Place the Case: Breast Cancer

About Breast Cancer

One of the most common impairments we see in underwriting is a history of breast cancer. With the advances in medical care and treatment, plus increased awareness and self exams, we’re seeing more cases of women who are survivors of breast cancer, creating a unique underwriting challenge. The good news is that we can typically get a decent offer for coverage if the cancer is detected early and treated properly.

When your proposed insured has a history of breast cancer, the first thing is to assure them that this is common. The industry has lots of experience underwriting this risk, and you have access to support that will help them get the best possible offer based on their unique situation and history.

Life Insurance Underwriting for Breast Cancer

A few key bits of information will allow us to give you a realistic expectation of an eventual underwriting decision. Here are the primary questions to ask a proposed insured who presents with a history of breast cancer:

• What was the age at diagnosis and the date the treatment ended?
• What was the specific type of breast cancer?
• What was the stage and grade of the cancer? — this is most important, and comes from the post-pathology report
• How was it treated?...lumpectomy or mastectomy?...any chemo or radiation?
• Any metastasis or lymph node involvement?
• If known, are there any positive receptors, and what is the size of the tumor?

With this basic amount of information, we can give you a more accurate picture of what will be the eventual outcome from underwriting, allowing you to better quote your prospect and set realistic expectations.

As always, we're here to help you answer questions, and provide the best underwriting services possible to help you place cases.

Click here to contact our underwriter, Mike Woods, with specific underwriting questions about breast cancer.