More men are surviving prostate cancer. But can you still buy affordable life insurance? Find out more about prostate cancer life insurance options.
For many men over a certain age, getting an annual physical exam is no big deal. Except for one particular test. And if you’re a male, you know what test I’m talking about. Your doctor usually leaves this test for last. (Doctors have a warped sense of humor.) You know it’s coming because all you hear is the snap of a rubber glove, followed by the time-honored phrase: “Now cough!” Yes, I am referring to the physical (commonly called a Digital Rectal Exam or “DRE”) test for prostate cancer. Though slightly uncomfortable, this test is quite useful in detecting the early stages of the second most common form of cancer in men (after skin cancer).
Typically, there are no early symptoms for prostate cancer, which is typically a slow-growth disease. The disease is more common in African-American males than in white males.
The prostate is a small, walnut-shaped gland that is situated just below the bladder and right in front of the rectum. (How’s that for a road map?) The most common blood test to detect early-stage prostate cancer is the PSA (Prostate-Specific Antigen) test. A PSA level of 4.0 ng/mL and lower is considered to be normal. Conversely, a PSA level above 4.0 ng/mL should be cause for concern. Most doctors recommend that men over age 50 get a PSA test once a year.
If a patient has a higher-than-normal PSA level, that patient’s doctor might suggest performing a biopsy on the prostate. The tissue sample would then be analyzed and if cancer cells are present, they are given a “Gleason Score” to determine the severity and stage of the cancer. The lower the score, the less advanced/serious the cancer.
The good news is that many men who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer have been treated successfully and go on to live productive lives. According to the American Cancer Society, more than 2 million men in the U.S. are considered to be prostate cancer survivors. And many have been able to purchase life insurance.
For prostate cancer patients who are seeking to purchase life insurance, underwriters are looking for a Gleason Score that is below 7. They would also be looking to see what type of medical treatment or procedure the applicant has had regarding this disease. Treatments for prostate cancer range from a radical prostatectomy (which removes the prostate entirely) to traditional radiation therapy to radiation seed implantation. There will be more favorable offers if the patent has undergone a radical prostatectomy than the latter two options.
To find out more on this subject, watch this short, informative video. Howard Weissman, AccuQuote’s Medical Underwriting Expert, will tell you more about how you may be able to qualify to buy life insurance.
Everyone who has ANYONE depending on them financially needs life insurance. It’s a great, affordable way to help safeguard your family’s financial future when you die. And if you think you’re going to live forever, the last time we checked, the odds of death are still 1 out of ONE. (We’re good with math.)
Now check your math with our nifty calculator. It will help you nail down the proper amount of coverage for your life…and loved ones.
Nifty Life Insurance Calculator
Our Life Insurance Calculator can help give you a rough idea of how much coverage you’ll need to make sure your family is financially protected when you die.
Annual income before tax: $
Annual income is an important factor in determining your needs, but it’s not the only one. When you die, your life insurance is like your final paycheck.% of income needed by dependents: %
Because you’ll be gone, presumably they won’t need as much as you’re currently earning. Typically, 80% of your current income is a good place to start.Your Age: years
The younger you are, the more years of your income your family stands to lose when you die.Number of years benefits are needed:
If you died tomorrow, how many years of income do you want to provide for your family?Annual inflation rate (estimate): %
Because of inflation, in order to maintain your family’s current standard of living, you’ll need to plan for increases in their annual income to keep pace. Historically, inflation has averaged between 2% and 4%.Annual interest rate (estimate): %
This is an assumption as to how much you believe your spouse will be able to earn on the death benefit proceeds. We have found that most surviving spouses are usually very conservative in how they invest the death benefit. The most common thing we see is that the money gets deposited into a bank account. You know your spouse better than anyone. Pick a number that you feel your spouse will be able to comfortably earn on the proceeds.
So what’s next? Call us at 800-442-9899 and let’s chat about the types of coverage that may make the most sense for you.
Reach out to us anytime and you’ll speak to a real person! (Amazing, huh?) We can provide competitive life insurance quotes from the top-rated, brand-name insurance companies you know and trust. We take the stress out of shopping for life insurance. And we won’t ask you to cough. Promise.
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