• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
Good Financial Cents®
Content is based on in-depth research & analysis. Opinions are our own. We may earn a commission when you click or make a purchase from links on our site. Learn more.
  • Make Money
    • Get Money Now
      • Ultimate Guide to Making Money
      • Need Money Now
      • Get Free Money Fast
      • Make Money Fast
      • Make $1K Per Month
    • Control Your Destiny
      • Self Employed Jobs
      • Make Money Online
      • Hobbies That Make Money
      • How to Become a Freelance Writer
      • Small Business Ideas to Start
      • How to Become an Independent Contractor
      • Best Online Jobs
    • Passive Income
      • Passive Income Ideas
      • Multiple Streams of Income
      • Extra Income
      • Residual Income Ideas
      • Learn to Sell e-Books
      • Make Money on Facebook
      • Make Money on Tiktok
      • Best Online Survey Sites to Make Money
    • Explore More
      • Make Money for Teens
      • Best Online Colleges
      • Best Jobs No College Degree
      • Become a Millionaire
      • Careers for the Future
  • Manage Money
    • Best Of
      • Budgeting Tools
      • Personal Finance Software
      • Best Cashback Cards
    • Company Reviews
      • Personal Capital vs Mint
      • Personal Capital Review
      • SmartAsset Review
    • Guides
      • Buy or Lease a Car
      • What is Liquid Net Worth?
      • Setting Financial Goals
      • How to Budget
      • Ways to Save Money
    • Explore More
      • How Much Car Can I Afford?
      • Best Auto Refinance Companies
  • Invest
    • Best Of
      • Best Low Risk Investments
      • Best Short Term Investments
      • Best Long Term Investments
      • Best Online Stock Brokers
      • Best Crypto Exchanges
    • Company Reviews
      • Lending Club
      • Robinhood
      • M1 Finance
      • Ally
      • TD Ameritrade
      • Fundrise
      • Betterment
      • Etrade
      • Wealthfront
    • Guides
      • Investing Small Amounts of Money
      • Investing in Real Estate
      • No Money Down Real Estate
      • Bonds vs Stocks
      • Peer to Peer Lending
      • Best Hedges Against Inflation
      • Safe Bitcoin Investing in 2022
    • Explore More
      • Bitcoin vs. Real Estate
      • Betterment vs Wealthfront
      • Investing for College Students
      • Stock Market Alternatives
    • By Investment Amount
      • How to Invest $100
      • How to Invest $1K
      • How to Invest $5K
      • How to Invest $10K
      • How to Invest $20K
      • How to Invest $50K
      • How to Invest $100K
      • How to Invest $200K
      • How to Invest $500K
      • How to Invest $1M
  • Taxes
    • Best Of
      • Best Tax Relief Companies
      • Best Tax Software
    • Guides
      • Federal Income Tax Guide 2022
      • Taxes and Cryptocurrency
      • How to Do Your Own Taxes
      • How to Invest Your Tax Refund
      • Hiring a Professional Tax Preparer
      • Tax Tips for Freelancers
    • Company Reviews
      • TurboTax Review
      • H&R Block Review
      • Taxslayer
      • Tax Act
  • Insurance
    • Best Of
      • Best Life Insurance
      • Best Home Insurance
      • Best Auto Insurance
      • Cheap Term Life Insurance
      • Car Insurance For Young Adults
    • Guides
      • Term vs Whole Life
      • Different Types of Car Insurance
      • Average Cost of Car Insurance
    • Explore More
      • Life Insurance Over 50
      • Life Insurance Over 80
      • $1 Million Life Insurance
      • $2 Million Life Insurance
      • $3 Million Life Insurance
    • Company Reviews
      • Banner Life Insurance
      • Ladder Life Insurance
      • Health IQ
      • Haven Life
      • Policygenius
      • State Farm Auto Insurance Review
  • Retirement
    • Roth IRA
      • Best Places to Open a Roth IRA
      • 7 Roth IRA Secrets
      • Roth IRA Conversion Guide
      • Roth IRA Rules
      • Roth IRA vs Roth 401k
      • Are Roth IRA Contributions Tax Deductible?
    • 401(k)
      • 401(k) Limits
      • 401(k) to Roth Rollover
      • Is 401(k) Enough for Retirement?
      • Maxed Out 401(k): What's next?
    • Traditional IRA
      • Traditional IRA Rules and Limits
      • Traditional IRA vs. 401(k)
      • Simple IRA Rules
      • SEP IRA Rules
      • How Much Do You Need to Start an IRA?
    • Explore More
      • SEP IRA vs. Roth IRA
      • 457 Plan for Successful Retirement
      • 401a Rollover Rules
      • How to Retire at 50
      • How to Retire at 55
  • Banking
    • Best Of
      • Best National Banks
      • Best High-Yield Savings Accounts
      • Best Checking Accounts
      • Best Savings Accounts
      • Best CD Rates
      • Best Money Market Accounts
    • Company Reviews
      • BBVA
      • Synchrony
      • Wells Fargo
    • Explore More
      • 9 Banking Alternatives for 2022
      • What is a Credit Union?
  • Home
    • Best Of
      • Best Mortgage Lenders
      • Best Mortgage Refinance Companies
      • Best Homeowners Insurance
      • Best VA Loans
      • Best Mortgage Rates
      • Best Moving Companies
      • Best Home Security
    • Guides
      • Home Buying Checklist
      • Online Home Appraisal
      • How Much House Can I Afford?
      • First-time Homebuyer Programs
      • How to Get Approved for a Home Loan
      • Save Money When Building a House
      • How to Save for a Downpayment
      • When to Refinance Your Mortgage
    • Explore More
      • 15 vs. 30-year Mortgage
      • Home Warranty vs. Home Insurance
      • Veterans United Home Loan Review
      • Quicken Loans Review
      • HELOC vs Second Mortgage
      • DCU Mortgage Review
      • Costco Mortgage Program Review
      • USAA Mortgage Loan Review
  • Credit
    • Best Of
      • Best Credit Repair Companies
      • Best ID Theft Protection Services
      • Best Credit Report Options
      • Best Bad Credit Loans
    • Guides
      • How to Build Your Credit Score
      • How to Raise Your Credit Score in 5 Months
      • How to Dispute Your Credit Report
      • Hot to Remove Collections from Your Credit Reports
      • How Identity Theft Destroys Your Credit Score
    • Explore More
      • What is a Good Credit Score?
      • What is a Bad Credit Score?
  • Debt
    • Best Of
      • Best Personal Loans
      • Best Student Loans
      • Best Student Loan Refinance
    • Guides
      • How to Get Out of Debt
      • How to Get a Personal Loan Approved
      • How to Pay Off Student Loans Faster
      • Should I Consolidate My Debts?
      • Should I File for Bankruptcy?
    • Company Reviews
      • Credible
      • Sofi
Advertiser Disclosure (How We Make Money)
GoodFinancialCents.com has an advertising relationship with the companies included on this page. All of our content is based on objective analysis, and the opinions are our own. For more information, please check out our full disclaimer and complete list of partners.

Life Insurance with Hepatitis

Jeff Rose, CFP® | September 02, 2021

In order to be eligible for individual life insurance, the burden is on you to prove that you are healthy enough. This analysis is performed by an insurance agency and is referred to in the industry as “medical underwriting”.

Multiple factors are considered during this process.

The end goal determines your level of health so that the insurance agency can make an informed decision on whether or not they would like to accept the risk.

Underwriters who review eligibility for life insurance applications are predominantly concerned with life expectancy, as opposed to medical bills that may come in the future. For this reason life insurance can be obtained by people with Hepatitis C. The premium on these policies is obviously higher than on a standard insurance policy.

The name that is given to a policy of someone with Hepatitis C is referred to as a “rated” policy whereas ones labeled “impaired risk” or “standard” are not related to critical diseases. Seeking an agent with these credentials is advisable when trying to obtain insurance other than standard.


 

What Life Insurance Underwriter’s are Looking For

Underwriting for people with Hepatitis C comes down to a few key factors. The first consideration to take into account is whether or not the disease is in remission. Next it is important to determine how much damage, if any, has been done to the liver. Remission is the end goal for anyone suffering from Hepatitis, and reaching it goes a long way when trying to obtain insurance.

When a person is medically tested for Hepatitis by insurance, the medical examiner is trying to determine at what level the liver is functioning. This, however, is no easy process and is painstakingly long. Generally, depending on the progression of the hepatitis, the treatment and testing will take two to five years. This is the basis for which most life insurance companies even begin to consider extending a policy. On the other hand, if these levels of health are not concluded, insurance will either decline the policy or over them at a premium.

The additional factor that is considered is a liver biopsy. Biopsies are performed in order to get an in depth diagnosis of the condition of the liver. Liver damage is extremely costly to treat and leads to other health problems so it is important for insurance companies to consider. The good news is that if liver damage is minor or nonexistent, a person has a good chance of receiving a standard insurance policy. Most cases are reviewed by a medical director in order to make a case by case decision.

Ads by Money. We may be compensated if you click this ad.AdAds by Money disclaimer
With a Life Insurance policy you can take care of your family the right way.
Should anything happen to you, you'll want to leave your loved ones a financial nest egg for their wellbeing. Click on your state to find out more.
HawaiiAlaskaFloridaSouth CarolinaGeorgiaAlabamaNorth CarolinaTennesseeRIRhode IslandCTConnecticutMAMassachusettsMaineNHNew HampshireVTVermontNew YorkNJNew JerseyDEDelawareMDMarylandWest VirginiaOhioMichiganArizonaNevadaUtahColoradoNew MexicoSouth DakotaIowaIndianaIllinoisMinnesotaWisconsinMissouriLouisianaVirginiaDCWashington DCIdahoCaliforniaNorth DakotaWashingtonOregonMontanaWyomingNebraskaKansasOklahomaPennsylvaniaKentuckyMississippiArkansasTexas
See An Estimate

Other Factors of Getting Approved with Hepatitis

In addition to the medical testing, an underwriting considers several other factors. The younger the applicant is with Hepatitis C, the more strictly their records will be reviewed. Younger applicants are more likely to be denied coverage than older ones who have a medical history to review. Lifestyle is also considered in the underwriter’s analysis. Applicants with Hepatitis C who smoke or drink alcohol are almost always denied.

The time since diagnosis is also a factor that is looked at. Having a long history of medical information is what an underwriter needs in order to make a decision on the health of the applicant. If the diagnosis is relatively new, insurance agents will sometimes postpone the review of your file until they have more of a medical history to look at.

An acute case of hepatitis applies to someone who has an extensive history of treatment that would be considered successful to a medical examiner. This person must also be experiencing no symptoms of Hepatitis. These people may be able to acquire insurance on a Table 2 or higher rate. This means that the insurance rate would be 50% higher than the standard rate.

Having the help of an impaired risk specialist will help you in your chances of obtaining insurance at the lowest possible table. That’s where we can help.

Medical Questionnaire with Hepatitis

If you’re seeking life insurance coverage and currently have hepatitis, the following information is what we’ll need to know how to best approach getting you the most affordable term policy.

1. Please provide date of diagnosis.

2. Has the hepatitis been diagnosed as:

  • a. Acute viral hepatitis A resolved.
  • b. Acute viral hepatitis B resolved.
  • c. Acute viral hepatitis C.
  • d. Hepatitis A unresolved.
  • e. Chronic, persistent hepatitis B unresolved.
  • f. Chronic, active hepatitis B unresolved.
  • g. Chronic, persistent hepatitis C.
  • h. Chronic, active hepatitis C.
  • i. Other hepatitis:

3. What are the most current liver enzyme levels?

4. Which studies have been undertaken to diagnose/treat the condition?

  • a. Liver ultrasound, CT scan or MRI.
  • b. Liver biopsy.
  • c. Other.
  • d. Studies recommended/pending.

5. Does the proposed insured use any medications such as alpha interferon or Ribavarin? If so, please list name of medication, dates used, quantity taken and frequency taken.

6. Does the proposed insured consume any alcohol? Yes or No.

7. How frequently does the physician monitor liver functions?

  • a. Quarterly.
  • b. Semiannually.
  • c. Annually.
  • d. Other.

8. If infected with hepatitis C, is the proposed insured vaccinated against hepatitis A or hepatitis B?

9. Please advise on any additional information that may help us provide you with a more accurate preliminary assessment.

People with chronic Hepatitis C will obviously have a much more difficult time receiving insurance. It is sometimes a flat out denial before any testing is done if this information is known. There are rare cases where coverage will be offered if the applicant can show a history of successful treatment. A biopsy is usually needed if you suffer from chronic Hepatitis.

Getting the Coverage You Need

Regardless of how severe the case of Hepatitis is, it is worth effort and research to explore the options and know what is available to you. An independent agent is the best bet for doing so and will be able to speedily locate insurance that is the best for your particular case. It is advised to seek the help of an agent who is an impaired risk specialist. These people will know the details of your disease and be able to assist you in obtaining the best insurance for your needs.

We have years of experience working with different kinds of high-risk clients and we can help connect you with the perfect insurance plan at an affordable price.

Facebook LinkedIn Twitter

About the Author

Jeff Rose, CFP® is a Certified Financial Planner™, founder of Good Financial Cents, and author of the personal finance book Soldier of Finance. Jeff is an Iraqi combat veteran and served 9 years in the Army National Guard. His work is regularly featured in Forbes, Business Insider, Inc.com and Entrepreneur.

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn


You Might Also Enjoy

All the Types of Life Insurance Policies, Explained

All the Types of Life Insurance Policies, Explained

9 Best Life Insurance Companies - Updated May 2022

9 Best Life Insurance Companies - Updated May 2022

$2 Million Dollar Life Insurance: Is it worth it?

$2 Million Dollar Life Insurance: Is it worth it?

Life Insurance When You're Over 50

Life Insurance When You're Over 50

Life Insurance Over 80: Burial insurance riders

Life Insurance Over 80: Burial insurance riders

Best Extended Car Warranty for 2022

Best Extended Car Warranty for 2022

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  • Make Money
  • Manage Money
  • Invest
  • Taxes
  • Insurance
  • Retirement
  • Banking
  • Home
  • Credit
  • Debt
  • About
  • Contact
  • Do Not Sell My Personal Information
  • Facebook LinkedIn Twitter

© 2022 Good Financial Cents®. All Rights Reserved. | Privacy Policy | Disclaimer | Licenses & Disclosures

All written content on this site is for information purposes only. Opinions expressed herein are solely those of AWM, unless otherwise specifically cited. Material presented is believed to be from reliable sources and no representations are made by our firm as to another parties’ informational accuracy or completeness. All information or ideas provided should be discussed in detail with an advisor, accountant or legal counsel prior to implementation.

All third party trademarks, including logos and icons, referenced in this website, are the property of their respective owners. Unless otherwise indicated, the use of third party trademarks herein does not imply or indicate any relationship, sponsorship, or endorsement between Good Financial Cents® and the owners of those trademarks. Any reference in this website to third party trademarks is to identify the corresponding third party goods and/or services.