Having mild to moderate asthma shouldn’t prevent you from qualifying for an affordable life insurance policy.
In fact, some life insurance companies specialize in providing life insurance for individuals with asthma and are willing to offer their top rate classes to asthmatics who are otherwise healthy.
In this insider’s guide, we explain how life insurance companies evaluate the severity of your asthma and provide some sample rates to help you estimate the cost of a policy. We’ve also included a list of the top five life insurance providers for asthmatics.
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Asthma is the most common respiratory issue in the United States, affecting nearly 28 million Americans or about 8% of the total population. Its symptoms typically include coughing, wheezing, chest tightness, and difficulty breathing. Some asthmatics also experience difficulty sleeping due to coughing and wheezing.
Thankfully, most asthmatics only experience mild symptoms that rarely interfere with their day-to-day activities. In this scenario, finding an affordable insurance policy should be relatively easy, especially if you work with an independent agent that represents multiple providers.
In fact, most mild asthmatics can qualify for preferred rate class if their condition is well-managed, and they have no other serious health issues. Even moderate asthma won't prevent you from qualfying for average rates from a handful of providers. However, if your asthma is severe, you probably won't qualify for a policy with immediate coverage.
Life insurance providers evaluate the overall health of an individual when they determine their eligibility for coverage. In general, the younger and healthier you are when you apply, the less expensive your life insurance policy will be. Women also tend to pay about 30% less for life insurance due to their increased longevity.
For individuals with asthma, the insurer will want to see that your condition is considered “stable” and “well-controlled.” This means no recent hospitalizations for asthma, and no oral steroid prescriptions that lasted longer than 30 days within the last 12 months. With many provider's, one or two prescriptions for an inhaler should not be an issue.
However, if you were hospitalized or needed an extended course of oral steroids (not an inhaler) to treat your asthma within the last year, the insurance companies will probably postpone or decline your application until you meet or exceed this timeline. Individuals that require the use of oxygen will also be declined for immediate coverage.
The table below further illustrates how life insurance companies determine the severity of an applicant’s asthma:
| Asthma Severity | Limitations in Activities | Inhalers Prescribed | Continuous Oral Medications | Epinephrine/Adrenaline Injections | Short Course Oral Steroid | Hospitalizations for Asthma |
| Intermittent | Rare/Minimal | Any number | One, no steroids | None | Up to 1 per year | None in the past 24 months |
| Mild | Minimal | Any number | Any number, no steroids | Up to 4 per year | Up to 2 per year | None in the past 12 months |
| Moderate | Occasional | Any number including steroids | Any number, may use low dose steroid | Up to 5 per year | Up to 5 aerosolized bronchodilators per year | None in the past six months |
| Severe | Persistent Wheezing or Dypsnea | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | Home oxygen required |
Insurance providers also consider your overall health when you apply for coverage. This includes your height/weight ratio, immediate family history, and any other health conditions that you are treating. If you have compounding health issues like diabetes, or smoke cigarettes, it will be very difficult to find an affordable policy with immediate coverage.
Every life insurance company sets their own approval guidelines and pricing. Some companies tend to focus on extremely healthy individuals while others specialize with applicants that are in less than perfect health. This is why it is important to work with an experienced agent that represents at least a dozen top-rated life insurance providers.
Below we’ve provided some additional information about our top five insurers for applicants with asthma:
| Company | AM Best Rating | Best Health Class Available |
| John Hancock | A+ | Preferred Best |
| Pacific Life | A+ | Preferred |
| Prudential | A+ | Preferred |
| Mutual of Omaha | A+ | Preferred |
| Banner Life | A+ | Preferred |
If you have any other health concerns, or are more than 50 pounds overweight, you may not qualify for a preferred rate class. To learn more about how life insurance companies determine your rate class and the cost of your policy, see our article, 'Here's What Each Life Insurance Rate Class Means,' or call us at 855-247-9555 to speak with a licensed agent.
Having mild asthma shouldn’t have a profound impact on the cost of your life insurance coverage, especially if you apply with a company that is known for being lenient. However, it’s important to work with a knowledgeable agent that knows which company is best for your unique health profile.
The following tables illustrate the monthly cost of a term life insurance policy for an otherwise healthy applicant with mild or moderate asthma.
| Age | Female | Male |
| 35 | $14.78 | $17.25 |
| 40 | $19.85 | $22.38 |
| 45 | $29.07 | $34.00 |
| 50 | $41.99 | $49.85 |
| 55 | $60.78 | $79.06 |
| 60 | $91.71 | $128.37 |
| 65 | $142.62 | $226.83 |
*Displayed monthly rates are accurate as of 01/23/2025 and are provided for illustrative purposes only.
| Age | Female | Male |
| 35 | $21.47 | $25.76 |
| 40 | $29.48 | $35.45 |
| 45 | $41.49 | $51.04 |
| 50 | $60.05 | $79.68 |
| 55 | $87.30 | $124.10 |
| 60 | $129.33 | $191.31 |
| 65 | $214.01 | $321.72 |
*Displayed monthly rates are accurate as of 01/23/2025 and are provided for illustrative purposes only.
For a personalized quote, please call us at 855-247-9555, or enter your information into the form below. In less than a minute you’ll be able to compare actual life insurance rates from dozens of highly rated insurance companies.
If you smoke or have severe asthma, it will be extremely difficult to obtain a traditional life insurance policy with immediate coverage. In this situation, it’s best to call and speak with one of our experts who can help you determine the best option available to you.
We represent 63 top-rated life insurance companies and know which companies specialize with applicants that are a high risk for life insurance. A few of these providers also offer a product called guaranteed acceptance life insurance that is available to almost anyone, regardless of their health.
Connect with us today at 855-247-9555 or enter your information into the form below and one of our experts will call you within 48 hours. Our advice is free and there is no cost to apply for life insurance.
No, having asthma does not disqualify you from life insurance. Otherwise healthy individuals with intermittent, mild, or moderate asthma should qualify for affordable coverage with some top-rated companies.
Life insurance providers will evalute the severity of your asthma to determine its impact on your rates. Individuals with mild asthma can still qualify for the top rate classes with a handful of providers.
JRC is an independently owned life insurance agency that works with dozens of highly rated insurers. Having access to so many insurance providers and their guidelines allows our agents to anonymously shop the market on your behalf and match you with the best option available.
We've helped thousands of families and businesses with their life insurance needs and we can help you too! By asking you a few questions about your health, lifestyle, and coverage needs, our experts can quickly narrow down your options to help you save time and money.
Most importantly, our comparative shopping services are completely free, and our agents offer at least a decade of life insurance experience. Connect with us today at 855-247-9555 or select your state from the map below to instantly compare your rates and options.
Written by:
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.
Expert reviewed by:
Louis has been in the insurance business for over 30 years. He specializes in “high risk” cases as well as more complex coverages for long term care, disability, and estate planning.
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