Melanoma life insurance

Melanoma life insurance is a type of coverage that insurers offer to applicants with a history or diagnosis of melanoma, which underwriters assess using medical records and pathology reports. Insurers evaluate factors such as tumor thickness, stage (e.g.

Stage I vs. Stage III), time since last treatment, and recurrence risk when determining eligibility and rates.

Life insurance companies may impose higher premiums for individuals diagnosed within the past five years or with advanced-stage melanoma, as shown in underwriting guidelines from Prudential and Banner Life, YourInsuranceInfo confirms. Applicants in remission for over ten years with early-stage melanoma often qualify for standard or near-standard rates, according to data from Pacific Life’s 2023 underwriting manual.

Some insurers require detailed physician statements about Breslow depth and lymph node involvement before issuing policies. Guaranteed issue life insurance offers an option without medical exams but typically limits death benefits to $25,000–$50,000 and charges higher premiums than traditional policies.

Survivors can improve approval odds by providing comprehensive oncology follow-up documentation showing no evidence of disease progression post-treatment. Declined applicants sometimes secure coverage through graded benefit whole life policies offered by companies like Gerber Life or AIG Direct.

Accelerated death benefit riders are available on select melanoma life insurance products, allowing policyholders access to a portion of the payout if diagnosed with terminal illness confirmed by board-certified oncologists.