Medical/Health Issues (Most Common)

Serious conditions: cancer, heart disease, uncontrolled diabetes, COPD, stroke history. Unmanaged conditions: high blood pressure, cholesterol, mental health conditions without treatment. Lifestyle concerns: obesity, smoking history or current use. Test results: abnormal blood work or imaging findings.

Occupational/Lifestyle Issues

Hazardous job: commercial pilot, roofer, demolition work. Dangerous hobbies: skydiving, mountaineering, professional racing. International travel: certain countries increase risk assessment. Substance use history: alcohol, drug use, or DUI history.

Driving History and Criminal Record

Multiple DUIs or traffic violations. Criminal history involving violence. Reckless endangerment charges. Some carriers are more forgiving than others on these issues, and waiting periods help.

Financial Red Flags

Coverage amount is unrealistic relative to income. Suspected insurance fraud indicators. Rapid application with multiple companies. These concerns often fade with time and can be explained to more flexible underwriters.

Medical Underwriting Postponement

Not always a hard denial. “Postponed” means reapply later after your condition improves or more time passes. For example, a recent cancer diagnosis may be postponed 2-5 years, a recent cardiac event postponed 6-12 months. This is actually an advantage—it gives a clear timeline for reapplication.

Questions to Ask the Insurance Company

1. Is this a hard decline or a postponement? Postponements can be readdressed on a future date. Hard declines are permanent with that carrier. 2. What specific factor caused the denial? Get them to name the exact reason. 3. If postponed, when can I reapply? Ask for a specific timeline. 4. Is there anything I could do differently that might change the outcome? Some underwriters will give hints about improving your situation.

Appeal Rights

Most insurance companies have an appeal process. You can request reconsideration with additional medical records, explanatory letters, or new test results. Appeals succeed in roughly 20-30% of cases where new information is provided. If you believe the denial was based on incorrect information, an appeal is worth pursuing.

Shop Other Carriers Immediately

Different companies have different underwriting appetites. A condition that one company won’t accept might be standard or minor for another. Companies like Pacific Life, Legal & General, and AXA Equitable are particularly known for flexible underwriting on medical conditions. This is your most direct path to coverage.

Work with a Broker Familiar with Your Situation

A good broker specializes in placing applicants with specific medical conditions or circumstances. They know which companies are most likely to approve your profile and can guide your application to increase your odds. Brokers have relationships with underwriters and often get approved through their expertise. No additional cost—brokers are paid by insurers.

Appeal the Original Denial

If you believe the denial was based on incomplete or incorrect information, file an appeal. Provide additional medical records, letters from your doctors, or updated test results. The success rate is roughly 20-30% if new information fundamentally changes the underwriting decision. Worth pursuing if you have corrections to make.

Improve Your Health and Reapply

For health-based denials, concrete improvement can lead to approval. Losing weight, controlling blood pressure, managing diabetes better, quitting smoking—these changes matter and can be documented. Wait 3-6 months for improvement, then reapply with updated medical records showing the progress.

Consider Guaranteed Issue or Simplified Issue Products

If standard underwriting continues to decline, you guaranteed issue products are available with no underwriting at all. Premiums are substantially higher (3-5x normal rates), and coverage is usually capped at $25,000-$50,000. But this option provides peace of mind for truly hard-to-insure applicants. Use as last resort, not first option.

Pacific Life

Known for flexibility with medical underwriting. Approves applicants with well-controlled diabetes, mild heart conditions, and managed mental health issues. Willing to work with brokers on tricky cases. Generally, higher premiums but more approvals.

Legal & General

Strong, flexible underwriting programs. Approves applicants witha  history of depression, asthma, arthritis, and similar conditions. Streamlined online process. Reputation for treating declined applicants fairly and reconsidering with new information.

AXA Equitable

Flexible underwriting programs for applicants with common conditions. Approves previous cancer patients after a sufficient waiting period. Good reputation with brokers for special situations. Mid-range pricing.

Lincoln Financial

Streamlined underwriting with some flexibility on medical conditions. Approves applicants with controlled high blood pressure, thyroid conditions, and similar issues. Fast approval process. Good option for borderline cases.

Banner Life

Flexible underwriting available. Approves applicants with various medical conditions. Broker-friendly for special cases. Mid-range pricing. Good option for reapplication after initial decline.

Weight Loss

For obesity-related denials, losing 5-10% of body weight and maintaining it for 3-6 months shows commitment. Updated BMI documentation from your doctor strengthens reapplication. This is one of the most concrete improvements you can demonstrate.

Blood Pressure or Cholesterol Control

If denied for high blood pressure or cholesterol, work with your doctor to achieve target numbers. Get updated readings after 2-3 months of medication management. New lab results showing improved levels significantly strengthen reapplication.

Diabetes Management

Better A1C control (target under 7.0) demonstrated over 3-6 months shows commitment to management. Consistent glucose monitoring records, medication adherence, and weight loss all strengthen reapplication. Some insurers will approve “controlled diabetes” after seeing this documentation.

Smoking Cessation

If denied due to smoking, quitting for at least 12 months before reapplication substantially improves approval odds. Nicotine testing will verify quit status. This single change can reduce rates by 25-40% with many carriers.

Mental Health Treatment

If denied for mental health conditions, showing 12+ months of stable treatment, medication compliance, and positive provider feedback helps. Get a letter from your psychiatrist or therapist documenting stability and prognosis. This addresses underwriter concerns directly.

Waiting Period After Major Health Events

For postponements, honor the requested waiting period but also improve your health during that time. Cancer diagnosis postponed 2 years? Use that time for successful recovery and treatment completion. Cardiac event postponed 12 months? Work toward full recovery and cardiac rehabilitation. Return to underwriting with documented health improvement, and you’re more likely to be approved.

Conditions That Significantly Limit Standard Approval

Advanced cancer within 2-5 years post-treatment. Ongoing heart disease or recent cardiac events (less than 6-12 months ago). End-stage kidney or liver disease. Severe dementia or Alzheimer’s. Untreated serious mental illness. These don’t mean zero coverage options, but standard underwriting becomes very difficult. Guaranteed issue products become more relevant.

High-Risk Occupations and Activities

Some occupations genuinely are uninsurable at standard rates. Commercial pilots, underwater divers, rock climbers, soldiers in active combat. Options are limited to specialized carriers charging substantial premiums or guaranteed issue products. These situations require specialist brokering.

Substance Abuse Issues Without Demonstrated Recovery

Recent drug use, active addiction, or no documented recovery strongly limit insurability. However, applicants with 1-2+ years of documented sobriety and ongoing treatment often find approval. The key is proof of sustained recovery, not just claims of it.

When to Shift to Guaranteed Issue

If you’ve been denied by 3+ carriers, health improvements aren’t feasible, and waiting periods don’t apply, guaranteed issue insurance becomes a reasonable option. Costs 3-5x normal rates but requires no underwriting. Coverage caps are usually $25,000-$50,000. Better than no coverage for truly difficult cases.

Will other companies know I was denied?

Direct answer: Yes. Insurance companies check the Medical Information Bureau (MIB) database, which records underwriting history across carriers.

This doesn’t automatically disqualify you with other carriers. Different companies weigh this information differently. Some see a denial as “one company’s conservative decision”, while others might hesitate. However, many applicants successfully get approved after being denied by another carrier. Disclosure is required on applications, so be honest about prior denials.

How long should I wait before reapplying?

Direct answer: For health-based denials, 3-6 months is typical if you’re making concrete improvements. For postponements, follow the company’s guidance on timing.

Multiple applications within days or weeks to the same company look suspicious. But applying to a different carrier after a short time is fine. If shopping with alternative carriers, you can apply immediately. If improving health to reapply to the original carrier, wait 3-6 months minimum to show meaningful change.

Should I use a broker after being denied?

Direct answer: Yes, absolutely. Brokers are especially valuable after denial because they know which carriers specialize in your situation.

A broker who specializes in medical underwriting knows which companies are most likely to approve your profile. They’ll route your application to the right carrier and underwriter, increasing approval odds significantly. No additional cost—they’re paid by insurers. This is precisely when brokering adds the most value.

Can I appeal a denial?

Direct answer: Yes. Appeals succeed 20-30% of the time if you provide new information that changes the underwriting decision.

Valid reasons for appeal: the company misinterpreted medical records, newer test results show different information, physician letters clarify your condition, and you’ve made documented health improvements. Less effective appeals: simply disagreeing with the decision or asking them to reconsider without new information. If you have legitimate new information, appeals are worth the effort.

What are guaranteed issue policies?

Direct answer: Life insurance sold without medical underwriting. Guaranteed approval regardless of health, but premiums are 3-5x normal rates and coverage is capped at $25,000-$50,000.

Guaranteed issue serves people who genuinely cannot qualify for standard underwriting. A $25,000 policy at high premium rates is better than nothing if standard approval is impossible. But this is a last-resort option, not a first choice. Exhaust standard and flexible underwriting options before shifting to guaranteed issue.

Should I try hiding medical information to get approved?

Direct answer: No. This is fraud and will void your coverage if discovered.

Insurance companies conduct medical record checks, MIB database checks, and medical exams. Misrepresentation is easily discovered. When discovered, the policy is cancelled and beneficiaries don’t receive the death benefit—leaving your family in a worse position than if you’d been honest. The legitimate paths (alternative carriers, broker placement, health improvement, postponement waiting, or guaranteed issue) are worth using instead.