Schizophrenia Burial Insurance

Most people get easy approval for schizophrenia through my simple process that handles the hard work for your family. These schizophrenia-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.

Schizophrenia Burial Insurance Key Insights

• Aflac Preferred for Day-One Benefits: Aflac is currently one of the most progressive carriers for mental health. If you have a stable two-year history with no hospitalizations, they often provide first-day coverage, protecting your family from the very first payment.
• The Two-Year Hospitalization Rule: Insurance companies look for a clean 24-month window. If you have had a psychiatric facility stay within the last two years, carriers will typically move you to a graded or guaranteed-issue plan with a waiting period.
• Medication Consistency is a Major Plus: While schizophrenia requires lifelong management, underwriters view a stable, long-term prescription history as a positive. It proves you are under medical supervision and successfully managing your condition.
• Independence with Daily Tasks: Your ability to live independently and handle activities of daily living (bathing, dressing, eating) is a top priority. As long as you do not require physical assistance for these tasks, you can qualify for standard or preferred rates.
• Permanent Rate Locks: Once a policy is issued, your premium is locked in for life. Even if your condition worsens or you require more intensive care later, the insurance company cannot cancel your coverage or increase your monthly cost.

Some great insurance carriers have updated their underwriting methods to offer immediate-coverage options for people with controlled schizophrenia. Most people will have no trouble qualifying and affording an instant-approval policy if they have remained stable for 2 years.

Schizophrenia Medical Definition & Health Risks

Underwriters evaluate the severity of schizophrenia by reviewing your stability over time, the frequency of episodes, and your history of hospitalizations. Schizophrenia is a chronic brain disorder that alters how you perceive reality and process information, and insurers use your medical records to ensure that your treatment plan is effectively managing these symptoms. If you do not manage this condition with consistent medication, it can lead to frequent inpatient crises or an inability to live independently.

Insurers do not just look at the diagnosis: they look at how you live your life. They want to see that you are stable, taking your pills, and not spending time in psychiatric facilities.

Life Insurance Companies Ask These Schizophrenia Questions

Different life insurance companies ask different questions to decide which applicants with schizophrenia they may approve.

• Aetna Decline – Do you use a wheelchair or mobility scooter, or do you have any physical or mental impairment requiring assistance from another person with activities of daily living such as taking medications, bathing, dressing, eating, toileting, getting in or out of bed or chair, or moving about?
• Aetna Decline – Have you ever been diagnosed with, received, or been advised to receive treatment or medication for alzheimer’s disease, dementia, or mental incapacity?
• Aflac Decline – Do you use a wheelchair or mobility scooter, or do you have any physical or mental impairment requiring assistance from another person with activities of daily living such as taking medications, bathing, dressing, eating, toileting, getting in or out of bed or chair, or moving about?
• Aflac Decline – Have you ever been diagnosed with, received, or been advised to receive treatment or medication for Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, or mental incapacity?
• CICA Life Level – Are you currently hospitalized, confined to a bed or nursing facility, residing in an assisted living facility, receiving hospice care, or do you have any physical or mental impairment for which you need or receive assistance or supervision in performing normal activities of daily living, unable to care for yourself, or terminally ill?
• 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?
• Family Benefit Life Level – Have you ever been diagnosed as having multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, schizophrenia, Parkinson’s disease, nephropathy, neuropathy, retinopathy, chronic kidney disease or failure, systemic lupus, hepatitis B or C, cirrhosis of the liver, liver disease, liver failure, or lung impairments including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), chronic asthma, chronic bronchitis, emphysema, or fibrosis?
• Guarantee Trust Life Graded – Are you CURRENTLY bedridden, confined to a hospital, nursing home, mental care facility, long term care facility, hospice or have you been diagnosed with an end-stage or terminal illness, or been told by a medical professional that you have less than 12 months to live?
• 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?
• Liberty Bankers Life Decline – Have you, by a member of the medical profession, within the prior 2 years, been diagnosed with, or received, or been advised to receive treatment or medication for uncontrolled diabetes, uncontrolled high blood pressure, a diabetic coma or insulin shock, amputation due to diabetic complications, schizophrenia, alcohol or drug abuse, illegal use of drugs, or dependency on prescription medication?
• 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?
• Mutual of Omaha Level – In the past 2 years, has the Proposed Insured been hospitalized by a licensed medical professional for any mental or nervous disorder?
• Mutual of Omaha Level – In the past 4 years, has the Proposed Insured 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 Bipolar Depression, Schizophrenia, Parkinson’s Disease or Multiple Sclerosis?
• 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?
• Trinity Life Level – Have you ever been diagnosed as having multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, schizophrenia, Parkinson’s disease, nephropathy, neuropathy, retinopathy, chronic kidney disease or failure, systemic lupus, hepatitis B or C, cirrhosis of the liver, liver disease, liver failure, or lung impairments including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), chronic asthma, chronic bronchitis, emphysema, or fibrosis?

Schizophrenia Underwriting Basics

Independent living status proves your medical stability to the insurance company.

• Testing & Test Results: Underwriters check for a 2-year window without psychiatric facility stays. They separate “controlled” cases, where you live on your own, from “uncontrolled” cases involving frequent crises.

Medication stability over time reduces the insurance company’s perceived mortality risk, often allowing you to qualify for better coverage.

• Why it Matters: Your specific treatment history controls the price you pay for protection. If you have been on the same stable regimen for years, I can usually secure you the same low rates as any other healthy senior.

Schizophrenia Prescription Medication Classes

• Atypical Antipsychotics: Common modern treatments include Abilify, Seroquel, Zyprexa, and Risperdal.
• Typical Antipsychotics: Older medications like Haldol or Thorazine still appear in many quick background checks on your prescriptions.
• Mood Stabilizers: Doctors often prescribe Lithium or Depakote as secondary support treatments.
• Long-acting Injectables: Medicines like Invega or Aristada show the insurer that you receive steady, reliable care.

Schizophrenia with Comorbidities

Insurers evaluate compound health profiles to determine how interactions between severe mental health conditions and physical ailments increase overall mortality risk. Because schizophrenia is often managed alongside conditions like heart disease, diabetes, or circulation problems, underwriters look for stability in both areas to ensure that one condition does not negatively impact the management of the other. Insurers worry about these combinations because mental health challenges can sometimes make it harder to follow a strict treatment plan for physical ailments.

If you have schizophrenia and congestive heart failure, you are essentially facing a “double risk” in the eyes of an underwriter. You need to act now and get this insurance before your health profile becomes too complicated for first-day coverage.

Controlled schizophrenia will qualify for 1st-day coverage, burial insurance coverage, even with secondary health issues.

Other Common Health Issues With Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia disrupts brain chemistry and information processing, leading to persistent symptoms that affect perception, thinking, behavior, and daily functioning, and those related complications can affect underwriting decisions and policy selection when they’re present.

• Psychotic symptoms – Hallucinations and delusions interfere with judgment, safety, and consistent daily performance.
• Disorganized thinking – Difficulty organizing thoughts and speech limits communication and task completion.
• Negative symptoms – Low motivation, flat emotion, and social withdrawal reduce independence and work capacity.
• Cognitive impairment – Problems with memory, attention, and processing speed affect decision-making and learning.
• Medication side effects – Antipsychotics can cause weight gain, sedation, movement disorders, and metabolic issues.
• Metabolic syndrome – Higher risk of diabetes, high cholesterol, and heart disease worsens overall health.
• Substance use issues – Alcohol or drug use often co-occurs and increases relapse and health risks.
• Sleep disturbances – Irregular sleep patterns worsen symptoms, fatigue, and daily stability.
• Social and occupational impairment – Difficulty maintaining relationships and employment is common.
• Increased suicide risk – Ongoing symptoms and impaired insight raise risk of self-harm and crisis events.

Understanding Schizophrenia Policy Types

Carriers offer different plan categories based on an applicant’s schizophrenia and long-term and short-term health stability.

• Level: Level burial insurance offers first-day coverage and pays the full death benefit from day 1. I look at Aflac first for this because they are the most friendly toward mental health stability.
• Graded: Graded burial insurance limits benefits during the 12 to 24 months for health or medical-related causes of death. This is often the backup plan if you have had a recent hospitalization. Guarantee Trust Life is a good example of this kind of coverage.
• 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 would be my selection in this case (but my clients generally qualify for a better plan).

Sample Schizophrenia Rate Snapshot for $10,000 Coverage

Insurers use age-based pricing to determine premiums, with rates increasing for every year you wait to apply. Starting a policy today locks in your current age and lower rate, protecting you from the higher costs that naturally come as you get older. Female rates stay lower because women statistically live longer, but everyone pays a “convenience tax” by waiting.

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.

Schizophrenia Underwriting & Medication History

Insurers use your prescription history to confirm that your mental health is stable and that you are consistently managing your condition. Taking your antipsychotic medication exactly as prescribed is a significant factor in the application process because it provides objective evidence that your health is well-regulated. It shows the insurer that you are a responsible adult managing a manageable condition. If you use a monthly injectable, it actually proves to the underwriter that you have a steady level of medicine in your system at all times. This compliance is a major win for your application.

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

Real Life Schizophrenia Success Stories

Real-world examples illustrate how people with schizophrenia secure day-one protection with anywhere from $5,000 to $25,000 for burial and final expenses.

Michael’s Story

Michael was a 66-year-old living with schizophrenia who had been stable on his meds for over 5 years. He had been turned down by local agents who told him he was too high a risk for anything other than a waiting-period plan. I sat down with him and looked at his 57 months of clean psychiatric history. I helped Michael apply for the Aflac preferred program, which accepted his stability and gave him first-day coverage. He secured a $12,000 policy and saved 20% compared to those “rip-off” plans advertised on late-night TV. Now Michael knows his family won’t have to pass the hat to pay for his funeral.

Deborah’s Story

Deborah was 69 and managed both schizophrenia and mild high blood pressure. She was nervous because she had a brief outpatient treatment visit about 3 years ago and didn’t want to pay for a policy that wouldn’t protect her family right away. I placed her with Aflac because they have the most flexible underwriting method for mood and mind disorders. She was approved instantly for a $10,000 policy that provides immediate protection. Deborah was thrilled to find a high-quality plan that respected her long-term independence. She finally has the peace of mind she deserves.

Schizophrenia Financial Ratings & Stability

Insurers use financial ratings to prove they have the capital reserves necessary to fulfill death benefit claims for their policyholders. A life insurance policy is a long-term commitment, and these independent ratings confirm that a company is stable enough to honor its obligations to your family, even if the claim is filed decades from now. I only recommend companies with high A.M. Best ratings because they have the financial solvency to keep their promises. Checking the BBB ensures the company treats grieving families with respect during the claims process.

Frequently Asked Questions: Schizophrenia Burial Insurance

Can you be denied burial insurance for schizophrenia?

Insurance companies approve permanent death benefits for applicants with schizophrenia because specialized “Guaranteed Issue” policies accept everyone regardless of their mental health history. Many people walk away from protection because they think a psychiatric diagnosis is too scary for an underwriter. Honestly, it just does not make sense to leave a family with a massive funeral bill when these policies exist. These plans skip health questions entirely so you can lock in a rate today. This ensures your family receives a check to cover your final arrangements without any corporate roadblocks.

Is immediate burial insurance coverage available for someone with schizophrenia?

Top-rated insurance carriers offer first-day coverage to applicants who demonstrate medical stability and consistent prescription use over the last 2 years. You do not have to settle for a waiting period just because of your diagnosis. If you have stayed out of the hospital for at least 24 months, “Level” benefit plans become available to you. This means your family receives the full death benefit from the very first day the policy starts.

How do recent mental health hospitalizations affect burial insurance options?

Recent psychiatric hospitalizations trigger a mandatory two-year waiting period because underwriters view recent crises as a higher risk to the insurance pool. If a crisis landed you in the hospital within the last 12 to 24 months, some insurance companies will change your policy to a waiting period type of plan. These plans make your family wait 2 years for a natural death payout. However, the company still covers accidental death for the full amount starting on day one. Check with me before getting into a waiting period plan.

Will taking antipsychotic medications increase burial insurance premiums?

Insurance underwriters view consistent antipsychotic medication use as a sign of health stability rather than a reason to increase your monthly premiums. A consistent prescription history actually helps your case because it tells the underwriter you are managing your life. They only get nervous if a specific drug also treats advanced dementia. If that happens, a quick background check on your prescriptions shows the company that you remain independent and stable.

Can I get burial insurance if I am on disability for schizophrenia?

Social Security Disability benefits do not prevent you from securing burial insurance because carriers focus on your daily independence rather than your employment status. Many people on SSDI think they are uninsurable, but that is a total myth. Most burial insurance companies actually prefer clients from fixed-income households because they know the payments are reliable. As long as you can still handle your own daily tasks, your disability status will not stop the approval of your policy. This locks in your protection while keeping your monthly budget in check.

How does burial insurance view schizophrenia differently from traditional life insurance?

Simplified underwriting replaces invasive medical exams, so applicants with chronic conditions can secure coverage without providing blood work or years of doctors’ notes. Traditional life insurance is a nightmare for anyone with a troubling health history because those companies demand physical exams. Burial insurance is different. This “simplified issue” process only requires a check of your drug history and a few health questions. It is a faster and much friendlier way to protect your kids without a stranger coming to your house to draw blood.

Is there a suicide clause in burial insurance policies for schizophrenia?

Every state-regulated burial insurance policy contains a standard two-year suicide clause that limits the payout if the insured person takes their own life during the initial 24 months. This rule applies to every single applicant, regardless of their health history. If the unthinkable happens during those first 2 years, the insurance company doesn’t have to pay. Honestly, it just does not make sense to expect an immediate full payout for that specific cause. Once you clear that 2-year period, your family receives the full death benefit, no matter what happens.

Does schizophrenia increase the cost of a burial insurance policy?

A schizophrenia diagnosis may cause a modest price increase if you require a specialized plan, but your whole life protection locks in that rate forever. You might pay a few dollars more than someone with zero health issues, but that is a small price for total peace of mind. Every dollar you spend on a policy is a dollar your family does not have to borrow from a bank later. Once the company issues your plan, your premium stays exactly the same for the rest of your life. Even if you turn 100, the insurance company cannot raise your price.

Can I purchase burial insurance for a family member with schizophrenia?

Insurable interest laws allow you to purchase a burial insurance policy for a loved one to ensure their final expenses do not cause a family financial crisis. Many children buy coverage for their parents or siblings to avoid a sudden disaster at the funeral home. You just need the insured person to provide consent during the application. This smart move ensures your family can grieve without worrying about how to pay for a casket or service. This policy sends the benefit check directly to the person handling your arrangements.

What happens if my schizophrenia worsens after I get burial insurance?

Permanent whole life insurance policies protect your future because the company cannot cancel your coverage or increase your rates if your health declines. The best part about these state-regulated policies is that they are permanent. Once the company issues the policy, they are stuck with you for life. Even if you end up in the hospital every month next year, they cannot take your coverage away. Qualifying for a policy now, while you are stable, ensures your family’s security is never at risk again.