Terminal illness is one of the qualifications that can make it extremely hard to enroll in any type of life insurance. While there are still options, they are limited and will most likely be pricey. Burial insurance is granted to those with terminal illness, so let’s talk about what that can mean and how you should select a burial insurance policy.
Terminal illness
In the insurance world, a terminal illness is classified as a diagnosis that significantly lowers life expectancy to within the next few years. The illness is also not curable and treatment isn’t expected to significantly prolong the individual’s life.
If you’ve been diagnosed with a terminal illness, it is possible to purchase a burial insurance policy. However, it’s best to have purchased insurance before being diagnosed. If you’ve already enrolled in an insurance policy and then become sick, you’ll still have the same coverage and benefits. It’s after a diagnosis that enrolling in new insurance policies becomes increasingly difficult.
Burial insurance
Burial insurance is different from life insurance, in that it’s not intended to be financially sustaining to any beneficiaries. It is intended to cover the cost of a burial and funeral, which will most likely be thousands of dollars. Those that are healthy will have many options when enrolling in burial insurance. If you’ve received a terminal diagnosis, then your options are going to become more limited.
It is still possible to enroll in a burial insurance policy if you’ve been declared to be terminal. Guaranteed issue burial insurance policies will be given to anyone. There is no underwriting required and terminal illness is not a disqualification. However, there are a few things you should know before enrolling in this type of policy.
If death due to terminal illness occurs within the first two years of the policy, the full death benefit will not be given. Because many people who have a terminal illness may not be expected to live a full two years, this waiting period is one of the biggest things you should keep in mind when selecting a burial insurance policy.
Because this type of policy does not require any proof of health, it’s more expensive than other options. It still can provide substantially for end-of-life costs, but the premiums will be high. It’s also typical for this type of policy to have a fairly small death benefit.
Here’s the bottom line…
If you’ve been diagnosed with a terminal illness and don’t have any life insurance, consider purchasing a burial policy. This will take some financial responsibility off your family and allow them to focus on other decisions when the time comes.
A guaranteed issue burial insurance policy is completely possible if you’ve been diagnosed with a terminal illness. While it can have expensive premiums, it may be your only option. Researching is one of the most important parts of selecting an insurance policy, so take a look at all of the choices being offered in your area.
If you’re ready to enroll in a policy, let our team at Senior Life Services know.