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Life Insurance after Kidney or Other Organ Transplants

Researcher & Writer
April 09, 2020

If you've had a kidney or other organ transplant it may impact your ability to qualify for a life insurance policy. Life insurance companies consider many factors when deciding who is eligible and who is not. In most cases, people with a kidney or organ transplant are typically only eligible for burial insurance, such as a guaranteed life insurance policy, which typically only offers coverage up to $25,000.

Successful organ transplant patients eligibility for these Guaranteed Life Insurance products hinges on meeting only one criteria: age. These types of life insurance products aren’t going to require a medical exam and aren’t going to ask any medical questions at all!

Are you considering final expense insurance? Check out our review article on the Top Ten Best Final Expense Insurance Companies.

Life Insurance after Kidney or Other Organ Transplants

Top 10 Life Insurance Company Weighs In

We asked one of the top ten best life insurance companies to give their expert opinion on organ recipients applying for life insurance. And what we learned is that when it comes to organ transplants, (heart, liver, lungs, etc…), there really aren’t that many options other than a guaranteed issue life insurance policy.

However, when it comes to kidney transplants, there does appear to be options out there.

Keys to success when it comes to finding high risk life insurance coverage after a kidney transplant will focus around:

Some carriers will approve a policy under standard underwriting guidelines if:

  • It has been 3 years or more since the surgery;
  • The patient is free from any complications related to the kidney transplant;
  • And the patient should be in top health aside from their previous kidney transplant.

Under these circumstances a patient could actually get approved for a fully underwritten life insurance policy.

What else will a life insurance company ask kidney recipients?

When you apply for a policy after an organ transplant, a life insurance agency is likely to ask you a number of related questions. Those include:

  • Where was your kidney harvested from?
  • Did your kidney come from a living donor or a cadaver?
  • What was the cause of your initial kidney/organ failure?
  • What other treatments did you undergo prior to your kidney transplant?
  • Are you receiving any post-surgery treatment?
  • Where did your kidney transplant take place (United States or abroad)?

Life insurance agencies will also want to know the standard information, including:

  • Age
  • Height
  • Weight
  • Current medicines you use
  • Do you smoke?
  • How regularly do you drink?
  • What is your driving record?

Why are life insurance providers so particular about organ transplants?

Even if you are living a healthy post-transplant life, there are some things to be concerned about. There are risks associated with an organ transplant, some of which don’t show up for quite some time.

Liver Transplants

One of the main reasons for a liver transplant is liver failure. However, one of the biggest causes for liver failure is hepatitis C. You can get a new liver, but you can’t cure hepatitis C, which means that the new liver is likely to be infected once it’s inside of your body. This is one of the main reasons most life insurance companies simply will not offer a fully underwritten term life insurance policy to liver transplant patients.

Overseas Transplants

Getting a kidney or organ transplant in countries like Mexico or Costa Rica is becoming more and more popular. However, this can be quite dangerous for multiple reasons which are beyond the scope of this article, but often times make it more difficult for those looking for life insurance after their surgery.

This is why a life insurance agency will want to know everything possible about your organ transplant.

What if I am denied a life insurance policy?

All life insurance companies are different. You may be denied a policy from one and granted a policy from another. It's difficult to know which companies will be more lenient on applicants who have had organ transplants. Working with a qualified licensed agent is your best bet for getting coverage.

Our partners work with dozens of the top rated best life insurance companies and are able to help individuals with unique health conditions and lifestyles. Call today for a free consultation.

Written by
TermLife2Go
We are a team of life insurance experts with the simple mission of helping you find the best coverage for your unique situation. We research, review, and rank life insurance companies to make that process easier.