I’m 85 Years Old and Diagnosed with Alzheimer’s (or Dementia): Can I Get Life Insurance?
It can be more difficult to get life insurance once you’re 85-years old or older. Most insurance companies stop at age 85. If you have Alzheimer’s or dementia, it makes matters even worse.
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But all hope isn’t lost.
There is a way to get life insurance at 85 with Alzheimer’s.
How to Get Life Insurance at 85 with Alzheimer’s
You won’t have the traditional options to get life insurance when you’re over 85 years old. As you hit your senior years, the options become more limited, but definitely once you are 85.
But there is an option. It’s called guaranteed life insurance.
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Some may call it final expense insurance, funeral insurance, or just whole life insurance. No matter which way you slice it, the policy is a permanent policy that stays in effect for the rest of your life as long as you cover the premiums.
Here’s the good news.
You don’t have to do much to qualify, hence the name ‘guaranteed.’
Anyone can qualify for it no matter their health condition or lifestyle. The insurance companies don’t ask any questions or expect you to undergo a medical exam to get the insurance.
But there’s a catch.
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How Guaranteed Life Insurance Works
Guaranteed life insurance for seniors over 85 with Alzheimer’s will be limited to around $10,000. Each company differs in how much they’ll offer, but typically it’s $10,000, and only a few companies will offer it.
This does put you in a bit of a catch 22.
The premiums are much higher because the risk of death is much higher. You’re already over age 85 and have Alzheimer’s or dementia, which can shorten your lifespan.
There’s one more catch too.
There’s a 2-year waiting period. This means if you die within 2 years of taking out the policy, your loved ones won’t get the total payout. At the most, they’ll get the premiums you paid plus around 10 or 20%.
If you make it longer than 2 years, though, they’ll get a full payout when you die as long as you don’t die of any excluded reasons (suicide, criminal activity, etc.).
How Much Does Guaranteed Life Insurance Cost?
Every life insurance charges its own premiums. Plus, it depends on your qualifying factors, but you must not meet any specific factors to qualify since we’re talking about guaranteed life insurance.
Plain and simple – it will cost a lot.
On average, men over age 85 with dementia or Alzheimer’s pay $300 or more a month, and women pay $200 – $275 a month, and that’s just for $10,000 in coverage.
What can you Use Guaranteed Life Insurance For?
Guaranteed life insurance for seniors over 85 is used for a final expense policy. In other words, it helps your loved ones cover the cost of your funeral, wake, burial, or final medical expenses.
Many seniors take out a policy at this age when they realize they’ve used up the funds they had saved for their final expenses or when their term life insurance policy runs out, yet they are still alive.
A final expense policy is a perfect way to help your loved ones take care of your final arrangements without digging into their pockets or putting any stress on them.
Final Thoughts: Should you Get Life Insurance at 85 with Alzheimer’s?
It’s evident by now that life insurance at 85 with Alzheimer’s is expensive. Insurance companies take a significant risk insuring you in this situation. They need to charge high premiums to cover the cost of the benefits they’ll likely payout soon.
The only people that should consider this type of insurance are those that have gone through their savings and investments and have nothing to leave for their loved ones to cover their final expenses or other estate issues.
It’s not a policy you’d consider to leave a financial legacy or even to cover any significant expenses since the maximum coverage amount will likely be $10,000.
