Are you a final expense agent interested in adding American Amicable to your final expense insurance companies line-up?

Do you want a “No BS” overview from a field-tested agent on how this company’s final expense product performs?

If so, you have found the right article!

I’ll be discussing at length how American Amicable’s Senior Choice final expense product stacks up, why final expense agents should consider it, and give you my opinion on its pros and cons as a producing agent selling final expense.

Quick Navigation Article Links

• • Product Details

• • Health Questions

• • Rates

• • Pros And Cons

• • Getting Contracted

Product Details

Application Type: Paper application with OPTIONAL* point of sale interview, or the Mobile app with an INSTANT underwriting decision after electronically submitting the app at the client’s home. (*Ages 50-70 = When the payor is other than the proposed insured, spouse, significant other or child. *Ages 71-85 = if the applicant is not found in the prescription database(s). Does not apply when the applicant is applying for the Return of Premium Plan.)
Agent Support Hotline:  Home Office: 800-736-7311 (8AM-4:45PM CST), Agent Hotline: (800) 736-7311, Prompts 112
Point Of Sale Interview Required? In most cases, no for both the paper and e-app. See the guidelines above for more detail.
State Availability: Available in all U.S. states including DC, Guam, and Puerto Rico
Application Submission Process: Submit paper application here, or fax to (254) 297-2100. Complete and submit Mobile application here.
Average Policy Issue Turnaround Time: 24-48 hours on a clean app.
Commission Payout: Daily
Can You Sell Over The Phone? Yes, but only with select organizations.
Advancing Available? Yes – 9 months advance for those that qualify.
How Far In Advance Can The First Draft Be? No more than 35 days after the policy was signed.
Pays Commission On Policy Fee? Yes
Age Rating: Age based on application date
Chargebacks On Death: Prorated – you keep earned commissions and payback any unearned commissions assuming it’s not rescinded
Chargebacks On Lapses: Prorated. Keep what you earn and payback any unearned commissions.
Underwriting Overview: MIB, Rx Check
Agent Guide: Download here
Requires E&O? No
Acceptable Payment Methods? Bank account drafts only
Face Amount Issue Limits Plans:

Senior Choice Immediate Death Benefit

• • Issue Ages: 50-85

• • Minimum issue amount: $2,500 ($5,000 in Washington)

• • Maximum issue amount:  Ages 50 to 75: $35,000 – Ages 76 to 85: $20,000

Senior Choice Graded Death Benefit

• • Issue Ages: 50-85

• • Minimum issue amount: $2,500 ($5,000 in Washington)

• • Maximum issue amount: $20,000

Return Of Premium Death Benefit

• • Issue Ages: 50-85

• • Minimum issue amount: $2,500 ($5,000 in Washington)

• • Maximum issue amount: $20,000

Available Riders: There are many! Accidental Death Benefit Rider, Grandchild Rider, Nursing Home Waiver Of Premium Rider, Children’s Insurance Agreement Rider, and no-cost riders including Terminal Illness Accelerated Death Benefit and Accelerated Benefits Rider, Chronic Care. You can review all the riders and pricing details here.
Cover Foreign Nationals? Must have a Social Security number
Height-Weight Chart? Download here
Sample Final Expense Application: Download here
Rate Guide: Download here (scroll down to find rate tables by age and face amount)
Prescription/Rx Guide: Download here
Product/Underwriting Advantages:

• • Instant decision Mobile App for most case submissions. Eliminate frustrating paperwork and amendments!

• • Phone interview is optional if you complete an application in most circumstances.

• • Competitively-priced smoker rates.

• • Liberal height-weight guidelines.

• • Occasional pipe/cigar use is OK for non-tobacco rates.

• • Insulin use OK for Immediate Death Benefit if started at age 50 or *older*.

• • Graded Death Benefit Coverage available to the following conditions: Parkinson’s, seizure history, multiple sclerosis

• • 2 year look back on cancer and cardiac issues for the Graded Death Benefit.

• • 3 year look back on cancer and cardiac issues for the Immediate Death Benefit.

• • Mental health disorders (depression, PTSD, bipolar, schizophrenia) may qualify for the Immediate Death Benefit.

• • Asthma disorder may qualify for Immediate coverage.

• • Blood thinners like coumadin, warfarin, and clopedigril underwritten on a first-fill basis, meaning Graded or Immediate Death Benefit coverage may be available depending on the length of time since the first prescription fill.

• • Atrial Fibrillation/Arrhythmia OK for Immediate Death Benefit coverage.

• • Flexibility with not treated health conditions: American Amicable final expense may accept the following conditions as Graded or Immediate coverage if the proposed insured has not been medically diagnosed or treated within the past 2 years or 3 years: COPD and related chronic lung disease, Hepatitis C, Cardiomyopathy, Systemic Lupus (SLE),

Application Health Questions

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pN9cu6BngOA&t=90s

Below you’ll find a complete listing of each health question on for all 3 versions of the American Amicable final expense product.

Prefer to download a sample application? Click here to do so now.

1. Are you currently hospitalized, confined to a nursing facility, a bed, or a wheelchair due to chronic illness or disease, currently using oxygen equipment to assist in breathing, receiving Hospice Care or home health care, or had an amputation caused by disease, or do you currently have any form of cancer (excluding basal cell skin cancer) diagnosed or treated by a medical professional, or do you require assistance (from anyone) with activities of daily living such as bathing, dressing, eating or toileting?
2. Have you had or been medically advised to have an organ transplant or kidney dialysis, or have you been medically diagnosed as having congestive heart failure (CHF), Alzheimer’s, dementia, mental incapacity, Lou Gehrig’s disease (ALS), liver failure, respiratory failure, or been diagnosed by a medical professional as having a terminal medical condition or end-stage disease that is expected to result in death in the next 12 months?
3. Have you been medically treated or diagnosed by a medical professional as having Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), AIDS related complex (ARC), or any immune deficiency related disorder or tested positive for the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)?

If any answer to questions 1 through 3 is answered “Yes” the Proposed Insured is not eligible for any coverage.

4. Have you ever been medically diagnosed or treated for complications of diabetes, including insulin shock, diabetic coma, retinopathy (eye), nephropathy (kidney), neuropathy (nerve damage/pain), or used insulin prior to age 50?
5. Have you ever been medically diagnosed, treated or taken medication for renal insufficiency, kidney failure, chronic kidney disease, or more than one occurrence of cancer in your lifetime (excluding basal cell skin cancer)?
6. Within the past 2 years have you had any diagnostic testing (excluding tests related to Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)), surgery, or hospitalization advised by a medical professional which has not been completed or for which the results have not been received?
7. Within the past 2 years have you:
a. been medically diagnosed or treated for angina (chest pain), stroke or TIA, cardiomyopathy, systemic lupus (SLE), cirrhosis, Hepatitis C, chronic hepatitis, chronic pancreatitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), emphysema, chronic bronchitis, or required oxygen equipment to assist in breathing?
b. had a heart attack or aneurysm, or had or been medically advised to have any type of heart, brain or circulatory surgery (including, but not limited to a pacemaker insertion, defibrillator placement), or any procedure to improve circulation?
c. been medically diagnosed, or treated, or taken medication for any form of cancer (excluding basal cell skin cancer)?
d. used illegal drugs, abused alcohol or drugs, had or been recommended by a medical professional to have treatment or counseling for alcohol or drug use or been advised to discontinue use of alcohol or drugs?

If any answer to questions 4 through 7 is answered “Yes” the Proposed Insured should apply for the Return of Premium Death Benefit Plan.

8. Within the past 3 years have you been medically diagnosed or treated, or hospitalized for:
a. stroke, angina (chest pain), heart attack, aneurysm, heart or circulatory surgery or any procedure to improve circulation?
b. or taken medication for any form of cancer (excluding basal cell skin cancer), emphysema, chronic bronchitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), ulcerative colitis, cirrhosis, Hepatitis C, or liver disease?
c. paralysis of two or more extremities or cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, seizures, Parkinson’s disease or muscular dystrophy?

If any answer to question 8 is answered “Yes” the Proposed Insured should apply for the Graded Death Benefit Plan.

If all questions 1 through 8 are answered “No” the Proposed Insured should apply for the Immediate Death Benefit Plan.

Rates

Below you’ll find select rates for the Immediate, Graded, and Return Of Premium product.

If you prefer to download the rate calculation charts yourself, click here to get them.

[table id=52 /]

[table id=51 /]

[table id=50 /]

[table id=49 /]

[table id=48 /]

[table id=47 /]

Thoughts On Selling American Amicable’s Final Expense Product

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fvd922sRk_M&t=9s

One of the big pushes I’ve been doing in my national final expense agency is to direct agents’ focus to selecting final expense companies that are easy to use and cut down on wasted effort.

American Amicable’s final expense product ease of use is its strongest benefit.

Mobile Application

The Mobile Application has transformed your ability to submit clean business while getting an almost instantaneous underwriting decision, all while avoiding the common pitfalls associated with using paper applications, like getting missed signatures and amendments on go-back appointments.

With the Mobile Application process, you simply log into the application website, complete the application either on a tablet or smart phone (make sure you use a device your client can sign their signature to on the scree), and wait only a few seconds after submission to see your client’s underwriting decision.

While you can still use the paper application, you’ll definitely want to consider focusing exclusively on using American Amicable’s Mobile Application.

It will make a huge difference in your volume of placed business, and free up more time to spend with qualified prospects.

Underwriting

American Amicable’s final expense product offers several distinct underwriting advantages that make it simpler to write with a large cross-section of the senior population.

You may qualify your client for Immediate Death Benefit coverage with the following conditions:

• • Mental health disorders (depression, bi-polar, schizophrenia)

• • Most cardiac events after 3 years (heart attacks, strokes, stents)

• • Cancer remission/removal after 3 years

• • Insulin use OK if started at age 50 or later

Agents also have a noticeably more liberal take on certain blood thinner and cardiac medicines, allowing for Immediate Coverage if the first fill of the drug was 3+ years in the past.

This means if your client has coumdain, warfarin, or clopedigril prescriptions, they may have an easier time qualifying for full first day coverage with American Amicable than with other carriers.

Drawbacks

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wy0REQTAoa4&t=9s

While there are definite advantages to using the Senior Choice product, there are a few drawbacks you need to be aware of when comparing other final expense carriers to work with.

• • Rates: Rates are moderate competitive, with smokers being more competitively priced relative to other final expense companies.

    I generally prefer more competitive rates for my clients to reduce lapses and replacement attempts from other agents, as our fixed-income senior clients will switch over giving the client more coverage or reducing their premium.

• • Underwriting: Beyond the advantages American Amicable Senior Choice provides for Immediate Death Benefit coverage, there isn’t much reason to write the Graded or Return Of Premium products.

    There are several carriers that will provide immediate coverage to many of the Graded and Return Of Premium conditions.

Summary

I look at American Amicable’s final expense as a solid product to start new agents off with. Rates and underwriting are decent, and the Mobile Application process makes application submission and approval a breeze.

New agents need as much ease of use as they can get, and American Amicable Senior Choice delivers fully on that front.

Want To Sell American Amicable’s Final Expense Product?

To learn more about contracting, reach out here.

We have access to all sorts of benefits for final expense agents, including:

• • Top contracts for new and experienced agents. David Duford recruits and operates at FMO/IMO levels, giving him buying power to offer commission levels to agents and agencies others cannot match.

• • Affordably-priced, high-quality final expense lead programs for direct mail, Facebook, and telemarketing leads. David does not profit from the sale of leads, only referring you to sources with a track record of success.

• • An endless supply of top-notch prospecting and sales training at your fingertips.

• • Weekly sales training calls with David, ride-along training opportunities with David and his team, and direct phone/text access to David when you have case placement and sales questions (yes, David answers his own phone =).

• • Additional training and support for agents interested in cross-selling Medicare Advantage, annuities, or growing their own insurance agency.

Reach out to David by starting here. Talk soon!