In the past, if you had been treated for breast cancer, it could be as long as two to five years from the date of surgery, with no recurrence, before you would be eligible to be considered for private life insurance coverage industry wide.

Even if you were post treatment, approved and given an offer of coverage, you could generally expect to pay a higher or rated premium over the policy lifetime.

Your only other option during this already stressful time frame could have been the guaranteed issue group coverage at your employer for minimal amounts of coverage amounting to usually less than $50,000 per person, if it was even available.

The advances in early detection, successful breast cancer treatment protocols, plus the resulting excellent survival rates for many forms of the disease have changed the life insurance availability options for women of all ages with that little distributed press release from one major company.

Now, women will be able to apply for life insurance coverage and receive it at Standard rates with no ratings or premium increases. When can they apply? In as little as two months after surgery depending on the diagnosis and pathology reports, a fraction of the prior waiting period.

The diagnosis of the disease is no longer the instant life insurance disqualifier it was only a few short months ago. Unfortunately, the vast majority of women this will benefit today, probably just like the ones reading this now who don’t know anything about the opportunity before them remain uninformed.

Hartford Life, this leader in supporting breast cancer survivors, has established underwriting guidelines for women over age 40 with T1aNOMO and T1bNOMO breast cancers. If they meet the established criteria, each could be eligible for up to $2.5 million dollars in life insurance coverage at standard rates on permanent products in house. Higher amounts for permanent policies could be forthcoming with the use of re-insurers.

In general, the Hartford indicates for underwriting purposes appropriate treatment for grade 1 breast cancer includes: mastectomy plus axillary node sampling, breast conserving surgery plus axillary node sampling plus breast irradiation and Tamoxifen or Aromatase inhibitors.

Women aged 71-85 could be eligible for up to $1 million in coverage in permanent products before reinsurance would be an option for higher amounts.

For those who prefer term insurance coverage, the eligible ages at this writing are 40-70.

To consider making a coverage offer, the insurer must have pathology reports with the appropriate treatment completed, and the first post treatment follow-up appointment has been completed.

If you are a breast cancer survivor, or you know one who purchased any type of life insurance coverage in the past that had ratings imposed with corresponding higher rated premiums due to the disease with any insurer, you should have a professional comparing what you have in force with the new product pricing at standard rates. You may be pleasantly surprised at the difference in costs. If you need/want more coverage, I would encourage you to apply for coverage without delay before you turn one insurance year older to determine if this change in pricing is a viable option for your needs.

Even if you are a little, or a lot older than when you secured the current in force rated policy, in many cases, even with the increase in your age, you will find substantial premium savings with the removal of ratings. Another bonus is the ability to lock in new long term premium guarantees you may not have in your present policy.

Contact an experienced agent without delay to take advantage of this second victory in your battle over the after affects of the disease, you’ve earned it.

Author: Amy Rose Herrick, a Member of the Paladin Registry