of treatment that a person has received or is currently receiving.

The majority of applicants for bipolar disorder life insurance cover will have to undergo a mandated GP or medical exam to provide evidence that they are being treated.

It can be challenging for insurers to underwrite this type of life insurance cover because the symptoms can be subjective. This means that the majority of insurers will assess the facts of each applicant’s case based on the risks and severity of their condition.

The terms associated with this type of cover will be determined based on whether or not the person has suffered from any major mental health issues over the past few years. Some of the issues the provider will look for are:

• Signs or evidence of alcohol abuse
• Signs or evidence of self-harm
• Signs or evidence of suicidal thoughts or attempts

The underwriters for the cover will also want to know if the person has received psychiatric counseling, treatment or if they have ever been admitted into a hospital for the disorder.

The applicant will also need to provide the underwriter with information about any medication they have been prescribed, specifically the dosage and the name of the medication. For example, if the applicant’s condition is severe with an increased frequency of regular symptoms, or with higher dosages of medications, then the underwriters may impose a higher rating for the life insurance cover.

Also, if the applicant has a history of very severe symptoms such as several suicide attempts, it is very likely that the life insurance provider may decide to deny the application.

Applicants who have applied for this type of cover in the past and the cover was either accepted with special consideration or denied, then many providers will review your application based on your current health.

This review process can take as little as one month or it can take as long as several months. During the review time, the underwriter will look over every aspect of your mental health condition. This includes management and severity.

Types of Life Insurance: 

• • Serious Illness Cover
  • Mortgage Insurance
  • Income Protection
  • Whole-of-life-cover
  • Term Insurance

Critical Illness Cover 

The terms for this type of cover can range from minimal premium loading for mild to moderate conditions with little to no symptoms, to being denied for major symptoms such as hospitalisation, suicide attempts, psychiatric treatments, etc.

However, there is information available that shows that when life insurance providers offer bipolar critical illness cover, applicants are approved although they may have to pay a higher premium loading or have an exclusion in place for suicide/mental health.

Just as with life insurance cover, critical illness cover is based on many of the same factors that deal with diagnosis, treatment and medication. It is also based on any other issues that are related to the applicant’s symptoms.

Underwriting for bipolar critical illness cover is usually a lot more restrictive than bipolar life insurance cover. because of the extra risks associated with the claim when it comes to complications and other related conditions.

If you have ever applied for this type of cover previously and have been denied cover or was approved on special circumstances, you may want to have your case reviews to see if you can make improvements on the policy that you have or if you are able to get approved.

It is also important that you manage your disorder even after you are approved for life insurance cover. Bipolar life insurance providers will not only look at how severe your disorder is, but also how well it is being managed. Some life insurance providers will want a record of management efforts such as medication and therapy as a condition of continued cover.

Psychotherapy is noted as being a well-regarded option when it comes to targeting conditions such as bipolar disorder.

The world of medicine continues to work through different details to understand how the disorder works and what is needed to keep it under control. This is a challenging situation to be in bu the goal should always be to use new-age options for long-term results.

This is why more and more patients are starting to look towards psychotherapy for the value it has to offer. This is a life-changing option for patients that are suffering from bipolar disorder.

Here are the main advantages of psychotherapy for bipolar disorder:

Effective

Efficiency is going to set the right tone when it comes to managing the disorder and ensuring the symptoms are kept under control. This is one of those situations that can be hard to contemplate but it always comes down to the right therapy session. This is why patients prefer psychotherapy as it has a unique approach to the task at hand and delivers incredible value. It can start to alleviate symptoms and ensure everything is done in a risk-free manner. What more can a patient ask for when it comes to their disorder?

Safe

There is nothing worse than putting yourself in harm’s way and that is not what psychotherapy is all about. This is a solution that has been designed to understand what the mind is going through and then making sure things are done as safely as possible. Medications tend to fill the body with junk chemicals that are only going to worsen things as time goes on. If you want real control over the disorder, it is best to look at psychotherapy as the way to go. This is a safe solution that has long-term merits for those serious about getting to the bottom of things.

Ideal for the Long-Term

Psychotherapy is all about understanding the behavioural aspect of bipolar disorder. It is one of those underrated components that do matter and will go a long way in managing the symptoms. This is a disorder that can start to take a toll on a person’s life and it is not easy to get out from under it over time.

For those in this type of situation, it becomes important to look at the overall picture while making decisions. In this regard, the psychotherapy treatment by a reputable psychotherapist is going to allow patients to flourish as time goes on.

Organised

Going with an organised therapy option is the bare minimum as you try to put together a legitimate response to bipolar disorder. There are several options available to patients and most are not going to get the job done. Those solutions tend to do the bare minimum and become quite frustrating as time goes on. This is why you will want to choose psychotherapy as it is organised, efficient, and allows patients to notice a change in how they feel. This is what matters as you try to focus on the symptoms in a bid to get rid of them over the long-term.

Professional-Grade Results

How good are the results when using psychotherapy to tackle bipolar disorder?

This is an intriguing question that most people are going to have about the treatment and all that it brings to the table. Psychotherapy is not a medicated solution, so it is going to come with a unique approach to the disorder. Keeping this in mind, it is all about staying patient and understanding what the therapy can do as long as it is handled by a seasoned professional. When you find the right clinic, you are going to start to appreciate the professional-grade results as they roll in.

Customised

There has to be a certain amount of personalisation in how the therapy sessions unfold and what is needed to make sure the patient feels better. There are several variables at play and that is why personalisation goes a long way in ironing things out. A patient is going to feel a lot better when it is personalised based on what they are after.

This customisation tends to put the patient at ease and that alone is great for their mind. It is a great way to help control emotions and know what is needed to keep them in check at all times.

Proven to Work

What is the one thing that is going to be on your mind as a patient? What is the one thing you are not going to want to deal with? It’s the mistakes that come along with any therapy that is available to patients.

In general, the reason psychotherapy tends to get the job done has a lot to do with its success rate. You are going to be working with a solution that is well-rounded, efficient, and proven to work.

This is a complete package for those who want to ensure the symptoms disappear as soon as possible.

Consistent

There is no value in a solution that is going to work for a while and then is going to fall flat on its face. This is what the average patient is going to think about when it is time to go through the process day by day. You only want to choose a solution that is going to ease the symptoms and ensure you are able to able to understand what is going on at all times. This is essential and psychotherapy does a wonderful job of breaking things down and helping analyse what works or what doesn’t.

Final Thoughts

Psychotherapy has become an option for several people around the world and continues to be the way to go. For those suffering from bipolar disorder, it’s important to seek assistance in this form as soon as possible. This is a medical solution that is known to deliver great results and is going to be a stepping-stone towards better health. All it takes is the ability to choose the right provider and make sure they understand what the patient needs most.

If you would like to find out more, then we suggest to seek advice from Evie Flynn Psychotherapist and Counselor.