One of the most difficult situations that any family can face is one of its members falling prey to a terminal illness. Healthcare costs can be astronomical so make the last days as painless as possible, even while the family struggles to put their finances in order and ensure that life will go on after the loss of a loved one. For these terminally ill patients, finding a decent health insurance quote to help with the staggering medical costs can seem like an impossibility, as there is a perception that most, if not all healthcare companies will shy away from insuring a terminally ill patient based on the risk they present. While getting a health insurance quote is more difficult for someone in this situation, it is not impossible, and there are a few key points to bear in mind.

First, health insurance companies are no longer allowed to refuse coverage based on any pre-existing condition, including a terminal illness. They are permitted to ask for medical documentation, and will likely investigate the condition and projected time left before offering any sort of quote, but they will not be able to refuse terminally ill patients outright. While this is the case, quote will still be high, and the company will also likely restrict the amount of coverage offered and may require a large deductible or co-payment for any services they cover, especially if the condition requires ongoing treatments. As well, any benefits that are to pay out upon death will often include a waiting period, to ensure that a payment is not made by the company before any premiums have been paid. The length of waiting period is at the discretion of the company, but is often 1-2 years.

Second, terminally ill patients should be made aware that other options exist for them, including Medicare and Medicaid. These types of state-sponsored coverage can help to offset some of the costs associated with a terminal condition, although they will never be able to match the level of coverage provided by a private insurer. If private insurance is chosen, some insurer will offer what are known as “accelerated life benefits,” which will pay out at a far higher rate than those of a regular client. While this type of service can be expensive, it can, in conjunction with government programs, provide the funds necessary for a patient to comfortably survive their last few months.

Although no family ever wants to find itself in this position, a number of options exist to help lessen the burden borne by a terminally ill patient. While they are hard to come by, it is possible to find healthcare quotes for these patients that can give some measure of comfort.