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Question 97: Dear Dr. Dunc: My now 17 year old son was diagnosed with Tourette's Syndrome & ADHD 10 years ago. Since then he has also been found to be bordering on OCD, Conduct Disorder, Asperger's and probably all the other disorders that border on Tourette's and ADHD. A few years ago I decided to buy a small life insurance policy for each of my 4 children. Thinking that this would facilitate their obtaining their own policy when they matured and heaven forbid they have a life threatening disease that would prevent them from buying and insurance policy at that time. To my total shock Sean was denied insurance. He was then 11 years old. I than approached a total of 3 other companies that also all refused to insure him based on "The morbidity rate being too high". I have spoken to his psychologist, his psychiatrist, the President of the Tourette's Society here in Wpg. and none have ever heard of this happening. Could you possibly shed some light on this matter and give me any advise that you could. I at this point foresee him never being able to have insurance and this seems ridiculous especially seeing that neither of his disorders are life threatening. I should also mention that he was not denied dental or medical insurance which seems unbelievable as the companies are covering hundreds of dollars every month in prescription drugs. D.D., MB, Canada.

Good evening M.M. I too have never heard of this, but am both disgusted and alarmed by that sort of precedence being set.

I would demand to see the data justifying their position statement regarding morbidity, as to the best of your knowledge the actual professionals in the field are not aware of any data on this. If they cannot or will not produce this data, nor reverse their decision in the absence of this data, I'd start calling the media. I'd also let them KNOW when you are about ready to start calling the media -- insurance companies are getting a lot of bad press these days and likely would be wanting to avoid more of it.

Good luck with this!

Dr. Dunc.

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