But I've been turned down before

The fact that you've been turned down before doesn't mean you can't get life insurance now. Life insurance for people with prior health conditions has become more available and affordable because people are living longer, resulting in more liberal insurer underwriting. Life insurance underwriting is the process used by the company's underwriter to decide whether to insure you and at what rate or cost, based on your medical history and sometimes other factors as well. In general, the longer your life expectancy as determined by the underwriter, the more likely you will qualify for life insurance, and the more affordable the cost.

What kind of information will insurers need?

Insurance companies generally request medical information from your primary care physician and any other doctors or hospitals that treated you for your illness. The insurer will also want to know the type and severity of your illness, the length of time since you were treated for the illness, and your prognosis.

The company may ask you to submit to an independent medical examination. Finally, the life insurance application will solicit information about the health history of your family, including your parents and siblings.

Will it cost more?

Possibly. Insurance companies commonly view your health history differently than your physician does. For instance, if you've had a heart attack, but now are active and leading a normal life, your doctor may say you're doing fine. But an insurance company's underwriter will review volumes of actuarial statistics and may conclude that, given your heart attack, your life expectancy is shorter than that of a person of the same age and gender who hasn't had a heart attack. Because it expects to have to pay the death benefit sooner, the company expects to have less time to collect premiums. The insurer then assesses a higher premium cost to you to compensate for the anticipated shorter premium-paying period.

Some helpful tips:

Discuss your situation with your doctor. You will then have some idea of the medical opinion your physician will give to the insurer concerning your prognosis.

Shop for life insurance. Different insurance companies often take significantly different views of various illnesses. While one company may deny coverage entirely or charge a much higher premium due to a specific ailment, another insurer may offer coverage for the same illness at a lower cost.

Get help. Some companies offer insurance to higher-risk applicants because they share the cost with another insurance company.Companies that work with other companies (called "reinsurance") are more likely to insure you if you have health issues. Consider using special-risk advocates or impaired-risk specialists who help find impaired-risk life insurance coverage.

Start with your employer. Many offer life insurance to all employees, regardless of their health histories. Some alumni associations and professional organizations also offer life insurance on a group basis without requiring a physical.

Show the insurer you're doing better. Demonstrate that you're taking steps to control or improve your health. Proof that you exercise and have a healthy diet increase the chances of living a longer life, making you a better insurance risk.