Lou Gehrig’s Disease (ALS) Burial Insurance

Lou Gehrig’s Disease (ALS) doesn’t automatically disqualify you from burial insurance, but applying the wrong way can cost your family thousands. These Lou Gehrig’s-approved policies I help people with pay out quickly to cover burial or cremation costs, or provide a tax-free legacy for your loved ones

Lou Gehrig’s Disease (ALS) Burial Insurance Key Insights

• First Day Coverage is Not Possible: Because ALS is a progressive disease, no insurance company offers immediate full coverage for natural death; anyone promising “day one” protection for ALS is not telling you the truth.
• Partial Benefits Help Early on: A “graded” plan with a company like Guarantee Trust Life is often your best move because it pays out a portion of the benefit much sooner than a standard two-year waiting period.
• Early Action Locks in Lower Costs: Since ALS only moves in one direction, applying the moment you are diagnosed is the only way to secure the best possible rates before your options disappear.
• Wheelchairs are Still Approved: Even if the disease has progressed and you now use a wheelchair or need help with daily tasks, I can still get you a guaranteed policy through companies like Gerber Life.
• Accidental Death Coverage Starts Now: While there is a two-year wait for a full payout from illness, your policy will still pay the full 100% amount immediately if your death is caused by an accident.

Many insurance carriers now offer expanded options for people with complex health profiles. Most people will have no trouble qualifying for and affording an instant-approval policy through a graded or guaranteed-issue provider.

Lou Gehrig’s Disease (ALS) Medical Definition & Health Risks

Insurers classify ALS as a permanent and progressive mortality risk regardless of your current medical stability. Because ALS attacks the nerve cells controlling voluntary muscles, underwriters focus on your diagnosis date rather than your current ability to walk or speak. Lou Gehrig’s Disease leads to muscle weakness and eventually impacts your ability to speak, eat, or breathe.

Because this disease is progressive, insurers want to know how far it has moved. They specifically check if you are confined to a wheelchair or require help with daily activities. If you wait too long, your choices vanish. It is like trying to buy a homeowner’s policy while the kitchen is already on fire.

Life Insurance Companies Ask These ALS Lou Gehrig’s Disease Health Questions

Different life insurance companies ask different questions to decide which applicants with ALS Lou Gehrig’s disease they may approve.

• Aetna Decline – Have you ever been diagnosed with, received, or been advised to receive treatment or medication for amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (Lou Gehrig’s Disease), Huntington’s Disease, or sickle cell anemia?
• Aflac Decline – Have you ever been diagnosed with, received, or been advised to receive treatment or medication for amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (Lou Gehrig’s Disease), Huntington’s Disease, or sickle cell anemia?
• CICA Life Level – Have you ever been medically diagnosed, treated by a member of the medical profession, or prescribed medication for mental disorder, disorder of the brain or nervous system, systemic lupus (SLE), Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, brain disease, organic brain syndrome, Lou Gehrig’s disease (ALS), Huntington’s disease, muscular dystrophy, cystic fibrosis, pulmonary fibrosis, or multiple myeloma?
• Family Benefit Life Decline – Have you ever been diagnosed by a medical professional for, or taken medication for, dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, mental incapacity, Down syndrome, Huntington’s disease, Lou Gehrig’s disease (ALS), cystic fibrosis, cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, or sickle cell anemia?
• Liberty Bankers Life Decline – Have you, the Proposed Insured, ever been diagnosed, treated, tested positive for, or been given medical advice by a member of the medical profession for; organ transplant (other than corneal), bone marrow transplant, stem cell treatment, kidney failure or dialysis, muscular dystrophy, mental incapacity, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) or Lou Gehrig’s disease, Down’s syndrome, cystic fibrosis, pulmonary fibrosis, or Huntington’s disease?
• Mutual of Omaha Decline – Has the Proposed Insured ever been diagnosed by a licensed medical professional with, received treatment by a licensed medical professional for, or been advised to seek treatment by a licensed medical professional for; Alzheimer’s Disease, Dementia, Huntington’s Disease, Sickle Cell Anemia, Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS), Lou Gehrig’s Disease (ALS), Hydrocephalus, Muscular Dystrophy, Quadriplegia, Paraplegia, Down Syndrome, Intellectual Developmental Disorder, Congestive Heart Failure, Cirrhosis, Metastatic Cancer or recurrent Cancer of the same type?
• Trinity Life Decline – Have you ever been diagnosed by a medical professional for, or taken medication for, dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, mental incapacity, Down syndrome, Huntington’s disease, Lou Gehrig’s disease (ALS), cystic fibrosis, cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, or sickle cell anemia?

Lou Gehrig’s Disease (ALS) Underwriting Basics

ALS underwriting basics determine the specific plan tier for each applicant.

• Testing & Test Results: Carriers for graded plans check for pending diagnostic tests to verify your current status. They look for stability in your breathing capacity and muscle control.

Not all companies view medications negatively. Using the right medications actually reduces the insurance company’s mortality risk.

• Why it Matters: Since people do not recover from this condition, the insurance company uses your medication history to decide between a graded plan or a total guaranteed-issue plan.

Lou Gehrig’s Disease (ALS) Prescription Medication Classes:

• Glutamate Blockers: Riluzole (Rilutek) slows the progression of the disease.
• Antioxidants: Edaravone (Radicava) helps prevent nerve cell damage.
• Symptom Management: Doctors prescribe various drugs for muscle cramps, stiffness, and excess saliva.

Lou Gehrig’s Disease (ALS) with Comorbidities

Insurers evaluate how overlapping health profiles influence the total insurance risk for every applicant. If ALS is paired with heart disease or diabetes, the underwriting method can become much more restrictive due to the heightened medical complexity. Guarantee Trust Life remains a strong option for a graded plan in these cases.

If your condition has worsened significantly, Gerber Life will still accept your application regardless of your other health problems. You need to get this insurance now because additional health issues often arise as the disease progresses.

Controlled ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease) qualifies people for immediate level burial insurance coverage even with secondary health issues.

Other Common Health Issues With Lou Gehrig’s Disease (ALS)

ALS causes progressive degeneration of motor neurons, which leads to worsening muscle weakness, loss of voluntary movement, and impaired breathing and swallowing, and these related complications can directly affect underwriting decisions and policy selection as the disease progresses.

• Progressive muscle weakness – Ongoing nerve degeneration leads to loss of strength and reduced ability to perform daily tasks.
• Loss of mobility – Declining muscle control results in difficulty walking, standing, and eventually transferring or sitting without support.
• Respiratory muscle failure – Weakening of breathing muscles causes shortness of breath, reduced oxygen levels, and ventilatory support needs.
• Difficulty swallowing (dysphagia) – Impaired throat muscles increase choking risk, weight loss, and aspiration pneumonia.
• Speech impairment – Loss of muscle control affects speech clarity and communication ability.
• Severe fatigue – Muscle inefficiency and breathing strain cause constant exhaustion.
• Muscle cramps and spasticity – Nerve damage leads to painful muscle stiffness and involuntary contractions.
• Weight loss and malnutrition – Increased calorie needs and swallowing difficulty lead to rapid physical decline.
• Cognitive or behavioral changes – Some individuals develop frontotemporal impairment affecting judgment and behavior.
• Reduced life expectancy – Progressive neuromuscular failure leads to increasing disability and mortality risk.

Understanding Lou Gehrig’s Disease (ALS) Policy Types

Carriers offer different plan categories based on an applicant’s ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease) and long and short-term health stability.

• Level: Level burial insurance offers first-day coverage and pays the full death benefit from day one. An official ALS diagnosis generally disqualifies you from this specific tier.
• Graded: Graded burial insurance limits benefits during the 12 to 24 months for health or medical-related causes of death. I recommend Guarantee Trust Life because they provide partial coverage faster than most other companies.
• Guaranteed Issue: Guaranteed issue burial insurance requires no health questions but includes a 2-year waiting period before it pays out for health or medical-related causes of death. Gerber Life is the best choice if you use a wheelchair or need help with daily tasks.

Sample Rate Snapshot for $10,000 Coverage

Age-based pricing directly influences the cost of burial insurance premiums for every household.

Rates vary by age and gender because women statistically live longer than men. I want you to see how these numbers look so you can plan your budget. Here are some preferred rates, but your rates can vary based on which A-rated carrier is best for your situation.

Rates may vary based on age, gender, health, and state. Click the form on this page for the lowest rates from the best carriers.

Lou Gehrig’s Disease (ALS) Underwriting & Medication History

Insurers use your prescription history to verify medical stability and identify potential mortality risks linked to a specific diagnosis. Applying as soon as you receive an official diagnosis lets you lock in rates before a condition worsens or requires more intensive medication. Since ALS only moves in one direction, your ability to qualify for a graded plan might vanish if you wait until you need a wheelchair. I also perform a quick background check on your prescriptions to see if you have had any recent hospital stays. These records tell the insurance company exactly how stable your current condition is.

Your prescription history is how the insurance carriers verify medical stability. Recent hospitalizations for crises trigger postponement rather than permanent decline.

Real Life Lou Gehrig’s Disease (ALS) Success Stories

Real-world examples illustrate how people with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease) secure day-one protection with anywhere from $5,000 to $25,000 for their final expenses.

Thomas Story:

Thomas received his ALS diagnosis at age 62 and immediately worried about his wife facing a massive funeral bill. Because he was still mobile and in the early stages, I helped him qualify for a graded plan with Guarantee Trust Life. This was a much smarter move than a standard 2-year wait plan because it provided 50% protection after 12 months, rather than two years. He felt a huge weight lift off his shoulders, knowing he took action while he still qualified. His family now has $15,000 ready to handle his final wishes without debt.

Barbara Story:

Barbara had lived with ALS for three years and recently began using a wheelchair for daily mobility. She believed it was far too late to find any coverage at all. I set her up with Gerber Life because they do not ask about wheelchairs or help with bathing. She qualified for a $10,000 policy that will be fully active after the 2-year period, with a refund of premiums plus interest if something happened sooner. This plan gave her the peace of mind that her daughter would not be stuck with the bill for her cremation.

Lou Gehrig’s Disease (ALS) Financial Ratings & Stability

Insurers use financial ratings to verify a carrier’s ability to pay death claims when your family needs them most. I exclusively work with companies that hold high A.M. Best ratings to make sure they have the “Excellent” or “Superior” capital reserves required to fulfill long-term policy obligations. This makes sure the insurer has the cash on hand to pay your claim when the time comes. I also check the BBB to make sure they treat families with respect during the difficult days after a loss.

Frequently Asked Questions: Lou Gehrig’s Disease ALS Burial Insurance

Can you get burial insurance if you have been diagnosed with ALS?

Most insurance companies approve permanent burial policies for applicants with ALS through specialized plans that bypass all health questions. Many families mistakenly believe that an ALS diagnosis closes every door to financial protection. Honestly, it just does not make sense to leave your kids with a $15,000 bill when coverage remains available today. While big-name companies turn you down for standard plans, guaranteed issue policies allow you to walk right through the door. These plans do not ask a single question about your health or your diagnosis. Securing a policy now ensures your family receives the cash they need for a funeral despite a tough medical history.

Is there a waiting period for burial insurance with ALS?

The insurance company applies a two-year waiting period to all policies for applicants with progressive or terminal conditions like ALS. Here is the part they do not tell you in the TV commercials: if your health is too deteriorated, that will require a 24-month waiting period for a full natural death payout. If you pass away due to health issues during those first 2 years, the company simply refunds your premiums, plus 10% interest, to your family. But accidental death still pays the full benefit amount starting on day one. Starting this clock early protects your family from the financial mess that a long illness often leaves behind.

How much does burial insurance cost for someone with ALS?

Insurance carriers determine your monthly premium based on your current age and gender rather than your specific medical condition. You are going to pay more for this than a marathon runner would pay. That is the blunt truth. Since the company takes every applicant regardless of health, they charge a poor health charge to cover the extra risk. But this age-based pricing locks in your rate for life, so it never increases. Every dollar spent today means more money left for a spouse or kids, rather than a debt they cannot afford to pay.

Does ALS qualify for immediate “Day One” burial insurance coverage?

Insurance companies do not offer immediate first-day coverage for natural death to any applicant currently living with ALS. If an insurance salesman tells you that you can get first-day coverage for ALS, they are lying to you. Honestly, it just does not make sense for a company to take that gamble on a progressive disease. Many of those flashy TV ads only cover accidental death immediately, which is a bad deal if you expect a full payout. Telling the truth about these waiting periods prevents your family from facing a nasty surprise when they go to file a claim.

Will burial insurance pay out if I pass away from ALS complications?

State-regulated policies pay the full death benefit for any medical complication once the policyholder surpasses the initial two-year waiting period. Once you clear that 24-month window, the insurance company stays on the hook for the full check. The carrier must pay your beneficiaries if you pass away from respiratory failure, pneumonia, or any other complication. This cash gives your spouse the ability to pay off medical bills or funeral costs without stress. It is a way to clean up the final expenses so your family can focus on your memory instead of your debts.

Can I get burial insurance if I already use a wheelchair for ALS?

Guaranteed issue policies approve all applicants regardless of their use of wheelchairs, feeding tubes, or other medical equipment. Many folks worry that a wheelchair acts as an automatic deal-breaker for life insurance. But since these plans skip every health question on the application, your mobility does not matter one bit to the underwriter. It is like paying for a full gallon of milk: you pay the set price, and your family benefits. You can secure this coverage without explaining your physical limitations or your medical history to a stranger.

Does taking Rilutek or Radicava affect my burial insurance application?

Prescription medications for ALS do not change your eligibility because guaranteed issue plans never perform a quick background check on your prescriptions. Normally, seeing a Rilutek prescription on a pharmacy record would cause an instant denial from a standard insurance company. But guaranteed approval plans never look at your meds or your doctor’s notes. You do not have to worry about your pharmacy records getting in the way of your family’s protection. The process remains smooth so you can focus on your family instead of corporate paperwork.

What is the maximum amount of burial insurance an ALS patient can get?

Most insurance carriers cap the total coverage amount at $25,000 for applicants who require guaranteed approval policies. You are not going to get a $1,000,000 policy with an ALS diagnosis. Most carriers limit these plans to $20,000 or $25,000 to keep the risk manageable. But that amount provides plenty of cash to cover a casket, a service, and your last bills. Just find enough coverage to protect your kids from debt without overcharging you for a benefit you do not need.

Can a family member apply for burial insurance on behalf of someone with ALS?

Legal representatives use Power of Attorney signatures to manage the application process for family members who can no longer sign on their own behalf. Adult children often set up these plans for a parent to ensure the funeral costs are covered in advance. As long as the applicant can still sign their name or give a voice authorization, the process takes only a few minutes. If things have progressed too far, a legal Power of Attorney can take over the signature duties. Acting fast ensures you get the consent you need before communication becomes a struggle.

Should I buy burial insurance now or wait until my ALS progresses?

Waiting to purchase burial insurance is a major mistake because the mandatory two-year waiting period only begins once you pay the first premium. (and you may still qualify for a graded plan with better benefits). Honestly, it just does not make sense to wait and see. Every year you get older, the insurance company raises your age-based premium. Plus, you want to get that two-year clock ticking today so you move closer to the full-benefit phase. Completing this task now ensures your family has protection no matter how fast the disease progresses.