Hepatitis Life Insurance – How to Get Approved

If you’ve been diagnosed with hepatitis—whether A, B, C, or autoimmune, you might worry that life insurance is out of reach.

Good news: it’s not.

Thanks to modern treatments and more flexible underwriting, many people with a history of hepatitis now qualify for affordable life insurance coverage. Some even qualify for standard or better rates.

At RiskQuoter, we specialize in high-risk life insurance underwriting. Our quick quote process provides feedback from top companies in just a few days, so you’ll know exactly where you stand.

Life insurance is available whether you’re currently living with hepatitis C or have already been treated.

Coverage is possible but limited. To qualify, underwriters want to see:

• Consistent follow-ups with your doctor
• Recent lab tests (ALT, AST, GGT, ALP, bilirubin) every 6 months
• Stable liver enzymes
• Liver imaging (ultrasound or CT scan)
• Biopsy or FibroScan results showing minimal inflammation or fibrosis

You’ll likely be rated (i.e., pay more than standard rates), especially if there’s liver damage. Continued alcohol use = automatic decline.

If you were recently diagnosed, most insurers will postpone your application for 12 months to monitor your health.

Underwriters are looking at the extent of liver inflammation, continuous follow-up with your physician, and test results showing minimal fibrosis, minimal fatty liver, no cirrhosis, and liver function tests that are no more than 2-3x normal limits.

If your hepatitis C was successfully treated with antiviral medications (like Harvoni, Mavyret, or Sovaldi), you may qualify for standard or even standard plus rates.

What insurers want to see:

• A sustained virologic response (SVR) — undetectable virus at 3+ months post-treatment
• Follow-up lab tests and imaging
• No signs of cirrhosis, fatty liver, or elevated liver enzymes
• No co-infections (hepatitis B, HIV, etc.)
• No current alcohol use

With clean labs and more time since treatment, “standard” to “standard plus” life insurance rates may be possible.

Hepatitis A is usually short-term and rarely affects life insurance eligibility.

If you’ve fully recovered and have no ongoing liver problems, you should qualify for standard or better rates with most companies.

Life insurance is available for many people with hepatitis B.

To qualify for the best rates, you’ll typically need:

• No chronic infection (negative HBsAg)
• Normal liver function tests
• Normal ultrasound or biopsy
• Six months of clean follow-up labs
• No cirrhosis or history of alcohol abuse

You may qualify for “standard” or even better life insurance rates.

Common Hepatitis B Lab Results

• HBsAg (surface antigen) – Positive = active infection
• HBsAb (surface antibody) – Positive = immunity (past infection or vaccine)
• ALT, AST, GGT, ALP, Bilirubin – All must be within 2–3x normal limits

If your liver enzymes are elevated or imaging shows fibrosis, you’ll likely receive a table-rated policy (extra charge based on severity).

Fibrosis is measured according to the METAVIR scoring system, which grades the inflammation and measures the progression and level of fibrosis.

• Grading of Inflammation:
  • A0 – no activity
  • A1 – mild activity
  • A2 – moderate activity
  • A3 – severe activity

• Staging of Fibrosis:
  • F0 – Absence of fibrosis
  • F1 – Portal fibrosis with no septa
  • F2 – Portal fibrosis with infrequent septa
  • F3 – Numerous septa but no cirrhosis
  • F4 – Cirrhosis

If you have other GI conditions like ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease, these conditions will affect underwriting.

Underwriting for autoimmune hepatitis depends on the type (1 or 2), how long ago you recovered, and your current health.

Underwriters want to know:

• Your date of diagnosis
• Your current health status
• How long has it been since you recovered
• Current liver function test results.
• ANA – antinuclear antibody
• ASMA – anti-smooth-muscle antibody
• Anti-LKM1- anti-liver-kidney microsomal antibody type 1
• Gamma Globulin/IgG levels – immunoglobulin G

Expect at least a 12-month waiting period after recovery before applying. Most applicants receive a table rating (typically +100–150%), though some may do better depending on follow-up results.

With a history of hepatitis, life insurance companies will require you to complete a paramed exam. As part of that exam, companies will complete hepatitis screening tests.

Underwriters need to know the following hepatitis history:

• When were you diagnosed with hepatitis?
• What type of hepatitis were you diagnosed with?
• What are the most recent levels of liver function tests, if known?
  • AST
  • ALT
  • ALP
  • Bilirubin
  • GGTP
• Autoimmune Hepatitis Specific tests include:
  • ANA – antinuclear antibody
  • ASMA – anti-smooth-muscle antibody
  • Anti-LKM1- anti-liver-kidney microsomal antibody type 1
  • Gamma Globulin/IgG levels – immunoglobulin G
• Do you drink alcohol?
• Have you had an ultrasound or liver biopsy completed?
• Any indication of inflammation, fibrosis, or cirrhosis?
• Was there any indication of fatty liver?
• Any history of anemia?
• What treatment did you receive for hepatitis? Dates, medications, follow-up results, etc.
• Do you have other medical conditions?
  • Heart Disease
  • Cancer History
  • Diabetes or Thyroid Conditions

We use a quick quote process to gather your medical history from you and shop the following companies for underwriting feedback.

• AIG – American General
• AXA
• Banner Life
• Brighthouse/Metlife
• John Hancock
• Lincoln National
• Minnesota Life
• Nationwide
• Pacific Life
• Principal
• Protective Life
• Prudential
• Symetra
• Transamerica
• United of Omaha
• Zurich Life

Companies in bold tend to be the most competitive with hepatitis underwriting offers.

The benefit of our proven approach is that it takes about three days to receive all underwriting feedback.

At that time, we’ll let you know what to expect regarding underwriting and price for each type of life insurance policy.

Hepatitis doesn’t automatically disqualify you from life insurance. But choosing the right company and applying at the right time makes all the difference.

At RiskQuoter, we’ll guide you through the process step by step, with no pressure and no obligation.

Let’s find the best life insurance options for your situation starting today.