Compare Life Insurance Companies That Insure People on Dialysis (2022)

While you may not think so, life insurance companies insure people on dialysis. Many insurers will offer a variety of life insurance policies that can provide dialysis patients with coverage while minimizing the risk to the life insurance companies. The best thing you can do is apply for the life insurance policy early to beat the waiting period.

If you’re considering life insurance companies that insure people on dialysis, enter your ZIP code into our free quote tool to see what you could pay for a policy today.

What life insurance companies insure people on dialysis?

As you may have surmised, it will likely not be easy to get life insurance while you’re on a dialysis program. However, if you’re having some severe issues with your kidneys, you may feel more secure when you get a quality life insurance policy to cover your loved ones, just in case.

You can expect to have a more challenging time getting a life insurance policy when you’re receiving dialysis treatment. Not only will your policy options be limited, but you’ll also be capped on the level of coverage you’re allowed to have.

That doesn’t mean you don’t have options, however, as there are many life insurance policies on the market that span a variety of conditions. In addition, you can still get guaranteed life insurance coverage if you’re willing to pay the additional cost.

Some of the policies that may be available to dialysis patients include:

• Guaranteed life
• No medical exam
• Burial and final expense insurance
• Single premium

While these policy types may be easier to get for dialysis patients, an increased cost to cover that risk. The insurer will likely underwrite your condition individually and decide what policies to offer you from there.

Gerber life insurance offers guaranteed life insurance with a death benefit of $10,000 for around $50 a month starting around age 50. AIG insurance provides similar coverage, costing approximately $29 a month for a male with a $5,000 death benefit.

Can you get life insurance if you are on dialysis?

The answer to whether or not you can get life insurance while on dialysis will largely depend on your condition. The insurer will determine whether or not your health falls within their insurable interests individually and will give you an answer then.

There are also options for life insurance that are guaranteed, with a few exclusions. These policies will ensure that you can save your beneficiary from having any financial hardships once you pass.

Life insurance companies that don’t insure people on dialysis protect themselves against the risk that dialysis patients pose to paying out.

What types of life insurance are available for dialysis patients?

If you or someone close to you is currently going through the process of dialysis, you’ve got plenty on your plate. However, life insurance can help you rest a little easier knowing your loved ones are provided for.

However, your policy options will likely be limited by your condition. That doesn’t mean you can’t get good coverage. It just means you’ll have fewer choices. Some of the options most likely available to patients on dialysis include:

• Guaranteed life – Guarantees you can get life insurance coverage, but it will cost more, and your death benefit will likely have a limit.
• No medical exam – If your kidney issues are below surface level, you can a policy underwritten without an exam and tests, although you may still answer some voluntary questions.
• Final expense insurance – This policy type ensures that your estate isn’t left paying for any of your medical or burial bills after you’re gone, providing just enough coverage.
• Single premium – As it sounds, you pay all your premiums at once with this life insurance policy, so there is no need to underwrite you.

With these life insurance policies, you can ensure that those close to you at least have some financial boost to save them from having to worry about your medical and burial bills that would otherwise have to be paid by your estate.

What are the downsides of getting life insurance with dialysis?

When you attempt to get life insurance with a significant medical condition, like one that would cause dialysis, you may face a few limitations.

For one, the insurer will be taking on a lot of risks that you’ll pass sooner rather than later. That means there’s a nearly 0% chance that the insurance company will be able to make a profit on your policy before they have to payout. So to the insurer, there is no chance of benefit in that case.

This means that when you are provided with life insurance coverage, you’ll have to pay extra to cover the insurer’s risk. Furthermore, the insurer may limit the death benefit to managing the loss they may take if you die before they’ve made enough back.

Do life insurance policies have waiting periods?

As discussed above, life insurance companies will want to make a profit, or at least manage the loss, on your life insurance policy. Unfortunately, this often means imposing a waiting period of a year or two to ensure that they don’t immediately lose out on the investment.

If you die within this waiting period, your beneficiaries won’t lose out on getting the death benefit, but they may only get a portion of it. It’s best to discuss this with your insurer so you’re aware before you sign up for the policy.

How do I apply for life insurance as a dialysis patient?

If you’re starting your dialysis treatment, you must begin your policy as soon as possible. Not only will you benefit from applying as a younger person, but you can also benefit from being in better condition while the waiting period times out.

To properly apply for life insurance as a dialysis patient, you should:

• Research your policy type
• Find an insurer who offers your coverage
• Talk to multiple insurers to get the best deal
• Take out your designated policy
• Go through underwriting, if applicable
• Pay your premiums and get coverage

It can be as easy as that, and as long as you’re honest with your insurer, you can expect to be done with the process quickly.

How will the insurer underwrite your policy on dialysis?

This will likely depend on the life insurance policy that you apply for. If you decide to go with a no medical exam term life insurance policy, for example, you can expect to get asked some health questions, but it won’t be anything like if you were required to get an exam.

Guaranteed life insurance can ensure that you get a policy no matter your current condition, with a few exclusions like end-stage cancer. That being said, you will pay for the insurance company overlooking that risk.

How can a kidney disease affect your life insurance rates?

According to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, insurers underwrite based on risk. Therefore, anything that poses a greater risk causes rates to go up. So if your underwriter were to evaluate you as a traditional client, you’d likely have to pay through the roof for coverage.

Burial and final expense insurance is an excellent tool for this, as it provides limited coverage at a much cheaper monthly rate.

Can I get life insurance with kidney failure?

If one or both of your kidneys have lost function, it probably has you thinking about how to provide for your loved ones after you pass. It’s possible to get life insurance with kidney failure; you’ll have to live long enough to get past the waiting period and ensure the death benefit.

There are other options, like single premium or final expense insurance, which will provide coverage without traditional limitations.

Life Insurance on Dialysis: The Bottom Line

The bottom line is that it’s possible to get life insurance if you’re currently on dialysis or expect to start treatment soon. Many life insurance companies are willing to provide a variety of plans that limit the risk the insurer takes on while also making sure you have the coverage you need.

If you’re considering life insurance companies that insure people on dialysis, enter your ZIP code into our free quote tool to see what you could pay today.