How do you get life insurance when you have been denied?

Asked by: Gavin Pouros  |  Last update: December 8, 2025
Score: 4.4/5 (5 votes)

If your life insurance application is denied, follow these steps:
  1. Review why your application was denied.
  2. Consider an appeal.
  3. Try a different insurance provider.
  4. Look for alternative life insurance coverage.
  5. Wait and reapply later.

How do I get life insurance if I keep getting denied?

Work with a financial professional.

Someone who works with many insurers can help you apply to the ones that offer the best chances of approval. A financial professional can also help you with the application and the appeal process if you're denied life insurance.

What will disqualify me from life insurance?

A few common examples of pre-existing conditions include high blood pressure, diabetes, cancer, and asthma. Previous injuries might be considered pre-existing conditions, depending on their severity and any lasting effects.

How common is it to get denied life insurance?

Almost 1 in 5, or 20%, of life insurance claims are denied by insurance companies, often due to material misrepresentation or incomplete medical history in the life insurance application.

What disqualifies me for life insurance?

Pre-existing conditions – meaning any health issue or condition that existed before applying for coverage – are often considered high-risk by insurance companies and can lead to disqualification. Chronic conditions that require long-term medication or treatment can also impact eligibility.

What can I do if I have been denied for Life Insurance? YQA 203-2

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What to do if you can't get life insurance?

If your life insurance application is denied, follow these steps:
  1. Review why your application was denied.
  2. Consider an appeal.
  3. Try a different insurance provider.
  4. Look for alternative life insurance coverage.
  5. Wait and reapply later.

What makes a person uninsurable for life insurance?

People are typically denied life insurance because they fall into a high-risk category. This is often due to health challenges like diabetes and obesity, as well as non-health related life insurance disqualifiers like a dangerous job or hobby, a history of speeding tickets or using tobacco products.

Which life insurance company denies the most claims?

Top 8 Worst Insurance Companies
  1. Allstate. We know you have seen the ads. ...
  2. Unum. Unum is a leading disability insurance provider in the United States has a reputation for denied and delayed insurance claims – even when claims include their own employees. ...
  3. State Farm. ...
  4. AIG. ...
  5. Anthem. ...
  6. Farmers Insurance Group. ...
  7. UnitedHealth. ...
  8. USAA.

What reasons will life insurance not pay?

17 Common Reasons Life Insurance Won't Pay Out
  • Nonpayment of Premiums.
  • Death during the Contestability Period.
  • Misrepresentation on Application.
  • Employer Failed to Submit a Disability Waiver of Premium.
  • Problems with the Beneficiary.
  • Policy was included in a Trust or a Will.
  • Denials Due to Suicide Exclusion.

What to do if you are uninsurable?

If you're denied insurance, the first step is to call another insurer—different companies have different parameters. However, if several insurers have denied you, you may need to consider these options: Join a state assigned risk pool – Auto insurers participate on a voluntary basis in state assigned risk pools.

What makes a person uninsurable?

“Factors such as pre-existing medical conditions, age, occupation and lifestyle choices can contribute to a person being considered 'uninsurable' according to standard underwriting guidelines,” says Tarek El Ali, Founder of Smart Insurance Agents.

Does life insurance check your income?

In order to assess your life insurance need, the insurer will need to know your age and income at the time of the application. One simple and common method is to calculate coverage as a multiple of annual income.

What life insurance companies don t tell you?

7 Things Insurance Companies Don't Want You to Know
  • Profit Over Protection: The Fine Line. ...
  • The Claim Game: A Complex Web. ...
  • Hidden Exclusions: Reading Between the Lines. ...
  • Rate Hikes: The Silent Squeeze. ...
  • Underwriting Secrets: The Power of Information. ...
  • Discounts, but at What Cost? ...
  • The Myth of Total Coverage: Gaps and Ambiguities.

What not to say when applying for life insurance?

Tobacco use: Lying about smoking on a life insurance application likely constitutes a misrepresentation, even if you only smoke occasionally. Drug and alcohol use: Someone who engages in drug or alcohol misuse may omit this information.

What disqualifies a person from life insurance?

Specific Conditions that May Disqualify You

Certain health conditions and lifestyle choices can significantly impact your eligibility for full coverage life insurance. Chronic diseases such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and high blood pressure are among the top concerns for insurers.

What happens if you can't afford life insurance anymore?

Cash out the policy.

This means that you can stop paying the premium and collect the available cash savings. You will no longer be covered by life insurance, but you will at least save some of the proceeds of the policy.

What happens when you are denied life insurance?

Next steps if your insurance application was denied

Some work with many different insurance companies, so they can help you find the best fit. Some specialize in helping high-risk people get insurance. Try a different insurer — Life insurance companies have unique criteria for evaluating insurance applications.

What deaths are not covered by life insurance?

Life insurance policies cover most causes of death, but exclusions such as suicide, dangerous or illegal activities, substance abuse, and misrepresentation can apply.

What age does life insurance not pay?

Whole life policies are a form of permanent life insurance and they typically have no age limit. However, depending on the insurer, age limits can vary from around 80 to 85.

What are the odds of winning an insurance appeal?

Only half of denied claims are appealed, and of those appeals, half are overturned! Undivided's Head of Health Plan Advocacy, Leslie Lobel, says that if you have a winner argument and patience to get through all the levels of "no," there is a good chance you can get your denial overturned.

Why has my life insurance been declined?

Reasons you may have been declined

Most applications are declined due to medical issues. Each life insurance company sees medical issues (and other risk factors, such as extreme sports) differently. For example one company may decline you because you have diabetes, while another may accept you.

Who Cannot be a life insurance beneficiary?

Ineligible Beneficiaries: Minors: Generally, minors (individuals under the age of 18 or 21, depending on the jurisdiction) cannot be named as direct beneficiaries of a life insurance policy. In such cases, a trust or custodian may be designated to manage the proceeds until the minor reaches the age of majority.

Under what circumstances will life insurance not pay?

Life insurance may not pay out if the policy expires, premiums aren't paid, or there are false statements on the application. Other reasons include death from illegal activities, suicide, or homicide, with insurers investigating claims thoroughly.

What conditions make you uninsurable for life insurance?

What medical conditions prevent you from getting life insurance?
  • Anxiety and depression.
  • Asthma.
  • Diabetes.
  • Heart disease.
  • High blood pressure.
  • High cholesterol.
  • HIV.
  • Obesity.