Life insurance after cancer

What insurers ask cancer survivors

Insurers need a detailed cancer history. The more precise you can be, the better your chances of getting accurate terms first time.

Why time since treatment matters so much

The longer it has been since you completed cancer treatment with no recurrence, the more favourably insurers view you. This is because recurrence risk decreases over time for most cancer types.

How specific cancers are viewed

The difference between cancer types cannot be overstated. Here is how insurers typically view some of the most common cancers.

Breast cancer

Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers and one of the most favourably viewed by insurers, particularly early-stage. Key factors:

• Stage 1, grade 1-2, hormone receptor positive - typically insurable from 2 years post-treatment with moderate loading
• Stage 2 with chemotherapy - typically insurable from 3-5 years post-treatment
• Stage 3 - usually requires 5+ years clear. Higher loadings even then
• HER2 positive cancers may be viewed slightly less favourably than hormone receptor positive
• Ongoing tamoxifen or aromatase inhibitors are not considered active treatment by most insurers

Prostate cancer

Prostate cancer is generally viewed favourably by insurers, particularly low-grade localised disease.

• Gleason score 6 (Grade Group 1) with surgery or radiotherapy - often insurable from 2 years with minor loading
• Gleason 7 (Grade Group 2-3) - insurable from 2-3 years, moderate loading
• Gleason 8-10 (Grade Group 4-5) - typically requires longer clear period, higher loadings
• Active surveillance (no treatment) for low-risk prostate cancer is generally insurable, though some insurers treat it as an ongoing condition
• PSA level post-treatment is an important follow-up marker - undetectable PSA is ideal

Skin cancer

There is an enormous difference between non-melanoma skin cancer and melanoma in underwriting terms.

• Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) - Often has zero impact on life insurance terms. Many insurers do not even count it as a cancer for underwriting purposes. Standard rates are typical.
• Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) - Minor impact if localised and fully excised. Standard or near-standard rates from 1-2 years post-treatment.
• Melanoma - Much more significant. Breslow thickness is the key metric. Thin melanomas (under 1mm) excised with clear margins may attract minor loadings from 2 years. Thick melanomas (over 2mm) or those with lymph node involvement are treated much more seriously, with longer waiting periods and higher loadings.

What “cancer-free” means to insurers

There is often confusion about what counts as being cancer-free for insurance purposes. Here is how insurers typically interpret it:

Cancers that are harder to insure after

We believe in being upfront. The following cancers typically present the most difficulty in obtaining life insurance, even after successful treatment:

• Pancreatic cancer - High recurrence risk means very long waiting periods and significant loadings even then
• Lung cancer - Unless very early stage (T1a), typically requires extended clear periods and high loadings
• Brain tumours (malignant) - Variable by type but generally among the more difficult to insure after
• Oesophageal and stomach cancer - Often advanced at diagnosis, leading to challenging underwriting
• Acute leukaemia and high-grade lymphomas - Typically require 5+ years clear, even after successful treatment including bone marrow transplant
• Any Stage 4 cancer - Metastatic disease at diagnosis significantly impacts insurability regardless of subsequent treatment success

Even for these cancers, cover is not always impossible. Specialist insurers, guaranteed acceptance products, and group life schemes provide fallback options. And underwriting guidelines do change over time as survival rates improve.

Critical illness cover after cancer

Critical illness cover is significantly harder to obtain after a cancer diagnosis than life insurance. Most insurers will either decline or offer cover with a cancer exclusion - meaning the policy would not pay out for any future cancer diagnosis. It would still cover heart attack, stroke, and other specified conditions.

For some very low-risk cancers (e.g. BCC, Stage 1 testicular cancer with long clear history), critical illness without exclusion may be available from specialist insurers. For most other cancers, a cancer exclusion is the likely outcome if critical illness cover is offered at all.

Income protection after cancer

Income protection after cancer is possible, but typically comes with a cancer-related exclusion. The policy would cover you for inability to work from other conditions but would not pay out if you cannot work due to cancer recurrence.

The longer you have been clear, the more likely you are to find income protection with favourable terms. At 10+ years clear with no recurrence for a low-stage cancer, some insurers may remove the exclusion entirely.

Put your policy in trust

If you have battled cancer to get life insurance cover, the last thing you want is for the payout to be delayed or diminished by inheritance tax. Writing your policy in trust ensures it goes directly to your beneficiaries, outside your estate, without probate delays or tax. It is free and takes 2 minutes to set up.

Read our full guide to trusts and estate planning

Frequently asked questions