Yes, you can get life insurance with leukemia, especially if you’re in remission and apply with the right company.
This guide breaks down underwriting for leukemia, identifies the best life insurance companies to consider, and explains how to obtain affordable coverage with the right companies.
What Is Leukemia?
Leukemia is a type of cancer that affects the blood-forming tissues, primarily the bone marrow and lymphatic system. It causes your body to produce large numbers of abnormal white blood cells, which crowd out healthy ones and impair your immune system.
There are four primary types:
- Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL) – Most common in children
- Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) – More common in older adults
- Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) – Most common adult leukemia
- Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML) – Linked to the Philadelphia chromosome
There’s also Hairy Cell Leukemia, a rare subtype of CLL with generally good treatment outcomes.
Why does this matter for life insurance?
Because the type of leukemia and your response to treatment play a significant role in how insurers assess your risk.
How Leukemia Affects Life Insurance Underwriting
Life insurance underwriting for leukemia varies by:
- The type and stage of leukemia
- Your age at diagnosis
- The date of the last treatment
- Whether you’ve had a relapse
- Your bloodwork (CBC) and remission length
- Current medications or comorbid conditions
How Life Insurers Evaluate Each Type of Leukemia
The following are general guidelines for leukemia underwriting.
- Acute Leukemias (ALL, AML) – Underwriting is similar for both types
- A 5-year postponement from the end date of treatment
- A temporary flat extra expense of $750 – $2,000 per $100,000 of coverage.
- A bone marrow transplant and chemotherapy add a 2-table rating (50%) to the price.
- Full-body radiation adds a table 4 (100%) rating to the price.
- Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) – Stages Zero and One are insurable.
- Stage 0 Underwriting:
- Under age 50 = decline
- Age 50 – 59 = Table 4 (100%) to Table 6 (150%) is possible.
- Age 60+ = Table 4 (100%) is possible.
- Stage 1 Underwriting:
- Under age 50 = decline
- Age 50 – 59 = Table 4 (100%) to decline
- Age 60+ = Table 4 – 6
- Stage 0 Underwriting:
- Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML) – with bone marrow transplant
- 5-year postponement after treatment is complete
- Coverage on a case-by-case basis.
- Hairy Cell Leukemia
- No treatment needed, stable symptoms – Table 2 rate
- Spleen removal, interferon, or chemotherapy:
- Less than 1 year – Table 4-6
- 2-5 years after treatment – Table 2 – 4
- Greater than 5 years – Table 2
- Bone marrow transplants will add approximately four tables (100%) to the price.
Underwriting Questions for Leukemia Applicants
When applying for term life with a leukemia history, insurers will ask:
- What type of leukemia were you diagnosed with?
- What was your age at diagnosis?
- What treatment(s) did you receive?
- When was your last treatment completed?
- Have you experienced a relapse?
- Are you currently in remission? For how long?
- What do your recent blood tests (CBC) show?
- Any enlarged liver, spleen, or lymph nodes?
- What medications are you taking now?
- Do you smoke or have other health conditions? (e.g., heart conditions, diabetes, GI problems)
Life insurance with leukemia typically starts with either a flat extra, and sometimes a table rating. Flat extras are temporary fees added for 2–4 years; table ratings are permanent percentage increases.
Best Life Insurance Companies for Leukemia
Finding companies that approve leukemia cases requires expertise—most agencies can’t help. These carriers stand out:
Prudential
Known for insuring early-stage CLL and Hairy Cell Leukemia. Stage 0–I applicants may qualify after age 60. Age-based table ratings make coverage possible.
AIG (Corebridge)
Offers post-cancer flat extras for acute leukemia survivors. May consider ALL or AML after 6–9 years in remission. Reviews CLL with stable labs on a case-by-case basis.
Banner Life
Known for competitive term rates. Occasionally accepts older CLL survivors. Good underwriting for high-risk cases.
Pacific Life
Reviews acute leukemia survivors with over 9 years of remission, a strong option for guaranteed universal life (GUL) policies.
FAQ – Leukemia Life Insurance
Yes, especially if you’ve been in remission for several years. Some applicants qualify as early as five years after treatment.
Not necessarily. Flat extra ratings may be available 6–9 years post-treatment for certain types.
Yes, though term options depend on your remission length, age, and health. GUL may be a better fit for some survivors.
You’ll typically need to wait at least five years post-transplant. CML cases are reviewed cautiously even after prolonged remission.
Don’t give up. Leukemia is a complicated underwriting condition, but in our experience, we’ve found that most people who were declined applied to the wrong company or applied too soon.
Final Thoughts
Obtaining life insurance after being diagnosed with leukemia isn’t easy, but it’s not impossible either. With the right application strategy and carrier, survivors of ALL, AML, CLL, CML, or Hairy Cell can qualify for meaningful coverage.
If you’ve been turned down elsewhere, don’t assume you’re out of options. Your remission status, recent labs, and type of leukemia matter more than the diagnosis itself.
Please submit your request for quotes today.
