Can You Get A Final Expense Life Insurance With a Pre-Existing Condition?

Last Updated December 29, 2024

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Finding final expense burial insurance with pre existing conditions can seem difficult. Chances are, you’ve come across final expense companies like Colonial Penn, Liberty Mutual, Trustage, Farm Bureau, John Hancock and AIG.

Even though it feels near impossible to find the right burial life insurance with pre existing conditions, we are here to tell you that yes, it’s possible. 

This article will breakdown everything you need to know about affordable burial insurance with pre existing conditions.

What is Senior Burial Insurance?

Final expense insurance is the type of insurance that’s in place to cover the funeral costs after your passing. This is the type of coverage that you can apply for, and once you’re approved, your family will be entitled to the payout immediately, no matter how early or late your passing might be.

While final expense coverage is generally used to cover funeral/burial costs, one may use the funds in any way desired. In this way, some brokers claim that there is essentially no difference between final expense insurance and another regular Whole Life Insurance Policy. In a way, this is true, as either way you’re relieving any potential financial burdens regardless of your coverage.

Final expense coverage usually exists as a simplified issue plan, meaning that you are approved regardless of any previous medical conditions. The premiums are also generally low (depending on the condition of the applicant) and whole life, meaning that your rate does not change within the span of your lifetime. Additionally, these plans can coexist with Medicaid, depending on your total assets. If said assets are too high to qualify, one may withdraw and use these funds to purchase additional coverage or what have you, maximizing your beneficiaries’ payout.

How Many Different Kinds of Affordable Burial Insurance With Pre Existing Conditions Are There?

Level

The most lucrative of Senior Burial Insurance policies, mainly due in part to the fact that this is the most inexpensive policy as you are deemed not a huge risk to insure by the provider. This policy has no waiting periods and contains the lowest monthly premiums in the market. You only qualify for this form of Senior Burial Insurance if you’re in relatively good health and can honestly answer no to most medical questions.

Standard

The second most lucrative policy, you have no waiting period with this policy, but you don’t get the cheapest premium comparatively to a level policy.

Partial

The Middle ground for Senior Burial Insurance, you receive a portion of your death benefit during the first two years if unforeseen circumstances occur.

Modified

The most expensive Senior Burial Insurance option, this option is reserved for those who have concurrent health issues or foresee circumstances occurring in the future.

Guaranteed

You are guaranteed to be approved for this policy, but your rate will be adjusted depending on your specifications and answers to the medical questionnaire questions.

What Are The Best Affordable Burial Insurance Options For Pre-Existing Conditions?

The best burial insurance carrier is going to depend on a few factors.

  • The pre-existing condition(s) you have and how severe they are.
  • For certain pre-existing conditions (heart attack, stroke, cancer etc.) how recent was your last occurrence?
 
For common pre-existing conditions such as hypertension, high cholesterol and arthritis, you’ll qualify for first day coverage, a level death benefit with no medical exam required.
 

For severe pre-existing conditions (list included below), you’re best option would be a modified, graded or guaranteed issue (also known as guaranteed acceptance) burial insurance plan.

These plans typically have waiting periods between 1-2 years before the full death benefit is payable to your beneficiary. If you were to pass away during the waiting period, you would receive your monthly premiums in addition to 5-10% interest or a percentage of the death benefit, depending the policy purchased.

 
Examples of pre-existing conditions would include, but are not limited to:
  • Tested positive for AIDS/HIV/ARC
  • ALS
  • Alzheimer’s
  • Amputation due to diabetes complications
  • Living in Assisted Living/Long Term Care Facilities
  • Terminal Illness (Life expectancy less than 12 months)
  • Cancer in the last 24 months
  • Congestive Heart Failure
  • Dementia
  • Dialysis – End stage kidney disease
  • Heart attack in the last 12 months
  • Oxygen use unless used for sleep apnea
  • Stroke with the exception of TIA mini-strokes
  • Received an Organ transplant
  • Use of a wheelchair due to a chronic, critical or terminal illness
Considering everyone’s situation is unique to them, it’s important you speak with a licensed agent to understand the best options for your specific conditions and budget.

What is a Pre-Existing Condition?

A pre-existing condition is a diagnosed medical condition that is present prior to purchasing a burial life insurance policy. 

If you have a pre-existing condition, don’t worry you’re not alone. According to CDC.gov, approximately 85% of older adults have at least one chronic health condition, and 60% have at least two chronic conditions.

How Much Does Senior Burial Insurance Cost If I Have a Pre-Existing Condition?

The cost of burial insurance varies based of several different factors such as:

  • Age
  • Location
  • Amount of Coverage selected
  • Tobacco use
  • Gender
  • Medical History (Pre-existing conditions & Medications)

Below is an example of the estimated cost based on healthy, no smokers requested $10,000 in coverage.

Cost for $10,000 Burial Insurance

Company 50 y/o Male 50 y/o Female 60 y/o Male 60 y/o Female 70 y/o Male 70 y/o Female
$34
$27
$51
$40
$73
$58
$39
$34
$52
$41
$86
$65
$30
$24
$43
$32
$74
$53
$36
$30
$47
$37
$81
$60
$55
$38
$68
$53
$106
$80

**AIG offers guaranteed issue plans with no medical underwriting or medical exams required**

How Does the Insurance Company Know About Pre-Existing Conditions?

The two most common ways insurance companies know whether or not you have pre-existing conditions are:

  1. The answers you provide during to the medical questions asked by your agent. 
  2. Through third party databases, the most common being the Medical information Bureau (MIB).

Who is the Medical Information Bureau (MIB)?

The MIB was established in 1902 to help life insurance companies fight fraud by accumulating data from past life, health, disability, and long-term care insurance applications.

Underwriters utilize the MIB to ensure that the information you’ve provided on your current application matches what you’ve provided on prior applications, allowing them to appropriately establish your rates. Your MIB report is used to verify your medical history, not only to determine your rates.

An MIB report includes information about your life insurance applications over the last three to five years. Information found on an MIB report includes:

  • Date of any previous life insurance applications

  • Date of diagnosis or treatment for an illness

  • Known medical conditions

  • Types of treatment

  • Where the medical history came from

Is It Possible To Get Burial Insurance with No Waiting Period?

It is indeed possible to get Burial Insurance with no waiting period, although that depends on how you think you’d fare on a medical questionnaire. Burial Insurance with no waiting period is generally tied to the form of insurance you qualify for, as well as at the discretion of the insurer. As a result of medical questionnaires generally deciding how to adjust your respective coverage/rate, faring better on this will inevitably allow you to qualify for more generous policies with more lenient specifications.

Who Is the Best Burial Insurance Company for Seniors with Pre-Existing Conditions?

The best burial insurance company for seniors with pre-existing conditions will depend on what conditions you have. Each company underwrites each condition differently. 

This is why it’s vital to speak with an agent you can trust so they can guide you to best option for your situation.

We’ve listed a few examples below.

Pre-Existing Condition Recommended Carrier
Sickle Cell Anemia
Amputation (Due to Diabetes)
AIG
Schizophrenia

Be sure to check out our recent post on each of our recommended carriers.

What Is The Process To Get Burial Insurance With No Waiting Period?

Luckily, all of our recommended carriers make this process a lot easier than most of the other providers out there.

You will not need to conduct a medical exam. All you need to do is the following:

  1. First step is to call us at 1-866-311-4338.
  2. One of our friendly expert licensed agents will answer the phone and ask you some basic questions such as:
    1. Date of Birth
    2. State
    3. Do you use Tobacco?
    4. Any medical conditions or medications?
    5. How much coverage you would like?
    6. Preferred form of payment (This impacts which options are available to you)
  3. From there, we find the best plan based on your needs and budget. 
  4. Once we find the best plan, your licensed agent will walk you through the application process start to finish right over the phone.
  5. Once we submit your application, we typically receive approval if not immediately, within 24 hours.
  6. That’s it – easy as pie. You’re insured the next day 🙂

Conclusion

To keep it short and sweet, You can get final expense burial insurance with pre existing conditions. The best plan for you will depend on your specific medical history. 

If you have any questions, comments or would like to learn more about your final expense burial insurance options, give us a call at 1-866-311-4338 or fill out the quote form –>