DCIS & life insurance

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sunshinegal
sunshinegal Member Posts: 209
edited June 2014 in DCIS (Ductal Carcinoma In Situ)

Hi ladies,

I am wondering whether any of you have had any experience applying for life insurance following your DCIS diagnosis?

I have a pretty basic life ins policy through my work, and recently we were given the option to apply for an increase (doubling) of the amount of coverage. I haven't filled out the paperwork because I'm afraid of the consequences of disclosing my DCIS diagnosis. Would I be denied the increase because of it? How would a denial look to other insurers in the future? Should I wait a certain period of time before applying? And what could the insurance company do with that information - would they be able to disclose it to any other parties at any point in time?

Thanks for any insights or experience you can offer!

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  • CandDsMom
    CandDsMom Member Posts: 387
    edited May 2011

    Sunshinegal, hmm, I have not had this experience.  Is there a website for your insurance company that states their policies?

    I would take a look at that first and really make sure you understand everything before disclosing any medical information.  I would think with HIPAA laws that whatever you disclose to a life insurance company really shouldn't be able to, say, be disclosed back to your employer, so I would think that you probably have some health privacy that way (although whoever the HR person or liason/rep for the insurance company might be privy to some of your info).

    That being said, I would not be surprised if the insurance company denied your request to increase coverage.  That pesky "C" in DCIS may well be a problem for them :(

    But you never know, but I would read the fine print carefully first before you submit any paperwork or sign any release forms.

    Perhaps someone will be along soon with a personal experience with this.  Best wishes!

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  • JAT
    JAT Member Posts: 81
    edited May 2011

    Last year when I reviewed my benefits at work I was upset to see that my life insurance policy was only for  the standard $50,000 amount-- I had applied for, and been examined for, the higher $300,000 amount 1 year before my diagnosis-- but through some mishandling of paperwork, the change never went through. After DCIS I assumed I would be denied coverage at the higher amount, but the woman at the company said, "give it a try anyway."  I did the blood work again and filled out the paper work, disclosing my DCIS and treatment, and I did , to my surprise, get the higher coverage.  Probably if it were  $1 million or more,  (plus I'm 46), I would not get this-- but I've discovered that the two main concerns always seem to be cholesterol and HIV status.  That's just my experience. --Julie

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  • louishenry
    louishenry Member Posts: 417
    edited May 2011

    I applied for an increase in life ins. last year.  I wnt from 100 k to 300 k. Because  had a small amount of DCIS , my risk was at a number 2 out of 10 instead of a number 1, which was cheaper.

    I was very happy that the ins co. did not consider me a high risk. I was concerned at the time and very pleasantly surprised to receive the policy.

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  • Deirdre1
    Deirdre1 Member Posts: 1,461
    edited May 2011

    Thank you for this question Sunshine gal it is one I have been wondering but didn't think to ask here on bc.org myself!  And thank you all for your responses - it's very good to know!!!  Best, Deirdre

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  • xtine
    xtine Member Posts: 131
    edited May 2011

    I just applied for a $1,000,000 policy. They did all the exams but finally told me they wouldn't do the policy at this time. Said try again 5 years out. In the meantime I can get a 250k short term policy for way too much $. I declined as I have a decent amount of coverage through work. My spouse got a policy, and so if both of us die in a firey crash the kids will be taken care of.



    I tried Farmer's, but my agent said he called a few other companies for me. If I had true DCIS with no invasion perhaps it would have been different?

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