Part of our guide: Impaired Risk Life Insurance Underwriting by Condition →
A Parkinson’s diagnosis usually means an automatic table rating, if a carrier will offer at all. This case came back Standard. Here’s the underwriting credit stack that made the difference.
Key takeaways
- Parkinson’s affects about one million people in the U.S.; a well-controlled case looks very different to the right carrier than the diagnosis code alone.
- This client’s low-dose medication with no symptom progression was the key clinical detail that mattered.
- A single diagnosis doesn’t have to define the final offer when the rest of the risk profile is favorable.
A Parkinson’s diagnosis at Table 2 moved all the way to Standard once underwriting credits — controlled blood pressure, good cholesterol ratio, no tobacco use — were stacked on top of a well-controlled case.
The situation
Parkinson’s disease affects about one million people in the United States and ten million worldwide. Its cause remains largely unknown, and while there’s no cure, treatment options — including medications and surgery — can manage symptoms effectively for many patients. That clinical reality matters for underwriting, because a well-controlled case looks very different to the right carrier than a diagnosis code alone would suggest.
Our client was a 65-year-old female, a non-tobacco user, applying for $500,000 of term coverage. She had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease two years earlier and was managing it on a low dose of Sinemet daily, with no progression of symptoms. The initial underwriting assessment came back at Table 2.
Why this case improved
One of our A+ carriers takes a responsibly aggressive approach to underwriting Parkinson’s disease, willing to offer favorably on well-controlled cases that show other favorable risk factors. This client had several: controlled blood pressure, a good cholesterol ratio, routine physicals and preventative screenings, good family history, and no tobacco use in the past 10 years.
The result
After applying those credits, the underwriting offer moved all the way from a Table 2 to Standard — the best possible outcome for this client’s profile, and proof that a Parkinson’s diagnosis alone doesn’t have to define the offer when the rest of the clinical picture is strong.
Contact our underwriting team today to see how we can help you place your next impaired-risk case.
Frequently asked questions
Can someone with Parkinson’s disease still qualify for Standard life insurance rates?
In some cases, yes. A well-controlled diagnosis with no symptom progression, combined with other favorable risk factors like controlled blood pressure, good cholesterol, and no tobacco use, can move an offer from an initial table rating to Standard with the right carrier.
Why does the carrier matter so much for a Parkinson’s case?
Carriers vary widely in how aggressively they underwrite Parkinson’s disease. Some default to a table rating based on the diagnosis alone, while others, like the carrier in this case, take a more responsibly aggressive approach and give credit for a well-controlled clinical picture.
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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