How can I get life insurance if I'm in poor health?

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Life insurance rates are based on multiple factors, including your age, gender, and health.

If you have a serious medical condition or poor health history, life insurance companies will charge you higher premiums for coverage. Depending on the severity of your condition, you may not even be eligible for coverage.

However, applicants who can’t get coverage due to their health aren’t totally out of luck. There are alternatives to traditional life insurance that can still provide some financial protection for your loved ones.

How health impacts life insurance eligibility

Insurers evaluate your health to determine your life insurance eligibility because a risky health profile makes you a risky applicant. The more likely you are to die early on in your policy, the more likely insurers are to charge you more or reject your application.

Insurer evaluate multiple factors, such as your prescription history, any diagnoses you’ve received, and your treatment plan. If any of these factors show that you are in too poor of health and are too risky of an applicant, an insurer will may reject your application.

What to do if you’re ineligible for life insurance

If you can’t get traditional life insurance due to your health, you still have coverage options.

Burial insurance provides some life insurance coverage for people who can’t otherwise get a policy. Rates are a lot higher than traditional life insurance, and coverage is a lot lower.

There are two types of burial insurance: simplified issue and guaranteed issue. Simplified issue works for people with serious medical conditions, barring some illnesses or a terminal diagnosis. However, if your medical history prohibits you from getting simplified issue, then you can opt for guaranteed issue. Guaranteed issue is essentially guaranteed, regardless of your health history.

Though it is the most expensive type of coverage, it provides your family with some financial protection.

Alternatively, if you have enough savings, you could leave your family money in a trust.

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