Life Insurance with COPD and Asthma (2026)

You can get life insurance with COPD and asthma, though coverage options and rates vary based on your health condition and insurer's underwriting guidelines. Mild asthma that's controlled with occasional inhaler use has minimal impact on coverage options. Moderate to severe COPD requires more specialized underwriting, but doesn't eliminate your options.

Traditional policies, including term and whole, work well for well-controlled cases. No-exam life insurance accepts applicants regardless of their health status or medical conditions.

Each insurer has different underwriting guidelines. One company may decline an application that another approves. Compare multiple insurance companies to find the best policy and premiums.

Pulmonary function tests provide objective data that life insurance underwriters use to evaluate respiratory risk. Insurers review FEV1 (Forced Expiratory Volume in one second, which measures how much air you can exhale in one second), FVC (Forced Vital Capacity, which is the total amount of air you can exhale), and the FEV1/FVC ratio, along with percent predicted values adjusted for age, sex and height. An FEV1/FVC ratio below 70% confirms airflow obstruction. Ratios of 70% or higher indicate normal airflow.

Severity depends mainly on FEV1 percent predicted. An FEV1 below 50% of predicted shows advanced airflow limitation and often leads to higher rate classifications, postponement or possible decline, depending on stability and treatment history.

Chest X-ray or CT findings that show emphysema, fibrosis or structural lung damage support risk assessment. Emergency room visits or hospitalizations within the past 24 to 36 months signal unstable disease and increase underwriting concern.

Asthma underwriting depends on severity, control and treatment history. Many insurers consider mild intermittent asthma with rescue inhaler use of less than two days per week for standard rates, given that there are no recent hospitalizations or oral steroid use. Moderate or severe asthma that requires daily controller medication often results in table ratings or higher premiums.

Attack history carries weight. Applicants with no exacerbations, emergency visits or steroid bursts in the past 12 months receive better classifications than those with frequent episodes.

Medication patterns also signal risk. Infrequent albuterol use shows well-controlled asthma. Daily inhaled corticosteroids with long-acting bronchodilators indicate persistent asthma and lead to higher rate classes.

You've got several life insurance policy options, even with breathing issues. Coverage availability depends on the severity of your illness, the management of your condition and the insurer.

Term life insurance provides coverage for set periods like 10, 20 or 30 years. This policy works best for people with mild to moderate respiratory conditions who can pass medical underwriting.

Whole life insurance provides permanent coverage lasting your entire lifetime. Policies build cash value you can borrow against. Premiums stay level throughout your life.

No-exam life insurance includes simplified issue (no exam but with health questions) and guaranteed issue policies (no exam and no health questions). These policies offer options for people with severe COPD or poorly controlled asthma who can't qualify for traditional coverage.

Life insurance riders add benefits beyond the basic death benefit. Depending on the insurer, some riders are automatic add-ons and don't require additional payment.

Standard life insurance applications require in-person medical exams. A paramedical examiner collects health information, measures vital signs and draws blood samples. Blood tests measure cholesterol levels, blood sugar and liver function. Insurance companies may require breathing tests or pulmonary tests for people buying COPD life insurance or those with asthma. Simplified issue and guaranteed issue policies waive medical exams entirely.

Insurers request attending physician statements when applications involve complex medical histories. These statements provide detailed medical records directly from your doctors.

Contact your doctor's office after submitting your application to speed up the process. Inform them that an insurance company will request records.

This information is educational and doesn't replace professional medical advice.

Life insurance is available to people with COPD and asthma, though coverage options and rates depend on the severity and management of your condition. Mild to moderate respiratory conditions qualify for traditional policies. People with severe conditions should consider no-exam options, which have higher premiums but guarantee acceptance.

To improve your insurability, show stable condition management through regular medical care, medication compliance and lifestyle modifications. Quit smoking to get a rate improvement. Compare quotes from different insurers to find favorable underwriting for respiratory cases.