The short answer
- CKD is staged 1 to 5 by eGFR - the stage decides almost everything.
- Stage 1 to 2 often gets a mild rating; stage 3 a heavier one.
- Dialysis is a knockout for simplified issue - guaranteed issue remains.
- The cause - diabetes, hypertension, polycystic - is weighed alongside the stage.
Where you stand
Mild CKD is often barely rated
Chronic kidney disease is staged 1 to 5 by your eGFR. Stages 1 and 2 frequently price at a mild rating; the options narrow as the stage rises, but cover exists at every level.
Check my options →What decides your rate
Kidney underwriting is unusually objective, because it hangs on a number your doctor already tracks:
- eGFR and CKD stage - the dominant factor by a wide margin
- The cause - diabetic or hypertensive kidney disease is read alongside the condition driving it; polycystic kidney disease is assessed on its own pattern
- Proteinuria - protein in the urine signals active damage and weighs against you
- Stable versus progressing - a steady eGFR over time is reassuring; a falling one is not
- Everything else - blood pressure, diabetes control, cardiac history
What each stage typically means
| Stage (eGFR) | Realistic route |
|---|---|
| Stage 1 to 2 (eGFR 60+ with markers) | Standard to mild rating |
| Stage 3 (eGFR 30 to 59) | Table rating |
| Stage 4 (eGFR 15 to 29) | Substandard or simplified issue |
| Stage 5 / on dialysis | Guaranteed issue |
| Kidney transplant, stable | Rated, after a waiting period |
Get your latest eGFR first
Because eGFR drives everything, the single most useful thing before you apply is your most recent kidney panel with the eGFR number and any protein result. It tells an agent immediately which carriers are worth approaching and which are a waste of an application - and a stable trend across two or three recent tests is itself a point in your favour.
Dialysis and guaranteed issue
Being on dialysis is a knockout question on virtually every fully underwritten and simplified issue application. It does not leave you uninsurable - it moves you to guaranteed issue, which asks no health questions at all. Understand the trade-off: cover is limited to roughly 25,000 dollars, the premium is high, and there is a two year waiting period on death from natural causes, with accidental death normally covered in full from day one.
Transplant recipients
A kidney transplant recipient is insurable, not excluded. After a waiting period - often one to two years of stable function on anti-rejection therapy - many carriers will offer fully underwritten cover at a rating. Documented stable function and consistent follow-up are exactly what support the better outcome.
The order to apply
- Get your current eGFR and stage, plus any proteinuria result
- Have the cause documented as controlled where it is diabetes or blood pressure
- Have an agent pre-screen you informally - kidney appetite varies enormously, and a decline is disclosable forever
- Apply where you fit, falling back to simplified or guaranteed issue only if needed
Common questions
Can you get life insurance with kidney disease?+
Yes. Early chronic kidney disease (stages 1 to 2) is often approved at a mild rating, and stage 3 at a heavier one. Options narrow at stages 4 and 5, but cover is available at every level, including guaranteed issue for those on dialysis.
Can you get life insurance on dialysis?+
Not through fully underwritten or simplified issue policies, where dialysis is a knockout question. Guaranteed issue remains available - it asks no health questions, but cover is limited to around 25,000 dollars with a two year waiting period on natural death.
What eGFR do you need for life insurance?+
There is no single cutoff, but eGFR defines your CKD stage and that drives the outcome. Above 60 with only mild markers tends to price mildly; 30 to 59 draws a table rating; below 30 moves you toward simplified or guaranteed issue.
Can you get life insurance after a kidney transplant?+
Yes. After a waiting period, often one to two years of stable function on anti-rejection medication, many carriers will offer fully underwritten cover at a rating. Stable function and regular follow-up support the best outcome.