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Life Insurance: RP vs Brachy

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Posted 3/19/2016 8:07 PM (GMT 0)
What led me to my urologist was an Insurance denial because of my initial high PSA. It might have saved my life.

The insurance agent told me that a high PSA is a reason for denial. Here is the question? Has anyone secured Life insurance after PC treatment? What if someone had a RP and a resulting PSA of 0 for five years. Are you now "cured" and eligible for low rate insurance (other factors considered)? What if you had Brachy and had a 1.8 for five years straight? Would you be considered not cured and consequently denied.

Getting a million dollar policy for my family is something I would love to do, I think we all would, especially if we don't have one.

Hey another reason to choose RP over Brachy, although it is kind of ridiculous. I'm just thinking.
Posted 3/19/2016 9:06 PM (GMT 0)
Brava, there are some 'no exam' policies out there. They ask you a few questions regarding your health and any diagnostic tests you may have had. Doubtful you'll get $1M and likely only a 20 year term, but you may be able to get a few $100K. Enough to pay off the mortgage and some bills, hopefully. With the one I was looking at I was asked questions regarding meds I'm prescribed (cholesterol and BP) and I was honest. I understand there's a 'database' they check. I'm not sure if they can check for diagnostic tests, as I had already had one biopsy, which was negative and I didn't disclose it, but they would've approved me for $400K. It's not the cheapest, but it may be cheaper than having to give up some of your retirement money to your spouse.

Google 'no exam life insurance' and maybe add 'questions asked' to it.
Posted 3/19/2016 9:47 PM (GMT 0)
I applied for term life at age 68 and the company sent out a nurse to give a physical exam which included a PSA test. It came in at 2.7. I got the insurance. Six months later my PSA was 6.6 and I had PCa Gleason 9 and stage pt3b at pathology post RP. I had been taking finasteride for ten years for bph so my PSA was really double the test result. So the insurance company missed that. From what I've read once your cancer free for five years you can get life insurance.
Bob
Posted 3/20/2016 12:16 AM (GMT 0)
I know that it's possible to get life insurance following PC and had discussions about this with an insurance broker before, but unfortunately don't recall the specifics. As I recall, it's dependent on your initial diagnosis--perhaps just for low risk and maybe intermediate risk. I'm pretty sure that there's a several year period after treatment before it's possible.

It would imagine it also puts you in a higher rating class, meaning the policy is more expensive. The term might make a difference as well--since PC is a pretty slow thing, shorter policies might be more doable.
Posted 3/20/2016 12:18 AM (GMT 0)
I got denied because of my knees.
Posted 3/20/2016 1:35 AM (GMT 0)
I am in the business. Underwriting will take into account your actual situation. If you have a PCa dx, it doesn't matter what approach you take, it matters what results you achieve. And the insurance company wants to see results before they decide/

If you think that choosing one treatment over another to achieve life insurance you are delusional. It does not matter whether you choose RPP or radiotherapy.

To your question do people get life insurance. The answer is yes....but it depends upon their status just like any other health situation. I am now on the edge of consideration, five years after my diagnosis. Can I get insurance? Maybe. I haven't tried. Generally the life insurance company wants to see at least five years of being cancer free before they will grant coverage. You want a million dollars of coverage, you better be very low risk and not diagnosed with PCa. Since you have the dx do not expect to get coverage at the present time. .
Posted 3/20/2016 1:40 AM (GMT 0)
As an addition you may remember when Johnny Bench the Hall of Fame catcher was diagnosed with lung cancer. I was a consultant on the case as he was applying for life insurance as part of his estate plan. The way he discovered the cancer was due to the very detailed underwriting due to the high amount of life insurance he was applying for. He didn't get the insurance, but he did beat the cancer because he learned of it in time to act.
Posted 7/19/2016 3:51 PM (GMT 0)
I know this is an older thread, but there are some differences in how life insurance underwriting views prostate cancer treatment options.

If you are talking about confined prostate cancers - stage T1a - T2b with Gleason of 7 (3+4) or less and negative margins, coverage may be available as soon as 4 months after a radical prostatectomy.

If brachy is the treatment option, companies will postpone for a period of time after completion of brachy, (typically 1 year minimum) and the availability of coverage is dependent on current PSA being 0.2 or less....same rules apply to other forms of radiation treatment.

Post Edited (riskquoter) : 7/19/2016 9:54:37 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 7/19/2016 9:03 PM (GMT 0)
Interesting. I'm on a term life policy with a still fixed premium that is set to start rising rapidly in a few yrs (and have wondered if I am insurable with a new policy). I'm also a little over a year out of HDR Brachy with a PSA that was tested recently at 1.4 after 12 months.

If you are treated successfully with surgery your PSA should drop below the 0.2 level. I guess to zero, or close to it. But Brachy patients still have their prostates and their PSA's aren't going to zero. Isn't it often the case that nadir will be above 0.2.? Which won't be a cause for concern - but would seem to disqualify for insurance if insurers are using the same PSA standards for surgery and brachy patients.


riskquoter said...
I know this is an older thread, but there are some differences in how life insurance underwriting views prostate cancer treatment options.

If you are talking about confined prostate cancers - stage T1a - T2b with Gleason of 7 (3+4) or less and negative margins, coverage may be available as soon as 4 months after a radical prostatectomy.

If brachy is the treatment option, companies will postpone for a period of time after completion of brachy, (typically 1 year minimum) and the availability of coverage is dependent on current PSA being 0.2 or less....same rules apply to other forms of radiation treatment.

Posted 7/19/2016 10:16 PM (GMT 0)
I cancelled my life insurance policy several years ago. I do have a measly $10,000 policy at work at zero cost, which is more than what is needed to get cremated and dumped in the gulf.

A side note, I don't even plan on going to my own funeral!
Posted 7/20/2016 8:34 PM (GMT 0)
"Works Out"

Sorry, a little clarification....the 0.2 I mentioned is what the psa typically needs to be at in order to get coverage at the 12 month mark.

With a 1.4, and your pattern of consistently decreasing psa, coverage will be available but you may have to wait until the 2 year mark with some companies, while others may postpone for 3 years. A knowledgeable broker can do a quickquote for you to show how companies would view today. You should also explore any conversion options that may be available with your existing policy and compare.
Posted 7/21/2016 3:47 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks, riskquoter.

Good to know.
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