Breast cancer life insurance quick summary:

  • ‘Breast cancer life insurance’ isn’t a type of policy designed specifically for people with breast cancer, it simply refers to a policy that’s taken out by someone who’s had breast cancer in the past
  • If you’re currently living with breast cancer the only option available to you is an over 50s plan, as you’re guaranteed to be accepted regardless of your medical background, providing you’re a UK resident aged 50 - 85
  • You could secure an over 50s plan through Reassured from just £5 a month + . However please be aware that over 50s providers typically include a 12 or 24 month waiting period in which you’re only covered for accidental death
  • If you’ve had breast cancer in the past there may be other options available, but this depends on your circumstances. You may need to provide further medical evidence when applying, either with a medical report from your GP or by attending a medical exam (both at no cost to you)
  • Reassured has a dedicated impaired risk team that can support breast cancer survivors who’ve been declined in the past and help them to find some form of cover

Can you get life insurance after breast cancer?

Yes, it could be possible to get life insurance after a diagnosis of breast cancer, especially if it’s been several years since your last treatment.

Factors that can affect your eligibility include the stage/grade of your cancer, your age when you were diagnosed and the treatment you received.

With the growing number of women surviving breast cancer in the UK (most living 5 years or more)[1], there’s also a growing need for financial protection.

As a result, you may find that there are various options available to you, such as guaranteed life insurance policies (also known as an over 50s plan) or specialist cover.

Reassured provide quotes from major insurers as well as smaller specialists (through our advised team), allowing us to identify your possible options.

Get in touch for expert support and free, no-obligation quotes and we’ll do our best to help you find affordable cover.

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Does life insurance cover breast cancer?

Yes, life insurance does cover breast cancer. Your policy will pay out if you pass away due to breast cancer, providing that:

  • You’ve paid your monthly premiums
  • The policy term hasn’t ended
  • You’re honest and accurate on your application

If you’ve had breast cancer and/or a family history of breast cancer, you’ll need to disclose this to the insurer during the application process.

This will ensure that your policy is valid, and your family will be fully protected in the event that they need to make a claim.

How does breast cancer affect life insurance?

A breast cancer diagnosis in your medical history can result in higher life insurance premiums, or a refusal of your application altogether.

This is because you could be at higher risk of claiming on your policy (and the insurer is more likely to have to pay out).

However, every application is considered on a case-by-case basis, so the extent to which your condition affects your cover will depend on your personal circumstances.

Key factors that affect life insurance after breast cancer:

  • Date of diagnosis. When you were diagnosed with breast cancer and your age at the time of diagnosis are important factors for insurers as they help to indicate the likelihood of the cancer returning. If the diagnosis is recent, it’s best to wait until you’ve received treatment and there’s been a period of recovery (usually between 1 - 5 years depending on the insurer) before applying for standard types of cover
  • Treatment type. For example, whether you’ve received surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, hormone therapy and/or other types of treatment
  • Time since last treatment ended. As explained above, a recovery period is usually required before you’re eligible for standard types of life insurance. More options will become available the longer you’re in remission
  • Grade/stage of cancer. If you were diagnosed with low grade/stage breast cancer, and it hasn’t affected other parts of your body (such as the lymph nodes), you may be able to secure cover with some standard or specialist insurers. High grade/stage or advanced breast cancer patients may have more challenges when finding the right cover

Contact Reassured to find out about your available options and get personalised quotes.

What questions will life insurance companies ask?

When applying for life insurance, insurers will ask a range of health and lifestyle questions.

They will also ask specific questions related to your breast cancer diagnosis to get a better idea of your health.

These may include:

  • When/what age were you diagnosed?
  • What was the stage/grade of your cancer?
  • What treatment did you receive (and for how long)?
  • How long has it been since your last treatment?

Insurers may also request further medical evidence to verify the above details. This could be in the form of:

  • A medical report from your GP. You’ll need to give your consent for the insurer to access your medical records
  • A medical examination. This is a short assessment of your health with a healthcare professional. It would be arranged at a time and place convenient for you, such as your local healthcare centre or GP surgery (at no cost to you)

Without your consent for a GP report or a medical exam then your application may be declined as the insurer won’t have access to the information they need.

How much is life insurance after breast cancer?

The cost of life insurance after cancer will depend on a variety of factors, including the details related to your breast cancer diagnosis.

Insurers use the following factors to calculate your monthly premium:

  1. Age
  2. Health
  3. Medical history
  4. Whether you smoke
  5. Weight (BMI)
  6. Occupation & hobbies
  7. Chosen policy type
  8. Policy term
  9. Cover amount

Every insurer has a different underwriting process (the process of measuring risk), which means quotes will vary between different insurers.

For this reason, it’s essential to compare quotes (with the help from an FCA-regulated broker, such as Reassured) to weigh up all the options available to you.

If you’re a UK resident aged 50 - 85, then you could secure over 50s life insurance from just £5 a month through us. Get in touch for your free quotes.

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Best life insurance for breast cancer survivors

The best life insurance policies for breast cancer survivors might be those provided by specialist insurers (although it really depends on your personal circumstances).

Specialist insurers provide cover which can be more accommodating to applicants with pre-existing medical conditions. At Reassured, we work with both standard and specialist insurers through our dedicated advised team.

This means we can quickly help identify those that are able to offer you cover and provide you with suitable quotes based on your circumstances.

Alternatively, if you’re a UK resident aged 50 - 85, then you may find that the best solution is an over 50s plan. This type of policy offers guaranteed acceptance to breast cancer survivors within this age bracket.

There are no medical questions during the application and the pay out can be up to £20,000 depending on your age, smoking status and budget.

However, its important to know that there is typically a waiting period of 1 or 2 years (depending on your chosen insurer) where you will only be covered for accidental death.

Contact Reassured to discover your available options and see if we can help you save money today.

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Life Insurance Calculator

Calculate how much life insurance you may need by filling in the costs you’d like your policy to cover.

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£137,934 is the estimated mortgage debt per household in the UK.

The purchase of a home is likely to be the largest financial commitment any of us will make in our lifetime. Your life insurance should cover your remaining mortgage balance to allow your loved ones to stay in the family home should anything happen to you.

Source: Moneynerd.co.uk
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The average monthly household budget in the UK is £2,548 (that’s £30,576 per year), which is spent on transport, food & drink, utilities (gas, electricity, water etc), clothing, council tax and leisure activities.

With energy prices hitting a record high and the cost of living rising sharply in the UK, you may wish to factor in utility bills and family living expenses into your cover.

Source: Nimblefins.co.uk
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The average personal debt of UK adults has risen to £34,566 (not including mortgage debt), with credit cards, personal loans and overdrafts being the most common forms of debt.

Factoring in any debts into your life insurance cover means that, if they need to be paid back from your estate after your passing, your loved ones won’t miss out financially.

Source: Money.co.uk
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According to SunLife, the average cost of a funeral in the UK is £3,953 (with the overall cost of dying at £9,200).

Funeral costs have increased by 116% since 2004 and are a significant cost which should be factored into the amount of life insurance you secure.

Source: SunLife.co.uk
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When factoring in cover for your children, you may wish to calculate the amount based on how long it is until they reach financial independence.

This could include childcare (£7,000 per year for part-time care), school expenses (£1,519 per school year for uniforms, lunches, stationary etc), as well as an additional sum for further education (this could be a contribution of up to £5,000 per year).

Sources: Daynurseries.co.uk, Primarytimes.co.uk & Savethestudent.org
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2 in 5 adults say they are relying on an inheritance to fund their retirement.

Factoring in an inheritance to your sum assured could allow loved ones to live a more financially comfortable life. Alternatively, you could leave a cash gift to a charity of your choosing.

Source: Moneyage.co.uk
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If you’re lucky enough to have your own savings or are part of the 30% of UK residents who already have a life insurance policy in place, this can provide financial protection for loved ones.

By entering your current cover, savings or death in service amount you can reduce the sum assured you require.

Source: Scottishbusinessnews.net
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Types of life insurance

There are different types of life insurance to suit varying needs and budgets. At Reassured, we can help arrange the following policies:

Level term life insurance
Level term provides a fixed cover amount for a set term (such as 25 years). It will pay out to loved ones if you pass away or become terminally ill during the term.

It can be good option for helping to cover an interest-only mortgage or family living expenses. The application for level term includes medical questions

Decreasing term life insurance
Decreasing term provides a decreasing cover amount for a set term. It will pay out to loved ones if you pass away or become terminally ill during the term.

It’s usually best for helping to cover a repayment mortgage. The application for this policy includes medical questions

Whole of life insurance
A whole of life policy offers a fixed cover amount for the rest of your life. When you pass away, it guarantees to pay out to your loved ones.

It could be a suitable option for those who want to provide an inheritance or help cover their funeral costs. The application includes medical questions

Over 50s life insurance
Also known as an over 50s plan, this type of policy provides a fixed cover amount for the rest of your life (after a waiting period, which usually lasts 12 - 24 months depending on the insurer).

Acceptance is guaranteed if you’re aged 50 - 85, and there are no medical questions. This means any history of breast cancer won’t affect your cover or how much you pay.

If you need help choosing the right policy or want a free quote comparison, use our fee-free award-winning broker service.

Breast cancer advice and support in the UK

If you’re living with breast cancer or have been affected by breast cancer, there are various charities and support services available.

Some of these include:

Breast cancer UK statistics

The following facts and figures are taken from Breast Cancer UK:

  • 15% of all new cancer cases are breast cancer, making it the most common type of cancer in the UK
  • 18% of breast cancers are in women under 50 and 82% are in women 50 or older
  • 86% of breast cancers are diagnosed at stage 1 or stage 2 (early stage breast cancer which hasn’t spread beyond nearby lymph nodes)
  • 85% of breast cancer survivors are expected to live for 5 or more years and 75.9% are predicted to survive for 10 or more years[2]

How to find cheaper life insurance after breast cancer quotes

No matter your circumstances, it’s always important to compare quotes. This can allow you to weigh up your possible options and find a great deal on your cover.

At Reassured, we can provide a full broker service, from helping you choose the right policy to providing you with our best possible quotes.

We carefully consider your circumstances and present you with insurers from our panel that are able to offer you a policy (if you’re eligible).

Our dedicated team of life insurance experts are on hand to help breast cancer survivors find some form of cover to protect loved ones.

Make the most of our award-winning service today. It’s completely fee-free and there’s no-obligation.

Compare Life Insurance after Breast Cancer »

FAQs about life insurance and breast cancer

Should I get life insurance after breast cancer?

Life insurance is a good choice for many people, particularly those who:

  • Have financial dependents such as a partner or children
  • Have a mortgage and want to help protect their home
  • Wish to leave behind some money for their funeral

After a diagnosis of breast cancer, it can highlight the importance of being financially prepared if the unexpected were to happen.

For this reason, it could be worth exploring your available options and comparing quotes to see if life insurance is suitable for you.

Does a family history of breast cancer affect life insurance?

Yes, a family history of breast cancer could affect your life insurance.

Medical conditions that occur in families, such as breast cancer, are taken into account by insurers during the application process.

Depending on various factors, you may be charged a higher premium to account for the increased risk.

Can you get critical illness cover after breast cancer?

Yes, it could be possible to get critical illness cover after a breast cancer diagnosis, but it depends on your personal circumstances.

Also, if you’re able to secure a critical illness policy, it’s likely that breast cancer and other cancers will be excluded from your cover.

This means you wouldn’t be able to make claim for these reasons. However, you could be covered for a range of other serious illnesses, such as:

Critical illness cover is available through Reassured if taken out alongside a term life insurance policy for an additional cost. Although, as with life insurance, factors such as the grade/stage of your cancer and the time since your last treatment will affect your eligibility.

If you’d like to learn more about critical illness cover and whether it could be a good option for you, contact our award-winning team at Reassured.

Does critical illness cover breast cancer?

Yes, critical illness does usually cover breast cancer.

This means if you take out critical illness cover and you’re diagnosed with breast cancer during the policy term, you can make a claim.

Although it’s important to note that less advanced cases of breast cancer may not be deemed critical by the insurer, so may not be covered.

You can find out exactly what’s covered in your policy documents.

As mentioned, if you’re diagnosed with breast cancer before taking out critical illness cover, then it’s likely that breast cancer and other types of cancer will be excluded from your policy.

This means you wouldn’t be able to make a claim for these reasons.

We have a full what illnesses are covered by critical illness cover guide if you want to learn more.

Can you get income protection after breast cancer?

Yes, it could be possible to get income protection after breast cancer (depending on your personal circumstances).

However, like with critical illness cover, if you’re able to secure a policy, it’s likely that cancer will be excluded from your cover.

This means you wouldn’t be able to make a claim related to cancer.

Income protection insurance pays out in tax-free monthly payments if you’re unable to work due to illness or injury.

It’s designed to help protect your income and ensure that you can keep on top of financial commitments, such as mortgage payments and bills.

For more information, we have a comprehensive income protection insurance guide.

Sources:

[1] https://breastcancernow.org/about-us/why-we-do-it/breast-cancer-facts-and-statistics/#survival-statistics

[2] https://www.breastcanceruk.org.uk/about-breast-cancer/facts-figures-and-qas/facts-and-figures/

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