Can You Get Life Insurance After Prostate Cancer? Yes – Here’s How
After a prostate cancer diagnosis, you may be wondering:
- Can I still qualify for life insurance?
- How long do I have to wait?
- Which company offers the best rates for my situation?
Good news: Many prostate cancer survivors get life insurance at affordable rates – but only if they apply at the right time and with the right company.
In this guide, I’ll show you:
A Client’s Story: From Denial to Approval
When my client was diagnosed with prostate cancer, his first worry was treatment. But once he recovered, he faced a new problem – getting life insurance to protect his family.
His first application? Denied.
Like many people, he applied to the same company that provides his home and auto insurance—you know the name—it’s one of the big companies that advertises on TV.
They quickly declined his application.
Then he found me. I’ve been helping prostate cancer patients and survivors find affordable life insurance since 1998.
After reviewing his cancer history, I got him approved with a carrier specializing in high-risk life insurance underwriting at a great rate.
This guide will show you how to avoid mistakes and get covered the right way.
Step 1: Understand How Life Insurance Companies Underwrite Prostate Cancer
Life insurance companies evaluate prostate cancer based on several key factors:
Key Factors That Affect Your Approval & Rates
Quick Tip: If your cancer is low risk and successfully treated, you can qualify for life insurance at affordable rates.
Step 2: Find the Best Insurance Option Based on Your Treatment Type
Your treatment path plays a major role in your life insurance approval. Here’s how different treatment options affect your rates.
Life Insurance During Active Surveillance
If you’re on active surveillance (monitoring PSA levels without immediate treatment), the most ideal candidates are:
- Age 60+ at diagnosis
- Stage 1 cancer (T1a)
- Gleason score of 6 or lower
- Stable PSA (≤10) for 12+ months
- Regular checkups and PSA testing
Life Insurance After Prostate Cancer Surgery (Prostatectomy)
If you had a radical prostatectomy, you may qualify for life insurance as early as 3 months post-surgery.
- Age 60+ at diagnosis
- PSA of 10 or less before surgery
- Cancer stage T2b or lower
- Gleason score of 6 or below
- PSA less than 0.2 after surgery
- Negative surgical margins (no cancer left behind)
Note – If your Gleason score was 7 or higher, surgical margins were positive, etc., insurers may postpone your application for a year or longer. The good news? Some companies may offer coverage sooner on a case-by-case basis.
Life Insurance After Radiation Therapy
For those treated with radiation therapy, most insurers require a 12-month waiting period to ensure stable PSA levels.
- Age 60+ at diagnosis
- PSA of 10 or less before treatment
- Cancer stage T2b or lower
- Gleason score of 6 or below
- PSA less than 0.2 after radiation
Step 3: Avoid Common Mistakes That Lead to Denials
If you’ve been denied life insurance after prostate cancer, it might be due to:
- Applying Too Soon – If applying before the waiting period ends, you’ll get denied.
- Choosing the Wrong Company – Not all insurers specialize in cancer cases.
- Incomplete Medical Records – Missing checkups, PSA tests, etc. will derail your app.
What If You Were Denied Before? Try This
If you were denied, don’t give up. Many people apply too early or with the wrong company.
Submit your request to us. We’ll review it with you, contact all the companies specializing in prostate cancer, and provide feedback in 3-4 days. You don’t even have to complete an application to get feedback.
Our process gives you the best chance of getting approved.
What to Expect When Applying
When applying for life insurance after prostate cancer, be prepared for:
- Waiting Periods – 3-12 months (or longer) depending on treatment.
- Delays – It takes time to receive medical records and get them reviewed.
- Higher Rates – The best case scenario is a Standard – Standard Plus rate.
- Paramed Exams – No-exam policies are rare for cancer survivors.
A flat extra expense and possibly a table rating are common when coverage is available. These are additional premiums that insurers charge when you’ve had cancer.
Expert Help Available—We specialize in high-risk life insurance underwriting and will help you secure the best companies and rates tailored to your medical history.
Prostate Cancer Life Insurance Rates: What to Expect
Sample life insurance quotes for prostate cancer survivors – Stage 1, Gleason 6, undetectable PSA level after treatment.
| Age | $100,000 | $250,000 | $500,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60 | $638 | $1,185 | $2,285 |
| 65 | $1,076 | $1,970 | $3,855 |
| 70 | $1,918 | $3,563 | $7,040 |
| 75 | $3,515 | $7,373 | $14,660 |
Can You Get a Preferred Rate?
There are 3 companies that may consider a preferred rate:
- Prudential
- John Hancock
- Symetra
The reality is that it’s almost impossible to get a preferred rate even with these companies.
Final Thoughts – Take the Next Step
- Prostate cancer survivors CAN get life insurance – if they apply strategically.
- Your treatment type, PSA levels, and timing matter.
- Work with an expert who knows which carriers offer the best rates.
Get a Personalized Quote Today
Not sure where to start? Let me help. I specialize in high-risk life insurance underwriting and work with 40+ top companies to find you the best coverage.
Request your free, no-obligation quote now.
Sources for This Article
- Prudential Financial, Inc. (2017) Prostate Cancer [PDF file]
- Lincoln National (2020) Prostate Cancer Life Insurance Application Result
- Prudential Financial, Inc. (2016) Good News for Clients Treated for Cancer [PDF file]
- John Hancock Insurance (2018) Field Underwriting Guide – Your Guide to Underwriting Impairments, Part II Pg. 23 [PDF file]
- Prostate Cancer Foundation
