Life Insurance With Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in Canada

Receiving a diagnosis of Hodgkin’s lymphoma can be devastating for patients and their families. One of the biggest concerns that arises is obtaining life insurance coverage with Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Since Hodgkin’s lymphoma is a serious medical condition, qualifying for affordable life insurance after a diagnosis can be challenging.

This guide provides Canadian patients and families with an in-depth look at how Hodgkin’s lymphoma can impact your life insurance options. We will cover:

• Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in Canada – Statistics and Survival Rates
• Impact of a Hodgkin’s Lymphoma History on Life Insurance Eligibility in Canada
• Available Individual Life Insurance Policy Types
• Tips to Improve Your Chances of Getting Approved
• Estimated Costs of Coverage in Canada
• Alternative Options to Get Coverage
• The Life Insurance Application Process
• Disclosing Your Medical History
• Providing Evidence of Insurability
• Case Studies of Canadians with Hodgkin’s lymphoma
• Answers to Frequently Asked Questions

By the end of this guide, Canadian Hodgkin’s lymphoma patients and their families will understand how a history of this disease can impact their life insurance options and the steps that can be taken to improve their chances of getting approved for life insurance with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.

What is Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in Canada?

Incidence and Survival Statistics

Hodgkin’s lymphoma accounts for about 0.5% of all cancer cases diagnosed in Canada annually and 15% of all lymphomas diagnosed. Each year in Canada, approximately 1000 people are diagnosed with HL.

(Source: https://www.lymphoma.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/20200430-HL-WEB.pdf)

The following table outlines the estimated new cases and deaths from Hodgkin’s lymphoma expected in Canada in 2024:

The Canadian Cancer Society estimates that:

650 men will be diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma, and 75 will die from it.
530 women will be diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma, and 40 will die from it.

Hodgkin’s lymphoma primarily impacts young adults and seniors.

The 5-year relative survival rate for Hodgkin’s lymphoma is approximately 85% in Canada. This means that around 85% of patients diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma will survive for at least five years following their diagnosis compared to the general population.

Survival rates can vary substantially depending on the stage at diagnosis:

When detected and treated early, Hodgkin’s lymphoma is often curable. However, later-stage diagnoses have higher mortality rates.

What Impacts the Eligibility & Costs of Life Insurance For Hodgkin’s Lymphoma Patients

Due to being a form of cancer, having Hodgkin’s lymphoma in your medical history will make it more challenging to qualify for life insurance in Canada.

Insurers classify lymphoma as a high-risk disease, which leads to stricter underwriting practices and higher premium rates compared to applicants without a cancer history.

Some insurers may automatically decline coverage if you have been diagnosed or treated for Hodgkin’s lymphoma within the past five years. Others may offer a policy but with higher premium rates or exclusions for death due to Hodgkin’s lymphoma for a period of time.

According to Hodgkin’s lymphoma patient advocate groups, the following factors often impact life insurance eligibility and premium rates for Canadian Hodgkin’s survivors:

• Time Since Treatment – The longer the period of time that has passed since you completed treatment, the lower your mortality risk is viewed, and the easier it is to get affordable rates. Waiting at least five years can mean better chances.
• The stage at Diagnosis – If you were diagnosed at an early localized stage, you are likely to be viewed more favourably than with advanced disease. The early stage indicates treatment was more likely to be successful.
• Intensity of Treatment – Extensive rounds of inpatient chemotherapy, full-body radiation, or stem cell transplants will often increase your perceived risk vs. limited chemotherapy.
• Status of Remission – Remaining cancer-free with follow-up testing is vital. Signs the cancer may have returned or any symptoms related to Hodgkin’s lymphoma recurrence will raise concerns.
• Medical Complications – Side effects and additional illnesses that result from treatments like heart disease, lung problems, or secondary cancers negatively impact your risk assessment.
• Other factors include age, policy type, and coverage amount – premiums are higher when you’re older, choosing longer coverage protection or a higher death benefits amount.

Insurers look at the full picture of your diagnosis, treatment, and current health when deciding on coverage and premiums. Having supporting medical records from your doctors is important.

While individual consideration is given to each case, the reality is that a history of Hodgkin’s lymphoma does limit and increase the cost of life insurance options in Canada.

Sample Premiums of Life Insurance With Hodgkin’s Lymphoma

To illustrate the potential impact, here are some sample monthly premiums for a $500,000 term life policy for a 40-year-old male non-smoker in Canada:

• No major pre-existing health conditions: $40/month
• Hodgkin’s lymphoma, stage 1, in remission over five years: $60/month
• Recurrent Hodgkin’s lymphoma or advanced stage: $155/month or decline

This demonstrates how, even after a long remission, premiums can be 50% higher or more compared to those without a lymphoma history. Each insurer will assess history and health differently.

A broker can provide quotes tailored to your specific age, health status, and coverage needs. Expect to pay higher premiums than applicants without a Hodgkin’s lymphoma history.

Types of Life Insurance Available for Hodgkin’s Lymphoma Survivors

If you have been diagnosed and treated for Hodgkin’s lymphoma, several individual life insurance options may be available in Canada:

Term Life Insurance for Hodgkin’s Lymphoma Survivors

Term life tends to be an affordable option for Hodgkin’s lymphoma survivors, especially if it has been several years since completing treatment with no signs of recurrence. Term life policy provides affordable pure death benefit protection for 10, 20, or 30 years. The primary advantage of term life for Hodgkin’s survivors is lower premiums compared to permanent insurance since coverage is not lifelong. Applicants still undergo medical underwriting, but criteria may be more lenient for those cancer-free for 5+ years.

Expert Insights: How Does Term Life Insurance Work?

Permanent Life Insurance for Hodgkin’s Lymphoma Survivors

Qualifying for permanent life after Hodgkin’s can be difficult, but it may be possible at least ten years post-treatment if the cancer is considered cured. Some insurers offer survivorship life policies specifically for those who have had certain cancers. The main types are whole life, universal life, and variable universal life. They build cash value that can be used while living. The cash value component can be advantageous for Hodgkin’s Lymphoma survivors later in life. The guaranteed death benefit and premiums may also provide peace of mind after dealing with a severe illness.

Due to the higher cost, permanent policies may be better suited for Hodgkin’s Lymphoma survivors who need lifelong insurance and can afford higher premiums. Converting a term life policy to a permanent life policy is often an option as well.

Expert Insights: How does permanent life insurance work?

Guaranteed Issue Life Insurance for Hodgkin’s Lymphoma Survivors

For Hodgkin’s survivors unable to get traditional life insurance with medical underwriting, guaranteed issue life insurance can be a good option since it does not require a medical exam. Guaranteed issue policy up to $25,000 provides a basic death benefit. This can cover final expenses or pay off small debts. Premiums are higher than term insurance since approval is guaranteed.

Working with an experienced insurance broker can help compare quotes across top Canadian providers to identify the most suitable policy based on your health, finances, and insurance needs.

Tips for Getting Approved for Life Insurance With Hodgkin’s Lymphoma

Given the increased risk associated with a history of Hodgkin’s lymphoma, getting approved for individual life insurance at reasonable rates can be challenging.

Here are some tips from Canadian insurance experts on improving your chances of qualifying for coverage with Hodgkin’s lymphoma history:

• Allow sufficient time to pass after treatments : Insurers are highly sensitive to how recent cancer treatments were. Waiting a minimum of 2 years, but ideally 5+ years, can really improve outcomes.
• Maintain follow-up testing : Having continued monitoring that shows you are cancer-free and in remission is vital. Discuss optimal frequency with your oncologist.
• Acquire doctor letters : Having a report from your oncologist explaining your prognosis, health status, and outlook can help greatly.
• Shop policies from multiple insurers : Each company has a different risk appetite. Working with a broker allows you to compare quotes.
• Consider a “simplified” no-medical exam application : The initial underwriting may be more lenient and approvable before full medical requirements are ordered.
• Look into group life insurance : Coverage through your employer may offer better rates due to less stringent underwriting.
• Improve overall health where possible : Lowering risk factors like weight, cholesterol, and blood pressure through lifestyle changes helps offset the added lymphoma risk.
• Avoid applying immediately after initial diagnosis : Waiting until after initial treatment is completed and remission is established can mean better prospects.

With preparation, due diligence, and patience, Canadians with Hodgkin’s lymphoma history can improve their chances of securing individual life insurance to protect loved ones.

Alternative Options for Life Insurance With Hodgkin’s Lymphoma

Beyond traditional policies from life insurance companies, those with a Hodgkin’s lymphoma history may consider alternative forms of coverage, including:

• Group life insurance – Many employer and association group plans offer guaranteed amounts without underwriting or with simplified health questionnaires. Portability to private plans may also be an option if you change jobs.
• Mortgage/creditor life insurance – Some banks and lenders offer bundled term life insurance policies along with mortgage and debt products. Provides basic coverage for outstanding loan balances.
• Final expense insurance – Small guaranteed issue policies meant to cover burial and final illness costs. Maximum benefits are usually $25,000 or less.
• Self-insuring – Setting aside dedicated savings or building an investment fund earmarked to provide income replacement in case of your death.

For Hodgkin’s patients struggling to get traditional coverage, these options can provide alternative forms of protection and financial safety nets for family members.

The Application Process Life Insurance With Hodgkin’s Lymphoma History in Canada

If going the traditional individual life insurance route, understanding the application process is key for Canadians with Hodgkin’s lymphoma history.

Disclosing Your Hodgkin’s Lymphoma Medical History

It is absolutely vital to fully disclose your Hodgkin’s lymphoma diagnosis, treatments, and current status on the life insurance application. Failing to disclose cancer history could potentially allow the insurer to deny a claim later on.

Be prepared to provide details including:

• Date you were first diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma
• The stage of your Hodgkin’s lymphoma at diagnosis
• All treatments you have undergone, including chemodrugs, radiation therapies, surgeries, etc.
• The dates you started and ended each treatment
• Hospital names and attending oncologists were treated
• How you have responded to treatment so far
• Whether your Hodgkin’s lymphoma is in remission
• Details of any signs of recurrence or ongoing symptoms
• How often do you receive follow-up exams and scanning
• Any additional health issues that resulted from treatments

Giving complete details upfront allows insurers to accurately evaluate your health history and risk profile.

Providing Evidence of Insurability Documentation

In addition to disclosing medical history on the application, life insurers will request supplementary documentation related to your Hodgkin’s lymphoma, including:

• Attending Physician Statements (APS) – Have your oncologist and family doctor fill out detailed APS forms provided by the insurer. This allows the insurer’s underwriters to get a full picture of diagnosis, treatment, response, prognosis and follow-up directly from your physicians.
• Medical Records – Insurers will request full medical records related to your Hodgkin’s diagnosis and treatment. This often includes pathology reports, operation notes, discharge summaries, and consultation reports with oncologists and hematologists. Signing a release of medical information form allows insurers to get records directly from their healthcare providers.
• Follow-Up Exam/Testing Results – Having continued follow-up testing at regular intervals is important while in remission. Share copies of follow-up bloodwork, imaging study results, scans, biopsies or other tests showing your current status.

Promptly providing detailed medical evidence enables underwriters to gain a clear understanding of your health and properly assess risk. This maximizes your chance of approval.

Additional Requirements

Beyond medical history and records, insurers may require additional documentation depending on your situation:

• Paramedical Exam – A paramed exam at your home checks vitals like height, weight, pulse, and blood pressure. Basic blood and urine samples may be taken. Ordered for higher amounts of coverage.
• Financial Documents – If seeking over $1 million in coverage, financial documentation proving total income and net worth may be required to justify the large policy amount.
• Lifestyle Questionnaires – Forms with questions related to potential risks like family history, driving history, alcohol use, tobacco use, drug use, or aviation hobbies may be required.

Your insurance broker can inform you of any additional requirements the insurer needs to complete underwriting and make a final decision on your application.

Pros and Cons of Life Insurance with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma

Getting life insurance after being diagnosed and treated for Hodgkin’s lymphoma has both advantages and potential drawbacks to consider:

Pros of Life Insurance with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma

• Provides a death benefit to help protect loved ones financially if you pass away prematurely
• Peace of mind knowing your family has funds to cover expenses, debts, mortgages, and daily needs
• Ability to cover estate taxes and final costs so family avoids paying out-of-pocket
• Potential to leave an inheritance or legacy for causes and people important to you
• Tax-advantaged way to pass on wealth to heirs compared to leaving uninsured assets

Read more : Family life insurance

Cons of Life Insurance with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma

• Higher premium costs due to increased mortality risk compared to healthy applicants
• Potential for lower maximum coverage amounts approved
• Possibility of exclusions on coverage for death due to Hodgkin’s recurrence or treatment side effects
• Authorization is required to access full medical records related to your Hodgkin’s history
• A more difficult underwriting process requiring patience and persistence

For most Hodgkin’s survivors, the significant pros of securing life insurance outweigh the cons of higher costs and inconvenient processes.

Where to Buy Life Insurance With Hodgkin’s Lymphoma

There are several options to explore when purchasing life insurance after Hodgkin’s lymphoma:

• Insurance brokers – Brokers have access to policies from Canada’s top insurers. They can compare quotes across multiple providers to find you the best rate based on your health profile. Often the best option.
• Advisors – Financial advisors may sell life insurance policies as part of their practice. Some are licensed brokers with broad access as well.
• Banks – Many large banks in Canada offer life insurance and have specialized advisors and brokers: RBC Insurance , Desjardins, and BMO
• Credit unions – Local credit unions often provide access to life insurance through brokerage partners.
• Online insurance – Websites like Insurance Direct Canada IDC allow you to get quotes and apply digitally. Limited to their own products.
• Direct insurers – You can apply directly with life insurance companies in Canada like Sun Life, Canada Life, and Manulife. Limited to their own products.

Working with an independent broker typically gives you the most options to find coverage at a competitive rate after overcoming the challenge of a Hodgkin’s diagnosis.

Case Studies: Securing Life Insurance With Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in Canada

To understand the full picture, let’s examine real-life examples of Canadian Hodgkin’s survivors and how a lymphoma history impacted their life insurance applications:

Olivia, Age 29 – Diagnosed With Stage I Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, Age 27

Olivia was diagnosed with early-stage I Hodgkin’s lymphoma at age 27 after noticing enlarging lymph nodes in her neck. She underwent six cycles of ABVD chemotherapy and achieved remission.

Two years later, when applying for life insurance at age 29, Olivia fully disclosed her Hodgkin’s history, provided all medical records, and submitted a letter from her oncologist confirming she had no signs of lymphoma and continued to be monitored with PET scans every six months.

Given her young age, early-stage diagnosis, and short remission period so far, Olivia was offered a 10-year $500,000 term life policy at a monthly premium of $110, roughly 2.5X higher than with a clean bill of health.

David, Age 52 – Diagnosed With Stage III Hodgkin’s Lymphoma Age 48

At age 48, David was diagnosed with more advanced stage III Hodgkin’s lymphoma after feeling fatigued and noticing extensive lymph node swelling. He underwent six cycles of BEACOPP chemo plus radiation therapy before achieving remission.

When applying for life insurance at age 52, just 18 months after finishing treatment, David struggled to find affordable coverage. Most insurers declined coverage or quoted premiums 3 to 5 times higher than for healthy applicants.

Given the recent treatments and the short period since completing therapy, insurers still perceived David’s mortality risk to be quite high. However, after waiting several more years in remission, David’s premiums declined to more reasonable levels.

Alicia, Age 44 – Recurrent Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, Now Age 50

Alicia was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma at age 40 and treated with ABVD chemotherapy, achieving remission. Unfortunately, at age 44, she relapsed with a recurrence of her Hodgkin’s disease.

Given the high risk of mortality with recurrent lymphoma, most insurers automatically declined Alicia’s application for life insurance at age 50 after again undergoing second-line chemotherapy.

Due to her ongoing battles with Hodgkin’s lymphoma, Alicia had difficulty finding affordable life insurance in Canada. She ultimately opted for a small guaranteed issue policy to at least provide basic final expense protection.

These examples illustrate how factors like age, stage at diagnosis, treatments undergone, and length of disease-free remission all impact an insurer’s decision when underwriting life insurance applications from Hodgkin’s survivors.

Many other diseases, such as Thyroid Cancer, Prostate Cancer, Breast Cancer, Ovarian Cancer, Crohn’s Disease, and Hepatitis… can have a considerable influence on your qualification for life insurance coverage. Refer to these informative articles for details on how to buy life insurance with pre-existing conditions:

• Life Insurance with Thyroid Cancer
• Life Insurance After Prostate Cancer
• Life Insurance For Breast Cancer Patients and Survivors
• Life Insurance with Ovarian Cancer
• Life Insurance with Crohn’s Disease
• Life Insurance with Hepatitis
• Life Insurance for Former Drug Users in Canada

Conclusion

The experience of shopping for life insurance is significantly more challenging for Canadians with a Hodgkin’s lymphoma history, given the increased mortality risk perception. However, with a methodical approach and perseverance, securing coverage is possible in most cases.

Being patient, allowing sufficient time to pass after completing treatment, and establishing disease-free remission status is key. Maintaining close follow-up care with your oncology team and having comprehensive medical records available to share with insurers also helps your case significantly.

While shopping for life insurance with Hodgkin’s lymphoma history often necessitates compromising on premium costs, exclusions, and other policy limitations, gaining coverage remains critical for both financial and peace of mind purposes.

Canadians battling or recovering from Hodgkin’s lymphoma who take the time to understand the impacts it can have on life insurance eligibility put themselves in a strong position to ultimately gain the coverage they require.

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma and need guidance on obtaining life insurance coverage, the licensed advisors at Lifebuzz are here to help. Contact us today to receive a free consultation and insurance policy review. Our experienced team will provide recommendations tailored to your health history and financial needs, giving you peace of mind during this challenging time. Get in touch now by visiting Life Buzz.

Frequently Asked Questions About Life Insurance With Hodgkin’s Lymphoma

Article Sources:

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1. Securing Life Insurance Coverage with Lymphoma – https://protectyourwealth.ca/