Life insurance with cancer explained

Can you get life insurance if you have cancer?

Every four minutes, someone in the UK dies of cancer, according to Cancer UK. Cancer kills half the people in the UK who are diagnosed – but the prognosis isn't so bad for many, particularly younger and middle-aged people. 

That means buying life insurance might well be possible.

You will be asked about family medical history, as many diseases are hereditary. If your parents have had specific cancers, such as certain types of bowel, breast or ovarian cancers, then you have a higher risk of developing them – and this could impact your premiums.

We explain the hows and whys of buying the best life insurance either when you have cancer, or you have had it, or you may have it in the future. 

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Applying for life insurance with cancer

If you are diagnosed with cancer, you may not be able to get life insurance immediately. 

You may need to have been clear of cancer for a certain period before most insurers will provide quotes.

Whether someone already diagnosed with cancer can get life insurance depends on their specific circumstances, including the severity, treatment and prognosis provided by the doctors who are treating them. 

While there are some specialist, non-medically-screened policies that offer guaranteed cover for anyone, these are often more expensive and for lower sums insured.

The length of term for which you will be able buy life insurance, or the total sum insured, may also be limited. 

In all likelihood, you may be better off seeking advice from a specialist life insurance broker to help find the firms and underwriters who are well placed to understand your personal circumstances and provide the best available cover.

• Find out more:what is term life insurance?

Can you be denied life insurance if you have cancer?

Insurers can refuse to offer life insurance cover at any price to those who have been diagnosed with cancer. 

Life insurers cover the risk of you dying during the term of the policy. If the medical prognosis is that you will die in that time, then there's no longer a risk, only a certainty. Insurers cannot cover certainties – so they're legally entitled to refuse you cover in those circumstances.

Many insurers choose not to cover other categories of risk, such as motorcyclists or people who take part in dangerous sports, heavy smokers and people with other medical conditions.

• Find out more:Can you have two life insurance policies?

Can you get life insurance if you’ve had cancer?

People who've had cancer and recovered can buy life insurance. 

Insurers will seek detailed medical information from you and require medical notes from your GP or the hospital where you were treated. You may need to attend a medical examination. 

Many younger people who get cancer can make a good recovery and live a long life, which insurers recognise.

You may have higher premiums and be restricted as to how much the sum insured can be, but depending on the severity, treatment and prognosis, you should still be able to get cover.

• Find out more:writing life insurance into a trust

Do you need to tell your life insurer if you’re diagnosed with cancer?

Unless you're given a terminal diagnosis that you will die within 12 months, there's no need to tell your life insurer if you develop cancer. 

Once a policy is in place, the premiums cannot be increased. And, as long as you made full and honest disclosures on your application and continue paying the premiums, the policy cannot be cancelled.

Many policies have a terminal illness clause, which means they will pay out in full if you are given less than 12 months to live. 

Some won’t pay out under this clause in the last 12 months of the term, but others will. If your doctor confirms they do not expect you to live for 12 months, then you should claim on your policy.

• Find out more: What is joint life insurance?

Does a family history of cancer affect critical illness cover?

As with life insurance, critical illness cover is underwritten based on your age, health and lifestyle. 

You will be asked some simple questions and your answers may trigger more detailed questioning. Some forms of cancer are genetically passed on, and this will influence the insurers.

Insurers can refuse to provide cover, but in most cases, they will price in any additional risk in the premium charged to you.

It is also possible to get income protection insurance, which covers you if you are unable to do your main job. Again, the premium will reflect the increased risk.

People who have had and been treated for cancer have been able to buy the full trio of life insurance, critical illness cover and income protection insurance.

• Find out more:Critical illness insurance explained 

What is the best way to get life insurance if you have cancer?

Some people with cancer can buy life insurance like everyone else. 

Many providers, such as Legal & General, Aviva and Vitality, offer it direct from their websites. 

You can also get life insurance from most price comparison websites, such as MoneySuperMarket, Compare the Market and Uswitch. 

To find out what your options are, you can use an independent financial adviser. They might already be providing you with other financial advice and products, such as savings, pensions and mortgages. 

Or you can turn to a specialist life insurance broker such as LifeSearch, which focuses exclusively on this product and has direct contact with underwriters. They will know which insurers are more favourable towards people who have had cancer.

The more severe or complex your cancer and treatment, together with any other medical conditions and your lifestyle, the more likely a specialist will be best placed to help.

• Find out more: life insurance for over 50s explained