Cancer Life Insurance
The Insurance Surgery is one of the leading experts in securing Life Insurance cover for those living with Cancer. We specialise in types of life insurance for many pre-existing medical conditions. There are over 200 types of Cancer and an estimated 2.5 million people are diagnosed with the disease in the UK. Most people can relate to the condition. Life Insurance cover for cancer can provide financial security for you and your family.
How Life Insurance for Cancer Patients & Survivors Works
- Type of Cancer
- Area / Organs Affected
- Grade and Stage
- Treatment received (i.e. Chemotherapy, Radiotherapy etc.)
- Date you were diagnosed with cancer
- Date of the last treatment for cancer
- Time in remission
Life Insurance for People with Cancer
Life insurance premiums can vary dramatically from one insurance provider to another. Premiums depend on how good they are with the type of Cancer you have or have had. Most insurers view Cancer life insurance underwriting similarly in terms of when primary treatment ended (usually it must be 2 years). Life insurance underwriters will usually require some key information about your Cancer, such as:
- Grade
- Stage
- Type of Cancer
- Location of Cancer
- Treatment (e.g. Radiotherapy, Chemotherapy, Mastectomy or Lumpectomy)
- Time from end of treatment
- Any current reviews/treatment
There are currently reported to be more than 200 different types of Cancer. This means it is very difficult to provide accurate estimates for life insurance without knowing more details. Cancer is the most common medical condition in the UK and the most common cause of death. It’s a major issue for insurance underwriters, especially with more people being cured and longer life expectancies.
Cancer life insurance premiums also depend on whether any lymph nodes have been affected and how aggressive the Cancer is. This can potentially cause significant increases to premiums or loadings.
Applications for Cancer life insurance will usually have some sort of premium increase for several years after primary treatment has ended. This is the period when the risk is higher. It’s called ‘per mille’ loading and is directly linked to the level of Cancer life insurance cover being applied for.
Cancer life insurance cover may also be deferred or postponed for a number of years after treatment has ended. This is to ensure that there’s no recurrence which is common with certain types of Cancer. You may have previously had a Cancer life insurance application declined or postponed or already have cover in place. If so, it’s worth reviewing your cover based on your current circumstances, especially if there have been no further issues.
In some more severe or serious cases there are a number of alternative options that we can recommend. Contact one of our life insurance advisers to find out more. Anyone who has suffered from Cancer will know the importance of having the right level of life insurance cover in place. Speak to the experts at The Insurance Surgery to see what we can do to protect you and your family.
Cancer Critical Illness Cover
There are cases where Critical Illness cover can be accepted with a history of Cancer. It depends on how long it’s been since you had any treatment and how aggressive or severe the Cancer was.
If Cancer Critical Illness cover is accepted it will generally be offered with a Cancer exclusion and premium loading. This is dependent on the risk involved. Our expert advisers have many years of insurance underwriting experience.
We will identify which providers would offer Cancer Critical Illness cover and on what basis (e.g. exclusions, premium loadings, postpone periods etc.).
For some Cancer Critical Illness cover applications there may be a period where cover is postponed or even potentially declined. This usually occurs when the Cancer has been more aggressive or treatment has been fairly recent. Have you previously applied for Cancer Critical Illness cover and been accepted on special terms or been declined / postponed? If so it’s worth reviewing this based on your current circumstances if there has since been a period of stability.
Can I get income protection if I have cancer?
Income protection can be secured in certain circumstances depending on type and severity of the Cancer. Almost all applications for Cancer income protection will require some additional underwriting and evidence from your GP to support your application. There will usually be Cancer exclusions if income protection cover is accepted. There may also be a longer period required from when treatment ended.
It’s worth reviewing your cover if a previous application for Cancer income protection was declined or accepted with special terms. This is especially true if there have been no further issues or complications for a period of time.
Case Studies
Frequently Asked Questions
We answer your most frequently asked questions.
Usually, there is a period of 2 years after primary treatment (i.e. Chemotherapy, Radiotherapy etc.) that is required before most insurance providers will consider offering cover.
There are some exceptions that allow us to look at cover sooner for certain types of cancers and for certain treatment. It is worth submitting an enquiry to The Insurance Surgery even if you are not sure. We will be able to assess your condition and application and advise you of your options.
The most important factors are the severity of cancer (i.e. Grade and Stage) and the time since the end of primary treatment to determine the level of risk for underwriters. Cancer Life Insurance premiums have dropped in recent years due to medical advances and increases in mortality levels.
It’s important to know which insurance underwriters will offer the best terms and premiums for you and your condition. This is where The Insurance Surgery’s expertise and experience counts.
A large number of our clients have previously been declined by other insurance companies. This is generally due to their lack of experience with pre-existing medical conditions or brokers not having access to the right providers for specific needs. The Insurance Surgery works harder than anyone else to find you cover and a leading expert for pre-existing conditions.
Whether it’s worth us looking at this depends on what the cover is for and when it was taken out. We will always be 100% honest with you. If your existing cover is better than any cover we can find we will tell you. We do not charge for any advice – this service is free.
Our customers love us.
Fantastic!
Fantastic, professional service throughout the process. I would recommend these 100% . If ever you need anything insurance wise, please contact these guys. They will take the strain away and deliver great results
Gemma
Mark Smith helped my partner and me get life insurance
Mark Smith helped my partner and me get life insurance, which was proving difficult with other insurance with pre medical conditions. He was prompt, kept us up to date and efficient. Thank you!
Sam and Ajay
Super Easy
Easy to deal with and cheaper than any other quote
Robert W
They got me life insurance when other companies struggled
They got me life insurance companies when others couldn’t or struggled. Great to deal with. Highly Recommend.
Trence
Facts about Cancer
Cancer is an extremely complicated condition. There are around 200 variations (or types) that affect different areas of the body and can require different types of treatment.
Cancer Statistics (UK):
- Breast, Prostate, Lung and Bowel Cancers together account for more than half (535) of all new Cancers in the UK
- Every two minutes someone in the UK is diagnosed with the condition
- Survival rate in the UK is roughly 50%
- 38% of cases are preventable
- 367,000 new cases per year
- 164,000 deaths from Cancer per year
Cancer groups
Cancers are divided into groups and there are 5 main groups which are determined by the type of cell where they originate, these include:
- Carcinoma
- Lymphoma
- Brain Tumour
- Leukaemia
- Sarcoma
Grade and Stage
These are some of the main factors that underwriters consider when assessing an application for Cancer life insurance. They determine the size of the tumour and how quickly it grows.
- Grade: How abnormal the Cancer cells are
- Stage: How big the area affected is and whether the Cancer has spread
Useful Links
The Insurance Surgery has been helping families and individuals with pre-existing conditions including all types of Cancer to obtain life insurance since 1999.
Click the links below to find out more:
A leading Insurance specialist in obtaining cover for people who have cancer
The Insurance Surgery has over a decade of experience helping people with a history of Cancer obtain life insurance. We can also secure travel insurance and any other financial products they may require. We have extensive medical underwriting knowledge. This helps us find the right cover at the best price possible to meet your needs.
The cost of the cover will depend on various factors including the type of Cancer, the grade and staging. Other factors include the area affected and the length of time since it was diagnosed and treated. The products available are based on individual circumstances and will be dependent on your situation. Below is a selection of products and a brief summary of how Cancer may affect your insurance needs.
Life insurance after cancer
If you have suffered from Cancer in the past it may still be possible to obtain Life Insurance. This is dependent on various factors such as the type of Cancer, the severity and site of the Cancer.
The length of time since you were last treated and the type of treatment received are also taken into account. All life insurance cover is based on individual circumstances so we recommend providing as much accurate information as possible.
Cancer and Critical Illness Insurance
Critical Illness Insurance is a difficult product to find for clients with a history of Cancer. Cover can be secured with certain exclusions applied.
Income Protection after cancer
Income Protection Insurance is difficult to obtain if you have a history of Cancer. Cover can be secured if you’ve been clear for a number of years or if certain policy exclusions are accepted.
Private medical insurance after cancer
Private Medical insurance can be secured for clients with a history of Cancer. Most policies, however, will likely have exclusions attached. If you’ve been completely symptom and treatment-free for a number of years full cover might be attainable.