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Lung / Respiratory

Modern U.S. life / SI / mortgage-protection underwriting knowledge — actuarial decision framing for software.

Knowledge priority 8/10 Not legacy dump tree

Actuarial software-knowledge disclaimer: These pages synthesize typical U.S. life / simplified-issue / final-expense / mortgage-protection underwriting logic used industry-wide (2024–2026 field guides, carrier appetites, reinsurance mortality framing). They are not any single carrier’s filed rates, not advice to applicants, and not the legacy 2022 database dump. Use them to design interview schemas and carrier-ruleset APIs.

Actuarial view

Asthma severity, COPD, oxygen use, and sleep apnea (AHI/CPAP) drive respiratory mortality. Tobacco and vaping multiply risk.

Primary risk drivers

Diagnosis
Oxygen use
Hospitalization
CPAP compliance / AHI
Tobacco / vape
Steroid dependency

Life (full / accelerated)

Map drivers → rate class / flat extra / postpone / decline. Labs & Rx history refine.

Mortgage / FE SI

Mild asthma OK; oxygen/severe COPD not for level mortgage SI.

Health insurance

Respiratory Rx and oxygen costs matter for health—separate engine.

Recommended interview logic (software schema)

Asthma, COPD/emphysema, fibrosis, or oxygen use?

Mild intermittent asthma, no tobacco

Often Preferred/Standard

Moderate persistent asthma

Standard/table

COPD / emphysema

Severity & O2 decide

Home oxygen

Classic SI/Express decline

Sleep apnea on CPAP compliant

Often OK if compliant

Severe untreated apnea

Rate/postpone

Tobacco or vape with lung disease?

Better path

Yes

Stacked decline common for Express

Typical decision patterns

Profile	Traditional / Express-style	FE / Mortgage SI path
Mild asthma, non-tobacco	PREFERRED/STANDARD	Mortgage SI OK
COPD no oxygen	Table / FE Graded	Shop
Oxygen dependent	DECLINE	GI

Software implementation note

Include vape alongside tobacco; apnea_compliant boolean.