Burial Insurance With COPD (2026 Guide)
Yes, you can get burial insurance with COPD. The key factor is whether you use supplemental oxygen. COPD without oxygen use can qualify for Level day-one coverage at certain carriers, meaning full benefits from day one with no waiting period. COPD with home oxygen typically moves to Guaranteed Issue coverage. Either way, options exist. Asurgo compares 25+ carriers across all 50 states to find the right fit.
Jump to the oxygen question, carrier overview, or the FAQ.
The Quick Answer
Can You Get Life Insurance With COPD?
COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), including emphysema and chronic bronchitis, is one of the most common conditions carriers see on final expense applications. It does not automatically disqualify you.
Your eligibility depends on:
- Oxygen use -- the single biggest factor. No oxygen means more carrier options. Home oxygen means fewer options but coverage is still available.
- Nebulizer use -- some carriers that accept COPD will not offer standard rates if you use a nebulizer for daily maintenance treatment
- Recent hospitalizations -- ER visits or hospital stays for COPD flare-ups in the past 12 months can affect which carriers are available
- Stability -- is your COPD managed and stable on current medication?
- Other conditions -- COPD alone versus COPD combined with heart disease, diabetes, or other conditions changes the picture. Each additional condition can affect which carriers are available and at what rate.
The sections below break down exactly how carriers evaluate each factor.
Every carrier evaluates COPD differently
A licensed Asurgo specialist will match your oxygen status, medications, and health profile to the right carrier before any application goes in.
The Key Divider
The Oxygen Question: Level vs Guaranteed Issue
This is the dividing line for nearly every carrier. Whether you use supplemental oxygen determines which coverage tier is available to you.
COPD Without Supplemental Oxygen
If you have COPD but do NOT use home oxygen, CPAP for COPD (note: CPAP for sleep apnea is evaluated separately), or a nebulizer for daily maintenance, several simplified issue carriers can consider you for Level day-one coverage. This means:
- Full death benefit from day one
- No waiting period
- Rates comparable to standard simplified issue rates at most accepting carriers
Carriers like Transamerica and Royal Neighbors can offer Level day-one coverage for COPD without oxygen. Aflac and Aetna can also offer standard rates if no nebulizer is involved.
COPD With Supplemental Oxygen
If you use home oxygen -- even if only at night, even if you do not use it consistently but it was prescribed -- most simplified issue carriers will not be able to offer Level coverage. Your options:
- Guaranteed Issue -- no health questions, guaranteed acceptance, but with a 2 to 3 year graded benefit period before the full death benefit applies
- A carrier with more lenient oxygen policies -- some carriers evaluate oxygen use differently. This is where shopping 25+ carriers matters.
Carrier Overview
Which Carriers Can Accept COPD?
Carrier acceptance depends on your complete health profile -- COPD is one factor, but other conditions, medications, and health history all influence eligibility. Here is how the major carriers generally handle COPD applicants.
Transamerica -- Level Day-One for COPD
Can offer Level day-one coverage for COPD without supplemental oxygen. One of the more lenient carriers for respiratory conditions. A strong first option for COPD applicants without oxygen or nebulizer use.
Royal Neighbors -- Level Day-One for COPD
Can offer Level day-one coverage for COPD without supplemental oxygen. Another carrier that treats COPD favorably when the condition is stable and oxygen is not prescribed.
Aflac and Aetna -- Standard Rates Without Nebulizer
Can offer standard simplified issue rates for COPD applicants who do not use a nebulizer for daily maintenance treatment. The nebulizer question is the key here -- COPD alone does not disqualify, but daily nebulizer use can move the application to a different tier.
AIG and Mutual of Omaha -- Graded for COPD
These carriers generally place COPD applicants into Graded benefit coverage rather than Level. Graded means partial benefits during the first 24 months, then full benefit after. Premiums are higher than Level but coverage is still available.
Important: COPD eligibility at any carrier depends on your complete health picture. Other pre-existing conditions, current medications, oxygen use, nebulizer use, and recent hospitalizations all influence whether a carrier offers Level, Graded, or Guaranteed Issue coverage. The carriers listed above can accept COPD, but individual results vary based on your full application.
What About Emphysema Specifically?
Emphysema is a type of COPD. Carriers generally treat emphysema the same as COPD on their applications -- the oxygen and nebulizer questions are still the primary dividers. If you have emphysema without supplemental oxygen and the condition is stable, the same carriers that accept COPD can typically consider your application.
Match your COPD profile to the right carrier
We pre-qualify you against the right carrier before any application is submitted. No declined applications on your record.
Application Questions
What Carriers Ask About COPD
Most simplified issue final expense applications include questions like:
- "Have you been diagnosed with or treated for COPD or emphysema?"
- "Do you currently use supplemental oxygen?"
- "Have you been hospitalized for a respiratory condition in the past 12 months?"
- "Do you use a nebulizer for daily maintenance treatment?"
The exact wording varies by carrier. A "yes" to the oxygen, nebulizer, or hospitalization questions does not mean you cannot get coverage -- it means certain carriers are off the table and others become the better fit. This is why an independent broker compares multiple carriers rather than submitting to just one.
Cost Guide
How Much Does Burial Insurance Cost With COPD?
For COPD without oxygen and without a nebulizer, rates at carriers like Transamerica, Royal Neighbors, Aflac, and Aetna are comparable to standard simplified issue rates because these carriers do not add a COPD-specific surcharge for stable, non-oxygen applicants. Typical monthly rates for $10,000 in coverage:
| Age | Estimated Monthly Rate |
|---|---|
| 60 | $35 - $65 |
| 65 | $45 - $85 |
| 70 | $60 - $110 |
| 75 | $80 - $150 |
| 80 | $100 - $200 |
For COPD with oxygen (Guaranteed Issue), expect premiums 30 to 50 percent higher than the ranges above, with a 2 to 3 year graded benefit period before the full death benefit applies. Estimate your funeral costs by state to find the right coverage amount.
Timeline
Getting Covered: How the Process Works
Most COPD applicants finish the entire process in a single business day.
Call or get a quote online
Share your age, state, COPD status, and whether you use oxygen or a nebulizer. A specialist will give you an initial picture of your options.
Your specialist shops carriers
Asurgo compares 25+ carriers to find which ones can accept your specific situation at the best rate. No guesswork, no wasted applications.
Answer health questions
No medical exam, no blood tests, no doctor visits. Just questions on the application, answered over the phone in 15 to 20 minutes.
Get approved
Most applicants get an answer the same day. Coverage can start within 24 hours of the first premium payment.
For Adult Children
Helping a Parent With COPD Get Covered
If you are researching burial insurance for a parent with COPD, here is what you will need to help them:
- Their age and state of residence
- Whether they use supplemental oxygen (and if so, how often)
- Whether they use a nebulizer for daily maintenance
- Any recent hospitalizations (past 12 months)
- Other health conditions and current medications
- Approximate coverage amount they would want ($5,000 to $50,000)
You can start the quote process on their behalf. The application itself will need their direct participation and signature.
Start a quote for your parent
Call with the information above and a specialist will walk you through the options in about 5 minutes.
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get burial insurance if I have COPD?
Yes. COPD does not automatically disqualify you. If you do not use supplemental oxygen and the condition is stable, carriers like Transamerica and Royal Neighbors can offer Level day-one coverage with no waiting period. Aflac and Aetna can also offer standard rates if you do not use a nebulizer for daily maintenance. If you do use oxygen, Guaranteed Issue plans are available with no health questions.
Does COPD require a medical exam for burial insurance?
No. Final expense and burial insurance use simplified issue underwriting -- health questions only, no exam, no blood work. Some carriers ask about COPD and oxygen use specifically; others have broader respiratory questions. Guaranteed Issue coverage has no health questions at all.
Will I pay more for burial insurance because of COPD?
For COPD without oxygen and without a nebulizer, rates at carriers like Transamerica, Royal Neighbors, Aflac, and Aetna are comparable to standard simplified issue rates. For COPD on a Graded or Guaranteed Issue plan, premiums are typically 30 to 50 percent higher with a graded benefit period before the full death benefit applies.
What if I have COPD and diabetes or another condition?
Multiple conditions do not automatically mean Guaranteed Issue. Asurgo shops 25+ carriers -- some are lenient on COPD but strict on diabetes, and vice versa. The right carrier depends on your complete health profile. Each additional condition narrows the carrier list but does not necessarily eliminate Level day-one options. See our diabetic guide for more on how carriers handle diabetes.
What is the difference between COPD and emphysema for insurance?
Carriers generally treat them the same. Emphysema is a type of COPD. The oxygen and nebulizer questions -- not the specific diagnosis -- are what drive eligibility at most carriers.
I was prescribed oxygen but I do not use it. Does that matter?
Yes. Most carrier applications ask whether oxygen has been prescribed, not whether you actively use it. If oxygen was prescribed at any point and is still on your medical record, carriers will see it. Be honest on the application -- misrepresentation can void a policy during the contestability period.
Can I get burial insurance with COPD if I use a nebulizer?
It depends on the carrier. Some carriers like Aflac and Aetna ask specifically about nebulizer use and may move the application to Graded if the answer is yes. Carriers like Transamerica and Royal Neighbors do not ask about nebulizers specifically -- their COPD question focuses on oxygen use. A broker compares all options to find the best available tier for your situation.
How does COPD hospitalization affect my burial insurance options?
Recent hospitalization for COPD (typically within the last 12 months) can affect your tier at some carriers. Carriers evaluate COPD stability partly based on hospitalization history. An applicant with no COPD-related hospitalization in the past 12 months is generally in a stronger position for Level day-one approval than one with a recent admission. Asurgo shops 25+ carriers to find the best match regardless of hospitalization history.
Related Guides
Myth vs Fact
Myths About Burial Insurance With COPD
Five myths that cost COPD families real money when they go uncorrected.
Myth
"You can't get life insurance if you have COPD."
Fact
Most COPD applicants qualify for coverage. The key question is tier -- Level day-one, Graded, or Guaranteed Issue -- not whether coverage is available at all. Carriers like Transamerica and Royal Neighbors offer Level day-one coverage for COPD without supplemental oxygen.
Myth
"COPD always means a waiting period."
Fact
A waiting period only applies to Graded and Guaranteed Issue tiers. COPD applicants who do not use supplemental oxygen and have no recent COPD-related hospitalization typically qualify for Level day-one coverage with no waiting period at the right carrier.
Myth
"Emphysema is harder to insure than COPD."
Fact
Carriers treat emphysema and chronic bronchitis as types of COPD. The underwriting questions are the same. Oxygen use and hospitalization history determine the tier, not whether the diagnosis is labeled COPD, emphysema, or chronic bronchitis.
Myth
"Using an inhaler disqualifies you."
Fact
Inhalers alone do not disqualify or even trigger a Graded tier at most carriers. The dividing line is supplemental oxygen and nebulizer use, not inhalers. Most COPD applicants use one or more inhalers and still qualify for Level day-one coverage.
Myth
"You have to disclose COPD and they'll find out anyway."
Fact
You do have to disclose COPD -- carrier applications specifically ask about it, and a prescription-history check (MIB/Rx database) will surface COPD medications. Honest disclosure protects your policy from contestability challenges during the first two years. The good news is that disclosure does not mean denial -- it means the carrier matches you to the right tier.
See your options in 5 minutes
Every carrier evaluates COPD differently. Asurgo is an independent brokerage licensed in all 50 states. We compare 25+ carriers to find the best available option for your specific health profile, whether you use oxygen or not.
Get Your Free Quote Or call (855) 380-9555 · Mon-Fri 8am-8pm, Sat 9am-5pm ET
Nicholas Norminton, Licensed Insurance Specialist
Specialties: final expense, whole life, COPD underwriting, guaranteed acceptance, simplified-issue placement.
Nicholas is a nationally licensed insurance specialist with extensive experience across the industry. He has personally helped thousands of clients secure life insurance coverage and built Asurgo into a trusted, tech-forward brokerage serving clients in all 50 states.