Frequently Asked Questions

What is Hank's Rx Guide?

Hank's Rx Guide is a comprehensive resource on prescription pharmaceuticals for life and morbidity risk underwriters. All medications significant to insurability are analyzed in terms of their underwriting implications This analysis includes all possible uses, how the drug may affect laboratory tests, and a review of "underwriting considerations" which may have a bearing on insurability.

What is covered in the "Uses" section of each drug template?

The Rx Guide identifies all FDA-approved uses as well as all potential "off-label" (unapproved) uses that can be identified from the clinical medical literature.

At present, roughly least 1 in every 4 prescriptions is written "off-label."

Underwriters need to know all possible uses of a given drug to maximize their ability to correctly pinpoint the medical problem in question. This is especially important in teleunderwriting and simplified issue settings.

What is covered in the "Effects on Lab Tests" section for each drug?

One of the most common causes of abnormal results on blood and urine tests is the effect of medications. Underwriters need to know when this may be happening so that they can adequately assess the insurability implications of the lab findings.

What is covered in the "Underwriting Considerations" section for each drug?

Many factors bearing directly or indirectly on the drug's risk implications may be cited in this section. These include issues related to dosage, how the drug is taken (pill, injection, patch, etc.), clinical context of the drug's use and many other considerations. These are the things underwriters need to consider whenever the drug has been prescribed.

Included under "underwriting considerations" are what we call RED FLAGS. They flag the most important scenarios related to the use of the drug in question. A RED FLAG always needs to be reconciled with other information the underwriter has about the applicant.

How many drugs are included in the Guide?

In January of 2012, there will be approximately 800 prescription medications in the Rx Guide. This number will grow over time as the FDA approves new medications.

Hank's Rx Guide is limited to "RED" and "YELLOW" drugs. This means that all drugs in the Rx Guide are significant to life and morbidity risk underwriting.

What are "red" and "yellow" drugs?

With pharmacy profiles, we identify three groups of drugs, designated as "RED," "YELLOW," and "GREEN." By general consensus, this is what these colors mean:

• A RED drug is a RED FLAG. The underwriter must know the medical history because applicants taking red drugs are likely to be rated or declined.
• A YELLOW drug is a YELLOW FLAG. It may be significant depending on the total case context in which it is prescribed, as well as additional drugs given for the same impairment.
• A GREEN drug is basically a GREEN LIGHT. It will seldom have a bearing on insurability. The only caveat is that its use with a YELLOW drug may impact the significance of the YELLOW DRUG (as compared when the YELLOW drug is used alone).

Does the Rx Guide recommend underwriting actions?

No.

Underwriting actions are based on the underwriting manuals used by insurers. They often differ significantly from company to company. Therefore, we do not make any recommendations regarding potential final actions.

For some drugs, we will suggest that, in a given impairment context, use of that drug would generally be consistent with a BEST CASE or WORST CASE risk scenario. Ultimately, of course, this determination is made by the underwriter in context with all of the facts of the case.

Do you include drugs that are not FDA approved in the Rx Guide?

Yes.

It is not uncommon for drugs that have been removed from the FDA's approved list to continue to be given for a period of time. These drugs often appear in the applicant's medical/pharmacuetical history. For this reason, we retain drugs in the Rx Guide after approval has been withdrawn.

Can drugs be looked up by generic and brand name?

Yes.

Do you include drugs from countries outside the USA in the Rx Guide?

We will be adding medications used in other countries that are not currently approved by the FDA. Some of them drugs may be obtained via the Internet and purchased abroad, accounting for their mention during teleinterviews or in medical records.

Because the Rx Guide is available in all English-speaking countries, we will endeavor to get as many of these drugs as possible into the Rx Guide in the years ahead.

I find "Effexor" but not "Effexor XR" in the Rx Guide index. Why is that?

To avoid redundancy and thereby keep the Rx Guide as concise as possible, we only identify proprietary drugs by their core names ("Effexor"), and do not make separate entries where additional considerations like "XR" (extended release) are used on a proprietary basis. However, if there are significant underwriting implications in this context, we will cite them under "Underwriting Considerations."

Where do you get the information that is contained in the Rx Guide?

Our primary source is the medical literature. We also make use of major drug compendia to assure that we identify every insurability-significant aspect of each drug.

How often are Rx Guide updates done?

Every three months. This involves adding newly approved drugs as well as new information pertains to interim developments affecting drugs already in the Rx Guide.

How is the Rx Guide accessed?

The Rx Guide is accessed online. It is available 24/7.

How much does it cost to access Hank's Rx Guide?

The annual subscriber fee for all of a company's underwriters have direct access to Hank's Rx Guide is $2,500.

Who is eligible to access Hank's Rx Guide?

The Rx Guide can be accessed by life, health, disability, critical illness and long term care direct-writing insurers worldwide - this includes companies writing both individual and/or group coverage. Brokerage general agencies (BGAs) are also eligible to access Hank's Rx Guide.

While contract underwriters are not eligible to purchase direct access to the Rx Guide, they can may be given access when doing work on behalf insurers currently using the Rx Guide. This access will be limited to the interval during which they do this work for that insurer.

Is password administration for Hank's Rx Guide handled by the customer or by Hank George, Inc?

Hank George Inc., handles this process. When a company signs up for the Rx Guide we ask for a list of employees requiring access to the Guide and assign passwords to each of them. If employees leave for any reason, we ask to be notified so we can delete/reassign the password. If a new employee comes on board, we assign that person a password as soon as we are notified.

Who do I contact with technical question about the Rx Guide?

Please contact Rick or Esther, or call 414-328-9010.