Dementia and Alzheimer’s are often used in different terms, but they are not the same.
Although both conditions can cause cognitive decline and memory decline, there are important differences between the two. In this article, we will look at the differences between dementia and Alzheimer’s and how Alzheimer’s disease can affect insurance coverage.
Dementia is a comprehensive term that refers to a group of symptoms that affect memory, thinking ability, and social ability that are severe enough to interfere with daily functions. Rather than a specific disease, it is a syndrome caused by various progressive disorders that affect the brain. Common causes of dementia include Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia, and frontal brain dementia.
On the other hand, Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia, accounting for 60-80%.
It is a progressive brain disease in which brain cells deteriorate due to the accumulation of abnormal proteins in the brain. Characteristic symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease include memory loss, confusion, and difficulty in language and problem-solving.
Being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in connection with insurance coverage can significantly affect the ability to cover certain types of insurance. In particular, Alzheimer’s disease may have difficulty being diagnosed with dementia due to its progressiveness and irreversibility, but Alzheimer’s disease accounts for a greater proportion.
Life Insurance: People with Alzheimer’s disease may find it difficult to qualify for traditional life insurance policies.
Insurance companies often evaluate applicants based on their overall health and life expectancy. Because Alzheimer’s disease is a degenerative disease that primarily affects older people, insurance providers may think that it is too risky to provide coverage. However, there are specialized insurance policies, such as issuing or sunk insurance, which is available for people with Alzheimer’s disease.
Long-term care insurance: These insurance policies are designed to cover the necessary care costs when an individual can no longer carry on with their daily lives. It may be difficult to sign up for long-term care insurance if diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, but there is a high possibility of receiving coverage early in the disease. In order to ensure adequate coverage, it is important to find ways to sign up for long-term care insurance as soon as possible.
Health Insurance: In most cases, having Alzheimer’s disease does not exclude someone from getting health insurance. However, insurance providers may consider their existing conditions when deciding on coverage and premiums. It is important for people with Alzheimer’s disease to carefully review their policies and understand the coverage of both medical and memory care services.