The Policy They Almost Didn't Buy: How Life Insurance Protected One Southern Maryland Family

SOUTHERN MARYLAND — Those of us in the insurance world get a bad rap sometimes. The number of times I start a conversation and someone immediately gets nervous and says, “I don’t need any insurance,” is honestly pretty wild.

But if you know me, you know I lead with integrity and heart.

This week, I wanted to share a real-life story that has always stuck with me and still pulls on my insurance-agent heart.

When someone asks me about life insurance, they’re usually trying to protect the people they love. They want their kids to stay in the same schools. They want their spouse and family to be financially stable if the worst happens.

Most people know life insurance is important.
But life gets busy.

And unfortunately, planning to plan and failing to plan often lead to the same outcome.

One of the questions I ask clients upfront is:
“How much pressure do you want me to put on you to follow through?”

I can gently remind you, or I can hound you. I can text you every day, or I can wait quietly until you reach back out.

The Policy They Almost Didn’t Buy: A Story About Why Waiting Can Cost More Than You Think — Image courtesy of Maryanna E. Lanham

Most people land somewhere in the middle, but for this story, the extremes matter.

Back in 2020, I met with a couple named Courtney and Christian. They encouraged me to use their real first names, but I’ll leave out their last name for privacy.

Courtney reached out because she and Christian wanted to discuss life insurance. During our meeting, I asked my usual question about follow-through, and Courtney immediately said:

“I need you to hound me and make sure I do this.”

So I did.

I texted her. I stopped by their house. I met her at work. We got the application submitted and the process moving.

Here’s something many people don’t realize about life insurance:

You have to qualify medically to obtain coverage. The healthier and younger you are, generally the better the rates and options available to you. That’s why planning ahead matters so much.

Another important piece people may not know about is contingent coverage. In many cases, once an application is submitted and an initial payment is collected, temporary coverage may begin while underwriting is completed, subject to policy terms and approval.

In Courtney’s case, shortly after we submitted everything, she was diagnosed with a brain aneurysm along with several other serious health conditions.

She had absolutely no idea this was coming.
Nothing in her prior medical history suggested there was an issue.

Because she had already applied, the underwriting review was based on her medical history at the time of application. She ultimately qualified for coverage at the highest preferred rating and was able to secure additional coverage options while she still could.

Today, she is considered uninsurable.
The risk is simply too high now.

To this day, Courtney and Christian tell me how grateful they are that I stayed persistent and helped them follow through before everything changed.

They weren’t expecting this to happen.

None of us expect bad things to happen.
That’s the whole point.

We don’t plan because we think something bad will happen. We plan for the “just in case.”
And not every story ends this way.

I’ve had heartbreaking conversations with families trying to buy insurance for a loved one who was already dying. I’ve had people decide to “wait a little longer,” only to be diagnosed with cancer months later.

Those conversations stay with you.

That’s why I continue to educate and encourage people to plan ahead, understand their options and make informed decisions for their families.

So the next time you meet someone who works in life insurance or long-term care planning, maybe give them a little grace — or even a hug.

We see the aftermath.

We sit with families after a loss. We see what happens when a check is there to help protect a family’s future, and we see what happens when there isn’t one.

And on the hard days, when there isn’t a check, I still find myself wondering:

Did I do everything I could?
Did I miss an opportunity to help someone make a different decision?
That’s why I keep showing up.

That’s why I keep educating.
That’s why I care so deeply about this work.

Because in the end, this business isn’t really about insurance policies.
It’s about people.

If you’d like to learn more about protecting your family or planning ahead for the unexpected, I’m always happy to have a conversation.

About The Author

Maryanna Lanham is a local insurance professional at Waring-Ahearn who has worked in life, health and long-term care planning since 2014. Her work focuses on helping individuals, families and businesses better understand coverage options and long-term planning needs through education-focused guidance and thoughtful conversations. Her perspective was shaped not only through her professional experience, but also through personal caregiving responsibilities after stepping away from her career to care for her father and support her sister through cancer treatment.

Through The BayNet’s Expert Series, Lanham shares practical insights, common misconceptions and real-world experiences to help Southern Maryland families better navigate long-term care, insurance and future planning conversations.

Visit waring-ahearn.com to learn more.