Life Insurance for Someone with Prostate Cancer
Prostate Cancer and Life Insurance
According to The American Cancer Society about 14% of men will develop prostate cancer in their lifetime, 60 % of diagnosed cases are for men older than 65. It is the second leading cause of cancer death’s in men, behind lung cancer.
What are life insurers concerned with?
Most prostate cancers are low grade (not aggressive) that do not spread. And most men diagnosed with prostate cancer do not die from it.
If the cancer spreads outside the prostate gland there is only 30% five year survival rate. And this is what concerns the life insurers.
What do life insurers want to know?
In order to make an offer on a prostate cancer case life insures will want to know:
- the findings of the pathology report
- the size of the tumor and to what extent it has metastasized. The TNM system is used to determine the stage.
- the aggressiveness of the cancer. Gleason Scoring is used to determine the aggressiveness.
- the treatment
- surgical prostate removal, radiation, etc.
- date of last treatment
- the initial PSA level at diagnosis
- the PSA level post treatment
What would someone expect to pay for life insurance of they have had prostate cancer?
Male 60 Non-Smoker $250,000. 20 Year Level Term Life
| Case Description | Best Case Rating | Annual Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Cancer confined to prostate. More that one year after surgery or radiation. Gleason score under 6. Over age 50 at time of treatment | Standard | $2400. |
| Cancer confined to prostate. Gleason under 6. PSA under 10 and not rising. Treatment is just observation. At least age 60 at time of diagnosis | 50% rate up | $3500. |