Life Insurance for Pulmonary Diseases
Over 100 Carriers to Quote From. Here are a few of them!
Life Insurance with Pulmonary Disease — Get Matched to the Right Carrier
We’ll compare pulmonary-friendly underwriting across 100+ top-rated insurers and help you pursue the best available outcome—clearly and confidentially.
Get a Pulmonary Disease Quote
Call 800-533-5969
Tip: Current meds, recent PFTs, and a stable symptom history typically lead to faster underwriting.
At Diversified Insurance Brokers, we help people with respiratory and lung conditions secure life insurance with pulmonary disease from a network of 100+ top-rated carriers. Whether you have asthma, COPD, emphysema, chronic bronchitis, pulmonary fibrosis, or sarcoidosis, carrier selection matters—because different companies evaluate pulmonary history, medications, oxygen use, and lung function very differently.
If you’ve been quoted “guaranteed issue only” in the past, it doesn’t automatically mean that’s your best or only option. In many cases, we can pre-screen insurers, choose the right underwriting lane (accelerated, simplified, or fully underwritten), and package the file so your stability is easy for an underwriter to confirm.
How Pulmonary Disease Affects Life Insurance Underwriting
When you apply for life insurance with pulmonary disease, underwriters focus on severity, stability, and the risk of complications. Two people can share the same diagnosis and still get very different outcomes based on recent symptoms, testing, medication needs, and hospitalization history.
- Condition type and diagnosis: Mild asthma is often viewed differently than COPD, interstitial lung disease, or pulmonary fibrosis.
- Severity and control: Stable symptoms and predictable medication use typically underwrite more favorably than frequent flare-ups.
- Lung function: Pulmonary function testing (PFTs) and physician notes help carriers measure impairment.
- Exacerbations and admissions: Recent ER visits, hospitalizations, or recurrent infections can increase cost or limit options.
- Smoking history: Tobacco history can materially change pricing and can narrow the carrier pool for pulmonary cases.
If a carrier requires exams or labs, this overview of what a life insurance exam is explains what’s typically collected and why it matters.
What Carriers Look For With Pulmonary Disease Life Insurance
To approve pulmonary disease life insurance, underwriters generally want a clean picture of stability. The more clearly your medical records show consistency, the easier it is for a carrier to offer traditional coverage rather than pushing you into fallback products.
- Recent PFTs: PFT trends (not just one result) help underwriters evaluate stability over time.
- Medication list and adherence: Inhalers, steroids, biologics, and frequency of rescue meds all matter.
- Oxygen use: Current oxygen dependence often limits traditional underwriting, but details and context still matter.
- Specialist follow-ups: Pulmonology notes can carry more weight than a single primary-care summary.
- Imaging and workups (when applicable): CT scans, X-rays, or ongoing evaluations can help document stability and rule-outs.
Because outcomes vary widely by carrier, we generally avoid “trial-and-error” applications. Instead, we pre-screen where possible and only submit to carriers that fit your pulmonary profile.
Pulmonary Disease Life Insurance Profiles and Typical Outcomes
Below is a realistic framework for how carriers often approach life insurance with pulmonary disease. These are not guarantees, but they reflect common underwriting patterns we see when the case is properly documented.
| Profile | Likely Product Path | Typical Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Mild, controlled asthma with no recent flare-ups | Term or permanent (UL/WL) | Often standard to mild table ratings, case-by-case |
| Mild-to-moderate COPD/emphysema with stable symptoms | Term (sometimes limited) or permanent | Commonly table ratings; amount/term depend on stability |
| Pulmonary fibrosis or interstitial lung disease, stable with follow-up | Permanent more likely than long-term term | Often heavier ratings; carrier selection is critical |
| Recent hospitalizations/exacerbations | Delay + re-apply window, or simplified/final expense | May require stability period before traditional coverage |
| Oxygen dependent | Simplified issue or guaranteed issue (fallback) | More limited face amounts; graded benefits may apply |
Outcomes vary by carrier, state, and your full health profile. We’ll shop and position your case to find the best-fit path.
Life Insurance With Oxygen Use or Recent Hospitalizations
Oxygen use and recent admissions are two of the biggest “decision points” for life insurance with pulmonary disease. They don’t always mean “no,” but they often change which policy types are realistic right now.
- Oxygen use: Many carriers interpret oxygen dependence as advanced impairment, which can narrow traditional underwriting options.
- Recent hospitalizations: Carriers often want to see a stability window after an exacerbation before offering better pricing.
- Documentation matters: Physician notes explaining why oxygen is used, how often, and whether symptoms are improving can influence the final decision.
If traditional coverage isn’t realistic today, we can still map out practical options, including a temporary fallback approach while you build stability.
Best Policy Types for Life Insurance With Pulmonary Disease
The “best” policy is the one you can qualify for and keep in force. With pulmonary disease life insurance, that usually means comparing three lanes:
- Fully underwritten term/permanent: Often best for milder, stable cases and higher face amounts.
- Simplified issue: Fewer medical requirements, faster decisions, but may have lower caps and higher pricing.
- Guaranteed issue / final expense: Most accessible for severe profiles, typically with lower face amounts and graded benefits.
If you need broader context for underwriting differences, our guide on life insurance with pre-existing conditions helps explain why product type and carrier selection are so important.
How to Improve Approval Chances for Pulmonary Disease Life Insurance
If you want the best shot at life insurance with pulmonary disease approval—and the best possible rate class—focus on proving stability and reducing avoidable underwriting concerns:
- Document stability: Fewer flare-ups, fewer urgent visits, and consistent follow-ups strengthen the case.
- Show treatment consistency: Underwriters like predictable medication routines and adherence.
- Be direct about smoking history: Accurate disclosure prevents delays and improves carrier matching.
- Apply strategically: We’ll target carriers known to be more flexible with your specific pulmonary history.
What to Expect: Steps and Timeline
Most pulmonary cases go more smoothly when we start with basics and confirm the best underwriting path first.
- Quick intake: Diagnosis, symptoms, meds, smoking history, recent PFTs (if available).
- Pre-screening: We identify carriers that fit your pulmonary profile and likely outcomes.
- Targeted quoting: Side-by-side options across term, permanent, and fallback lanes.
- Underwriting: If records or testing are needed, we coordinate and reduce surprises.
Ready to See Your Pulmonary-Friendly Options?
We’ll compare carriers and explain the trade-offs clearly so you can choose confidently.
Example Case
A 62-year-old applicant with well-controlled asthma, consistent treatment, and no pulmonary hospitalizations for many years was able to secure traditional coverage after we matched the case to a carrier with a more favorable respiratory underwriting approach.
Get Matched to Pulmonary-Friendly Life Insurance
We’ll shop 100+ carriers and position your history to highlight stability and best-fit underwriting.
Talk With an Advisor Today
Choose how you’d like to connect—call or message us, then book a time that works for you.
Schedule here:
calendly.com/jason-dibcompanies/diversified-quotes
Licensed in all 50 states • Fiduciary, family-owned since 1980
FAQs: Life Insurance with Pulmonary Disease
Can I get life insurance with pulmonary disease?
Yes. Many people can qualify depending on the condition type, severity, stability, treatment history, and lung function testing.
Which pulmonary conditions are considered higher risk for life insurance?
More advanced COPD/emphysema, pulmonary fibrosis, interstitial lung disease, pulmonary hypertension, and severe uncontrolled asthma typically receive more restrictive underwriting.
What medical information do insurers request for pulmonary disease life insurance?
Carriers often review pulmonary function tests (PFTs), oxygen use, hospitalizations/ER visits, imaging when applicable, medication history, and smoking history.
How does smoking history affect life insurance with pulmonary disease?
Smoking can significantly increase premiums and may reduce carrier options for respiratory conditions; longer time since quitting usually improves pricing and approvals.
Can I qualify if I use supplemental oxygen?
Oxygen use often limits traditional underwriting, but options may still exist through simplified issue or guaranteed issue policies depending on age and full history.
Are there life insurance policies that are easier to get with pulmonary disease?
Simplified issue and guaranteed issue/final expense policies are often more accessible; fully underwritten term or permanent may still be possible for milder, stable cases.
What if I was declined before due to a lung condition?
A decline doesn’t always apply everywhere. Carrier appetite varies, and a better match—plus clearer stability documentation—can change the outcome.
How long does underwriting take?
Simplified/guaranteed issue can be faster, while fully underwritten cases may take longer if medical records or updated testing are needed.
About the Author:
Jason Stolz, CLTC, CRPC, is a senior insurance and retirement professional with more than two decades of real-world experience helping individuals, families, and business owners protect their income, assets, and long-term financial stability. As a long-time partner of the nationally licensed independent agency Diversified Insurance Brokers, Jason provides trusted guidance across multiple specialties—including fixed and indexed annuities, long-term care planning, personal and business disability insurance, life insurance solutions, and short-term health coverage. Diversified Insurance Brokers maintains active contracts with over 100 highly rated insurance carriers, ensuring clients have access to a broad and competitive marketplace.
His practical, education-first approach has earned recognition in publications such as VoyageATL, highlighting his commitment to financial clarity and client-focused planning. Drawing on deep product knowledge and years of hands-on field experience, Jason helps clients evaluate carriers, compare strategies, and build retirement and protection plans that are both secure and cost-efficient.
