Does being vaccinated affect your life insurance coverage?
Quick Facts
Life insurance companies don’t ask about your vaccine history
Having COVID could impact your future life insurance policies, especially if you develop long-term symptoms as a result
Compare quotes for life insurance to determine the policy type and death benefit you need
In a post-pandemic society, many people are curious about the link between the COVID vaccine and life insurance costs. Life insurance companies do not ask about your vaccine records for the COVID vaccine or any other vaccines.
Still, being vaccinated may allow you to get cheaper life insurance rates in the long run.
While life insurance companies do not request your vaccination records, being vaccinated could affect your life insurance coverage and rates because of how life insurance companies utilize life insurance rating classes as a means of determining client rates.
The Impact of Vaccinations on Life Insurance Underwriting
Life insurance companies may not make a regular practice of asking for vaccination records. Still, vaccinations affect life insurance rates in a few ways because of how life insurance rates are determined.
Vaccines and life insurance have more of a symbiotic relationship than people realize. If you’re vaccinated, you’re less likely to get sick or less likely to experience severe symptoms.
When it comes to life insurance with COVID, for example, the vaccine could help you avoid feeling the worst symptoms associated with the virus.
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The Link Between Vaccinations and Life Insurance Rates
Life insurance with pre-existing conditions can be expensive. If you get a vaccine and avoid some of the long-term symptoms that many life insurance companies consider problematic, you may get cheaper life insurance rates.
You won’t automatically be charged more for life insurance by refusing the COVID vaccine, but your life insurance rates could be higher in a few decades than someone’s rates who chose to get the vaccine.
How Your Vaccination Status Could Affect Your Life Insurance
Life insurance companies may be allowed to consider your vaccination status in the future, but this is yet to be determined.
Additionally, for a company to consider a COVID vaccine, that company would likely also have to assess vaccines for things like the flu and shingles.
So, if you’re unlikely to get other vaccines in the future but worry that not having a COVID vaccine could make life insurance too expensive, that’s unlikely to be the case.
Factors That Affect Life Insurance Rates
A person’s age, gender, family medical history, and tobacco use are some of the major factors that impact life insurance rates.
Life Insurance Monthly Rates by Age, Gender, and Smoker Status
Policyholder Age and Tobacco UseMaleFemale
25-year-old non-smoker$179$161
25-year-old smoker$322$249
35-year-old non-smoker$166$179
35-year-old smoker$286$322
45-year-old non-smoker$185$166
45-year-old smoker$360$286
55-year-old non-smoker$240$185
55-year-old smoker$493$360
65-year-old non-smoker$268$240
65-year-old smoker$638$493
Average annual rates for non-smokers$407$268
Average annual rates for smokers$992$638
If you’re concerned about how much you’ll pay for life insurance, find and compare quotes from several companies to learn more about how to buy life insurance that fits your budget.
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Navigating Life Insurance Coverage for Individuals Who are Unvaccinated
Searching for life insurance without a vaccine is the exact same process as searching for life insurance after getting the vaccine.
First, determine the type and amount of coverage you want. Next, find and compare life insurance coverage for unvaccinated individuals online. Your rates will be identical to life insurance rates for vaccinated individuals, assuming you do not have a pre-existing condition.
Disclosing Your Vaccination Status to Your Insurance Company
You should not have to speak with your insurance company about your vaccination status. Still, finding the best life insurance companies in your area can be tricky.
If at all possible, purchase life insurance coverage and complete the medical exams associated with your policy once all of your COVID symptoms have subsided.
Companies Considering Charging More for Unvaccinated Individuals
Life insurance companies do not ask about your vaccination status. If you’re worried about disclosing information concerning vaccines, it’s your choice not to discuss the matter. You should not be charged more or less for life insurance based on the COVID vaccine.
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Vaccinations Can Protect Us From Diseases and Global Pandemics
If you get the COVID vaccine, it may help protect you and others from global pandemics and other diseases. Life insurance rating classes may help you understand where you fall.
State Pandemic Readiness Scoring
StateHospital Beds
(per 1k ppl)Active Physicians
(per 100k ppl)Uninsured
ResidentsPreparedness
Rank
Massachusetts2.3449.53.3%1
New York2.7375.16.6%2
Pennsylvania2.9320.56.6%3
Minnesota2.5302.75.1%4
Rhode Island2.1370.05.4%5
Michigan2.5287.06.1%6
Vermont2.1367.15.5%7
West Virginia3.8263.47.5%8
Ohio2.8292.77.1%9
Connecticut2.0352.16.3%10
Delaware2.2284.66.1%11
Hawaii1.9314.14.6%12
Kentucky3.2230.96.4%13
Maryland1.9386.07.0%14
North Dakota4.3237.68.6%15
Iowa3.0218.25.5%16
Illinois2.5284.47.9%17
Louisiana3.3260.39.6%18
Maine2.5330.210.2%19
New Hampshire2.1315.17.0%20
New Jersey2.4306.59.0%21
Nebraska3.6239.29.6%22
Wisconsin2.1264.96.4%23
South Dakota4.8240.410.8%24
Missouri3.1273.110.9%25
Montana3.3247.110.4%26
Washington1.7278.87.1%27
Kansas3.3227.610.1%28
Tennessee2.9253.111.3%29
Arkansas3.2207.69.3%30
Colorado1.9285.78.7%31
Indiana2.7230.89.6%32
Oregon1.6303.48.2%33
California1.8279.68.2%34
Alabama3.1217.111.0%35
Florida2.6265.216.0%36
Virginia2.1263.210.2%37
Wyoming3.5207.914.2%38
Mississippi4.0191.314.5%39
Alaska2.2276.914.8%40
North Carolina2.1255.012.6%41
South Carolina2.4229.513.1%42
Georgia2.4228.715.5%43
New Mexico1.8244.811.0%44
Oklahoma2.8206.716.5%45
Arizona1.9242.012.1%46
Utah1.8216.210.0%47
Texas2.3224.819.4%48
Nevada2.1213.513.1%49
Idaho1.9192.611.8%50
Still, shopping for life insurance during a pandemic can be difficult. Life insurance underwriting is a nuanced expertise, and it’s important to find and compare quotes for multiple life insurance policies to determine which will work best and which is the best price.
The Future of Vaccinations and Life Insurance
If you consider the states best and least prepared for the pandemic, you may also be curious about the link between the COVID vaccine and life insurance costs. Your medical history and life insurance rates go hand-in-hand.
If you’re healthy, your life insurance rates should be competitive based on life insurance rates by age and gender.
If you have a pre-existing condition, or if you have a weakened immune system, your life insurance rates will likely shift as a result. While the COVID vaccine could help certain individuals get cheaper life insurance rates, getting the vaccine isn’t going to automatically make your rates higher or lower.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can vaccinations lower your life insurance rates?
Life insurance companies don’t ask about your vaccination records. Still, getting a vaccine could help you avoid medical conditions in the future.
Can I get life insurance if I have a pre-existing condition?
You can get life insurance at any stage. Someone with a pre-existing condition may want to consider a guaranteed issue policy or another no-exam life insurance policy that does not require a medical exam.
Are there specific vaccines that impact life insurance coverage?
Vaccines do not impact life insurance rates directly.
Can I get life insurance if I have Long COVID?
Long COVID life insurance may be more expensive if your symptoms persist for a significant period of time. Still, shopping online for coverage should allow you to find more affordable rates.
What will void my life insurance policy?
You should always provide honest information to your life insurance company to avoid losing your life insurance coverage.
Can insurance companies deny coverage for the unvaccinated?
You will not lose the opportunity for life insurance coverage based on your vaccination record.
Should I disclose my vaccination status to my insurer?
You may want to disclose your vaccination record if you have pre-existing conditions that would be made more harmful if you contracted COVID.
Will my life insurance policy cover COVID-19 related deaths if I am unvaccinated?
Your life insurance policy will payout if you pass away as a result of the virus.
Can I get life insurance with hepatitis?
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Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about life insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything life insurance-related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by life insurance experts.
Rachael Brennan has been working in the insurance industry since 2006 when she began working as a licensed insurance representative for 21st Century Insurance, during which time she earned her Property and Casualty license in all 50 states.
After several years she expanded her insurance expertise, earning her license in Health and AD&D insurance as well. She has worked for small health in…
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Written by
Rachael Brennan
Licensed Insurance Agent
Benjamin Carr worked as a licensed insurance agent at State Farm and Tennant Special Risk. He sold various lines of coverage and informed his clients about their life, health, property/casualty insurance needs.
Assessing risks and helping people find the best coverage to suit their needs is a passion of his. He appreciates that insurance was designed to protect people, particularly during times…
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Reviewed by
Benjamin Carr
Former State Farm Insurance Agent
