Respiratory & Lung Condition Burial Insurance

Respiratory and lung conditions or diseases don’t automatically disqualify you from burial insurance, but applying the wrong way can cost your family thousands. These policies for respiratory and lung conditions help people pay out quickly to cover burial or cremation costs or provide a tax-free legacy for their loved ones.

Burial Insurance Key Insights

• First-day coverage is possible even with oxygen use: Some specialty carriers look at the specific reason for your oxygen therapy and may offer immediate protection without a waiting period.
• Pending medical tests trigger automatic waiting periods: Insurance companies view incomplete diagnostic tests as unknown risks and will only offer guaranteed issue plans until the results are clear.
• Waiting to apply often leads to higher premiums: Respiratory diseases like COPD are chronic and typically worsen over time, making it harder and more expensive to qualify the longer you wait.
• Activities of daily living impact approval more than the diagnosis: If your lung condition prevents you from bathing, dressing, or eating without help, you will likely be limited to a plan with a two-year waiting period.
• Application questions vary widely across insurance companies: A “no” at one company does not mean a “no” everywhere, as each carrier uses different lookback windows for conditions such as bronchitis or emphysema.

I’m always on the lookout for more insurance companies that will offer affordable protection for respiratory and lung conditions. As a result, most people I help will have no trouble qualifying for and affording an instant-approval policy.

Respiratory & Lung Conditions Burial Insurance Approvals

Underwriters classify the risk level of respiratory conditions based on your level of breathing impairment, prescription medicines, and any supplemental oxygen use. Most lung diseases are chronic, which means they stay with you for life and usually get worse as you age.

It’s important to note that poor control of long-term or respiratory issues may require oxygen therapy to prevent future failure of your heart or kidneys.

The Most Common Lung Diseases For Burial Insurance:

• Asthma
• Chronic bronchitis
• COPD
• Emphysema
• Oxygen use
• Sleep apnea

Life Insurance Companies Ask These Respiratory Condition Questions

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

• Aetna Decline– Within the past year, have you used or been advised to use oxygen equipment to assist with breathing, excluding CPAP for sleep apnea, or been advised to have kidney dialysis?
• Aetna Standard Level – Have you ever been diagnosed with, received, or been advised to receive treatment or medication for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), chronic bronchitis, emphysema, or any other chronic respiratory condition?
• Aflac Decline – Within the past year, have you used or been advised to use oxygen equipment to assist with breathing, excluding CPAP for sleep apnea, or been advised to have kidney dialysis?
• Aflac Standard Level – Have you ever been diagnosed with, received, or been advised to receive treatment or medication for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), chronic bronchitis, emphysema, or any other chronic respiratory condition?
• CICA Life Level – In the past 10 years, have you opted to not seek treatment, have not taken medication, or have not followed the prescribed treatment plan following a medical diagnosis by a member of the medical profession for any one or more of the following: uncontrolled diabetes, uncontrolled high blood pressure, stroke or TIA, paralysis, congestive heart failure, heart disease, cardiomyopathy, lung disease including COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) or emphysema, liver cirrhosis or failure, kidney (renal) failure or insufficiency, or chronic kidney disease including dialysis?
• Family Benefit Life Decline – Are you currently, or within the past 6 months have you been, hospitalized, bedridden, using oxygen to assist breathing, confined to a wheelchair, in a nursing home or hospice, receiving home health care, or on dialysis?
• 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 – Do you require daily oxygen use (excluding when used with CPAP, after exercise, and for seasonal allergies), have an implanted defibrillator, received or been advised by a medical professional to receive an organ transplant or received dialysis within the LAST 24 MONTHS?
• Liberty Bankers Life Decline – Within the last year, have you been confined to a hospital for more than 5 days total, been advised by a member of the medical profession to have surgery or hospitalization which you are still awaiting, used oxygen due to a medical condition, been unable to care for yourself or been bedridden at home or in a nursing home, hospice, long-term care, or assisted living facility?
• Liberty Bankers Life Preferred – Have you, the Proposed Insured, by a member of the medical profession, ever been diagnosed with, or received, or been advised to receive treatment or medication for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), chronic bronchitis, emphysema, irregular heartbeat, atrial fibrillation, peripheral vascular disease or peripheral artery disease?
• Mutual of Omaha Decline – Is the Proposed Insured currently requiring any of the following other than fractures, bone or joint surgery, including replacement: wheelchair, electric scooter, oxygen equipment to assist breathing (excluding use for sleep apnea) or defibrillator?
• Mutual of Omaha Level – 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 Chronic Lung Disease, including Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), Chronic Bronchitis, emphysema, or Sarcoidosis?
• Trinity Life Decline – Are you currently, or within the past 6 months have you been hospitalized, bedridden, using oxygen to assist breathing, confined to a wheelchair, in a nursing home or hospice, receiving home health care, or on dialysis?
• 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?

Respiratory & Lung Conditions Burial Insurance Underwriting Basics

• FEV1 and PFT Scores: These lung function tests show how much air you can force out of your lungs. A score above 80% is considered good, while anything below 50% signals a high risk to the insurance company.
• Oxygen Saturation: Carriers check your pulse oximetry levels to see how much oxygen is in your blood. They prefer to see a reading of 95% or higher.
• Exacerbations and Hospitalizations: Insurers count how many times you went to the ER or stayed in a hospital for breathing trouble in the last 24 months.

The consistent use of prescribed medications lowers your long-term mortality risk, which allows insurance carriers to provide you with much better plan options.

Why it Matters: Favorable test results and medical stability determine your specific risk class, while signs of rapid disease progression increase your premiums or trigger waiting periods.

Respiratory & Lung Conditions Prescription Medication Classes:

• Short-Acting Bronchodilators: Albuterol, ProAir, Ventolin.
• Long-Acting Inhaled Steroids: Advair, Breo, Symbicort.
• Anticholinergics: Spiriva, Atrovent, Incruse Ellipta.
• Oral Steroids: Prednisone, Deltasone.
• Phosphodiesterase-4 Inhibitors: Daliresp.

Burial Insurance For Respiratory & Lung Conditions with Comorbidities

Multiple health issues occurring simultaneously increase the total risk for the insurance carrier, as respiratory conditions often co-occur with other significant health problems. When someone has multiple health conditions, the risk of a subsequent medical crisis increases, complicating their treatment. If you have COPD and recently had a heart stent placed, the insurance company looks at the combined risk of both. These linked problems make it critical to implement a policy now, while you are still healthy enough to pass the questions.

With my help, people with controlled respiratory conditions can still qualify for immediate level burial insurance coverage even with secondary health issues.

Other Common Health Issues With Respiratory & Lung Conditions

• Congestive Heart Failure: Low oxygen levels force your heart to pump harder, which can weaken and fail the heart muscle over time.
• Atrial Fibrillation (AFib): The strain on your heart from poor lung function can damage nerve fibers and cause a dangerous, irregular heartbeat.
• Pulmonary Hypertension: High blood pressure in the arteries of your lungs reduces blood flow, leading to severe chest pain and dizziness.
• Type 2 Diabetes: Many medications used to treat breathing issues, like steroids, can raise your blood sugar and increase your risk for diabetes.
• Sleep Apnea: Breathing pauses during sleep often occur alongside lung disease, which increases your risk of heart attack or stroke.
• Osteoporosis: Long-term use of certain inhalers and limited exercise due to shortness of breath can make your bones brittle and more likely to fracture.
• Depression and Anxiety: The constant struggle to breathe can be frightening and may lead to clinical anxiety or feelings of isolation.
• Secondary Polycythemia: When your lungs don’t get enough oxygen, your body makes too many red blood cells, which thickens your blood and raises your stroke risk.

Understanding Respiratory & Lung Conditions Burial Insurance Policy Types

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

• Level: Level burial insurance offers first-day coverage and pays the full death benefit from day one. I often recommend Family Benefit Life, Trinity Life, or Aflac for people with stable COPD or asthma who want immediate protection.
• Graded: Graded burial insurance limits benefits during the 12 to 24 months for health or medical-related causes of death. Companies like Guarantee Trust Life offer a good balance of rates & coverage for people with recent breathing-related hospital stays.
• Guaranteed Issue: Guaranteed issue burial insurance requires no health questions and includes a 2-year waiting period before benefits are paid for health- or medically related causes of death. Gerber Life is a top choice for those who are chair-bound or use 24-hour oxygen and cannot pass health questions.

Sample Respiratory & Lung Conditions Rate Snapshot for $10,000 Coverage

Age and biological sex determine the base cost of your monthly insurance premiums because statistics show these factors strongly influence long-term mortality. Rates vary by age and gender since female rates are lower because women statistically live longer than men.

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.

Respiratory & Lung Conditions Underwriting & Medication History

Your prescription history provides a digital map for underwriters to verify your current medical stability and confirms that you are managing your chronic conditions. One underwriting secret is that carriers look for medication compliance. If you refill your inhalers exactly on time, it shows you are managing your condition well.

Another tip: some specialty carriers offer first-day coverage even if you have oxygen equipment, provided you aren’t using it 24 hours a day. Also, maintenance medication records demonstrate that you are managing your health, which allows insurance carriers to use your prescription history to verify medical stability.

Also, recent hospitalizations for crises trigger postponement rather than permanent decline. If you have been hospitalized for respiratory failure or a severe COPD flare-up in the last 30 days, most companies will require a 3- to 6-month wait before approving a new policy.

Real Life Respiratory & Lung Conditions Burial Insurance Success Stories

Real-world examples illustrate how people with respiratory conditions can secure day-one protection for $5,000 to $25,000 in burial and cremation expenses.

Robert’s Story

Robert was age 67 and had been living with COPD for 5 years. He was worried because he used a rescue inhaler several times a week. Many agents told him he had to take a plan with a waiting period because of his lung condition. I looked at his medications and found that his condition was stable enough for a specialty carrier. We applied with an Aflac Standard plan, and he was approved for $15,000 of first-day coverage. This plan saved him 20% compared to the graded plans he was offered elsewhere. He now has peace of mind knowing his funeral costs are covered.

Susan’s Story

Susan was age 72 and used oxygen at night to help her breathe while she slept. She thought her oxygen use meant she could only get a plan that made her wait 2 years for coverage. I found a carrier that accepts nighttime-only oxygen use for immediate benefits. We chose CICA Life for a $10,000 policy to cover her cremation and final bills. By answering a few health questions, she qualified for a level plan that started immediately. This saved her family from the risk of being without coverage during the waiting period. She was very happy to find an affordable rate that fit her fixed income.

Respiratory & Lung Conditions Financial Burial Insurance Ratings & Stability

Financial ratings verify a carrier’s ability to pay death claims to your beneficiaries because these independent scores reflect an insurance company’s long-term fiscal health. A.M. Best measures the solvency of a company to make sure it has the money to pay out. The BBB tracks how well they handle customer service. The NAIC complaint index shows whether other families had trouble getting their claims paid.

Frequently Asked Questions: Respiratory & Lung Conditions Burial Insurance

Can I qualify for burial insurance with pulmonary fibrosis?

Pulmonary fibrosis is often viewed as a more serious risk than COPD due to its progressive nature and impact on life expectancy. While it is more difficult to find first-day coverage for this specific condition, several specialized carriers offer “Standard” or “Graded” plans for those in the early stages. If the fibrosis has progressed to a severe level or requires oxygen, a guaranteed acceptance policy remains a reliable fallback option.

Can you get burial insurance if you have COPD?

People with COPD can almost always get life insurance, but the cost and plan type depend on the severity of the diagnosis. If you have mild COPD and do not smoke or use oxygen, you can frequently qualify for “Standard” or “Preferred” rates with immediate coverage. If your COPD is severe or

Is sarcoidosis considered a high-risk condition for burial insurance?

Sarcoidosis is generally considered a low-to-moderate risk depending on which organs are affected and the current treatment plan. If your sarcoidosis is in remission or is being managed with low-dose steroids, you can frequently qualify for “Preferred” rates and immediate coverage. However, if the condition has caused significant lung scarring or requires intensive treatment, insurers may offer a plan with a modified benefit structure.

Does smoking history impact burial insurance for lung conditions?

Smoking status significantly impacts the cost of burial insurance for anyone with a lung condition. Even if you have quit recently, many insurers will charge “tobacco rates” unless you have been nicotine-free for at least 12 to 24 months. Combining a chronic lung condition with active smoking often results in the highest possible premiums, as the two factors together represent a much higher mortality risk for the insurance company.

What are the best burial insurance companies for lung diseases?

Carriers such as Mutual of Omaha, Aflac, and Transamerica are frequently cited as top choices for seniors with respiratory conditions. Each of these companies has different “look-back” periods for hospitalizations and different rules regarding specific medications like Prednisone or Advair. Working with an independent broker who can compare multiple A-rated companies is the most effective way to find the carrier with the most “lung-friendly” underwriting.

Can I get burial insurance with a history of lung cancer?

Lung cancer survivors can typically obtain burial insurance, but the timing of your last treatment is the deciding factor for your rate. Most carriers require you to be “cancer-free” for at least two to five years before they will offer an immediate death benefit. If you are currently in treatment or were diagnosed within the last two years, you will likely be limited to a guaranteed-issue policy with a two-year waiting period.

Do insurance companies check my medical records for lung issues?

Insurance companies perform a digital review of your prescription history and Medical Information Bureau (MIB) records during the application process. This “background check” allows them to see if you have been prescribed medications like Spiriva, Symbicort, or oxygen equipment. Being honest in your application is essential, as discrepancies between your answers and your medical records can result in immediate coverage denial.

What lung medications trigger a higher burial insurance rate?

Prescriptions for supplemental oxygen and high-dose systemic steroids (like Prednisone) are the primary medications that trigger higher rates or waiting periods. While standard rescue inhalers and maintenance medications like Albuterol or Breo are generally accepted for Level plans, the frequent use of “nebulizers” or steroids often signals to an underwriter that the lung condition is not well-controlled.

Why is burial insurance worth it for those with chronic lung disease?

Burial insurance provides guaranteed funds for funeral costs, ensuring that your family is not burdened by debt during a difficult time. Because lung conditions can be progressive and unpredictable, locking in a permanent whole life policy while you are still eligible is a critical financial move. Once the policy is in place, your rates can never increase, and your coverage can never be cancelled, regardless of how your lung health changes in the future.

How does supplemental oxygen affect burial insurance eligibility?

Supplemental oxygen use typically triggers a mandatory two-year waiting period with most insurance providers. Because underwriters view the need for an oxygen tank as an indicator of advanced-stage respiratory failure, they usually move these applicants to a “Graded” or “Guaranteed Issue” plan. If you use oxygen, your beneficiaries will generally receive a refund of your premiums plus 10% interest if you die from natural causes within the first 24 months.