To those looking for life insurance after diagnosis…
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To those looking for life insurance after diagnosis…

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › To those looking for life insurance after diagnosis…

  • Post
    • March 1, 2013 at 2:29 pm
    tjndnd
    Participant

      Hi,

      Just wanted to share this since I've seen a lot of questions regarding the topic, and because of how much of a hassle it was to find insurance for my wife.

      My wife and I are in our early 30's – so we weren't thinking too much about life insurance – until my wife's diagnosis.  She was diagnosed with spitzoid melanoma, no-ulcerated, 1.1mm, no mitotic rate, clarks level 4.  Her SNB came back negative.

      Hi,

      Just wanted to share this since I've seen a lot of questions regarding the topic, and because of how much of a hassle it was to find insurance for my wife.

      My wife and I are in our early 30's – so we weren't thinking too much about life insurance – until my wife's diagnosis.  She was diagnosed with spitzoid melanoma, no-ulcerated, 1.1mm, no mitotic rate, clarks level 4.  Her SNB came back negative.

      After we got the SNB results, I called various life insurance company's – most of which told me that there was a "seasoning" period, or that the annual premiums would be $1500-1700. 

      I finally called a "broker" type company – who found multiple carriers who would insure my wife.  One was a MAJOR company – highly rated – and she was quoted at 30 bucks a month for a 30 year term policy of $250,000.  I didn't believe this, and asked if melanoma was excluded.  She said no – there were no exclusions. 

      Just got the policy yesterday, and it was indeed 33 and change a month.  I'm not here to "advertise" – but just letting you know with a little determination you can indeed find life insurance after a recent diagnosis.  It probably will obviously depend on how serious the invasion is however, and if it's spread the lymph nodes or not.

       

      Thanks!

    Viewing 8 reply threads
    • Replies
        • March 1, 2013 at 3:10 pm
        POW
        Participant

          That is excellent and important information. Thank you for sharing it. 

          • March 1, 2013 at 3:10 pm
          POW
          Participant

            That is excellent and important information. Thank you for sharing it. 

            • March 1, 2013 at 3:10 pm
            POW
            Participant

              That is excellent and important information. Thank you for sharing it. 

              • March 2, 2013 at 3:17 pm
              lou2
              Participant

                When you say a broker type company, what do you mean?  How do you find such companies?

                And are you saying that getting your policy might have depended on where in the melanoma treatment you were, that lymph node involvement or metastesis would have changed their answer?

                I am asking this for people who have a different type of disease and have either not been able to get life insurance or had it cancelled because of their illness.

                • March 2, 2013 at 3:17 pm
                lou2
                Participant

                  When you say a broker type company, what do you mean?  How do you find such companies?

                  And are you saying that getting your policy might have depended on where in the melanoma treatment you were, that lymph node involvement or metastesis would have changed their answer?

                  I am asking this for people who have a different type of disease and have either not been able to get life insurance or had it cancelled because of their illness.

                    • March 8, 2013 at 9:09 pm
                    tjndnd
                    Participant

                      By broker-type I mean we called one of the companies you hear advertising on the radio.  I don't want to advertise, however if you want the name I'll post it. 

                      I don't really know what they considered when issuing the policy.  The company that issued it was Prudential.  I am "assuming" that the more advanced the disease, the more risky is it for the insurer – and therefore it might have been declined.  I would guess that they look at every applicant's individual situation and gauge the risk.  My wife might have fallen just under their threshold I'm "guessing" because although it was 1.1mm and a level IV, it was still technically as far as we know, confined the skin and removed.  I'm sure logically they would view it as more of a risk if it had metastised to the nodes.

                      I'm going to read the policy over very carefully tonight, looking for any exclusions and "clauses" that would void it. I'll post a follow up.

                      • March 8, 2013 at 9:09 pm
                      tjndnd
                      Participant

                        By broker-type I mean we called one of the companies you hear advertising on the radio.  I don't want to advertise, however if you want the name I'll post it. 

                        I don't really know what they considered when issuing the policy.  The company that issued it was Prudential.  I am "assuming" that the more advanced the disease, the more risky is it for the insurer – and therefore it might have been declined.  I would guess that they look at every applicant's individual situation and gauge the risk.  My wife might have fallen just under their threshold I'm "guessing" because although it was 1.1mm and a level IV, it was still technically as far as we know, confined the skin and removed.  I'm sure logically they would view it as more of a risk if it had metastised to the nodes.

                        I'm going to read the policy over very carefully tonight, looking for any exclusions and "clauses" that would void it. I'll post a follow up.

                        • March 8, 2013 at 9:09 pm
                        tjndnd
                        Participant

                          By broker-type I mean we called one of the companies you hear advertising on the radio.  I don't want to advertise, however if you want the name I'll post it. 

                          I don't really know what they considered when issuing the policy.  The company that issued it was Prudential.  I am "assuming" that the more advanced the disease, the more risky is it for the insurer – and therefore it might have been declined.  I would guess that they look at every applicant's individual situation and gauge the risk.  My wife might have fallen just under their threshold I'm "guessing" because although it was 1.1mm and a level IV, it was still technically as far as we know, confined the skin and removed.  I'm sure logically they would view it as more of a risk if it had metastised to the nodes.

                          I'm going to read the policy over very carefully tonight, looking for any exclusions and "clauses" that would void it. I'll post a follow up.

                        • March 2, 2013 at 3:17 pm
                        lou2
                        Participant

                          When you say a broker type company, what do you mean?  How do you find such companies?

                          And are you saying that getting your policy might have depended on where in the melanoma treatment you were, that lymph node involvement or metastesis would have changed their answer?

                          I am asking this for people who have a different type of disease and have either not been able to get life insurance or had it cancelled because of their illness.

                          • March 2, 2013 at 3:22 pm
                          JC
                          Participant

                            how can they cancel because of an illness?  once you are approved and have been underwritten and are covered. . if you should come down with an illness at some point in the future, they can't just cancel your policy

                            • March 2, 2013 at 3:22 pm
                            JC
                            Participant

                              how can they cancel because of an illness?  once you are approved and have been underwritten and are covered. . if you should come down with an illness at some point in the future, they can't just cancel your policy

                              • March 2, 2013 at 3:22 pm
                              JC
                              Participant

                                how can they cancel because of an illness?  once you are approved and have been underwritten and are covered. . if you should come down with an illness at some point in the future, they can't just cancel your policy

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