Can You Get Life Insurance With COPD?

I was wondering if there are any insurance policies that will give life insurance to a customer with COPD?

  1. 11783 POINTS
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    Larry GilmorePRO
    Agent Owner, Gilmore Insurance Services, Marysville, Washington State
    Can you get life insurance with COPD? The short answer is no. The longer answer is it will depend on your personal health history provided through a pre-screening process that would tell you what to expect for a classification. It is unlikely a person would be considered a standard risk with COPD, but that person may get a table offer from a carrier at a much higher rate.
    Answered on November 19, 2013
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  2. 1805 POINTS
    Samuel Smith
    Enrolled Agent-licensed to practice before the IRS, Samuel N Smith, EA, South Carolina
    There are Life Insurance Companies that issue "guaranteed issue" life insurance polcies. What State do you live in? It may take some time invested on your part to find a company and you may save some time by calling the State Department of Insurance in your State and ask them if they can tell you what companies are licensed in the State that issue "guaranteed issue" policies. These polcies are not going to be the usual life insurance policies full of bells and whistles but they will serve your death benefit needs.
    Another way around this problem is to open a savings account at your local bank and save what you can each week and once you have saved $5000 invest this money into an "annuity" or a "mutual fund" if your risk preference will allow you to do so. In other words the dollars you would spend on a life insurance policy invest into a savings vehicle and provide the death benefit you need by saving it.
    Answered on November 19, 2013
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  3. 1313 POINTS
    Lenny Robbins
    Principal, LifeNet Insurance Solutions, Redmond, WA
    The severity of COPD will dictate the cost of coverage or if it is available at all. In applying for insurance you will need certain information from your physician including results of various tests that will help the agent and underwriter help determine what classification is most probable. In addition, you may be able to get standard rates on permanent coverage if you meet certain criteria by age, insurance carrier and severity of the illness.
    Answered on November 19, 2013
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  4. 63333 POINTS
    Peggy Mace
    Most of the U.S.
    COPD stands for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. It manifests itself in chronic bronchitis, emphysema, or (most commonly) a combination of the two. Most COPD is caused by a history of smoking and is progressive in nature.

    When applying for life insurance, underwriters will look at pulmonary function, whether or not the patient is still smoking, severity and frequency of symptoms, and whether portable oxygen is used. Very mild COPD may qualify for medically underwritten coverage. Generally, simplified issue policies must be used for persons with moderate to severe COPD. If oxygen is used, the applicant will most likely need to purchase guaranteed issue life insurance, if it is available at their age.
    Answered on November 19, 2013
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