Part of our guide: Impaired Risk Life Insurance Underwriting by Condition →
Epilepsy and seizure history can range from a childhood diagnosis that resolved decades ago to an ongoing condition managed with daily medication — and the underwriting outcome depends heavily on which story a case actually tells. Here are two real cases that landed on opposite ends of the offer spectrum.
Key takeaways
- Underwriting outcomes for epilepsy depend on seizure history, control, and time since the last episode — not the label itself.
- Decades of seizure-free history since medication stopped can produce a strong offer.
- The same diagnosis can land anywhere on the underwriting spectrum depending on how the case is actually documented.
A childhood epilepsy diagnosis resolved by age 20 came back Preferred; an ongoing case with five seizures a year on two medications landed at the opposite end of the spectrum.
What underwriters are actually evaluating
Epilepsy is a disorder characterized by recurring seizures, typically diagnosed after two or more seizures. Seizures result from disturbances in the brain’s electrical activity, with causes ranging from genetics to traumatic brain injury, stroke, or brain tumors — and when no specific cause can be identified, the epilepsy is termed idiopathic. Seizures themselves fall into two major groups, focal and generalized, distinguished by how and where they begin in the brain. What matters most for underwriting isn’t the label, though — it’s the seizure history, control, and time since the last episode.
Case one: childhood epilepsy, resolved by age 20
A 52-year-old male had a history of childhood idiopathic epilepsy with mild absence-type seizures that started at age eight. The condition was controlled with medication, which was stopped at age 20, and there had been no seizures since. This case came back with a Preferred offer — a strong outcome reflecting decades of seizure-free history since medication was discontinued.
Case two: ongoing seizures managed with medication
A 42-year-old male began having complex seizures at age 26. His MRI was negative, and for the past five years he had been maintained on two medications, averaging five seizures per year. He does not drink alcohol. This case came back with a Low Substandard offer, reflecting the ongoing, active nature of his seizure history compared to the first case’s decades of remission.
The takeaway
These two cases show how wide the range of outcomes can be for seizure and epilepsy histories — from Preferred to Substandard — depending on how long ago seizures occurred, how well they’re controlled, and how the full clinical picture is presented to the right carrier.
Call our life underwriting team to discuss the specific details of your client’s seizure or epilepsy history. Let’s work together to get the offer you need.
Frequently asked questions
Can someone with a history of epilepsy get a Preferred life insurance rate?
Yes, particularly when the seizures were tied to a childhood diagnosis that resolved years or decades earlier with no recurrence after medication was stopped, as in one of the cases above.
How does an active seizure history affect the underwriting offer?
Ongoing seizures, even when well-managed with medication, typically result in a substandard rating rather than Preferred or Standard, with the specific offer depending on seizure frequency, medication stability, and other clinical factors.
Reviewed by Tim Fuller on 2026-09-23
Tim Fuller
President, SRS Inc.
Tim leads SRS Inc., a full-service IMO (Independent Marketing Organization) and BGA (Brokerage General Agency) connecting independent financial professionals with life, annuity, disability income, and long-term care solutions from 60+ carrier partners — with the impaired-risk and complex-case expertise to place business other IMOs and BGAs turn away.
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