Cancer Survivor Impaired Risk Term Life Insurance

Battling cancer on its own is an extremely trying event in anyone's life and the lives of their families. If you had already owned a term life insurance policy before you developed cancer, you might have had the opportunity to use the accelerated death benefit to help offset the cost of your cancer treatments as well as other medical bills.

However, now that you have been given a clean bill of health as a cancer survivor, perhaps your term life insurance company chose not to renew your policy or decided to drastically raise your term life insurance premiums. All of a sudden it is a struggle to find affordable coverage since you are now considered an "impaired risk." Impaired risks are not only people with pre-existing medical conditions or chronic health problems such as diabetes or high blood pressure, but also those who develop cancer, those addicted to drugs or alcohol and even those who have been convicted of a felony. Those who are considered impaired risks often are not able to obtain coverage. If an insurance company is willing to underwrite a policy for those with impaired risks, the premiums are much more expensive than a basic policy.

In recent years, however, insurance companies have begun to find ways to work with people that have health problems, or "impaired risks" - even cancer survivors. It is important to seek out term life insurance companies who specialize in impaired risk coverage rather than "generalists." Getting cancer survivor or impaired risk insurance has never been easier or more affordable.

How to Obtain Your Coverage
There is good news about term life insurance companies who specialize in cancer survivor and impaired risk term life insurance: they do not operate with a generalized health check list or have blanket requirements to obtain a policy. Each case is evaluated individually. So, as a cancer survivor you would be subject to a thorough health evaluation. You may even be required to submit medical forms signed by your physician stating your current health status. If you are in remission and otherwise lead a healthy lifestyle, basic coverage should no longer be a problem.

Additionally, up-to-date insurance companies now employ a method called "clinical medical underwriting." Whereas prior to this new system, insurance companies would use a standard mortality table based on 30 year old data, this process takes into consideration all the current medical advances and lifestyle choices that allow people with medical/disability problems to live long and productive lives. Insurance companies now base their cancer survivor impaired risk term life insurance rates on being more informed on individual cases. This means that you will hopefully be able to obtain the best coverage for the least amount of money.

If for some reason you are unable to obtain a term life insurance policy for impaired risk, do not worry. You are always eligible for a guaranteed issue policy. This type of coverage is expensive but they do not require a medical exam and there are no health questions on the application.



Sharon Taylor writes life insurance articles for eQUOTE Life Insurance, offering low rates, no-obligation quotes, and term life insurance information. Providing financial security for American families online since 1999.