• 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
      • Make $100 Per Day
    • Control Your Destiny
      • Self Employed Jobs
      • Make Money from Home
      • 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
      • Best Side Hustle Ideas
      • 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 Short and Long-Term Investments
      • Best Low Risk Investments
      • Best Online Stock Brokers
      • Best Crypto Exchanges
      • Best Short Term Investments
      • Best Long Term Investments
      • Best Trading Platforms
      • Best Investment Apps
    • Company Reviews
      • Lending Club
      • Robinhood
      • M1 Finance
      • Ally
      • TD Ameritrade
      • Fundrise
      • Betterment
      • Etrade
      • Wealthfront
    • Guides
      • Investing for Beginners
      • 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 2023
    • 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 $2k-$3k
      • How to Invest $5K
      • How to Invest $10K
      • How to Invest $15k
      • How to Invest $20K
      • How to Invest $30k
      • 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 2023
      • 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
      • Best Investments for 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 2023
      • What is a Credit Union?
  • Home
    • Best Of
      • Best Mortgage Lenders
      • Best Mortgage Refinance Companies
      • Best Home Warranties
      • 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 Debt Consolidation Loans
      • Best Personal Loans
      • Best Student Loans
      • Best Student Loan Refinance
    • Guides
      • What is Debt Consolidation?
      • 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

Life Insurance with Kidney Problems

https://www.goodfinancialcents.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/MG_5503-150x150.jpg
  • Written By:
    Jeff Rose, CFP®

    Jeff Rose, CFP®

    Jeff Rose, CFP® is a Certified Financial Planner™, founder of Good Financial Cents, and author of the personal finance...

    Read More
  • Updated: February 6, 2023
  • 7 Min Read
  • Advertising Disclosure

    Advertising Disclosure

    GoodFinancialCents® 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.

Quality Verified THE GFC® PROMISE
shield check icon
Quality Verified

GoodFinancialCents® partners with outside experts to ensure we are providing accurate financial content.

These reviewers are industry leaders and professional writers who regularly contribute to reputable publications such as the Wall Street Journal and The New York Times.

Our expert reviewers review our articles and recommend changes to ensure we are upholding our high standards for accuracy and professionalism.

Our expert reviewers hold advanced degrees and certifications and have years of experience with personal finances, retirement planning and investments.

shield check icon
Why You Can Trust GoodFinancialCents®

GoodFinancialCents® partners with outside experts to ensure we are providing accurate financial content.

These reviewers are industry leaders and professional writers who regularly contribute to reputable publications such as the Wall Street Journal and The New York Times.

Our expert reviewers review our articles and recommend changes to ensure we are upholding our high standards for accuracy and professionalism.

Our expert reviewers hold advanced degrees and certifications and have years of experience with personal finances, retirement planning and investments.

People with pre-existing conditions will find getting life insurance to be more difficult than people with a clean bill of health.  Anyone with severe health complications can find that finding an affordable life insurance policy can be a long and frustrating process

When you buy life insurance online, you are essentially entrusting the value of your life over to a financial institution.

After you become deceased, the insurance will have to pay out a benefit to your beneficiaries.

To ensure they keep their investment for as long as possible, insurance companies will avoid insuring people who have a higher death rate than others who are guaranteed to live a long, healthy life.

If you have any kidney problems, your chances of getting approved for life insurance will be significantly lessened. However, there is a chance to get a reasonably good rate depending on your condition, how long you have had the condition and whether or not it has been fully treated.

If you have any kidney problems, you may have been told that you can get life insurance because of your health, but that isn’t true. In fact, there are still plenty of options for affordable and quality life insurance coverage, even with kidney problems

What is Kidney Disease?

Table of Contents

  • What is Kidney Disease?
  • Getting life insurance with kidney problems is difficult, but not impossible
  • You can also obtain premium financing
  • Potential kidney diseases that could affect your life insurance
  • Ways To Lower Your Insurance Premiums with Kidney Disease
  • Bottom Line – Life Insurance With Kidney Disease
  • FAQs on Life Insurance and Kidney Problems

Kidney disease refers to a group of conditions that affect the kidneys, the two bean-shaped organs located in the lower back that filter waste products from the blood and regulate the balance of fluids and electrolytes in the body.

Chronic Kidney Disease Stat

More than 1 in 7, that is 15% of US adults or 37 million people, are estimated to have some sort of chronic kidney disease (according to CDC)

There are several different types of kidney disease, ranging from acute conditions that develop suddenly and are often reversible, to chronic conditions that progress slowly over time and can eventually lead to kidney failure.

Chronic kidney disease, also known as chronic renal disease, is a common and potentially serious condition that can lead to a variety of health problems if not properly managed.

Here is a table summarizing some common types of kidney disease, their symptoms, and treatment options:

Type of Kidney DiseaseSymptomsTreatment
Acute Kidney InjurySudden decrease in urine output, swelling, confusion, fatigue, shortness of breathIV fluids, medications to improve blood flow to the kidneys, dialysis (in severe cases)
Chronic Kidney DiseaseFatigue, decreased appetite, nausea, vomiting, sleep problems, trouble concentrating, muscle crampsControl of underlying condition (e.g. diabetes, high blood pressure), lifestyle changes, medications, dialysis, kidney transplant
GlomerulonephritisBlood in urine, foamy urine, swelling, high blood pressure, dark urineCorticosteroids, immunosuppressive drugs, blood pressure control
Polycystic Kidney DiseasePain in the side, back, or lower abdomen, large cysts on the kidneys, high blood pressure, urinary tract infectionsPain management, control of high blood pressure, dialysis, kidney transplant
Nephrotic SyndromeSwelling, especially in the feet and ankles, foamy urine, weight gain, increased risk of infectionControl of underlying condition, medications to suppress the immune system, blood pressure control

Getting life insurance with kidney problems is difficult, but not impossible

You have several options if you have kidney problems. You can find an insurance company who accepts people with kidney problems, get premium financing, or check with guaranteed life insurance companies. If you work for a company that offers life insurance, then group benefits will be a great option for you. They are much easier to qualify for.

Consider Graded Insurance Policies

If that is not an option for you, consider graded benefit life insurance. You will not need a medical exam to apply for this type of insurance. The downside is, it takes up to three years for this insurance to payout.  

These types of plans have a waiting period in place, which means that if you were to pass away within the first two or three years after buying the policy, the insurance company would not pay the face value of the plan.

This waiting period shouldn’t scare you away from buying one of these plans, it’s a great way to get the coverage that you wouldn’t be able to acquire otherwise.

Guaranteed Insurance Policies Are Another Option

Guaranteed life insurance companies offer no medical exam life insurance. However, the rates may be higher, but you can be guaranteed $10,000 to $25,000 of coverage. You can use several of these to build up the coverage you need.

There are some obvious disadvantages to these guaranteed issue policies that you should be aware of when you’re shopping for life insurance. The first, as we mentioned, is that these policies are more expensive than a plan that requires a medical exam.

The insurance company wants to know what type of health you are in before they accept your policy, without the medical exam, they have less information to base their insurance on. To offset that risk, they are going to charge you much more every month.

Another disadvantage is the low limit on how much coverage you can purchase. Most applicants need more life insurance coverage than these guaranteed issue plans offer. Aside from having a life insurance plan, it’s vital that you have enough coverage for your family if anything were to happen to you.

While there are some disadvantages to these types of plans, they are a great option for anyone that has already been declined for insurance coverage by another company. You health shouldn’t prevent you from getting life insurance.

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

You can also obtain premium financing

This is a way to borrow money from the bank to pay for life insurance if you have impaired risk. The bank guarantees that the premiums will be paid and the insurance company promises the loan will be paid off if the insured dies. The payments for the loan will be fully or partially covered by the bank. If the loan is standard, you will have to make loan payments but those payments will be lower than any premium you would have had to pay. If the loan is non-recourse, then it will be paid off from the insured’s death benefit.

You can also ask your doctor if they will be willing to talk with the underwriting department of your insurance company on your behalf. Your doctor may be able to vouch for your condition with your insurance company. You should also shop around to different insurance companies to see which ones will allow you to get life insurance with kidney problems.

Potential kidney diseases that could affect your life insurance

There are several different medical conditions that can affect your life insurance coverage.  Each condition will have it’s own unique affect on the cost of insurance.  Here are a few sample conditions:

  • Kidney Stones
  • Glomerulonephritis
  • Proteinuria
  • Renal Insufficiency

If you have some sort of kidney disease, here are some questions that we’ll need answered to best get you with the right insurance company and the most affordable life insurance rate.

  • Please provide date of first diagnosis with kidney disease.
  • Please indicate specific name of the kidney disorder diagnosed by your physician.
  • Please provide approximate dates and readings of known blood pressure measurements.

Approximate date, systolic/diastolic reading.

  •  Please advise of the following laboratory findings if previously and recently done by your physician:
  1. a. Protein in the urine (protein urea)
  2. b. Blood in the urine (hematuria)
  3. c. Blood urea nitrogen (BUN level)
  4. d. Creatinine level.
  5. e. Of these, we need to find the date of the most recent test, the level of findings and the normal reference range.
  • Does the proposed insured take any medication? If so, list the name of medication, date used, quantity taken and frequency taken.
  • Is there any know family history related to kidney or cardiovascular disease?
  • If yes, please describe.

Ways To Lower Your Insurance Premiums with Kidney Disease

All of these factors are going to play an important role in how much you pay for your life insurance. The company is going to look at all of these and many more things to calculate how much of a risk you are to insure. The higher the risk, the more you’re going to pay every month for the policy. If you want to get lower premiums, there are several lifestyle changes that you can make to save yourself some money on the coverage.

Improve Your Health

The first is to improve your overall health through diet and exercise. Both of these are going to help you lose weight, lower your blood pressure, lower your heart rate, and much more. The better your health is, the lower your monthly premiums are going to be for your life insurance.

Eliminate Tobacco Use

Another way to increase your chances of being approved for coverage and to get lower rates is to cut any tobacco that you use. If you’re a smoker, that’s going to drastically increase how much you pay for coverage. In fact, it could double your premiums.

Shop Around For Premium Options

Also, make sure to shop around for different premiums based on your age, as one company may offer lower premiums than another. Generally, it really depends on your condition if you are able to get insurance or not. If you are in fairly good health otherwise, then your chances of getting insurance will be much higher.

Bottom Line – Life Insurance With Kidney Disease

Life insurance is one of the best purchases that you’ll ever make for your loved ones. If you have any pre-existing health conditions like kidney problems, you may think it’s impossible to find an affordable life insurance plan, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Don’t wait any longer to get the insurance protection that your family deserves.

FAQs on Life Insurance and Kidney Problems

Can I get life insurance if I have kidney problems?

Yes, you can still get life insurance if you have kidney problems. However, the cost and coverage options will depend on the severity of your condition and other factors such as age, overall health, and lifestyle.

How will my kidney condition affect my life insurance policy?

The insurance company will consider your kidney condition when determining the cost and coverage options for your policy. If your condition is severe, it may lead to higher premiums or a reduced coverage amount.

Do I need to disclose my kidney condition to the life insurance company?

Yes, it is important to disclose any medical conditions, including kidney problems, to the life insurance company when applying for coverage. Failure to do so could result in a denial of benefits if you pass away during the policy term.

Research Articles Cited

  1. Chronic Kidney Disease in the United States (2021) CKD Is Common Among US Adults. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/kidneydisease/publications-resources/ckd-national-facts.html
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. He was a financial planner for 16+ years having founded, Alliance Wealth Management, a SEC Registered Investment Advisory firm, before selling it to focus on his passion - educating the masses on the importance of financial freedom through this blog, his podcast, and YouTube channel.


Jeff holds a Bachelors in Science in Finance and minor in Accounting from Southern Illinois University - Carbondale. In addition to his CFP® designation, he also earned the marks of AAMS® - Accredited Asset Management Specialist - and CRPC® - Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor.

While a practicing financial advisor, Jeff was named to Investopedia's distinguished list of Top 100 advisors (as high as #6) multiple times and CNBC's Digital Advisory Council.

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

Best Homeowners Insurance Companies of 2023 - Updated for March

Best Homeowners Insurance Companies of 2023 - Updated for March

Life Insurance with Kidney Problems

Life Insurance with Kidney Problems

Best Extended Car Warranty for 2023

Best Extended Car Warranty for 2023

Ladder Life Insurance Review - Term Life Insurance with a Twist

Ladder Life Insurance Review - Term Life Insurance with a Twist

Sproutt Life Insurance Review: Is it Legit?

Sproutt Life Insurance Review: Is it Legit?

Best Car Insurance for Young Drivers in 2023

Best Car Insurance for Young Drivers in 2023

Leave a Reply

Cancel reply

  • Make Money
  • Manage Money
  • Invest
  • Taxes
  • Insurance
  • Retirement
  • Banking
  • Home
  • Credit
  • Debt
  • About
  • Contact
  • Facebook LinkedIn Twitter

© 2023 Good Financial Cents®. All Rights Reserved. | Privacy Policy | Disclaimer

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.