Question: I am a 46-year-old sales manager. During a routine medical examination a few weeks ago, I was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. My wife, who is a nurse, has told me that this illness will affect my lifestyle and the costs of my motor and health insurance. While I can understand the argument for health insurance, I do not see how it will impact my motor insurance. Can you explain?

- G.B., Kingston 5.

Answer: Allison B. Goldfine, MD, is an assistant professor at Harvard Medical School. She is also an investigator at the Joslin Diabetes Centre in Boston. Her research work is about understanding insulin resistance and its role in the development of Type 2 diabetes. In writing the foreword to Gretchen Becker's The First Year Type 2 Diabetes: The Essential Guide for The Newly Diagnosed, Dr Goldfine said "someone who is newly diagnosed with the condition has so much to learn". Welcome to the class!

TELL YOUR AGENT, BROKER

Your wife is absolutely correct. And, Diabetes.co.uk., a global community that provides information about this disease, www.diabetes.co.uk/ driving-with-diabetes.Html, agrees.

A section of their website is devoted to 'diabetic finance'.

They say that "particularly in the insurance field, diabetic patients may face inflated premiums and even have trouble getting some insurance products".

Diabetes is not a life sentence. If it is well controlled and "your doctor states that you are safe to drive, there is no reason why you cannot have or hang on to your driver's licence". They also say that "you need to tell your insurance company and the driving and vehicle licence agency".

I do not know if there is a requirement in Jamaica to inform the licensing authority about diabetes. However, motor insurance buyers must tell insurers about it. This is because all insurers seek information about the medical status of the persons they insure.

Does he or she have 'defective vision', or 'suffered from diabetes now or within the last five years', or 'any complaints of the heart?'

Diabetes can lead to blindness and, among other things, to an increased risk of heart attack. Non-disclosure - innocent or intentional - will create problems.

Insurers do not like surprises. They refuse to settle claims when they learn about diabetes for the first time during the process of settling a claim.

You must inform your insurance company as soon as you know you have developed diabetes for your insurance to be valid. This applies whether your condition is controlled by diet, tablets or insulin.

CONSEQUENCES

Some companies may refuse to cover you. Others may ask for a report from your doctor, impose special conditions or charge an extra premium.

Some companies believe that diabetic drivers are more prone to be involved in accidents than 'normal' drivers. They do so because they feel that they can get away with it. They don't have one shred of evidence to support their point of view.

If you are faced with a demand for more premium, do not give in without a fight. Challenge your insurer, especially if your condition is stable and well controlled. Bear in mind as well that the average customer service employee in the insurer's or broker's office knows less about diabetes than you.

Feedback

I received an email from gweezjacko@hotmail.com in response to the last week's article, 'Twice robbed, twice denied'. It read:

"Thank you for listening to my story and taking the time to publish it. I hope other insurance buyers will learn from my mistake. Two weeks ago, a used car salesman told me to go in and defend my claim. I did just that. The insurers responded positively. They will settle the claim, but I must pay the difference of the premium that I would have paid if they knew about the first claim. I paid the insurers last week and I should be able to purchase another car within the next two weeks."

Congratulations are in order to gweezjacko@hotmail.com for taking a proactive approach in relation to that claim and also to his insurers for their empathy, flexibility and not playing by the rules. This is truly the change we need.

Cedric E. Stephens provides free, independent information and advice about risk and insurance. Emailaegis@cwjamaica.com.