Ovarian Cancer & Life Insurance

Being diagnosed with a cancer can be a frightening and uncertain time for you and life insurance may be something that suddenly feels quite important.

We are here to help and support you throughout the process.

Things we need to know to get started:

• When were you diagnosed with ovarian cancer?
• What treatment did you have?
• When did you last have treatment?
• What staging and grading was the ovarian cancer?

Most applications for life insurance for people that have experienced ovarian cancer, will be reviewed on your specific circumstances.

The insurer will really want to know the TNM rating or staging/grading of the cancer, that you were diagnosed with. They will also ask about the treatments that you underwent and when these stopped.

Where the ovarian cancer was classified as low staging/grading and a long period has passed since your last treatment, life insurance may be available at normal terms. If the ovarian cancer was classed as high staging/grading or you recently had treatment, it is possible that the insurer will offer you policy terms at non-standard rates. This is usually an increase to the premium.

If your cancer was recent, this may result in cover being postponed with some insurers, for a number of years from last treatment. This is not all insurers and there are quite a few routes to getting life insurance, that could be beneficial to you. Our advisers are trained to help you, find the right insurance and insurer for you.

Critical illness cover pays out a cash lump sum of money, if you are diagnosed with a medical condition that is listed in the insurer’s claims set e.g. cancer, heart attack, stroke.

When applying for critical illness cover ovarian cancer will need to be detailed to most insurers. They will want to know the staging and grading of the cancer, the treatment that you received and any lasting complications that you may have.

It is likely that for quite some time after your treatment, that critical illness cover will not be available with standard insurers. There are some specialist options that you might be able to access, but we highly recommend that you speak with an adviser who can go through the terms and conditions with you.

There is a strong likelihood that any offer of critical illness cover that you have, will have some form of cancer exclusion.

Income protection pays you a replacement of your monthly income, if you are unable to work due to ill health.

Terms for income protection for people that have had ovarian cancer will also be dependent upon the grading/staging of the cancer, the amount of time since you underwent treatment and any lasting complications that you currently experience.

It is possible in some cases that income protection may be available at standard terms, but this will really depend upon the time since last treatment and the staging/grading of the ovarian cancer.

If the cancer has caused you to experience long lasting complications, was a high staging/grading or needed recent treatment, income protection may be offered at non-standard terms. This can involve a cancer exclusion and/or a premium increase.

It is also possible that some insurers will postpone or decline your application. There are some more specialist routes that might be available, and our advisers can talk you through these if you request a quotation.

GET AN INCOME PROTECTION QUOTE

When the terms of income protection are not suitable for you may wish to consider accident, sickness and unemployment cover. An accident, sickness and unemployment policy will provide short term income protection of between 12-24 months if you are unable to work due to disability, severe illness or are made involuntarily redundant.

This type of policy is not medically underwritten which means that your ovarian cancer will have no bearing on the acceptance terms. Any claim that you make will exclude anything related to your ovarian cancer and you should familiarise yourself with exactly what you are and are not covered for.

GET AN ACCIDENT, SICKNESS AND UNEMPLOYMENT QUOTE​

Are you going on holiday? Make sure that you know what your travel insurance covers you for, after your cancer diagnosis. To find out more about arranging travel insurance after cancer, please visit our dedicated page here.