Life insurance protects your loved ones financially in the event of an unexpected death.
And while a $1,000,000 policy sounds tempting do you really need that much coverage?
We offer financial protection from top-rated carriers and specialize in finding the right coverage for individuals with certain pre-existing health conditions:
Provided by Ethos. Plans & price will vary.
In This Guide:
Note: Excessive shopping for life insurance can have a negative impact on your MIB consumer report .
Contact us and schedule a free phone call with a licensed agent before your apply!
How Much Does Life Insurance Cost?
The cost of life insurance varies greatly based on several factors:
Age and Health: Younger, healthier individuals generally pay lower premiums.Coverage Amount: Higher death benefits result in higher premiums.Policy Type: Term life insurance is typically more affordable than whole or universal life.Lifestyle and Occupation: High-risk activities or dangerous jobs can increase premiums.Insurance Company: Different companies have varying underwriting standards and pricing structures.
Take a look at the following examples for term life insurance:
#1) Term Life – Male, nonsmoker, fair health, age 30
$250,000 policy
30-year term
For illustration only. Plans & price will vary. Contact us for a personalized quote.
#2) Term Life – Female, nonsmoker, average health, age 40
$500,000 policy
25-year term
For illustration only. Plans & price will vary. Contact us for a personalized quote.
Reasons You Can Be Denied Life Insurance
Certain health conditions and situations may lead to you being denied life insurance instantly during the application process. These are called knockouts.
You should know about these in advance before you apply. You can also be denied for non-medical reasons .
This list is intended to be informational, is not all-inclusive and will vary depending on the insurance carrier you choose:
AIDS/HIV+ status
ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis)
Alzheimer’s Disease, Dementia or significant Cognitive Impairments related to functionality
Cancer diagnosis within the last 2 years
Cirrhosis of the Liver
Congestive Heart Failure
COPD/Emphysema or Chronic Bronchitis, severe or with current nicotine use
Cystic Fibrosis
Diabetes uncontrolled with high A1C (see our Diabetes page)Muscular Dystrophy
Heart/Cardiac Disease, multiple vessels diagnosed within the last 2 years, or any past history of current nicotine use
What Is “No Medical Exam” Insurance?
No-exam term life insurance offers coverage quickly, (in most cases instantly) without the hassle of a medical appointment or blood work.
No-medical exam life insurance can be convenient, but it often comes with limitations:
Higher Premiums: You’ll likely pay significantly more than for a policy requiring a medical exam.Lower Coverage Limits: Coverage amounts are usually capped, and you may not qualify for large policies.Limited Eligibility: You might not qualify if you have certain health conditions or are significantly overweight.
Traditional Underwriting vs. Instant Term Life
Traditional underwriting involves a comprehensive medical exam, blood tests, and a detailed questionnaire to assess your health risk. This process can be time-consuming, often taking weeks or even months.
Instant term life insurance is a streamlined process that avoids the need for a medical exam. Insurers rely on alternative methods to evaluate your risk, including:
Health questionnaire: Asks about your medical history, medications, and tobacco use.Lifestyle assessment: Inquires about your hobbies, activities, and overall lifestyle.Data check: With your consent, insurers access external information like prescription records, driving history, credit reports, and past life insurance applications. (See: MIB Consumer File )
Accelerated Underwriting
Accelerated underwriting is a variation of instant term life insurance that offers additional flexibility. While it still avoids medical exams, it may involve a more comprehensive review of your health information and lifestyle.
This allows for a more personalized assessment of your risk, potentially enabling approval for applicants with certain health conditions.
The Benefits of Accelerated Underwriting:
Faster Approval: Avoid lengthy wait times often associated with traditional underwriting processes.Increased Accessibility: Find suitable coverage options even if you have health conditions that might disqualify you for traditional policies.Wider Range of Options: Explore a broader range of coverage options tailored to your specific needs.Flexible Policy Limits: Choose a policy that aligns with your coverage requirements, even if you need a smaller death benefit.
Simplified Issue Life Insurance
Simplified issue life insurance is a type of coverage that offers a streamlined application process compared to traditional policies.
Instead of extensive medical exams and detailed health history questions, you typically provide basic information, such as your age, smoking status, and any major health conditions.
Pros:
Speed and Convenience: The application process is quick and easy, often with instant approval decisions. This eliminates the wait for medical exams and reduces paperwork.Immediate Coverage: Coverage can often begin immediately after your first premium payment, providing peace of mind quickly.
Cons:
Higher Premiums: Due to the simplified underwriting, premiums for simplified issue policies are generally higher than comparable traditional policies.
Limited Coverage Options:
Lower Death Benefits: Simplified issue policies usually have lower maximum coverage amounts compared to traditional policies.
Shorter Term Limits: You may have limited options for term lengths, often with shorter terms available.
Simplified Issue vs. Guaranteed Issue
While both simplified issue and guaranteed issue life insurance policies avoid the traditional underwriting process, there are some key differences:
Cost and Coverage: Guaranteed issue policies tend to be more expensive and have lower death benefits, but they offer coverage to a wider age range.
Health Information: Simplified issue requires some basic health information, while guaranteed issue doesn’t require any health details at all.
Life Insurance for Diabetics
Diabetes can affect your eligibility for life insurance and the cost of premiums. Insurance companies have diverse criteria, so it’s best to be informed before contacting multiple insurers, as excessive inquiries can potentially harm your MIB Consumer Report.
Consider these underwriting options when seeking life insurance with diabetes:
Accelerated Underwriting: This option involves a more in-depth review of your medical history but may offer higher coverage amounts and more flexible underwriting guidelines.
Simplified Issue: This option requires less medical information and can be faster, but it may have lower coverage limits and higher premiums.
Guaranteed Issue: This option provides coverage regardless of your health, but it typically has higher premiums and limited coverage amounts.
If you have a health condition like diabetes or high blood pressure, you still have options for life insurance.
Simplified or accelerated underwriting can help you secure coverage.
Get free expert guidance. Contact us or schedule a phone consultation with a licensed agent at your convenience. Available weekdays, 10am-4pm EST.
Term Life Insurance
Need life insurance quickly? Our term life insurance plans offer instant approvals for qualified applicants with no medical exam required.
Not Sure About Your Health?
If you have pre-existing conditions or concerns about your eligibility, we may be able to offer alternative options through accelerated underwriting or simplified issue policies.
Banner Term Life
Foresters Strong Foundation
SBLI Accelerated Term
Rates vary based on factors like age, health, and lifestyle. Contact us for a personalized quote tailored to your specific needs.
Whole Life Insurance
Whole life insurance provides a fixed amount of insurance coverage over the life of the insured, with the benefits payable only upon the insured’s death.
Universal Life Insurance
Universal life insurance (UL) combines permanent whole life protection with an investment component. It’s a flexible product that can allow you to make changes to suit your evolving life. UL is comprised of two parts:
Life insurance Cash value accumulation
The premiums you pay go toward your account value.
A portion of this account is used to cover the cost of insurance and any other monthly charges.
The other portion represents your cash value which can grow based on the interest accrued.
The death benefit is the amount designed to be payable to your beneficiaries once you have passed away.
What Is “No Medical Exam” Insurance?
No-exam term life insurance offers coverage quickly, (in most cases instantly) without the hassle of a medical appointment or blood work.
Traditional Underwriting vs. Instant Term Life
Traditional underwriting involves a comprehensive medical exam, blood tests, and a detailed questionnaire to assess your health risk. This process can be time-consuming, often taking weeks or even months.
Instant term life insurance is a streamlined process that avoids the need for a medical exam. Insurers rely on alternative methods to evaluate your risk, including:
Health questionnaire: Asks about your medical history, medications, and tobacco use.Lifestyle assessment: Inquires about your hobbies, activities, and overall lifestyle.Data check: With your consent, insurers access external information like prescription records, driving history, credit reports, and past life insurance applications. (See: MIB Consumer File )
Accelerated Underwriting
Accelerated underwriting is a variation of instant term life insurance that offers additional flexibility. While it still avoids medical exams, it may involve a more comprehensive review of your health information and lifestyle.
This allows for a more personalized assessment of your risk, potentially enabling approval for applicants with certain health conditions.
The Benefits of Accelerated Underwriting:
Faster Approval: Avoid lengthy wait times often associated with traditional underwriting processes.Increased Accessibility: Find suitable coverage options even if you have health conditions that might disqualify you for traditional policies.Wider Range of Options: Explore a broader range of coverage options tailored to your specific needs.Flexible Policy Limits: Choose a policy that aligns with your coverage requirements, even if you need a smaller death benefit.
What is Simplified Issue Life Insurance?
Simplified issue life insurance is a type of coverage that offers a quicker and easier application process compared to traditional life insurance policies.
Instead of answering numerous questions about your health history, you’ll provide basic information, such as whether you’re a smoker or have any significant health conditions.
The Benefits of Simplified Issue:
Immediate Coverage: Once you pay your first premium, your coverage can start immediately, providing you with peace of mind right away.
Fast Approval: You can often receive an instant decision on your application, eliminating the need to wait for medical exams or additional paperwork.
Simplified Issue vs. Guaranteed Issue
While both simplified issue and guaranteed issue life insurance policies avoid the traditional underwriting process, there are some key differences:
Cost and Coverage: Guaranteed issue policies tend to be more expensive and have lower death benefits, but they offer coverage to a wider age range.
Health Information: Simplified issue requires some basic health information, while guaranteed issue doesn’t require any health details at all.
Best Life Insurance for Diabetics
Diabetes can affect your eligibility for life insurance and the cost of premiums. Insurance companies have diverse criteria, so it’s best to be informed before contacting multiple insurers, as excessive inquiries can potentially harm your MIB Consumer Report.
Consider these underwriting options when seeking life insurance with diabetes:
Accelerated Underwriting: This option involves a more in-depth review of your medical history but may offer higher coverage amounts and more flexible underwriting guidelines.
Simplified Issue: This option requires less medical information and can be faster, but it may have lower coverage limits and higher premiums.
Guaranteed Issue: This option provides coverage regardless of your health, but it typically has higher premiums and limited coverage amounts.
If you have a health condition like diabetes or high blood pressure, you still have options for life insurance.
Simplified or accelerated underwriting can help you secure coverage.
Get free expert guidance. Contact us or schedule a phone consultation with a licensed agent at your convenience. Available weekdays, 10am-4pm EST.
Final Expense Insurance
Final expense insurance is a type of whole life insurance policy designed for older adults.final expense insurance there are no medical exams required and only a few health questions.
Advantages to final expense insurance — no medical exams, fixed premiums and you’ll build cash value that you can borrow from.$2,000-$30,000 and premiums can be costly for older adults.
Free Consultation!
We hope this post has provided some insight as to what medical conditions can disqualify you from life insurance.
During your search, there may be a time when consulting with an agent becomes necessary.
Note: Life insurance depends on many risk factors like health, finances, credit score, lifestyle and even your driving record. If you have questions contact us before you dive into an application.
We work with several life insurance companies. Each has different criteria for underwriting and may be more flexible to your situation.
Banner Life (Term Life)
Ethos (Term Life, Whole Life, Final Expense)Foresters Financial (Term Life, Whole Life, Universal Life)
SBLI (Term Life, Whole Life)
There is no cost or obligation and it could save you from being denied coverage. Contact us!
