Life Insurance With ALS: An Honest Guide for Families
Published on June 5, 2026 last updated on June 5, 2026Life Insurance With ALS: An Honest Guide for Families
8-minute read · By Phillip Chin, Licensed Agent (NPN #8895251) · Updated June 2026
ALS is declined everywhere health questions are asked, but guaranteed issue life insurance accepts you with no questions at ages 50–80. The honest catch is the 2-year waiting period — this guide walks through when the purchase truly serves your family and when it does not.
An ALS diagnosis changes everything, including the rules of life insurance. We are not going to pretend otherwise or bury the realities in fine print. This guide gives you the honest picture: what you can still get, what it costs, and — just as important — when buying makes sense and when it does not.
- ALS is an automatic decline for every underwritten and simplified issue policy — no exceptions we know of
- Guaranteed issue cannot decline you: no health questions, ages 50–80
- The 2–3 year waiting period is the central consideration with ALS — read the honest framework below
- Natural death during the wait returns all premiums plus 7%–10% interest; accidental death pays in full from day one
- A licensed agent who will tell you NOT to buy when it does not fit is worth finding — that is our policy
The Honest Answer About ALS and Life Insurance
Every carrier that asks health questions will ask about neurological disease, and ALS is a decline at all of them — fully underwritten, simplified issue, level benefit final expense, all of it. The only product that accepts an ALS diagnosis is guaranteed issue, because it asks nothing and accepts everyone in the age window.
Why Guaranteed Issue Accepts ALS
Guaranteed acceptance is not charity — it is a structural trade. The carrier takes everyone and protects itself with a graded death benefit: during the first 2 years (3 with some carriers), death from natural causes pays back premiums plus 7%–10% interest rather than the face amount. Death from any accident pays the full benefit immediately, and after the waiting period the full benefit applies to any cause of death.
Is It Worth Buying? An Honest Framework
This is the conversation most websites will not have. ALS progression varies enormously — median survival is 2–5 years from diagnosis, but roughly 20% of people live 5+ years and 10% live 10+ years. The policy math follows directly:
- Recently diagnosed, slower progression, younger: a meaningful chance of outliving the 2-year wait — the policy then pays in full and the purchase makes real sense
- Later-stage or fast progression: the realistic outcome is return of premiums plus interest — which never loses money, but also does not deliver the face amount your family may be counting on
- Either way: you cannot be cancelled once issued, and premiums never rise
Our commitment: tell us your situation honestly and we will tell you honestly whether this purchase serves your family. Sometimes the right answer is a smaller policy, a different beneficiary structure, or no policy at all. You will get that answer for free at (215) 999-3168.
What It Costs
Rates depend only on age, sex, state and amount. Sample monthly premiums for $10,000:
| Age | Female | Male |
|---|---|---|
| 50 | $28–$36 | $35–$45 |
| 55 | $33–$43 | $42–$54 |
| 60 | $40–$52 | $51–$66 |
| 65 | $50–$65 | $64–$83 |
| 70 | $65–$85 | $83–$108 |
Sample guaranteed issue ranges — your exact rate depends on state and carrier. No health questions either way.
Run the Numbers for Your Age
60 seconds, no health questions ever. See the real premium, then decide with full information.
Get My Free QuoteCall (215) 999-3168Protecting Your Family Beyond Insurance
Whatever you decide about coverage, these steps matter for every ALS family:
- Check group life options: employer coverage often continues during disability and may be convertible to an individual policy with no health questions — this is frequently the single best move
- Review any existing policies for waiver-of-premium and accelerated death benefit riders you may already own
- Apply for Social Security disability benefits promptly — ALS qualifies for expedited approval and skips the usual 5-month Medicare wait
- Get wills, beneficiary designations and powers of attorney current while it is easy
What to Do Next
- Inventory existing coverage first (employer group life, old policies, union benefits)
- If guaranteed issue fits your situation, quote it — age, state, amount, nothing else
- Call (215) 999-3168 for the honest conversation about whether it serves your family
- If you buy: about 15 minutes, guaranteed approval, same-day coverage start
Getting the Policy Right With ALS
If you decide coverage makes sense for your situation, precision matters. Choose a 2-year carrier — a 3-year graded period is materially worse math with ALS. Put every logistics piece on rails immediately: autopay from a stable account, beneficiary fully briefed, documents somewhere your family can find them without you. And revisit the employer conversion angle one more time before buying anything new: converting existing group coverage typically requires no health questions and often beats any new policy available to you.
- Exhaust group-life conversion rights first — usually your best dollar-for-dollar move
- 2-year waiting period carriers only
- Autopay + beneficiary briefing on day one, not week three
- Ask us the honest question — we will tell you if the math does not serve your family
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get life insurance after an ALS diagnosis?
Yes — guaranteed issue life insurance accepts applicants ages 50–80 with no health questions, so ALS cannot cause a decline. It is the only product type that will issue after diagnosis.
Does the waiting period make the policy pointless with ALS?
Not necessarily. About 20% of people with ALS live 5+ years, and progression speed matters enormously. If natural death occurs during the wait, all premiums are returned with 7%–10% interest — the money is never lost. We will discuss your honest odds with you.
What if I die in an accident during the waiting period?
The full death benefit is paid from day one for accidental death — that part of the coverage is immediate with virtually every carrier.
Can my employer life insurance be converted?
Often yes. Group policies typically include a conversion right — you can convert to an individual policy without health questions when employment ends. With ALS this is usually more valuable than any new policy; check it before buying anything.
Will premiums increase as my ALS progresses?
No. Guaranteed issue is whole life: the premium is locked at issue and the policy cannot be cancelled or repriced because of health changes.
Is there any life insurance without a waiting period for ALS?
Not on the open market — every no-waiting product asks health questions, and ALS is a universal decline. The exception is converting existing employer group coverage, which usually requires no questions and has no new waiting period. Check that first.
What about accelerated death benefits on an existing policy?
If you already own life insurance, many policies include a terminal-illness rider letting you access a large portion of the benefit while living. Before buying anything new, have us review what your current policy already does.
The Bottom Line
ALS forces honest math, and this guide gave it to you straight: guaranteed issue is the one product that will say yes, the waiting period is the central question, and sometimes — especially with employer coverage convertible in the background — the right answer is not a new policy at all. What matters is deciding with full information while the decision is still yours to make.
If you are weighing it, do not weigh it alone. Phillip has had this exact conversation with ALS families and will tell you plainly if the math does not serve yours — that promise is the whole point of this site. He answers at (215) 999-3168, or see the numbers yourself first if you prefer.