Can a Cancer Patient Get Life Insurance?

For many people, getting a life insurance policy when you’re younger and in good health is easier and more affordable.1 However, even after a life-changing diagnosis like cancer, you can still get a life insurance policy. Many policies are subject to a life insurance medical exam, but having a pre-existing condition like cancer won’t necessarily preclude you from coverage. Here, we discuss how the life insurance process is a bit different for cancer patients and how you can get coverage to give your family some peace of mind.

How does life insurance work?

Life insurance pays a death benefit to a policyholder’s designated beneficiaries if they die while the policy is active.2 For those with a serious or even terminal illness like cancer, a life insurance policy can provide peace of mind that their family will receive some financial support after they’re gone. That’s especially valuable if you’re the primary earner for your family.

If you had a life insurance policy before a cancer diagnosis, there should be no change in your coverage. But if you’re looking for a policy after a diagnosis, you may be more limited in your options.

What types of life insurance can cancer patients get?

The two most common types of life insurance are term life and whole life:

• Term life: Lasts for a specific time period, usually between 10 and 30 years, and only pays the death benefit if the policyholder dies in this timeframe.
• Whole life: Lasts a person’s entire life as long as they pay monthly premiums, and may have additional benefits, like cash value.

Each type has pros and cons, but there are subsets of coverage that cancer patients should know since they may not qualify for certain policies. These include:

Guaranteed issue life insurance

Guaranteed issue life insurance is a whole life policy that doesn’t deny coverage based on pre-existing conditions. Keep in mind that each insurer has different policies and requirements.3

Group life insurance

Some employers offer group life insurance as an employee benefit, which can be guaranteed issue for cancer patients. This means you likely won’t be penalized for your cancer diagnosis. These policies may be more expensive, but that’s due in part to their guaranteed issue status.4

Final expense insurance

Final expense insurance is designed to help cover costs associated with a policyholder’s burial and funeral, uncovered medical expenses, and estate taxes. The benefits tend to be smaller than life insurance policies, but can still provide a financial safety net for family members to cover end-of-life costs.

How much is life insurance if you have cancer?

The answer to, “How much is life insurance?” isn’t the same for everybody and depends on a range of factors, from the insurer to an individual’s age and current health. Since cancer patients are considered higher risk, a life insurance policy will likely be more expensive than it would be for someone in good health.

While life insurance functions the same for cancer patients as it would for anyone else, the premiums can be higher if you try to get a policy after diagnosis. Life insurance will typically be more affordable if you get a policy before a diagnosis.

Should cancer patients get life insurance?

Life insurance can be a major financial asset if you already have a policy when you’re diagnosed with cancer. While premiums can be higher, you can still get a life insurance policy after a cancer diagnosis. Nonetheless, life insurance may be worth it if:

• You have dependents: If you have young children, it may be more beneficial to pay high premiums now to ensure that they receive a death benefit to help pursue an education and cover expenses after you’re gone.
• You have limited assets: End-of-life care and funerals are expensive. A life insurance death benefit can help your family cover medical debts, funeral costs, and potentially have money left over to serve as an inheritance.

The bottom line

Life insurance is not reserved for people in good health. Although enrolling in a policy when you’re younger and healthier can result in lower premiums, you can still get a life insurance policy after a cancer diagnosis. Doing so can help you plan for your family’s financial future and provide additional peace of mind that they’ll have support if your diagnosis worsens.

Sources:

1 NerdWallet– Do You Need Life Insurance? Here’s When to Get It. Updated November 5, 2024. https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/insurance/who-needs-life-insurance. Accessed July 30, 2025.

2 Investopedia – Life Insurance: What It Is, How It Works, and How to Buy a Policy. Updated May 8, 2025. https://www.investopedia.com/terms/l/lifeinsurance.asp. Accessed July 30, 2025.

3 NerdWallet – Guaranteed Issue Life Insurance: Is It Worth It? Updated May 16, 2025. https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/insurance/guaranteed-issue-life-insurance. Accessed July 30, 2025.

4 ValuePenguin – Life Insurance for Cancer Patients & Survivors. Updated August 2, 2024. https://www.valuepenguin.com/life-insurance-cancer. Accessed July 30, 2025.

Content within this article is provided for general informational purposes and is not provided as tax, legal, health, or financial advice for any person or for any specific situation. Employers, employees, and other individuals should contact their own advisers about their situations. For complete details, including availability and costs of Aflac insurance, please contact your local Aflac agent.

Aflac coverage is underwritten by American Family Life Assurance Company of Columbus. In New York, Aflac coverage is underwritten by American Family Life Assurance Company of New York.

Aflac life plans – A68000 series: Term Life Policies: In Arkansas, Idaho, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, Pennsylvania & Virginia, Policies: ICC1368200, ICC1368300, ICC1368400. In Delaware, Policies A68200, A68300 & A68400. In New York, Policies NY68200, NY68300 and NY68400. Whole Life Policies: In Arkansas, Idaho, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, Pennsylvania & Virginia, Policies: ICC1368100. In Delaware, Policy A68100. In New York, Policy NYR68100. B60000 series: In Arkansas, Idaho, Oklahoma & Virginia, Policies: ICC18B60C10, ICC18B60100, ICC18B60200, ICC18B60300, & ICC18B60400. Not available in Delaware. Q60000 series/Whole: In Arkansas & Delaware, Policy Q60100M. In Idaho, Policy Q60100MID. In Oklahoma, Policy Q60100MOK. Not available in Virginia. Q60000 series/Term: In Delaware, Policies Q60200CM. In Arkansas, Idaho, Oklahoma, Policies ICC18Q60200C, ICC18Q60300C, ICC18Q60400C. Not available in Virginia.

Coverage may not be available in all states, including but not limited to DE, ID, NJ, NM, NY, VA or VT. Benefits/premium rates may vary based on state and plan levels. Optional riders may be available at an additional cost. Policies and riders may also contain a waiting period. Refer to the exact policy and rider forms for benefit details, definitions, limitations, and exclusions.

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