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Life insurance for those with chronic illness

Key takeaways

  • Term and permanent life insurance options are available for individuals with a chronic illness.
  • Some products, including simplified issue and guaranteed issue, are available without a medical exam.
  • Policy options, premiums and coverage amounts may depend on how well a chronic illness is managed.

Can someone with chronic illness get life insurance?

A chronic condition or illness can impact your life in so many ways. You may be wondering if you can still get health insurance – and what it is going to cost you.

People with chronic illness can and do get approved for life insurance policies. The key is finding the right kind of life insurance and showing that you are managing your chronic illness as much as possible.

What types of insurance are available for people with chronic illness?

In general, the same policies that are available for healthy people may be available for those who suffer from chronic illness. Unless the illness is terminal, or drastically reduces your life expectancy, you may be able to qualify for either a term life or a permanent life insurance policy.
Term Life

A term life policy can provide a significant death benefit, with relatively low premiums. This makes it the most popular insurance available. If you have a chronic illness, it may be a great option even if you pay more because of considered risk. Term life policies are generally written for 10, 15, 20, or 30 year terms. If approved for a term life policy, you may want to consider the longest term possible. This will lock in your premiums while you are younger and healthier. Premiums rise as you get older or if your health deteriorates.

Explore term life insurance from Fidelity Life.

Permanent Life
A permanent life insurance policy doesn’t have a term limit. If you qualify, this means your premiums and payout are set for your entire life. Bear in mind those premiums will typically be significantly higher than a term policy, so be sure it works with your current budget and longer term financial goals. Permanent policies may also be cash value policies, which mean they accrue value over time. That cash value can be borrowed against later in life. If you have a long life expectancy and can afford a higher premium, a whole life policy could be a good option to secure needed financial protections for your family. Explore whole life insurance from Fidelity Life.
Simplified Issue / Guaranteed Issue
If your chronic condition is deemed to make you a higher risk insured, or make it likely your premium will be higher than someone without such a condition, you may wish to apply for a simplified issue policy which requires no medical exam, but does require an extensive health questionnaire. Explore simplified issue products from Fidelity Life. Alternatively, consider a guaranteed issue policy which requires only a few health questions to be asked, and starts immediately once the application is accepted. Explore guaranteed issue products from Fidelity Life.

Find a policy that works for you

There are a range of affordable Fidelity Life products to choose from based on your situation and financial responsibilities.
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Life insurance riders for people with chronic illness

Someone with a chronic illness may want to consider life insurance riders. A rider adds additional protections or benefits to your policy in case your condition worsens.

A common rider is a terminal illness rider, which allows you to withdraw some of your death benefit if you are diagnosed as having less than a year or so to live. It is also known as an accelerated death benefit. Explore terminal illness riders from Fidelity Life.

Don’t give up on obtaining insurance if you have a chronic illness. Reach out to discuss you options.

What’s considered a chronic illness?

A chronic illness, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), lasts for at least a year and requires medical care on an ongoing bases. Beyond impacting your health, it is an illness that limits the normal activities of daily living and has an impact on your quality of life.

In the United States, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, asthma, and Parkinson’s disease are some common chronic illnesses. Health issues that arise from smoking and alcohol are also considered chronic illnesses.

How you manage your illness, the severity of you illness, and your family history all affect how your chronic illness impact your insurance options and rates.

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Term Life Insurance Calculator

Curious about the amount of life insurance that would give you the financial security you need? A few pieces of information can help you determine what coverage might work best.
Just answer 10 or so questions about your debt, savings, expenses, etc. and we’ll show a personalized estimate for a payout amount for your consideration. Try our term life insurance calculator, then get a quote for whatever amount you decide is best for you and your family.

Fidelity Life Association Named One of America’s Best Insurance Companies for 2026

Fidelity Life Association is proud to announce its inclusion in Forbes’ America’s Best Insurance Companies 2026 ranking. This prestigious recognition, made in collaboration with Statista, the leading statistics portal and industry ranking provider, was revealed on September 24, 2024, and can be accessed on Forbes.com. The America’s Best Insurance Companies 2025 ranking is based on an independent survey of over 18,000 U.S. citizens. Participants evaluated insurance providers they had interacted with in the past three years across six key dimensions: Advice, Customer Service, Price/Performance, Transparency, Digital Services, and Damage/Benefit Service. Survey respondents rated their companies on satisfaction, loyalty, and overall recommendation. These ratings were converted into scores, which were aggregated to determine rankings across five insurance types including Permanent Life and Term Life. Fidelity Life Association is honored to be recognized among the best in the industry as part of this esteemed list. Statista’s comprehensive research and analysis reflect its commitment to providing reliable data and insights across various sectors, making this recognition even more significant. We are proud to be recognized for the third year in a row and remain committed to delivering innovative products that enable everyday Americans to access life insurance coverage quickly, easily, and affordably.