At Diversified Insurance Brokers, we specialize in helping clients with a history of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) secure affordable life insurance coverage. With access to over 100 top-rated carriers and decades of underwriting experience, we know how to match your situation with the companies most likely to offer competitive rates. Whether your PTSD stems from military service, first responder duties, medical trauma, domestic violence, a serious accident, or other life events, we understand the sensitivity and complexity of mental-health underwriting—and we guide you through the process with confidentiality, clarity, and a strategy built around real carrier behavior.

Many people assume PTSD automatically means they’ll be declined or forced into “last resort” policies. In reality, underwriting outcomes are often driven by stability, treatment consistency, and risk indicators that are measurable—not by the label alone. Underwriters want to answer a few core questions: Is the condition stable? Is there consistent follow-up? Is the applicant functioning well in daily life? Is there any history of crisis events, hospitalization, or self-harm risk? And are there coexisting factors—like depression, substance use history, or a recent medication escalation—that change the risk picture?

This page is designed to give you a practical understanding of how carriers evaluate PTSD, what details matter most, how to avoid unnecessary delays or overly conservative ratings, and what policy pathways are realistic for different profiles. We’ll also show you the most common reasons PTSD cases get mishandled—so you can avoid the “apply blind, get declined, assume you’re uninsurable” cycle that happens far too often.

Can you get life insurance if you have PTSD?

Yes—many people with PTSD can qualify for life insurance. What determines the outcome is not simply whether PTSD appears in your medical history, but how the condition has behaved over time and what your current stability looks like. Underwriters evaluate PTSD similarly to other mental health conditions: they look at severity, symptom control, treatment adherence, and risk markers that could indicate a higher chance of early claim. If your symptoms are stable, you’re engaged in treatment (when needed), you have no recent crisis events, and you’re functioning well in daily life, your case can be very workable.

PTSD is often misunderstood in underwriting because it can be episodic. Some people experience a period of intense symptoms after a traumatic event and then improve significantly with therapy, time, and structured support. Others experience persistent symptoms that require long-term medication adjustments or more intensive care. From an underwriting standpoint, carriers are trying to determine which trajectory your case resembles. The clearer your stability story is, the more likely a carrier is to view the risk as manageable.

If you were declined before, don’t treat that as a permanent verdict. Declines are often carrier-specific. Some companies apply stricter rules to mental health histories, while others review PTSD more case-by-case. A different carrier—or a different policy category—can change the result.

Why PTSD changes life insurance underwriting

Life insurance underwriting is a long-term risk assessment. With PTSD, underwriters are not “judging” the diagnosis. They are evaluating the probability of future instability and the presence or absence of risk markers that correlate with higher mortality or early claim potential. The most important underwriting concerns typically fall into four areas: crisis history (including hospitalization or ER episodes), comorbid mental health diagnoses (such as major depression or panic disorder), substance use history (even if historical), and any history of suicidal ideation or attempts.

That might sound intimidating, but it also clarifies what matters. Most PTSD applicants are not sitting in those highest-risk categories. Many have stable treatment, no hospitalization history, and good function. In those cases, carriers may still offer traditional term or permanent life coverage, sometimes with standard pricing and sometimes with mild ratings depending on the overall picture.

Underwriters also care about the timeline. A PTSD diagnosis from years ago with stable follow-up and no recent symptoms is viewed differently than a diagnosis made recently after a traumatic incident. Time alone doesn’t solve everything, but sustained stability over time is one of the strongest underwriting assets you can have.

What life insurance companies look for in PTSD cases

Most carriers evaluate PTSD using a fairly consistent checklist. The goal is to understand severity, stability, and whether the condition is actively escalating. When we pre-screen a PTSD case, we aim to organize these details so the carrier doesn’t have to guess.

Severity and symptom pattern are central. Carriers commonly ask whether symptoms are mild, moderate, or severe and how often symptoms interfere with daily life. Underwriters may ask about sleep disturbance, nightmares, panic or hypervigilance, avoidance behaviors, or flashbacks. The presence of symptoms isn’t always the deciding factor; the deciding factor is whether symptoms are stable and manageable and whether they have led to functional impairment or crisis care.

Treatment history matters because it signals management. Therapy, counseling, and structured follow-up generally help underwriting, not hurt it, because they demonstrate responsibility and stability. Medication use is also common, and being on a stable regimen can be a positive. Underwriters are more concerned about frequent medication changes, dosage escalations without improvement, or treatment resistance than they are about the fact that treatment exists.

Hospitalizations or crisis interventions carry heavier weight. Any inpatient psychiatric admission, ER visit for acute mental health symptoms, or crisis stabilization episode often triggers a more cautious approach. Many carriers require a stability period after a hospitalization before they will offer traditional coverage. That doesn’t mean “no coverage”—it means the pathway may need to be staged or shifted to a different policy type.

Coexisting conditions are important because risk is often “stacked.” PTSD may coexist with anxiety disorders, depression, or sleep disorders. Depression can be particularly relevant in underwriting, which is why it helps to understand how carriers evaluate related histories such as life insurance for depression. Carriers want to see whether comorbid diagnoses are stable, whether treatment is consistent, and whether there are any risk markers related to self-harm or crisis care.

Substance use history is another factor underwriters often ask about, even when PTSD is the primary diagnosis. Some clients have PTSD with no substance history at all. Others have a past period of alcohol misuse tied to stress, sleep disruption, or trauma exposure. Underwriters evaluate the timing, the severity, the last incident, and whether sobriety is documented. A past issue does not automatically mean decline, but it does affect carrier selection and how the case should be presented.

Suicidal ideation or attempts are reviewed carefully. If there is any history, carriers often require a longer stability period and thorough documentation. When there is no history, it helps to make that clear, because underwriters sometimes default to conservative assumptions if the file is vague.

How PTSD affects your life insurance rate class

Life insurance pricing is based on underwriting class: preferred, standard, and rated (table) classes. PTSD can impact class, but the impact varies widely. In mild, stable cases with consistent treatment and no crisis history, it is possible to qualify at standard and sometimes better depending on the carrier and the rest of your health profile. In moderate cases—especially where there were symptoms that impacted function in the past—coverage is still often possible, but a table rating is more common. In cases where there has been recent instability, hospitalization, or significant risk markers, carriers may postpone traditional coverage until a stability period is established.

It’s important to understand that underwriting class is not only about PTSD. Carriers look at your whole profile: age, build, tobacco history, blood pressure, family history, and other conditions. Someone with mild PTSD but uncontrolled diabetes or tobacco use may receive a rating that has little to do with PTSD. That’s why we focus on the entire underwriting picture, not just the diagnosis.

Rate outcomes also vary by carrier philosophy. Some carriers are more conservative with mental health histories and will rate more easily. Others are more nuanced and place more weight on stability and function. Our approach is to choose the carrier first, then apply, instead of applying first and hoping the carrier is “reasonable.”

PTSD stability: what “good underwriting documentation” looks like

Underwriters love clarity. PTSD cases are often delayed or over-rated when the file is unclear—when treatment details are missing, the timeline is ambiguous, or the records suggest instability that the applicant didn’t realize was being documented. The best documentation doesn’t have to be complicated. It should simply show consistent care, stable management, and real-world function.

For many applicants, the strongest story is: diagnosis was made, treatment was established, symptoms improved, and follow-up has been stable. Underwriters respond well to consistent therapy engagement, stable medication regimens, and physician notes reflecting stability. They also respond well to a clear statement about daily function: working, caring for family, normal routines, and no crisis episodes.

Where documentation becomes critical is when there are “flags” in the file: a hospitalization, a recent medication escalation, a history of self-harm ideation, or multiple comorbid diagnoses. In those scenarios, presenting a structured timeline can be the difference between a carrier postponing automatically and a carrier reviewing case-by-case.

Military PTSD vs first responder PTSD vs civilian PTSD

From an underwriting standpoint, PTSD origin matters less than the stability profile, but it can influence how records are structured and where treatment occurs. Veterans may have records through the VA or military health systems, first responders may have care through occupational programs or private providers, and civilians may have care through primary care or behavioral health specialists. The underwriting goal is the same: show stable management and no recent crisis events.

Veterans sometimes worry that a PTSD diagnosis will automatically result in a decline. In practice, carriers often focus more on severity, treatment, and stability than the origin label. However, veterans may have multiple service-related conditions, and it’s important to consider how multiple conditions can “stack” risk in underwriting. In those cases, a high-risk submission strategy can help, and you may want to review our broader high-risk life insurance approach to understand how we shop carriers and build a clean file for review.

First responders often have strong function and consistent employment, which can support a favorable underwriting narrative when symptoms are stable. Civilian PTSD can also underwrite well when treated and stable. In all categories, the same principle holds: the cleaner the stability story, the better the odds.

Policy types that can work for PTSD applicants

PTSD does not automatically push you into “last resort” policies. Many applicants still qualify for fully underwritten term or permanent life insurance. The best policy type depends on your goals, your health profile, and how PTSD appears in your file.

Fully underwritten term life insurance is often the best value when available. It can provide substantial coverage for a defined period (10, 15, 20, 25, 30 years) at competitive pricing. Underwriting is more detailed and may require medical records, but it typically offers higher face amounts and more favorable pricing than simplified options when your profile qualifies.

Permanent life insurance (whole life or universal life) can be a fit when you want lifetime coverage, estate planning support, or long-term certainty. Some PTSD applicants find that permanent coverage is more practical at modest face amounts, especially when carriers are cautious about large term policies due to recent mental-health history.

Simplified issue policies can be useful when speed matters or when avoiding medical exams is important. These policies still ask health questions, but they often have fewer requirements. The tradeoff can be higher cost and lower maximum coverage amounts, but in certain PTSD cases—especially stable histories—simplified issue can be a very practical pathway.

Guaranteed issue or graded benefit final expense policies are typically last-resort options. They can still be valuable when traditional underwriting is not available due to recent instability or significant risk markers. These policies are designed for smaller face amounts to cover final expenses and are often used as a foundational plan while stability time builds for better options later.

If you’re comparing mental health underwriting across conditions, it may also be helpful to read our broader guidance on life insurance with pre-existing conditions, because the same principles apply: stability, treatment compliance, and carrier selection matter as much as the diagnosis label.

Common reasons PTSD life insurance applications get delayed or denied

Most negative outcomes in PTSD underwriting come from predictable issues. One is applying too soon after a crisis episode, hospitalization, or significant medication change. Underwriters interpret recent changes as instability—even if you feel better today—because they rely on documented patterns and recent events.

Another common issue is incomplete disclosure or vague application answers. If an applicant writes “PTSD, treated” but records show multiple medications, sporadic follow-up, or documented severe symptoms, the carrier may assume higher risk and respond conservatively. Clear, accurate presentation helps prevent that mismatch.

A third issue is comorbid stacking. A PTSD diagnosis combined with major depression, panic attacks, or substance misuse history can trigger stricter carrier rules. That doesn’t mean coverage is impossible. It means carrier choice and policy type become more important, and pre-screening before a formal application becomes more valuable.

How we help PTSD applicants get approved

Our job is to turn a sensitive and often complex situation into an underwriter-friendly file that carriers can actually review. We do that by identifying the approval pathway first. For some clients, the best route is fully underwritten term coverage with a carrier known for reasonable mental health underwriting. For others, it’s a simplified issue policy that avoids a long medical-record chase and still provides meaningful protection. For clients who need immediate baseline coverage while stability time builds, we may recommend a layered approach.

We also help clients avoid avoidable declines. Submitting an application to a carrier that is known to be strict with PTSD can create a decline that follows you and slows down other options. By matching your case to the right carriers up front, we reduce wasted time and improve your probability of a clean approval outcome.

When the file needs documentation, we help you focus on what matters. Underwriters typically want stability markers, a treatment timeline, and clarity on any crisis history. We also help you understand how to answer application questions accurately so that the application aligns with records. Alignment reduces delays, reduces back-and-forth, and often reduces conservative ratings.

Typical outcomes we see for PTSD (realistic scenarios)

Mild, well-managed PTSD often qualifies for standard or near-standard pricing when there is stable treatment, no hospitalization history, and strong day-to-day function. Many carriers view stable, treated PTSD similarly to other manageable conditions when risk markers are absent.

Moderate PTSD with long-term stability is commonly insurable, often with a table rating depending on carrier and comorbid factors. When stability is well documented and there have been no recent crises, many carriers will still offer meaningful term coverage.

Recent hospitalization or instability often triggers postponement for traditional coverage. In these cases, we frequently build a plan that provides coverage now through an alternative policy type, while mapping a pathway toward more traditional coverage after a stability period is established.

The key takeaway is that PTSD underwriting is not one-size-fits-all. It’s timeline-driven and stability-driven. That’s why we focus on matching your story to the carrier most likely to interpret it fairly.

Example case

A 38-year-old military veteran with moderate PTSD, stable for 5 years and in ongoing therapy, had been declined by two major insurers after applying directly. The declines were driven more by carrier philosophy than by the client’s actual stability profile. We matched the case to a carrier known to be more reasonable with treated PTSD, presented a clean stability timeline, and the client was approved for a $500,000 20-year term policy at a competitive class—saving meaningful premium compared to the conservative offers they were seeing previously.

That kind of turnaround is common when the right carrier match is made. PTSD cases are frequently mishandled by “one-company” agencies and online funnels that don’t understand mental health underwriting nuance. Our advantage is that we can shop the market intelligently and choose the most realistic underwriting pathway for your specific situation.

Next steps

If you want to move forward, the best next step is to complete our secure request form. If you can share a short summary—diagnosis timing, symptom stability, treatment type (therapy and/or medication), and any hospitalization history—we can identify the best carrier targets and the best policy type pathway without wasting time.

Take the next step: Complete our secure PTSD life insurance request form and we’ll help you compare realistic options across carriers that routinely review mental health histories.