Can cancer patients avail any dedicated life insurance?

Posted: Sat Jul 03, 2010 06:47 am Post Subject:

Well, it's truly an interesting topic to discuss in our forums. The risk factor is always associated with any coverage being offered to a cancer patient. But how do we classify the intensity of such risks!

We just placed one last week who was treated for prostate cancer 7-8 years ago while he was only 42 years old, fully recovered, and got a standard rate (e.g. normal life expectancy).

Posted: Sat Jul 03, 2010 04:27 pm Post Subject: insurance

Sadly, there isn't a cure for Cancer. I can understand the Inurance companies/doctor's point of view, on the issue. They can aways come back and say, "ok..you don't have Cancer now, but it DOES return, at some point. RODDICK..the Cancer pateint, that you gave a policy....his premiums were of normal' standards (lack of a better word) and not 'high risk', because he had Cancer before? (This is an interesting thread.)

Posted: Sun Jul 04, 2010 12:28 am Post Subject:

There isn't a cure for cancer, but that doesn't mean that people don't beat cancer. Cancer can go away. It is also possible for someone who has had cancer to get ultrapreferred rates. This happens when the wording of the question is, "In the last 10 years have you..." and the person has been cancer free for longer than that.

Posted: Sun Jul 04, 2010 01:06 am Post Subject:

Roddick - I don't offer insurance to people, I'm an agent. The insurance company has to approve the coverage. Usually people with prostate cancer end up having the prostate removed. As long as it didn't spread to other areas of the body, they should be insurable.

Last person - what company asks about cancer in the last 10 years? Every application I've seen off the top of my head will ask "have you ever"? There is no company I know of that will give Preferred Plus fully underwritten rates to a former cancer patient.

Posted: Sun Jul 04, 2010 02:28 am Post Subject:

dgoldenz, the questions depend on the insurance company and the state of issue. Here's part of a Pennsylvania application from a major insurer:

9. In the last 10 years have you consulted a health professional regarding Yes No Yes No
a. chest pains, heart attack, high blood pressure, heart murmur, palpitations, or any other disorder
of the heart, arteries, or veins? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    
b. a tumor or cancer including skin cancer, melanoma, or colon polyps? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    
c. a disorder of your blood or immune system including anemia, blood clots, bleeding, immune deficiency,
leukemia, or lymphoma? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    
d. a disorder of your brain, spinal cord, or nervous system including seizures, tremors, paralysis, fainting,
stroke, or TIA (transient ischemic attack)? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    
e. depression, anxiety, psychosis, suicide thoughts or attempts, anorexia or bulimia, obsessive compulsive
disorder, bipolar disorder, or other emotional disorder? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    
L
 Insured 1 If your weight changed by over 10 lbs. in the last year, indicate amount & reason below:
1. Height _____ft. _____ in. Weight __________lbs. _____________________________________________________________________
2. Personal Physician information: Name, Address, and Phone # (if known) ________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
3. Date last seen and reason _____________________________________________________________________________________________
4. Family History Insured 1 (Indicate “unknown” where applicable)
Health Problems – Include age at onset Age Age
Relative (especially for cardiovascular disease) if Living at Death Cause of Death
Father
Mother
Brother(s)/Sister(s)
 Insured 2 If your weight changed by over 10 lbs. in the last year, indicate amount & reason below:
5. Height _____ft. _____ in. Weight __________lbs. _____________________________________________________________________
6. Personal Physician information: Name, Address, and Phone # (if known) _______________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
7. Date last seen and reason _____________________________________________________________________________________________
8. Family History Insured 2 (Indicate “unknown” where applicable)
Health Problems – Include age at onset Age Age
Relative (especially for cardiovascular disease) if Living at Death Cause of Death
Father
Mother
Brother(s)/Sister(s)
IF INSURED IS BEING EXAMINED FORMASSMUTUAL, COMPLETING THIS
SECTION IS OPTIONAL
1. Total life insurance (including group coverage with employer) currently applied for, considered, or now in force on the insured’s father, mother,
and siblings in all companies. Include insured name, age, and amount – If none, explain in Details #2.
Father_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Mother ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Sibling(s) __________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2. Details
Juvenile COMPLETE THIS SECTION ONLY IF PROPOSED INSURED IS A JUVENILE K
A60PA1106 8
If your answer is “Yes” to any of the following questions, circle applicable medical condition and explain in Details #17.
10. In the last 10 years have you
a. used cocaine, barbiturates, narcotics, stimulants, hallucinogens, or other controlled substances not
prescribed by a physician? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   
b. received treatment, attended a program or been counseled for alcohol or drug abuse, or been advised
by a health professional to reduce the use of alcohol? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    
11. In the last 5 years have you consulted a health professional regarding
a. a disorder of your eyes, ears, nose, or throat?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   
b. asthma, shortness of breath, bronchitis, emphysema, COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease),
pneumonia, sleep apnea, or any other disorder of your respiratory system? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    
c. a disorder of your digestive system, liver, pancreas, or gall bladder including hepatitis, jaundice, ulcers,
intestinal bleeding, colitis, or Crohn’s disease (ileitis)?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    
d. a disorder or impairment of your muscles, bones, joints, or nerves, including arthritis, gout, sciatica,
or amputations?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    
e. chronic fatigue syndrome, lupus, or other rheumatologic disorder?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    
f. diabetes or a disorder of your thyroid, pituitary, or adrenal glands? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    
g. a disorder of your kidneys, bladder, prostate, or urinary tract, or findings of sugar, protein, or blood in the urine?. . . .   

Posted: Sun Jul 04, 2010 02:31 am Post Subject:

You are in Virginia. The same company also asks about the last 10 years in Virginia.

Posted: Sun Jul 04, 2010 02:43 am Post Subject:

In the last 10 years have you consulted a health professional regarding Yes No Yes No
a. chest pains, heart attack, high blood pressure, heart murmur, palpitations, or any other disorder
of the heart, arteries, or veins? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    
b. a tumor or cancer including skin cancer, melanoma, or colon polyps?

Posted: Sun Jul 04, 2010 12:55 pm Post Subject:

The answer would only be "yes" if they have consulted a health care professional within the last 10 years. The info won't be in the APS if an APS isn't required. The MIB won't have it if the person hasn't applied for insurance in the past. Here is an example from my practice:

A 27 year old was buying life insurance for the first time. He had cancer when he was 5. He received ultrapreferred rates. He answered all questions honestly. Unfortunately, he died a short time after that following a short bout with cancer.

Posted: Sun Jul 04, 2010 12:57 pm Post Subject:

To edit what I wrote above, they had seen health care professionals during the previous 10 years, but not for cancer.

Posted: Sun Jul 04, 2010 03:25 pm Post Subject:

As was stated before, you have to shop your options, and you won't have as many if you are a former cancer patient. There are some insurers that will treat basal cell or squamous cancer as insurable, and some that will decline for any cancer. Being 2+ years free and clear (that's no treatments, no meds) after prostate, breast or colon cancer gives you the best shot at a possible approval for life insurance, but your chances of getting issued really depends on the insurer and how tight or loose their underwriting is. If this is a situation outside of basal cell, squamous or prostate, breast or colon cancer with 2+ free and clear years, you're best advised to not waste your time with underwritten policies and to go straight to graded whole life policies instead if you're willing to accept the higher rates and lower face amounts.