Compare life insurance after breast cancer UK
If breast cancer has been a part of your life, you might be feeling uncertain about your chances of getting life insurance. This is understandable and we’re often asked questions about if life insurance is available for people with cancer.
It’s completely normal to wonder about the well-being of your family if something were to happen to you. Whether you’re currently in treatment or you’ve had cancer in the past, there can be great options available to protect your partner, children or mortgage.
We know dealing with breast cancer is tough and thinking about life insurance might not be your top priority right now. But don’t worry, we’re here to make things easier for you and answer any questions you have.
Why are we breast cancer life insurance experts?
We’ve talked to thousands of customers over the years and a lot of them have had cancer at some point in their lives. Many of these people have wanted life insurance but weren’t sure what to do or what cover is even available for them.
We can offer as much support as you want and specialise in areas including:
- Life insurance after breast cancer diagnosis (recent)
- Previous breast cancer diagnosis and how to get a fair price
- What to do if you have a family history of cancer
- Cancerous and non-cancerous cells
- Critical illness insurance and income protection with cancer
- Life insurance for breast cancer patients
- Life insurance for breast cancer survivors
Our mission is to make it simpler for people with breast cancer to get the protection they need for their families. We aim to give you lots of helpful information, so you can choose the best option for yourself.
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Breast cancer and life insurance
Life insurance gives you peace of mind that your family is financially protected if something happens to you.
You can get life insurance to protect against cancer in the future before anything happens. You could also get life cover after you’ve been diagnosed, and here’s how it works.
Can I get life insurance after breast cancer?
YES – you should be able to get life insurance after a diagnosis of breast cancer. It will be much easier and simpler if you have been recovered for several years.
There are several stages to consider when you look at your options to get life insurance after a breast cancer diagnosis. Some of the key stages include:
- During treatment: your options for life insurance through this period can be limited to some specialist products which can at least offer some cover rather than none. Most of these types of policies will exclude cancer but can give you peace of mind that you’re still covered for other events.
- Post-treatment (e.g. Chemotherapy or Radiotherapy): After you’ve received treatment then there will be a period of usually 12 or 24 months where you’ll still have limited options for cover. This still gives you some options and does not mean that you’ll need to pay high premiums for these types of policies.
- Remission: Once you’ve completed your treatments and have been in remission for a period of time (usually 2 years), then you should be able to get covered through standard insurers. Options will become cheaper and easier as you go further down the line through your remission (e.g. 2 to 5 years).
Can I get life insurance with breast cancer?
If you currently have breast cancer, it’s understandable to be worried about your family’s future in case anything happens.
Your options for cover can be more limited but the good news is there will still be some options available to you. Certain policies will be able to offer at least some cover for you such as:
- Guaranteed life insurance: These policies don’t ask you for any medical information which can be helpful for people living with cancer.
- Personal accident insurance: This isn’t life insurance, but these policies can protect you in the event of accidental injuries. They also often include accidental death benefit, or this can be added for a small extra cost.
Once your cancer has been in remission for a few years, you may choose to switch to a more traditional life insurance policy. The longer you are in remission, the more options should become available to you.
Life insurance policies that can be available at this point include:
- Family life insurance (level term)
- Mortgage life insurance (decreasing term)
- Whole life insurance
- Joint life insurance
- Over 50s life insurance
- Family income benefit
- Business life insurance
Does life insurance cover breast cancer?
YES – your life insurance will cover you and protect your family if you are diagnosed with breast cancer. Cancer is one of the main reasons for life insurance claims and breast cancer is the most common form of cancer in the UK.
If you have cancer in your medical history, you will need to tell the insurer during the application process. This is very important as failing to mention this could lead to your policy being invalid or not suitable for what you need.
How does breast cancer life insurance work?
Life insurance might feel overwhelming or confusing if you’ve never bought it before. If you have experienced breast cancer this could leave you even more unsure of where you stand.
How breast cancer life insurance works really depends on whether you have breast cancer currently or you have recovered.
If you’re looking for life insurance post breast cancer (several years ago), it should work in the same way as for anyone else. You usually have to answer more medical questions though and may be asked for additional information, like a report from your doctor.
If you are living with cancer right now, your options will be more limited. We would recommend that anyone currently having cancer treatment speaks to a cancer life insurance specialist. Our platinum rated experts can advise you on the options available to you and help you avoid extra stress and hassle.
Does life insurance payout for breast cancer?
YES – if you die because of breast cancer or something linked to this condition then your current life cover should pay a lump sum to your family.
Cancer is one of the most common claims on life insurance and critical illness cover in the UK. This is one of the main reasons why many of us take out life insurance to protect our loved ones in case it does happen.
Some of the main ways life insurance can be used if you die from breast cancer:
- Pay off some or all of your mortgage
- Clear your debts
- Pay for your children’s school fees
- Costs of living (loss of income)
We would recommend reviewing your existing life insurance policy regularly, to check it is still suitable for what you need. This is particularly important after a big event such as getting married or welcoming a new child into the family.
Does critical illness cover payout for breast cancer?
YES – as with life insurance, cancer is one of the main reasons for claims on critical illness cover in the UK.
Critical illness cover is specifically designed to pay out a lump sum to you if you’re diagnosed with breast cancer. Most of these types of policies will pay you an amount to you to help you and your family financially during a difficult time.
People use critical illness for different reasons depending on their circumstances, for example, if you’re diagnosed with breast cancer then your policy can pay for:
- Mortgage or rent payments
- Costs of living
- Utilities
- School fees
- Medical treatment or care
This type of cover can provide you and your family with vital financial security if you are diagnosed with breast cancer or other types of cancer.
Can I claim on income protection for breast cancer?
YES – if you’re unable to work because you are diagnosed with breast cancer then your income protection policy should pay out for up to 12 or 24 months usually.
Most income protection policies will specifically have services that are designed to support people through a cancer diagnosis. This can be an extremely distressing and difficult time for anyone, especially those with children or dependents.
You can access some of these benefits and services through your insurance provider to help you through these periods. There may even be services included by your insurer that will help support you in returning to work more quickly.
How much is life insurance with breast cancer?
The price will vary for any life insurance policy, as insurers will assess every application individually. When deciding the cost of your monthly premiums, they will look at several factors like:
- Your age
- The amount of cover you need (£s)
- Policy term (how long you want cover for)
- Smoker status
If you’ve had breast cancer, they will also consider things such as:
- Date of diagnosis
- Your treatment (e.g. radiotherapy, chemotherapy, mastectomy, or lumpectomy)
- The grade and stage of cancer
- Were your lymph nodes affected?
You should answer any questions you are asked as honestly as you can. Insurers also understand you may not know every detail, particularly if it is years since you had cancer. Just try your best and if you need it, our experts will help in any way we can.
How to get the cheapest breast cancer life insurance
Don’t worry, having breast cancer in the past shouldn’t mean paying ridiculous prices for the cover you need. There are a few ways to find cheaper life cover if you’re concerned about your budget:
- Make sure you are speaking to the right insurer: Some are better than others for people with pre-existing conditions and will offer better pricing.
- Shop around: Check available prices from a few companies to see who is offering the best deals.
- Improve your lifestyle: Losing weight, quitting smoking and other health improvements can help reduce the cost of life insurance significantly.
- Think about the cover you need: You can cut costs by simply adjusting the type of policy you’re looking for, the amount of cover (£s) or length of cover.
- Get proper advice: If you’re struggling, it can be helpful to speak to a life insurance specialist. An expert will know where to look for life insurance following breast cancer at the fairest cost.
No one wants to pay more than they need to but remember why you’re buying this policy. Ultimately the most important thing is to make sure your loved ones have the right protection, even if it means paying a little more.
Will I need a medical for breast cancer life insurance?
YES – most of the time insurers will ask anyone who has cancer in the past for medical evidence. This helps them to get a clearer picture of your health while assessing your application.
We promise this is normal for life insurance applications and not anything to be concerned about.
There are 2 main types of medical evidence requests:
- GP report
- Nurse screening
Anything like this will be arranged and paid for by the insurer, so there isn’t any additional hassle for you.
Frequently asked questions about breast cancer and life insurance
| Can breast cancer survivors get life insurance? | YES – If you have had breast cancer in the past, you should still be able to get life insurance. There will be more options available for you the longer that you have been in remission. |
| Can I get life insurance with a history of breast cancer in my family? | YES – Insurers will ask about family history of serious illnesses like breast cancer, but it shouldn’t prevent you from getting cover. Insurers will consider this during your application, and it is unlikely that family history alone would lead to your application being declined. |
| Can you claim on life insurance for breast cancer? | YES – If you were to die due to breast cancer or anything related, your loved ones will be able claim on your policy. |
| What happens with life insurance if you are diagnosed with cancer? | Nothing happens to your policy if you are diagnosed with cancer. Life insurance is based on your health at the time you applied. If you’re diagnosed later, you don’t have to tell the insurer. You may choose to though, to avoid any extra questions in the event of a claim. |
More about breast cancer
Below we have put together some useful information about breast cancer in the UK.
Types of breast cancer
Here are some of the most common types of breast cancer.
- Invasive
- Invasive lobular
- Triple-negative
- Inflammatory
- Angiosarcoma
- Male breast cancer
- Ductal carcinoma in situ
- Lobular carcinoma in situ
- Paget’s disease of the breast
Medical conditions linked to breast cancer
You may have other pre-existing medical conditions when you apply for life insurance. Some conditions are known to have a link to breast cancer such as:
- Ovarian cancer
- Other forms of cancer
- Osteoporosis
- Heart disease
- Menopause
- Alcohol abuse
- Overweight/ High BMI
Celebrities who have had breast cancer
There are many high profile women who have battled breast cancer and survived. Many of these women have talked openly about their experiences to raise awareness. This includes:
- Olivia Newton-John (Singer and actress)
- Kathy Bates (Actress)
- Kylie Minogue (Singer)
- Betsey Johnson (Fashion designer)
- Cynthia Nixon (Actress)
- Martina Navratilova (Tennis player)
- Dame Maggie Smith (Actress)
- Jennifer Saunders (Actress)
Breast cancer charities and breast cancer support UK
Here are some charities dedicated to supporting breast cancer patients and survivors in the UK.
Breast cancer statistics UK
Figures from Cancer Research UK state that:
- There are 55,920 new cases of breast cancer diagnosed every year
- 75% of breast cancer patients survive for 10 or more years following diagnosis
- Breast cancer survival has doubled in the UK over the last 50 years
More information – Cancer Research UK – Breast cancer statistics
Common questions about breast cancer
| What are the top 3 signs of breast cancer? | There are several main indicators that will help you to identify breast cancer: Lump on the breast Swelling around or in the breast Irritable skin Nipple or breast pain Inward nipple Nipple discharge |
| What is the very first stage of breast cancer? | The first stage of breast cancer is stage 0 (carcinoma in situ). This means there are cancer cells present but they haven’t spread. |
| What is the survival rate of breast cancer? | The survival rate for cancer in the UK is good, especially if caught early. Cancer Research UK states that most 100% of women diagnosed with Stage 1 breast cancer will live for 5 or more years following diagnosis. More information – Average Life Expectancy UK |
| How long does breast cancer take to develop? | In most types of breast cancer, the divisions each take approximately 1 or 2 months to develop. This means that once you feel a lump in your breast then cancer will have been present for two to five years. |
Other types of insurance for people with breast cancer
- Income protection insurance
- Critical illness cover
- Personal accident insurance
- Cancer travel insurance
- Breast cancer travel insurance
