The short answer
Burial insurance for dialysis patients is available, but options are usually limited. Many policies with health questions ask about kidney failure or dialysis, so people on dialysis are commonly offered guaranteed issue. It asks no health questions but has a waiting period, often about two years. Kidney disease without dialysis, or after a working transplant, may open more options.
Key takeaways
- Many burial insurance policies with health questions ask about dialysis, so guaranteed issue is commonly the option available to dialysis patients.
- Guaranteed issue usually pays only premiums back, often with some interest, if death from illness happens during the waiting period.
- Kidney disease that has not reached dialysis may still fit a graded or level policy at some companies.
- Medicare covers dialysis for many people with kidney failure, usually starting the fourth month of dialysis, but it does not pay for a funeral.
- The NIH says diabetes is the leading cause of kidney disease, so many dialysis patients also answer diabetes questions.
Can you get burial insurance on dialysis?
Yes. Dialysis does not rule out burial insurance, but it narrows the choices. Many companies treat dialysis as a sign of serious kidney disease, so a level policy with full coverage from day one is usually hard to find.
Guaranteed issue is the option commonly available. It does not ask health questions. It usually pays the full benefit for death from illness only after a waiting period. See how the three policy types work.
Kidney failure and dialysis in plain words
The NIH (NIDDK) describes kidney failure as having less than 15% of normal kidney function left. Treatments include:
- Hemodialysis, where a machine filters the blood, usually at a center or sometimes at home
- Peritoneal dialysis, which uses the lining of the belly to filter the blood, usually at home
- Kidney transplant
- Conservative management, which treats symptoms without dialysis
Insurance applications may ask about any of these, or about "chronic kidney disease" or "kidney failure" in general.
How insurers commonly look at kidney disease
| Situation | What is commonly offered |
|---|---|
| On dialysis now | Guaranteed issue is commonly the option available. |
| Kidney disease, not on dialysis | Some companies may offer graded or level coverage, depending on the stage and other conditions. |
| Kidney transplant | Some companies ask about transplants. Time since the transplant and how well it is working may matter. |
| On a transplant waiting list | Often treated like dialysis, since many people on the list are on dialysis. |
| Other conditions | Diabetes, heart disease or high blood pressure alongside kidney disease is often looked at closely. |
The NIH (NIDDK) says diabetes is the leading cause of kidney disease. If that applies to you, see burial insurance with diabetes. High blood pressure or heart problems may also be asked about. See how heart conditions and other pre-existing conditions are commonly treated.
What the waiting period means for your family
- If death is from illness during the waiting period, the family usually receives the premiums paid, often plus some interest.
- If death is from an accident, the full benefit is often paid from the first day.
- After the waiting period, the full benefit is paid for any covered cause.
Example: a hypothetical policy has a $7,000 benefit and a two-year waiting period. If death from illness comes in month 18, the family receives the premiums paid plus the stated interest. If it comes in month 26, the family receives $7,000.
Ask to see the waiting period terms in writing before you apply. They are usually in a section called "graded death benefit" or "limited death benefit."
Who a guaranteed issue policy is and is not right for
- It may fit if you expect to live well past the waiting period and want a fixed amount locked in for your family.
- It may not be worth it if your doctor expects a shorter outlook. During the waiting period, many policies return premiums rather than the full benefit. Saving the same money may do a similar job.
- Check first for life insurance you already have through work, a union or an old policy.
Medicare, dialysis and funeral costs
People with kidney failure can often get Medicare at any age if they meet work or benefit rules. Medicare Part A covers dialysis in a hospital, and Part B covers dialysis at a center or at home, including supplies and training. After the deductible, you usually pay 20% of the approved amount.
Timing: Medicare says coverage based on kidney failure usually starts on the first day of the fourth month of dialysis. It can start in the first month if you take part in a Medicare-certified home dialysis training program during the first three months and meet the other conditions.
Medicare is health insurance. It does not pay for burial insurance premiums or for a funeral.
Medicare does not pay for funerals. See Medicare and funeral expenses and how to pay for a funeral for other options.
Questions you may see on the application
- Are you currently receiving kidney dialysis?
- Have you been diagnosed with chronic kidney disease or kidney failure?
- Have you had, or been advised to have, an organ transplant?
- Have you been in the hospital in the past [number] months?
Answer exactly what each question asks. During the first two years a policy is in force, a company can usually contest a claim over a wrong answer that mattered.
What to have ready and what to ask a Licensed Insurance Agent
Have ready:
- When you started dialysis, and what type (in-center or at home)
- The cause of your kidney disease, if known
- Whether you are on a transplant list, or have had a transplant
- Your medicines and doses
- Other conditions, such as diabetes or heart problems
- Your age and state (guaranteed issue has age limits)
Ask the Licensed Insurance Agent: Does any company you work with not ask about dialysis? If this is guaranteed issue, how long is the wait and what is paid during it? Is accidental death covered from day one? Is the price fixed for life?
Family members often shop for someone on dialysis. The person insured must agree and sign. See burial insurance for parents. This page is general information, not medical advice.
Common questions
Can I get burial insurance with no waiting period while on dialysis?
It is uncommon. Many companies with health questions ask about dialysis. Guaranteed issue, which has a waiting period of about two years for death from illness, is the option commonly available. A Licensed Insurance Agent can check whether any other options exist for you.
What happens if I die during the waiting period?
On many guaranteed issue policies, if death is from illness during the waiting period, the family receives the premiums paid, often with some interest, instead of the full benefit. Accidental death is often covered in full from day one. After the waiting period, the full benefit is paid.
What if I have kidney disease but am not on dialysis?
You may have more options. Some companies may offer graded or level coverage depending on the stage of kidney disease and your other health conditions. A Licensed Insurance Agent can check how each company words its kidney questions and which of them may apply to you.
Can I get burial insurance with stage 3 or stage 4 kidney disease?
Often, yes. Kidney disease that has not reached dialysis may be offered a graded or level policy by some companies, depending on how the application words its kidney questions and your other conditions, such as diabetes or heart disease. Have your stage, your doctor's name and your medicines ready when you talk with a Licensed Insurance Agent.
Does Medicare pay for burial insurance or a funeral?
No. Medicare is health insurance. It covers dialysis for many people with kidney failure, usually starting the fourth month of dialysis, but it does not pay for funerals or burial insurance premiums. See Medicare and funeral expenses for what Medicare does and does not cover at the end of life.
Can I get burial insurance after a kidney transplant?
Possibly more than guaranteed issue. Some companies ask about transplants, and time since the transplant and how well it is working may matter. Others may offer a graded policy. Rules vary widely, so having a Licensed Insurance Agent compare several companies can help you check.
Does Medicare pay for dialysis?
Medicare covers dialysis for many people with kidney failure, under Part A in a hospital and Part B at a center or at home. You usually pay 20% of the approved amount after the deductible. Medicare does not pay for funerals, so families often plan for those costs separately.
Does burial insurance cost more for dialysis patients?
Usually, yes. Guaranteed issue, the type commonly available on dialysis, often costs more for the same benefit than a policy with health questions. The price is commonly fixed for life once the policy starts. A Licensed Insurance Agent can show you real quotes.