Life Insurers Label Active Surveillance for Prostate Cancer as 'Untreated Cancer,' Impacting Coverage
Individuals undergoing active surveillance for low-risk prostate cancer are facing significant challenges in securing life insurance, as insurers often categorize their condition as 'untreated cancer.' This issue, highlighted by a medical journalist who experienced rejections from eight insurers in 2013, persists today. Despite medical recommendations for active surveillance—close monitoring with PSA blood tests, biopsies, and MRIs for low-risk cases like Gleason 6 (Grade Group 1)—insurance underwriters view this approach differently. A hypothetical case of a 64-year-old man with a new Gleason 6 diagnosis and a past heart attack, referred to as 'Young Howard,' revealed that insurers might postpone decisions for three to five years, requiring stable PSA results and no upgrading. This delay, coupled with potential higher rates due to age and other health factors like a heart attack, creates substantial financial penalties for patients following their doctors' advice.
