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Can I Get Benign Breast Cancer Life Insurance?

breast cancer life insurance
Insurance Quotes 2 Day Team

Written By Doug Mitchell

Doug Mitchell, CLU holds a BA degree in Finance from Auburn University, a Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) designation from The American College in Bryn Mahr, PA and Top of the Table member of the Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT). Doug has spent close to 30 years in the insurance and financial planning industry and has held licenses to sell securities, long-term care insurance, health.  Doug is also a financial blogger addressing the topics of life insurance, annuities and retirement income planning.

Holly Mitchell  &

Holly Mitchell’s background in life insurance insurance goes back to 1985 when she worked for her father who was a New York Life agent. Holly has a marketing degree from Auburn University and has had a life insurance license since 2008. In addition to advising life insurance for customers all around the country, Holly is our website fact checker.

Rob Pinner   &

Rob Pinner is the founder and CEO of Pinner Financial Services servicing all 50 states. Rob started his insurance career in 2002.

Louis LaBash

Results-driven and innovative life insurance professional with 30 plus years of life insurance industry sales and marketing experience. Recognized as a pioneer in the field, leveraging phone and internet channels to exceed personal sales of over $100 million during the first decade of the 21st century. Creator of a highly effective intuitive IUL life insurance sales software that facilitated the sale of millions of dollars of indexed universal policies by numerous life insurance agents. Proven track record as a Managing General Agent (MGA), Life Agent, IUL Life Insurance Sales Software developer, and leading-edge creator of insurance marketing tools, educational content, and delivery systems.

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Many women (and a few men! — more about that later) develop benign breast cancer during their lives. The Emory Healthcare website states that “although benign breast conditions are not life-threatening, they may cause bothersome symptoms and are occasionally associated with a higher risk of developing breast cancer in the future.

Management of such findings should be directed by your primary health care provider.”

How is this going to impact your breast cancer life insurance possibilities? If you’ve had a scary diagnosis, you know it can create some thoughts of life insurance and planning for the future.

That last part about your relationship with your health care provider is very important.

With any benign breast condition, or any health condition that may be suspected to “impair” your risk in the eyes of a life insurance company, a record of adherence to a program of treatment directed by your physician is very important.

Benign breast conditions and life insurance?

While most are not, some types of benign breast conditions are linked to an increased risk of cancer. 

The American Cancer Society states on their website that doctors “often divide benign breast conditions into 3 general groups, based on whether the cells are multiplying (proliferative) and whether there are abnormal cells or patterns of cells (atypia).

  • Non-proliferative conditions “are not linked with the overgrowth of breast tissue. They do not seem to affect breast cancer risk, or if they do, the effect is very small.” Most benign breast conditions fall into this category, including: fibrosis, cysts, and benign lumps and tumors.
  • Proliferative conditions without atypia “are linked with the growth of cells in the ducts or lobules of the breast tissue. They seem to raise a woman’s risk of breast cancer slightly (1½ to 2 times the usual risk).”
  • Proliferative conditions with atypia “are linked with the excess growth of cells in the ducts or lobules of the breast tissue, and the cells no longer look normal. They can raise breast cancer risk about 3½ to 5 times higher than normal.”

Life insurance companies will take this increased risk into account when underwriting you for a policy. If you have one of the more common non-proliferative conditions and there are no other complicating medical or other risk issues, you will have a good shot at receiving a standard risk rating and pay very reasonable life insurance premiums.

Even if you have a benign breast condition associated with an elevated cancer risk, there are still some options for life insurance

Some people are surprised to learn that benign breast conditions affect men as well as women. The most common male benign breast condition is called gynecomastia.

According to the American Cancer Society, gynecomastia “is not a tumor but rather an increase in the amount of a man’s breast tissue. Usually, men have too little breast tissue to be felt or noticed. Gynecomastia can appear as a button-like or disk-like growth under the nipple and areola (the dark circle around the nipple), which can be felt and sometimes seen.”

Gynecomastia is much more common than breast cancer, but both disorders often have similar symptoms and can be felt as a growth under the nipple. Because of this, it is important to have these types of lumps checked by your doctor as soon as they are detected.

What Causes Gynecomastia?

Gynecomastia is usually caused by hormonal changes. It is often seen in teenage boys experiencing adolescence and is usually temporary. Gynecomastia in older men is due to changes in hormone balance that come with age. Also, gynecomastia can be caused by some medicines, a rare genetic condition call Klinefelter Syndrome, or over-production of estrogen caused by problems with the endocrine gland.

Will Gynecomastia Affect My Life Insurance Premium?

Benign breast conditions and life insurance?

Gynecomastia is not usually a significant health risk. But, it is rarely discussed and often misunderstood, certainly by many life insurance companies that might rate you poorly with a condition they are not familiar with, like gynecomastia. 

The life insurance companies best suited for past cancer history would be:

  • Protective Life
  • Banner Life or William Penn (New York)
  • North American
  • Lincoln National
  • American General Life
  • United Home Life (Final Expense)

With a carrier that caters to impaired risk, gynecomastia should not result in a substandard risk rating.

What Should You Do Next?

All of this info can have your head spinning. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, or you still have some questions, we would be happy to hear them. Not only do we help applicants shop for life insurance coverage, but we also want to give any resources and advice we can.

If you want to get a plan you can afford, the best route is to give us a call. All you have to do is answer a few of our questions. The more we know about your health condition the more we can help.  We will discuss with our team of underwriters and prepare a list of quotes, based on your age and health condition, from our top life insurance companies.

Your life insurance purchase can’t get any easier.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get life insurance if I have a benign breast condition?

With any benign breast condition, or any health condition that may be suspected to “impair” your risk in the eyes of a life insurance company, a record of adherence to a program of treatment directed by your physician is very important. Life insurance companies will take the risk into account when underwriting you for a policy.

I have gynecomastia, can I get life insurance?

Gynecomastia is not usually a significant health risk. Because this condition is rarely discussed and often misunderstood, many top life insurance companies might rate those with gynecomastia poorly. Ogletree Financial Services is an insurance broker with over 35 life insurance companies – we can help narrow down the carriers that will insure someone with unique conditions.

Can I get life insurance if I have fibroids in my breast?

If you have one of the more common non-proliferative conditions (fibrosis, cysts, and benign lumps and tumors) and there are no other complicating medical or other risk issues, you will have a good shot at receiving a standard risk rating and pay very reasonable life insurance premiums.
author avatar
Doug Mitchell, CLU Independant Advisor
Doug Mitchell, CLU holds a BA degree in Finance from Auburn University as well as having obtained a Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) designation from The American College in Bryn Mahr, PA. Doug has spent almost 30 years in the life insurance industry and has also held licenses to sell securities, long-term care insurance and home and auto insurance. Doug is a Top of the Table Million Dollar Round Table member (MDRT).  MDRT is a global, independent association of the world's leading life insurance advisors.  For two years, Doug served as President of the Auburn Opelika Association of Financial Advisors and has been a member of the Million Dollar Round Table. He obtained Life Millionaire status at Horace Mann Insurance Company and was awarded the Life Agent of the Year Award. Later in his career with New York Life he was an Executive Council Member. Doug currently serves as President of Ogletree Financial, a managing general agency serving life insurance agents and clients in all parts of the United States. Today, Doug’s main focus is servicing 1000s of policyholders.

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