Many seniors looking to cover their end-of-life expenses (such as funeral bills) ahead of time think they can only qualify for a guaranteed life insurance policy. But what if you have a preexisting condition like COPD? Life insurance with COPD is actually an accessible option, and can even come at a low cost.
Your answer? Final expense insurance. It can be a great choice for seniors with COPD, because most final expense providers create their policies with seniors in mind, even those with existing health concerns.
If you’d like to learn more about your options for final expense life insurance with COPD, contact Final Expense Benefits. As experts in the final expense market, we can help guide you to the policy that best fits your needs at a great price and even help you avoid a waiting period.
Call us at (866) 786-0725 to learn more or check our free online quoting tool for personalized pricing estimates.
What Is COPD?
COPD, or Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, is a medical condition causing difficulty or discomfort breathing due to airway constriction, affecting about 15 million Americans. Per the United States Center for Disease Control (CDC), symptoms are similar to asthma, including:
- A lingering cough, or one that produces mucus
- Shortness of breath, especially with physical activity
- Wheezing (a whistling sound when breathing)
- Chest tightness
According to the CDC, COPD is largely caused by smoking, with 8 out of 10 cases reportedly caused by smoking. 38% of the 15 million Americans with COPD report current smoking, so even if you quit, you still could have COPD.
Unfortunately, there is no known cure. COPD is caused by damage to the airways and air sacs in the lungs, which sadly cannot be repaired. Severity varies among those diagnosed with COPD and affects life expectancy.
Life Insurance With COPD
Thankfully, you’re often not ineligible for all life insurance with COPD. If your case is mild, you may even qualify for some term life, traditional whole life, and universal life insurance policies, though it’s unlikely. Even if you do, maintaining eligibility can be tough, and your rates may be unsustainably high.
Can You Get Life Insurance If You Have COPD?
Qualifying for most life insurance is difficult with any preexisting condition, not just COPD. Underwriting, which is the process used to determine life insurance eligibility, is especially strict for term life insurance. Anyone with anything other than the most mild case of COPD will likely be denied by most traditional life insurance providers.
Providers often ask health questions or require a medical examination for eligibility. However, unlike other types of coverage, you can be eligible for final expense life insurance with COPD.
Can I Get Life Insurance For Final Expenses With COPD?
If you’ve recently been diagnosed with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease COPD and are wondering if having COPD disqualifies you from purchasing life insurance, the answer is no.
Above all, having COPD will determine your rating class, and whether or not you can acquire coverage. When it comes to COPD, each life insurance company has its own set of rules.
However, whether you have mild, moderate, or severe COPD will determine whether you can get reasonable life insurance premiums. Also, whether you’re on oxygen and what kind of treatment or meds you’re on.
The good news is, even with a pre-existing condition like COPD, you can still get a final expense life insurance to cover your funeral expenses. This does pose a risk to insurers since they may have to pay out benefits sooner, but there still is hope.
Cigarette (and cigar) smoking is the leading cause of COPD, according to experts. Tobacco smoking is thought to be responsible for 80 to 90 percent of all cases. The remaining 20% is made up of long-term exposure to industrial air-borne contaminants, according to these specialists.
Each of these exposures can cause inflammation of the linings of the lungs’ airways, as well as a loss of flexibility in the airways.
If you haven’t yet, check out our article on The Best Final Expense Insurance For Smokers.
What Life Insurance Plans Can I Get With COPD?
Even for seniors without a pre-existing condition like COPD, it can be difficult finding a life insurance policy simply due to age.
The good news is, final expense insurance is designed to accommodate older folks that have pre-existing health conditions, with fixed incomes who simply cannot get regular life insurance.
With face amounts from $1,000 all the way up to $50,000, final expense life insurance is a great alternative and the insurance that you need.
Best Life Insurance For COPD Patients
Final expense insurance is the most reliable choice for life insurance with COPD. It’s a great choice for seniors, with or without a preexisting medical concern.
Most final expense providers offer relaxed eligibility requirements and lower prices. This helps keep final expense accessible to seniors with health concerns or fixed incomes and is a huge reason why it’s a great choice for life insurance with COPD.
While death benefits for other types of insurance can range into hundreds of thousands or millions of dollars, final expense death benefits are generally lower, usually capped at around $50,000. This is because final expense insurance is specialized to cover funeral, burial, cremation, and end-of-life expenses for seniors. The smaller, tax-free benefit payout is the main reason why monthly premiums are affordable too.
COPD Life Insurance Underwriting
Underwriting is the process insurance providers use to determine eligibility for life insurance. Eligibility is generally stricter for policies with larger payouts, especially term life insurance.
However, final expense insurance underwriting is often relaxed, making it an ideal choice for life insurance with COPD.
Underwriting takes your past and present health into consideration. That’s why you fill in a health questionnaire when you apply. Some term life providers require an in-person medical exam, but final expense insurance doesn’t require an exam.
Depending on the severity of your COPD, you can qualify for low rates with final expense insurance. If you have a severe case, you may only qualify for a guaranteed policy, but you may be surprised to see how many life insurance options you still have with COPD.
This is why it’s key to have someone on your side who knows the process well. Final Expense Benefits can help you shop carriers, compare rates, and get great coverage at a great price.
Call us at (866) 786-0725 to get started.
COPD Life Insurance Waiting Period
Guaranteed life insurance and some final expense insurance plans require a waiting period, which can be two or three years. If the insured person dies before the waiting period ends, death benefit payouts are either delayed or replaced with a return of premiums. Some insurers use a graded or modified payout method, paying a percentage of the death benefit over the remainder of the waiting period.
There’s a good chance you can qualify for a policy without a waiting period, even if you have COPD. Waiting periods are based on your health profile.
Health conditions that would put you in a health category that mandates a waiting period with some providers won’t do the same with others.
We can help you find a policy without a waiting period and avoid that headache. Some providers to avoid with a preexisting condition like COPD include Lincoln Heritage and Colonial Penn, as they are very strict with underwriting.
How Much Does Final Expense Life Insurance With COPD Cost?
Average costs for final expense life insurance with COPD are around $40 to $170 per month. Even better though, final expense life insurance is always whole life insurance. This means you’re covered for the rest of your life as long as you pay your premiums, your monthly rate will never go up, and your policy grows in cash value with each premium payment.
Rates for life insurance with COPD largely depend on the severity of your case and any additional health concerns. Below is a sample rate chart from our top-rated final expense carriers. For a more accurate life insurance with COPD quote that considers your health concerns, check our free online quoting tool or call us.
The sample rates below are calculated using a non-smoker with no preexisting health conditions for a $10,000 final expense policy:
| Company |
Male 50y/o |
Female 50y/o |
Male 60y/o |
Female 60y/o |
Male 70y/o |
Female 70y/o |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
$34 |
$27 |
$50 |
$40 |
$70 |
$56 |
|
|
$31 |
$26 |
$43 |
$35 |
$71 |
$53 |
|
|
$31 |
$24 |
$44 |
$33 |
$75 |
$53 |
|
|
$34 |
$29 |
$45 |
$35 |
$79 |
$59 |
|
|
$33 |
$26 |
$48 |
$36 |
$82 |
$58 |
These figures are estimates only, based on a $10,000 final expense insurance policy with no applicant pre-existing conditions.
If you’re interested in these or any of our other life insurance options, call us at (866) 786-0725 to learn more. Be sure to check our free online quoting tool for personalized pricing estimates.
Best Life Insurance with COPD Providers
Many providers offer coverage for seniors with COPD. While some, like Lincoln Heritage and Colonial Penn, will likely overcharge you, others respect your health concerns.
Carriers like Aetna Accendo and SBLI specialize in providing life insurance for seniors with conditions like COPD. They’re more likely to offer competitive rates, despite health concerns.
Contact Final Expense Benefits today and get started on your journey to finding peace of mind with life insurance with COPD.
Final Thoughts
Finding life insurance with COPD may initially seem like a tough task. However, you have many final expense insurance options, offering low monthly rates and leniency regarding health concerns like COPD.
If you have a preexisting medical condition, it’s often best to contact an agency for help before shopping for life insurance.
Having help from an agent who knows the market thoroughly is key to finding a favorable rate.
Contact Final Expense Benefits for free assistance finding a policy that provides the coverage you need at a great price.
Call us at (866) 786-0725 to learn more or check our free online quoting tool for a personalized estimate.
FAQ
Can someone with COPD get life insurance?
It’s difficult for people with COPD to qualify for most types of traditional life insurance, like whole life, term life, and universal life insurance. However, seniors with preexisting conditions like COPD and others have a much better chance of qualifying for final expense insurance.
What is the best life insurance for COPD patients?
Final expense insurance is a great choice for seniors with COPD. Most insurers relax health and underwriting requirements for final expense policies. This allows seniors with preexisting conditions who otherwise may have life insurance eligibility concerns to qualify for coverage.
What is final expense insurance?
Final expense insurance is a type of whole life insurance designed to help seniors cover end-of-life expenses like funerals and burial plot costs.
How much does a funeral cost?
The average funeral costs around $10,000, which is why we use $10,000 as the basis for our final expense insurance quotes. Thankfully, final expense life insurance can be an inexpensive choice for seniors with COPD looking to cover their end of life expenses ahead of time.
