COPD life insurance

You don’t need to worry that getting life insurance with COPD will be a massive challenge – or even worse impossible. The fact is COPD life insurance can be really affordable and way easier to get than you might think.

We know that not everyone is a life insurance expert, which is why we do what we do! Our aim is to explain life insurance in simple terms, to make it a bit less intimidating and confusing. COPD shouldn’t stop you getting the cover you need and we’re going to answer all the top questions to make things simpler for you.

It’s natural to wonder about the best ways to look after your family if something were to happen to you. Life insurance acts like a shield to protect your loved ones, helping them to avoid financial struggles at an already hard time.

Why are we COPD life insurance experts?

We’ve had the chance to chat to lots of people with COPD over the years. This means we know exactly what questions people are asking and the things our customers are most worried about when it comes to life insurance.

Our team can answer all the main questions about:

How life insurance works for someone with COPD
How to find the best prices for someone with COPD
What types of life insurance are available with COPD

Feel free to ask us anything and we’ll always do our best to help! And if you’d rather read all the information and make your own decisions, that’s OK too. We aim to provide as many useful details as we can, so you have a better understanding of how life insurance works and what might be a good option for you.

Rated "Excellent" 5 out of 5

"This company went above & beyond to get me cover even though I have MS, I am very happy I managed to get cover, Amazing staff, Dean went above & beyond, I highly rate this company."

by Elizabeth Turner-Long - 9th August 2023

Can you get life insurance with COPD?

YES – great news, life insurance can be both available and affordable for people who have Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). Insurers are getting better and better at helping people with medical conditions, though some will likely work better for you than others.

Some people end up unfairly stuck with high prices, simply because they haven’t spoken to the right insurance providers. Certain insurance companies will be able to offer better pricing for people with respiratory conditions, particularly if your symptoms are severe.

This is why we would always recommend doing a bit of research and looking at all your options before making any decisions. Life insurance can make such a big difference to your family’s financial future, so it’s worth thinking carefully before choosing your cover.

What is the best life insurance for COPD?

The ‘best’ policy for people with COPD will depend on your symptoms, how much cover you need and more. Everyone’s situation is different, meaning a policy that’s great for one person might not be the right choice for someone else.

Luckily, there are a wide range of options available such as:

How does COPD life insurance work?

Buying life insurance with COPD should be pretty much the same process as it would be for people with no medical conditions. The main difference is that you will probably have to give some more information about COPD and how this affects your health.

Insurers are likely to ask you some questions about your overall health and lifestyle. There is also a high chance you could be asked for a medical report from your GP.

Don’t worry, you won’t need to get this report yourself and the insurer will arrange and pay for all of this for you. Just remember, being asked for more details doesn’t mean you’re more likely to get turned down. Insurers simply want to be 100% sure of all the facts before they make any decisions.

Does life insurance pay out for COPD?

YES – if you were to die due to COPD or any complications, your life insurance policy would have you covered. Your loved ones will be able to put in a claim and receive a cash lump sum to support them with expenses such as:

Funeral costs
Mortgage or rent payments
Repaying debts
School fees
Standard cost of living
And more…

Traditional life cover won’t usually exclude (refuse to pay out for) pre-existing medical conditions. As long as you were honest with the insurer when you applied, there shouldn’t be any issues.

Does critical illness cover pay out for COPD?

If you are diagnosed with severe COPD (Stage 3 or Stage 4), you might qualify for a pay out from your critical illness cover policy.

This really depends on your individual policy and the insurance provider you have chosen. Critical illness policies will vary in what conditions are covered, and some providers will pay out for certain conditions when others won’t.

We’d suggest having a good look through your policy documents to check if you’re covered for COPD before trying to make a claim. This will save you the time and hassle of a claim that is likely to be declined.

Will income protection pay out for COPD?

YES – income protection is designed to pay out for almost any accident or illness that means you can’t work for 4 or more weeks. Complications from COPD or late-stage COPD could make working very difficult or even impossible.

We think it’s a shame that income protection isn’t more widely known about, as it can be a real help in a difficult time. Income protection will pay out a monthly sum to support you financially (usually covers around 60% of your income). Some policies will even pay out for months or years at a time.

Be aware, there can be times when income protection wouldn’t pay out for sick leave relating to COPD. This is If the insurer has placed an ‘exclusion’ on your cover. This just means you can’t claim for COPD but can claim for any other illness or injury that stops you working.

Will I need a medical for COPD life insurance?

YES – most of the time someone with COPD will need to provide some extra medical evidence to insurers. Don’t worry, this isn’t difficult or scary. Usually, this just means agreeing to let insurance providers ask your GP for a medical report.

GP reports can actually be beneficial for you, as they help ensure your cover is valid. This means it’s less likely your loved ones will run into any problems when it comes time to claim on your policy.

How much is life insurance for COPD?

It’s not always easy to work out how much you might end up paying for life insurance – and no one wants to end up paying too much.

These are some of main things that insurers will think about when deciding how much you pay:

Your age
Your height and weight
If you smoke
Your general health and lifestyle
Occupation
How much cover you want (£s)
How long you want the cover to last (policy term)

We get it, finding the right price is a big deal and top priority for most people. It can be really frustrating to realise at a later point that you could have paid way less for the same level of cover. However, don’t focus so much on the price tag that you then forget why you wanted the cover in the first place.

Life insurance can be incredibly helpful and provide your family with much needed support if you were to pass away. It’s also the most cost-effective way to provide your family with financial security for years to come.

How to get cheaper life insurance for people with COPD

Here’s our biggest tip for saving some money on your life insurance – make sure you’re talking to the right insurers. It really is as simple as that. Some insurers will be better suited to covering people with COPD and will be able to offer lower prices.

Other ways to save include:

Change your lifestyle: A few simple changes such as stopping smoking, taking up more exercise or losing weight can lead to big savings on your life cover.
Apply at the right time: Applying earlier in life will normally equal lower prices. We’d also say it’s better to avoid applying when your health is bad as this can have an impact too.
Speak to an expert: If you’re frustrated and unsure where to turn, a COPD life insurance expert will be able to point you in the direction of the best insurers for you.

Frequently asked questions about COPD and life insurance

Is COPD a terminal illness for insurance?	This depends on how serious your COPD symptoms are. If you have stage 4 COPD, this will be classed as terminal illness and your breathing will be very difficult/restricted. In this case, you could claim on terminal illness benefit (if your life insurance policy includes this). This allows you to access the benefit from your life insurance early to provide much needed financial support.
Is COPD considered a critical illness?	YES – certain insurers will class advanced cases of COPD as a critical illness. Every insurer and policy is different though. We would suggest reading your policy documents carefully, so you know what you are covered for.
What is the life expectancy of a person with COPD?	The life expectancy with COPD can vary depending on the patient but is often more limited. The stage of your COPD and your treatment will affect your life expectancy. Smoking will also significantly decrease the lifespan of someone with COPD. More information – Average life expectancy UK
Can you get over 50’s life insurance for COPD?	YES – it’s definitely possible to get life insurance with COPD when you’re over 50.

More about COPD

Here, we’ve gathered a load of useful information about COPD including links to online resources and support services.

Medical conditions linked to COPD

As COPD affects your lungs, there are a lot of medical conditions that are closely linked to COPD. There are also several medical conditions that can happen due to complications of COPD.

Lung cancer
Asthma
Heart disease
Other respiratory conditions
Lung disease
High blood pressure
Diabetes
Osteoporosis
Depression
Anxiety
Emphysema
Bronchitis
Recurring chest infections

Celebrities with COPD

COPD affects thousands of people across the world. Various celebrities have been diagnosed with COPD during their lifetime such as:

COPD support services and charities UK

There are several amazing charities that provide online resources and support for people living with COPD. This includes:

COPD statistics UK

According to the NHS:

1.2 million people are affected by COPD in the UK
COPD complications are the 2^nd most common cause of UK hospital admissions
Around 1 in 8 UK hospital admissions are due to COPD

Common questions about COPD

What is COPD (NHS)?	The NHS defines COPD as ‘the name for a group of lung conditions that cause breathing difficulties’. This includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis and usually affects older adults (typically smokers)
What are the common signs of COPD?	Common symptoms of COPD include: Shortness of breath Frequent chest infections Wheezing A persistent chesty cough (with phlegm)
What are the 4 stages of COPD?	The 4 stages of COPD symptoms are: Mild – no or one flare up of symptoms in the last 12 months (no hospitalisations) Moderate – one major flare up of symptoms in the last 12 months (no hospitalisation) Severe – at least two flare ups of symptoms in the last 12 months (or one hospitalisation),limited air flow in and out of the lungs Very severe – at least two flare ups of symptoms in the last 12 months (or one hospitalisation), breathing is now very difficult
At what stage is COPD considered severe?	Stage 3 COPD is considered as severe and stage 4 COPD is classed as very severe. Severe COPD is indicated by more frequent flare ups of symptoms, tight chest and more chest infections. Breathing is often more difficult at this point.