Free Life Insurance Quote with Pre-existing Conditions
Not all life insurance companies treat pre-existing health conditions the same.
In this article, we will show you how and where to find the most affordable free life insurance quotes for your particular health concern.
Here’s what we'll cover in this post:Quick Article Guide
How Life Insurance Companies View Pre-Existing Health Conditions
A pre-existing health condition can take many forms and degrees. Your condition can be very treatable and managed medically, or it could be one that will continue to deteriorate. Your condition could have been with you since birth, or you may have just been recently diagnosed.
Health conditions that affect life insurance range from obesity, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure to Crohn’s disease, cancer, or anything in between.
Insurance companies assess your health condition according to the seriousness of the pre-existing condition and the probability of a successful prognosis. It also depends on whether your condition is well-managed with medication/treatment, or in some cases, when you had your last episode. Your rating is also based on your medical examination and the reports supplied by your doctors, lab results, and hospital reports.
These and many other factors come into play in determining how an insurance company will rate you. There may even a waiting period of anywhere from 6 months to 2 years before they might even consider you for a policy.
Life Insurance Rate Classes
A rating for someone who has a pre-existing condition generally breaks down into the following categories:
Preferred Best
Most insurers set guidelines for their Preferred Best rate class that only five to eight percent of the population can qualify for. But, knowing each company's guidelines may help you increase your chances! To qualify for Preferred Best rates, you must be in overall good health, but a few minor health issues might not prevent you from qualifying for a company's top rate class.
A handful of top-rated insurers offer Preferred-Best rates to applicants who take preventative medications for issues like high blood pressure and elevated cholesterol. In addition, a couple of companies are very lenient with applicants who are considered to be up to thirty pounds overweight.
Preferred
Preferred is the second best rate class, behind Preferred Best. Preferred applicants are generally healthy, perhaps with some minor issues, such as being up to forty pounds overweight. With some companies, a family history of cancer or heart disease could also bump a healthy applicant from Preferred Best to Preferred.
Most insurers will look past medications for blood pressure, thyroid, and cholesterol, assuming you are controlling the issue adequately. If you have been diagnosed with anxiety or depression but appear to be treating the issue effectively, it is possible for you to secure a Preferred rate.
Standard Plus
Applicants in the Standard Plus category have notable health issues, but the problems aren’t putting them in imminent danger and are being controlled with medication. This includes diabetics, cancer survivors, and people who are up to sixty pounds overweight.
Standard Plus is the lowest rate category available to someone with well-controlled diabetes. With a few companies, Standard Plus is also available to daily cigar smokers, users of e-cigarettes, and users of chewing tobacco. In addition, cancer survivors can often qualify for Standard Plus rates five years after their final treatment.
Standard
Standard rates reflect an average mortality risk compared to your age and health group. These rates are typically available to those more than eighty pounds overweight, with no serious health issues.
This is usually the lowest rate category available to cancer survivors who are 2 or more years past the end of their last treatment. Standard rates are also common for someone with well-controlled diabetes (under 7.0 A1C).
Substandard (Mild, Medium, or Severe)
The substandard ratings are typically referred to as Table 2 or Table B, Table 4 or Table D, and so on. For those who might end up being declined by every company for a traditional life insurance policy, there are also two other life insurance options which include:
- Graded Death Benefit Life Insurance
- Guaranteed Issue Life Insurance
Being turned down by one insurer does not mean there is no one who will insure you. Even with an extreme condition, there are still options. The tables below illustrate how rates can vary for the same condition from one insurer to the next.
Take the Medical Exam
If you have a pre-existing medical condition, you might be inclined to go straight for no medical exam life insurance. However, we recommend taking a medical exam, because doing so helps us get a better download on where exactly you stand, and you might be surprised at how lenient some insurers can be with certain conditions.
Non-medical term policies typically have shorter terms and lower face amounts than medical policies. A standard, non-painful checkup unlocks more products, better coverage, and more carriers.
For example, you’d have a hard time getting a non-medical policy offering much higher than a $500,000 death benefit. Meanwhile, exceeding a $1 million death benefit is quite common in medical-backed policies.
The medical exam is also a free health check-up.
You’ll get all of your lab tests and vitals free of charge, as the exam is billed directly to your insurance company upfront, regardless of your application’s outcome.
Where to Find a Quote for a Pre-Existing Condition
The first approach to get a free quote is to choose the right kind of life insurance agent. You should speak to an independent agent like JRC who specializes in helping clients with pre-existing conditions.
We have access to dozens of companies, and we know which ones are more lenient than others when it comes to different kinds of pre-existing health conditions.
Online quotes and “captive agents” with big-box insurers can be frustrating to work with. Also, you won’t understand where you stand and which way to turn, because you are not comparing rates from different companies.
An independent agent not only understands how life insurance companies view specific health conditions, but can also aggregate a large number of quotes in a short amount of time.
Free Quotes for High-Risk Pre-Existing Conditions
At JRC, we are experts in dealing with health conditions and pre-existing conditions. However, getting a life insurance quote online with a serious medical condition can be difficult, as our quote form only allows you to see quotes for preferred to standard rates, while many pre-existing conditions will be rated at substandard.
If you’re not sure where to begin, you can always give us a call, toll-free at 855-247-9555, or click on one of the links below to get a more accurate idea of what you can expect during the underwriting or approval process. You can also see our previous article, “13 Serious Health Problems That Don’t Rule Out Life Insurance.”
- Anxiety
- Asthma
- Benign Growths and Tumors
- Cancer
- Circulatory Issues
- Crohn’s Disease
- Depression
- Diabetes
- Digestive
- Diverticulitis
- Drug and Alcohol
- Head or Brain Injury
- Heart Disease
- Heart Surgery
- High Cholesterol
- Hormone
- Immune
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome
- Kidney
- Liver
- Mental Health
- Muscular Bone and Joint
- Neurological
- Respiratory
- Skin Conditions
- Ulcerative Colitis
While we have many great articles and resources on our site about diabetes, low-cost high-risk insurance, blood pressure and more, again, your best bet is to contact us by phone toll-free at 855-247-9555 so that we can better assess your situation and provide you with more information.
Don’t let a health issue dissuade you from protecting your family’s future. JRC will work to find the best policy at the most affordable rate.
Clifford Pendell
Managing Partner and Co-founder
Cliff is a licensed life insurance agent and one of the owners of JRC Insurance Group. He has helped thousands of families of businesses with their life insurance needs since 2012 and specializes with applicants who are less than perfect health. In his spare time he enjoys spending time with family, traveling, and the great outdoors.
Ask Our Experts
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Questions From Our Visitors
Some of the questions we received from our website visitors:
I have hypertension which has been controllable for years, has had open heart surgery (2012), which I have check ups with my primary doctor and heart specialist twice a year with testing and blood works, if needed; along with acid reflux.
Sharon, Thank you for your post. I'm glad you contacted JRC. Situations like yours are where you particularly benefit from an agency working as a "broker" to match you the correct life insurance companies. We've had success finding life insurance for clients with similar history. There are a few which specialize in corrective cardio surgery, short of heart transplant. The first factor is getting past post surgery waiting periods. Anything beyond 3 years plays in your favor. The underwriter will review medical records and your compliance with recommended follow ups, favorable post-op test results, and current medications. You didn't mention taking a blood thinner, so that will help, as well. Underwriters don't just look at our present health, but potential future risks from taking certain classes of medications long term. Hypertension/blood pressure and cholesterol meds, generally won't affect rates much. Give us a call at 855-247-9555 and we'll gather the info needed to provide your options. We can quote you accurately, showing what clients with similar history have qualified for. We look forward to your call and helping you protect your family.
Looking for a policy for my mon
William, Call us toll-free at (855) 247-9555 and we'll gladly provide accurate quotes verbally and by email after determining your needs and budget for your Mom's insurance. In most states, applicants must be 80 years or younger. Regulations require we would need to receive her authorization (basically she would need to tell us she wishes to apply for life insurance) and she will need to sign her application. Beyond that, we're allowed to coordinate most of the process through adult children.
My Husband was diagnised with Crohns--His primary took some palups from him and diagnosed him with cancer--doctor wants to take out his entire colon which will result in him having a colostomy bag--I am very worried? What is the best insurance for him?
Mrs. Brown, We're sorry to learn of your husband's situation. From what you've shared, your husband's only options will be a no health questions asked "guaranteed issue" policy. This article covers this topic: https://www.jrcinsurancegroup.com/guide-to-life-insurance-for-burial-and-final-expenses/ Plan for a 2-year waiting period for the death benefit, however, most provide a "return of premium" if a policy holder dies within the first two years. Most of our clients in similar circumstances purchase Gerber policies through us. They provide this return of premium, plus additional interest, through the 2 year waiting period.
I have Keratoconus a eye disease in both my eyes and I have Global Life Insurance but I can only get approved for $5000 policy and I've tried other insurance companies but have been turn down, please let me know if I can qualify for more insurance. Thanks
Phillis, I'm unsure whether our previous response reached you. I'm surprised Globe would only offer $5000 in coverage. In many cases their maximum coverage is $25,000. If you're able to read and sign an application on line, (I assume so, since you found us) and are at least 50 years of age, we should be able to help you purchased an additional $20,000 through another life insurance company offering "guaranteed issue" cover similar to Globe. Rates and options vary by your state of residence and age. Call us at (855) 247-9555 if you'd like assistance from one JRC's licensed agents.
My husband and I both have pre existing conditions and have been turned down by other companies. My husband is the sole provider for our family. We would like to have life insurance, because I have not been able to work for several years because of my health issues, and my husband would like to make sure I would be provided for in case anything happened to him. But we are lost as to what would be the best policy/company to go with.
Venetta, I couldn’t tell if our previous response reached you, so replying again. If you and your husband are at least 50, you should be able to qualify for a “guaranteed issue” policy which have no health questions. These policies vary a bit by your state of residence, but are typically available with a tax-free death benefit of $5000 miniumum up to $25,000 maximum. There is a 2-year waiting period to receive the full death benefit, and cost is determined by age when applying, so we highly recommend buying a policy asap to get the clock running. Buy what you can afford. The only way you lose money is if you cancel the policy. We can help by reviewing your options from 40 top insurers by phone, and helping you complete your applications with the company you choose. We can be reached Mon-Fri at (855) 247-9555.
I am a 37 year old Type 1 diabetic with gastroparesis, Stage II kidney disease, diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma in both eyes, peripheral neuropathy in both legs, as well as previous surgical repairs from a serious car accident in 2008 which crushed my right calcaneus, broke my right femur, left ankle and shattered my left pelvis and now I have severe back problems and difficulty walking. I'm wondering how hard would it be to find life insurance for me because if I die while my son is in college I don't want to leave my family in debt and my disability check pays our house payment and car insurance. I have a small policy of $7,500 through the Knights of Columbus b/c my husband is Catholic and we got it from someone at his church but that was the most coverage he could get me approved for without it costing us a fortune. I would love to talk to you about finding an affordable policy.
Ms. Ross, Thank you for taking the time to write us and explain your situation. Outside of the KofC, we're unaware of another life insurer which would currently offer you coverage. A number of insurance companies offer "Guaranteed Approval/Guaranteed Issue" life insurance, which is type needed once permanently disable, but 50 is the minimum age at time of application. Most of our clients in your situation "self insure", putting money in a dedicated savings account each month so it's there if they die prematurely, but there to also pay life insurance premiums once they turn 50. Another strategy is to make an additional mortgage payment each year to reduce the balance and mortgage interest. Good luck and prayers to your family.
My father in law has had heart stents about 7yrs ago, never open heart surgery, he does have COPD and has been in the hospital this past year for that, however, it’s now being controlled with medications, just has his heart he takes medications, stopped smoking and eating healthy, i have already been denied by numerous companies i have called online, they hear heart diease and automatically decline, my understanding was they are to Finns out the severity and if he is taken steps to control or it being under control, what can I do to get covered on him as my mother in law let his other lapse and I don’t want just the automatic 25grand one with no medical checkup?
Angel, Thank you for contacting JRC Life Insurance and visiting our website. As you've found, it will be difficult to find your father in law life insurance for more than the "guaranteed issue" final expense type coverage will offer. Factors which could mitigate this is to have a year or two pass following his hospitalization with records of good follow up and no other issues. Medications will also be a factor. If he's disabled and/or retired, then the guaranteed issue policy will likely be his only option since along with the medical and smoking history, there's not much future employment earnings to insure.