Best Final Expense Insurance with COPD

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Trying to find a life insurance policy, at least traditional life insurance, can be tricky and nearly impossible if you’re not looking for the right plan.  We know that people with COPD along with any other health condition can get a Guaranteed Acceptance final expense policy, but they will always try to get our clients two things: a lower rate and a better death benefit than a Guaranteed life policy with a two or three year graded period.

Sample rates for Final Expense Insurance with COPD 

$10,000 Immediate Level Death Benefit (non-tobacco)

              FEMALE

• Age 50- $25.45
• Age 55- $29.57
• Age 60- $35.48
• Age 65- $43.40
• Age 70- $55.33
• Age 75- $77.96
• Age 80-$119.77

               MALE

• Age 50- $28.77
• Age 55- $34.68
• Age 60- $42.50
• Age 65- $53.66
• Age 70- $71.86
• Age 75- $101.71
• Age 80-$153.38

WHAT IS COPD?

COPD stands for Congestive Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.  By today’s standards it can encompass several different respiratory disorders. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services COPD, or chronic obstructive pulmonary (PULL-mun-ary) disease, is a progressive disease that makes it hard to breathe. “Progressive” means the disease gets worse over time.”

Symptoms of COPD include coughing, shortness of breath, wheezing, and tightness in the chest.  The leading cause of COPD is smoking, and most people who are diagnosed are or were former smokers.  Stopping smoking can greatly improve you chances to not develop this disease.  It  is the third leading cause of death in the United States and is a major cause of disability.  COPD can creep up slowly, and it will start to limit daily activities and eventually lead to using oxygen on a daily basis.

There are other things that can cause COPD.  Air pollution, dust, and chemical fumes can contribute to COPD.  What ever the cause, COPD used to be referred to separately from Chronic Bronchitis or Emphysema. Now, most insurance companies consider Chronic Bronchitis and Emphysema as forms of COPD, making it more difficult to qualify for life insurance.

COPD can be interpreted differently by different physicians.  As an example, my own personal physician said that anyone who is a smoker and has any respiratory disorder, including asthma, is diagnosed as having COPD. Qualifying for life insurance too will be up to the insurance companies interpretation.  Some life insurance companies will lump “any chronic respiratory disorder” into the same category as people who have been told they have COPD.  People with chronic asthma may be able to get better coverage with certain final expense policies over some others.  We’ll evaluate your specific condition to find the best coverage you can qualify for.

LEVELS OF FINAL EXPENSE INSURANCE WITH COPD ?

1.  Immediate Level Death Benefit – If you have no other health conditions that would knock you to the next level, then you would not have a two or three year period that you beneficiary would get less than 100%. For example, if you die 3 months after your policy is effective, then your beneficiaries will get 100% of the death benefit.  This is the highest level and best Final Expense death benefit and always the first to try and qualify for.

2.  Percent of the Death Benefit –  This type of death benefit is referred to a Graded or Modified.  This is the next best type of death benefit.   If you are not healthy enough to be accepted for an immediate death benefit, then this is the next level you should try to get. For example, if you purchase a $10,000 death benefit and pass away during the first year, it would pay out  up to 40%, of the $10,000.  If you die in the second year, it would pay out up to 75% depending on the company. Not all final expense or burial plans offer this type of death benefit, but several do including Royal Neighbors, Baltimore Life, Aetna, Motorists and a few more.  It’s a much better benefit than the 3rd type.

3.  Beneficiary gets back what you paid in plus interest – This is the last and final type of death benefit that should be purchased and is also referred to as Graded or Modified.  This should be the last option.  All Guaranteed Issue Final Expense plans offer this type of benefit, but you may get a lower premium if you can pass just a few health questions.  It’s definitely worth a try.  The biggest stumbling block is an applicant with COPD on oxygen.  If this is the case, then we know that Guaranteed Acceptance is the only way to go.  AIG and Gerber are the most competitive Guaranteed Issue Life plans offered by independent agents.

If the person dies in the first two to three years, the beneficiary will get the premiums that were paid in, plus a small amount of interest, usually 10%.  All Guaranteed Acceptance Life insurance policies are graded or modified policies and unfortunately none of them offer an immediate death benefit.

HOW LONG SHOULD YOU WAIT BEFORE YOU BUY A LIFE INSURANCE WITH COPD?

If you are at the point that you can qualify for the Immediate Level death benefit, BUY IT NOW.  Unfortunately many people considered getting a burial plan but decided to wait.  Because there is no cure for COPD, and the fact that it is a disease that progressively gets worse, the situation will never improve.  The more symptoms you develop and the more treatment you receive will surely knock you out of that desired level of coverage.

The good news is that coverage is available for anyone who has COPD.  Keep in mind that other than Guaranteed Acceptance policies, you still have to be within the body mass guidelines (height and weight) and pass all the other health questions.  Guiding you to the right policy the first time is key.  You don’t want a decline on the record if you can avoid it.  There are a few companies that will not accept anyone who has previously been declined in the last 12 months that you may have passed to begin with.

Work with our agents who are knowledgeable about the disease and will put you with the best final expense insurance plan. Get the Best Quote!