Life insurance with COPD
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, including emphysema and chronic bronchitis, is common on applications from people in their sixties and seventies. Coverage is available at every stage. The stage decides which plan.
What carriers ask
- Whether you use oxygen, and how often
- Inhalers and nebulizer use
- Hospital stays for breathing in the last one to two years
- Whether you still smoke
- Other conditions alongside it, especially heart disease
What usually qualifies
Sometimes a level plan
Mild COPD controlled with an inhaler, no oxygen, no hospital stays, and no tobacco. A few carriers offer day-one coverage here.
Usually a graded plan
Moderate COPD with regular inhaler or nebulizer use and no oxygen. Partial benefit for two years, full benefit after.
Guaranteed issue
Oxygen use, a hospital stay for breathing in the last year, or COPD together with heart failure.
What helps your application
- 01
Occasional oxygen at night is treated differently from daytime use by some carriers. Be exact.
- 02
Quitting smoking for 12 months moves you to non-tobacco rates with most carriers, which cuts the premium substantially.
- 03
Do not let a decline for oxygen use end the search. Guaranteed issue exists for exactly this situation.
COPD questions
I quit smoking last year. Does that help?
Yes. Most carriers use non-tobacco rates after 12 months without any nicotine product, including patches and vaping.
Is asthma treated like COPD?
No. Asthma is usually accepted at level rates unless it has caused hospital stays.
Get a life insurance quote
A licensed agent calls you back, Mon to Fri, 8am to 6pm PT. Health questions are asked on the call, never on this form.
A decline somewhere else is not the answer.
We quote the carriers that say yes.