Life Insurance Companies That Accept People Who Have Had Hepatitis C

The prefix hepat- refers to the liver, and the suffix -itis refers to inflammation of an organ. So hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver. Hepatitis C is transmitted through blood and other bodily fluids from an infected person to an uninfected person. Most chronically infected people (70%) can develop chronic liver disease, including cancer.

Life insurance quotes are available for people who have had hepatitis C. However, preferred rates are offered to individuals who have recovered from the disease, have had normal viral loads, and have had normal liver function tests.

Learning more about life insurance companies that accept people who have had hepatitis C will help you get coverage.

To learn about life insurance companies that accept people who have had hepatitis C, enter your ZIP code to get free life insurance quotes in your area.

What are the life insurance rates for people who have had hepatitis C?

Life insurance companies determine eligibility and rates on risk. Since hepatitis is a health risk, those who have had the disease might question, “Can I get life insurance if I have hepatitis B or C?” While you can get coverage with hepatitis, your rates depend on your specific condition.

When people apply for life insurance, companies place applicants into risk classifications. These risk classifications include:

• Preferred plus
• Preferred
• Standard plus
• Standard
• Substandard

A person who has had hepatitis C can receive a preferred rating if they have fully recovered, have had normal viral loads, and have had positive liver function tests for at least the previous two years.

Applicants with chronic hepatitis C will fall into the substandard category due to their potential higher mortality rate. Most life insurance companies have tables determining how much more a person will pay than the standard rate. These tables are either 1-8 or A-H, depending on the company.

The following chart shows the average monthly life insurance companies’ rates that accept people (males) who have had hepatitis C for a 20-year term at $250,000 based on age and risk classification.

The following chart shows the same information for females.

As you can see, preferred rates offer the cheapest coverage, increase as customers age, and are lower for females than males.

What life insurance policies are available for people who have had hepatitis C?

The policies for a person who has had hepatitis C depends on their current condition. A less risky applicant will have more policy options than an applicant with a higher risk.

A medical exam won’t look specifically for hepatitis, but the blood test will determine if you have liver damage. As a result, the company might require a follow-up test to see if you have hepatitis.

If an applicant has recovered from hepatitis and their blood work comes back negative, they might qualify for traditional life insurance. This type of coverage includes:

• Term life insurance
• Whole life insurance
• Universal life insurance

If you’re eligible for these coverages, the Insurance Information Institute provides some tips on determining the best option for you.

A person who has not recovered from hepatitis C or has chronic hepatitis C likely won’t have traditional coverage as an option. Other policy options are available for people who aren’t eligible for the preferred plans. These alternate options include:

• Guaranteed issue insurance
• Simplified issue insurance
• Final expense insurance
• Group plan insurance

Guaranteed issue life insurance doesn’t require a medical exam, and the company won’t ask any medical questions. The rates are higher because they know less about your health, but acceptance is guaranteed. The maximum coverage for this plan is usually $25,000.

Simplified issue life insurance also doesn’t require an exam, but the company will ask more medical questions. Like guaranteed issue policies, the rates are higher than traditional policies, and the maximum coverage is around $40,000.

If the guaranteed and simplified issue rates are too high for your budget, you should consider final expense insurance. While it doesn’t provide income for your family, this coverage pays for your funeral and burial expenses.

Another option is to join a group plan offered by your employer. All employees are accepted, regardless of their health. However, this type of coverage is limited, and you’ll lose your coverage if you leave your job.

What do life insurance companies consider before offering coverage to people who have had hepatitis C?

When you apply for life insurance, you’ll go through an underwriting process to determine your eligibility and rates. In most cases, a person who has had hepatitis C will need to provide more information than someone with a clean health record.

If you have hepatitis C or have had it in the past, the underwriter will ask specific questions about your history and lifestyle. These questions include:

• What is the date of your first diagnosis?
• What medications are you taking?
• How much alcohol do you consume?
• Do you have any liver damage?

The company will use your answers to determine your risk. Answering these questions truthfully is imperative because the company can cancel your policy if you provide false information.

In addition to these questions, the underwriter will ask for some general information. Some of this information includes your:

• Current age
• Gender
• State of residence
• Height and weight
• Occupation
• Family history
• Driving history
• Criminal history

Once you provide all of this information, you’ll receive life insurance quotes on various policies.

Life Insurance Companies That Accept People Who Have Had Hepatitis C: The Bottom Line

Life insurance is available for people who have had hepatitis C, but it depends on your condition. Those who have recovered might be eligible for preferred rates and traditional coverage. If you still have an infection, you will have limited options.

Learning more about life insurance companies that accept people who have had hepatitis C will help determine if you can obtain coverage.

Now that you know about life insurance companies that accept people who have had hepatitis C, enter your ZIP code to find life insurance rates in your area.