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Life insurance can benefit people from all walks of life, from young families to seniors. It may be best to get a life insurance policy early in life before any health issues develop, like cancer. However, there are still options if you are looking for life insurance with pre-existing cancer.
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A cancer diagnosis can be emotionally taxing for every family member involved. The stress of seeing a loved one sick and keeping track of health expenses isn’t easy. This is why life insurance for people with cancer can prove to be particularly helpful, especially if you provide a main source of income for your dependents.1
Some life insurance plans for cancer patients may help cover burial expenses, and others may offer living benefits that grant policyholders access to the death benefit while they are still alive. The death benefit is the amount of money paid to a beneficiary when the policyholder passes.1 This may help a family cope financially and emotionally amidst a serious loss.
Finding life insurance after a cancer diagnosis may not be easy, but it is possible. Since cancer patients are considered higher risk, a life insurance policy may be more expensive.
While life insurance is the best route for some, Aflac also offers cancer insurance specifically designed for those battling a cancer diagnosis or specified disease. You would need to apply for this plan before a cancer diagnosis occurs or be in remission for at least ten years before applying for an individual Aflac cancer policy on a direct basis.
Aflac Cancer Insurance pays policyholders cash benefits to be used to help however cancer patients need it most—from mortgage payments to hospital bills and prescriptions. If this sounds more aligned with your needs, we recommend chatting with an agent and exploring what cancer insurance can do to help you and your loved ones.
Don’t wait until it’s too late. Help cover yourself and your family with coverage from Aflac.
Get StartedLife insurance for cancer patients works the same way it does for anyone else, but a few more questions may be involved to understand your cancer diagnosis. In a nutshell, you pay regular premiums to ensure the death benefit is paid to your beneficiary when you pass.1
With life insurance for cancer patients, you’ll need to decide which type of policy you want. At Aflac, you can choose between term and whole life insurance. Term life insurance lasts a set number of years, while whole life insurance lasts the entire life of a person. Each type of plan has unique benefits with pros and cons to consider if you are looking for life insurance as a cancer patient.
Guaranteed Issue Life Insurance is a type of policy that won’t deny coverage based on pre-existing conditions. Usually, the insurer won’t ask you any medical questions or require you to submit your medical history, but it depends on each company’s requirements.1
To qualify for this type of plan, you may have to pay more upfront to balance out the risk involved. In some cases, Aflac offers some guaranteed-issue options with no medical exams. We recommend chatting with an agent to see if this is a possibility for you where you live.
In some cases, you may be able to access group life insurance through your employer. This can be beneficial for cancer patients because it can often come in the form of guaranteed issue. If a guaranteed issue is an option, you likely won’t be penalized for your cancer diagnosis.2
At Aflac, you may be able to access final expense benefits. These benefits exist to help cover costs associated with the policyholder’s burial and funeral, uninsured medical expenses, estate taxes and probate. This kind of support may help provide your family with solace while grieving.
Some life insurance plans will grant you access to living benefits if you have a serious illness or disability that requires greater assistance. These benefits depend on the insurer you choose.3 Depending on your unique circumstances and location, this kind of benefit may be accessible for Aflac policyholders.
At some companies you can take out life insurance if you have cancer, but others may deny coverage. It’s important to know that you have options if you have battled cancer before or have a new diagnosis.
In addition to life insurance, cancer insurance can also help cover many of the expensive costs involved in a patient's cancer diagnosis journey. We recommend exploring all your coverage options before deciding.
Life insurance for a cancer patient can make all the difference in the lives of loved ones. Certain benefits can help cover hospital bills, funeral fees and any outstanding debts left to the family. Financial stressors should be the least of your concerns when battling this disease. Discover how life insurance can help you.
Get Started
Considering getting a life insurance plan? Find out what a life insurance beneficiary is, how the process works, and who can change the beneficiary on your policy.
Wondering what life insurance policy is best for you? Find out which type of life insurance can offer you the best coverage.
Considering getting a life insurance plan? Find out what a life insurance beneficiary is, how the process works, and who can change the beneficiary on your policy.
Wondering what life insurance policy is best for you? Find out which type of life insurance can offer you the best coverage.
1 Investopedia - Life Insurance: What It Is, How It Works, and How to Buy a Policy. Updated February 28, 2025. https://www.investopedia.com/terms/l/lifeinsurance.asp. Accessed April 23, 2025.
2 Value Penguin - Life Insurance for Cancer Patients & Survivors. Updated August 2, 2024. https://www.valuepenguin.com/life-insurance-cancer. Accessed April 23, 2025.
3 Investopedia – What Is Life Insurance With Living Benefits? Updated March 26, 2025. https://www.investopedia.com/what-is-life-insurance-with-living-benefits-8606326. Accessed April 23. 2025.
Content within this article is provided for general informational purposes and is not provided as tax, legal, health, or financial advice for any person or for any specific situation. Employers, employees, and other individuals should contact their own advisers about their situations. For complete details, including availability and costs of Aflac insurance, please contact your local Aflac agent.
Aflac Coverage:
Life plans, A68000 series: Term Life Policies: In Arkansas, Idaho, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, Pennsylvania & Virginia, Policies: ICC1368200, ICC1368300, ICC1368400. In Delaware, Policies A68200, A68300 & A68400. In New York, Policies NY68200, NY68300 and NY68400. Whole Life Policies: In Arkansas, Idaho, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, Pennsylvania & Virginia, Policies: ICC1368100. In Delaware, Policy A68100. In New York, Policy NYR68100. B60000 series: In Arkansas, Idaho, Oklahoma & Virginia, Policies: ICC18B60C10, ICC18B60100, ICC18B60200, ICC18B60300, & ICC18B60400. Not available in Delaware. Q60000 series/Whole: In Arkansas & Delaware, Policy Q60100M. In Idaho, Policy Q60100MID. In Oklahoma, Policy Q60100MOK. Not available in Virginia. Q60000 series/Term: In Delaware, Policies Q60200CM. In Arkansas, Idaho, Oklahoma, Policies ICC18Q60200C, ICC18Q60300C, ICC18Q60400C. Not available in Virginia.
Cancer/Specified-Disease, B70000 series: In Delaware, Policies B70100DE, B70200DE & B70300DE. In Idaho, Policies B70100ID, B70200ID, B70300ID, B7010EPID, B7020EPID. In Oklahoma, Policies B70100OK, B70200OK, B70300OK, B7010EPOK, B7020EPOK. A75000 series: In Virginia, policies A75100VA–A75300VA.
Aflac coverage is underwritten by American Family Life Assurance Company of Columbus. In New York, Aflac coverage is underwritten by American Family Life Assurance Company of New York.
Tier One Coverage:
Final Expense plans: In AR, DE, ID, OK and VA: Policies ICC21-AFLLBL21 and ICC21-AFLRPL21; and Riders ICC21-AFLABR22, ICC21-AFLADB22, and ICC21-AFLCDR22. Aflac Final Expense policies are not available in New York.
Cancer/Specified Disease plans, T70000 series: In Delaware, Policy T70000. In Idaho, Policy T70000ID. In Oklahoma T70000OK, In Virginia, policies T70000VA & T70000GVA.
Coverage is underwritten by Tier One Insurance Company, a subsidiary of Aflac Incorporated. Tier One Insurance Company is part of the Aflac family of insurers. In California, Tier One Insurance Company does business as Tier One Life Insurance Company (NAIC 92908).
Coverage may not be available in all states, including but not limited to DE, ID, NJ, NM, NY, VA or VT. Benefits/premium rates may vary based on state and plan levels. Optional riders may be available at an additional cost. Policies and riders may also contain a waiting period. Refer to the exact policy and rider forms for benefit details, definitions, limitations, and exclusions.
Aflac WWHQ | Tier One Insurance Company | 1932 Wynnton Road | Columbus, GA 31999.
Aflac New York | 22 Corporate Woods Boulevard, Suite 2 | Albany, NY 12211
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