How to Apply for Life Insurance for Cancer Patients & Survivors

Life Insurance for Cancer Patients & Survivors: Getting Approved With the Lowest Rates in [2024]

What Questions Will the Insurance Companies Ask?

The most critical questions the carriers will be asking:

1. What was the grade and stage of cancer when it was first discovered?
2. Did the cancer cells reach the lymph nodes?
3. If your treatment has ended, when was the last day of treatment?
4. Have you ever had a cancer recurrence?
5. What medication did you take and are you still required to continue taking medication?

There will be more questions than the ones above, but these are the ones that hold the most weight on your application.

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Getting approved for life insurance after surviving cancer has become very common. Using the right life insurance company is the key to your application’s success.

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The Most Common Forms of Cancer

These are the most common forms of cancer treated in the United States:

1. Breast Cancer 
2. Lung Cancer 
3. Prostate Cancer 
4. Colon Cancer 
5. Melanoma Skin Cancer 
6. Bladder Cancer 
7. Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma 
8. Kidney Cancer 
9. Liver Cancer 
10. Leukemia 
11. Pancreatic Cancer 
12. Thyroid Cancer 

 

The Most Prevalent Types of Cancer for Life Insurance Requests

These seven forms of cancer are the ones we see most for life insurance requests: 

1. Prostate Cancer Survivors
2. Breast Cancer Survivors
3. Colon Cancer Survivors
4. Ovarian Cancer Survivors
5. Leukemia Survivors
6. Melanoma Survivors
7. Lung Cancer Survivors

In the past, Prostrate, Melanoma, and Colon cancer had a good success rate for survival but now with modern medicine we are seeing a large percentage of Breast, Leukemia, Lung and Ovarian cancer survivors also.

 

Average Life Insurance Waiting Periods After Surviving Cancer

These waiting periods are just a sample and can vary between life insurance companies and have become noticeably shorter throughout the years, which is a godsend for the applicants.

1. Leukemia – 10 years
2. Bone Cancer – 5 years
3. Lung Cancer – 3 years
4. Breast Cancer – 2 years
5. Colon Cancer – 2 years
6. Kidney Cancer – 3 years
7. Leukemia – 10 years
8. Prostate Cancer – 1 year
9. Lymphoma Cancer – 2 years
10. Metastatic Cancer – 5 years
11. Ovarian Cancer – 3 years
12. Cervical Cancer – 1 year
13. Bladder Cancer – 2 years
14. Rectal Cancer – 2 years
15. Skin Melanoma Cancer – 1 year
16. Bladder Cancer – 2 years

 

What Are the Best Life Insurance Companies for Cancer Survivors?

Below is a list of leading life insurance companies that have a reputation for being cancer-friendly and offering lenient underwriting guidelines for survivors.

Prudential:

Prudential has an A+ rating from A.M. Best, and Prudential is a massive icon in the life insurance industry. They are the largest life insurance company in the world.

They are an excellent company of choice for Cancer survivors due to Prudential’s size and financial strength. This enables the company to take higher risks than some smaller companies.

Banner Life:

Banner Life has an A+ rating from A.M. Best, and Banner Life has been a part of the legendary Legal & General Group since 1981. Banner Life was founded in 1949. Banner is one of the most commonly used life insurance companies in the life insurance industry, offering competitive life insurance for Cancer survivors for many years.

Protective Life:

The Protective Life insurance company has an A+ Rating from A. M. Best. Protective Life has excellent terms and Universal life insurance choices. If you are considered cancer-free, the odds are Protective life has a good choice of life insurance to consider at very competitive rates. 

Lincoln Financial:

Lincoln Financial has an A+ Rating from A. M. Best. Lincoln Financial is a subsidiary of the extensive Lincoln National Group of Life Insurance Companies.

They were founded in Nebraska in 1939. Since its inception, the carrier has been offering some of the most competitive and well-designed life insurance products.

AIG American General:

AIG has an A+ Rating from A.M. Best. AIG has always been an excellent choice for high-risk life insurance for cancer survivors and other severe medical conditions.

They started selling life insurance in 1918 and quickly became industry leaders. The company’s customer service and reputation have been some of the best.

John Hancock:

John Hancock has an A+ Rating From A.M. Best. Needless to say, John Hancock is one of the most prestigious names in the life insurance industry.

They provide some of the best underwriting for cancer survivors in the industry. If you are a cancer survivor, investigate the John Hancock insurance company.

 

What Are the Best Types of Life Insurance for Cancer Patients & Survivors?

Term Life Insurance:

Affordable term life insurance covers a specific time before it terminates on the policy’s anniversary. It can vary from 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35 to 40-year intervals. Once these periods have expired, the policy will be terminated.

You can convert your term policy to universal life and permanent coverage. Low-cost term life insurance is used more often than all other types of life insurance combined.

Cancer survivor term life insurance is by far the most cost effective policy design available. You can also consider guaranteed issue life insurance for cancer survivors if you still have active cancer. You can read about this type of coverage in our final expense life insurance blog post.

Universal Life Insurance:

 Universal life remains in force for the rest of your life as long as the premiums are paid. The universal life Insurance plan design has taken over as the number one policy designed for people who want permanent coverage.

Life insurance designed to last the rest of your life gives you peace of mind and long-term financial protection. Universal life insurance with no cash build-up is a product you should consider when shopping for permanent life insurance with the lowest premiums.

The cash build-up feature increases costs and is not cost-effective and warrants having it.

Whole Life Insurance:

Most everyone has heard of whole life insurance which is similar to universal life only because it is a permanent plan design. The whole life plan design is also an obsolete policy for most people. Many companies dropped it from their product line years ago.

Whole life is much more expensive than term life insurance and is not cost-effective. Whole Life Insurance is still used for small, guaranteed issue life insurance. Seniors mainly purchase these policies.

 

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Prudential Life Insurance is highly regarded among carriers for processing health applications, particularly for those with Cancer.

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Possible Rate Classifications You May Be Approved For 

Here is a list of types of Cancer and the possible rate classifications you may receive depending on which type you have survived.

Preferred Best or Preferred: 

Stage 1 Seminoma Testicular Cancer –
Thyroid Cancer (Papillary Type) –
Skin Cancer (Melanoma type) –
Cervical Cancer –
Uterine Cancer –
Prostate Cancer –

Standard and Substandard:

Colon Cancer –
Breast Cancer –
Leukemia –
Lung Cancer –
Bladder Cancer –
Renal Cancer –

Keep in mind that there is no absolute way to determine what rate classification you will receive or even if you will be approved unless you apply, especially if you have a history of cancer in your family, such as your parents or siblings.

We find that Lincoln Financial and Protective life do an excellent job. Prudential, American General, Transamerica, and Banner Life are also excellent.

 

How to Get the Best Rates for Cancer Survivors

Life insurance can be affordable even if you are a cancer survivor. You should get coverage that you and your family need and won’t break the bank. There are several great ways that you can lower your monthly premiums.

Similar to being classified as overweight or obese. Using tobacco products such as cigarettes could cause your rates to increase by over 250%.

Regardless of your current health, using tobacco products will inflate your premiums. If you want to keep your cancer life insurance quotes as low as possible, stop smoking as soon as possible. 

One surefire way to concentrate on improving your health is by losing significant weight. This could mean doing several different things to help. Being overweight or obese will be one of the fastest ways to pay more money for life insurance.

Before applying for life insurance, exercise, eat an excellent and careful diet, and lose some weight if you are considered overweight. Many overweight people have had their life insurance applications declined just for being overweight.

Applying for Life Insurance With Skin Cancer

Basal and Squamous Cell Carcinoma:

Basal cells and Squamous cell carcinoma are the most common types of skin cancer. It is diagnosed in approximately 90% of skin cancer patients. These skin cancers grow very slowly and are easily removed, a significant and positive factor.

If you’re in good health except for Skin Cancer, you will likely be approved for standard-term life rates. The same will also be held for universal life insurance. The most financially secure life insurance companies will often have the best rates.

Skin Melanoma:

This can typically be a more dangerous form of skin cancer. Melanoma cancer only appears in about 5-8% of all skin cancer cases diagnosed. But it can, unfortunately, account for most skin cancer deaths.

However, if it is diagnosed and treated early enough, there is a good chance of a full recovery. The main issue with melanoma is that it can metastasize. As a result, it can spread to other locations in the human body, including the lymph nodes and many significant organs.

If the cancer has been wholly removed, employing surgery is cancer-free for a year or two. You may then be approved for a term life insurance policy or one of the most excellent permanent plan designs such as Universal Life. 

What If Your Skin Cancer Has Spread?

If your skin cancer has had time to spread, it can be treated with either chemotherapy or radiation treatments. Then you may have to be Cancer free for as long as ten years.

After that, you will be eligible for a life insurance policy in less time, but you will most likely have to pay a higher life insurance premium.

Many cases of skin cancer can be successfully treated and allow you to purchase coverage easily. However, remember that life insurance for cancer survivors is based on a case-by-case basis.  

 

Life Insurance for Breast Cancer Survivors 

If you are a breast cancer survivor, life insurance companies will need to know whether you are in complete remission. Life insurance companies will ask you questions like when you were first diagnosed.

The types of medical treatments you receive and how regularly you’ve been re-tested.

Also, how long have you been free of cancer? The longer you’ve been cancer-free, the better your chances of getting approved.

Just remember, applying for life insurance does not cost a penny. Life insurance companies are the ones who pay for the complete application process.

Life Insurance for Prostate Cancer Survivors

This is another prevalent form of Cancer in the US. Life insurance companies will want to look at the two main issues, including your (PSA) levels. As well as your Gleason score too. Gleason scores determine how likely it is for Cancer to spread.

If the level is low, the cancer spreading is much less, which is excellent news. The most essential issue life insurance companies will be looking at is how long you’ve been cancer-free, especially since your most recent surgery or other medical treatment.

If you’ve undergone regular testing and you are under the care of a doctor. If you also have a clean bill of health, you may be eligible for life insurance at very affordable rates.

 

Where Can I Compare the Best Cancer Life Insurance Quotes?

You can get the best cancer life insurance quotes from our agency. We have been helping people with serious medical conditions buy life insurance for over 25 years.

If you want to see the top companies and their rates, please use our quoting system. On the drop-down menu under “health class,” use “standard.”

We can give you a more accurate quote over the phone after asking you a few questions concerning your condition if you want to get the most accurate rates possible before you apply. Call us and we will give you a quote after performing a 10-minute medical pre-screen.

Remember that quoting life insurance for Cancer is difficult without knowing all the facts. Also, all life insurance rates are regulated by law, which means nobody can sell the same carrier’s specific plan design for more or less than another.  

 

How to Apply for Life Insurance After Cancer Survival

You have three ways to apply for life insurance. The first is the 20-page paper application, which we don’t recommend due to time consumption and a case of writer cramp.

The second is the online application which is fine, but people can run into software glitches or slow internet issues.

The third way is the modern telephone application that takes only 15 minutes to complete.

All you have to do is sit back and answer the questions, and a representative from the telephone application department does all the work for you. We use a simple SnapApp system for all our applicants today and they greatly appreciate the streamlined process.

Will a Medical Pre-Screen Help Before I Apply?

Due to the fact you were diagnosed with Cancer, we always recommend a quick 5-10 minute medical pre-screen to eliminate any surprises later. A pre-screen will also help us choose the best company to place your application.

Jumping into an application blind can cause unnecessary problems for the applicant and the agent alike namely unwanted surprises during the application process.

This will also help inform us on what companies to apply to. Applying for life insurance for cancer survivors is not tricky, but taking the extra few minutes to run a 5- minute pre-screen will be time well spent.

 

Watch our Term Life Insurance YouTube Video

 

Our Final Thoughts

Don’t hesitate to contact us with questions about your life insurance options. We find the lowest rates for our applicants because we specialize in high-risk medical conditions and use over 40 very competitive insurers.

If you are shopping for affordable life insurance, we can help you get approved with the lowest rates.

We are available seven days a week to get you pointed in the right direction and answer all your questions. 

All the best,
Jack Venturi

*For any questions you might have, you may call us at 815-390- 7545 and we will provide a quick answer.