What health conditions disqualify you from long-term care insurance?

There is no single published list of conditions that blocks everyone from long-term care insurance — underwriting is more nuanced than that. What actually matters is how severe the condition is, how well it is controlled, and whether it has already caused complications or a functional limitation. That said, patterns are consistent enough across carriers to describe honestly, condition by condition.

Conditions usually declined for traditional coverage

A small group of conditions are difficult to insure with a traditional policy specifically because they already signal a strong likelihood of needing care, not just an elevated risk:

• Alzheimer's & dementia — even mild memory problems draw close scrutiny, because the condition directly causes the need for care.
• Parkinson's disease — progressive and strongly predictive of future care needs.
• Multiple sclerosis (MS) — unpredictable and can lead to disability.
• HIV — still generally declined by traditional carriers, even though treatment outcomes have improved dramatically.

A decline in this group is not the end of the road — see "What are your options if you're declined" below.

Conditions that depend heavily on severity

These are the largest group: whether you qualify — and at what rate — depends on how advanced the condition is, not the diagnosis alone:

• Heart disease — a single, well-recovered event may be insurable; heart failure or multiple events usually are not.
• Stroke & TIA — a distant, fully recovered TIA is different from a recent stroke with lasting effects.
• COPD & respiratory disease — one of the harder conditions, especially with oxygen use or ongoing smoking.
• Kidney disease — mild, stable disease may be insurable; dialysis usually is not.
• Liver disease & hepatitis — mild or resolved cases can be insurable; cirrhosis usually is not.
• Cancer — often insurable after a waiting period once treatment ends; active treatment is not.
• Bipolar disorder — stable, long-managed cases may find limited options.
• History of falls — a single fall is manageable; recurrent falls or a walker/wheelchair are red flags.
• Weight & obesity — build charts apply, and combinations with diabetes or heart disease matter more than weight alone.

Conditions that are usually still insurable

These common conditions, when well-controlled, rarely block coverage on their own — though carriers still weigh them:

• High blood pressure, thyroid disorders, and treated sleep apnea are among the least problematic when controlled.
• Well-controlled Type 2 diabetes, mild depression or anxiety, and common back pain are frequently insurable.
• Osteoarthritis, mild osteoporosis, well-managed AFib, and mild Crohn's or colitis usually qualify.
• Tobacco use raises your rate rather than blocking coverage outright.

What are your options if you're declined?

A decline from one carrier — or from traditional coverage altogether — is common and rarely the end of the search:

• Asset-based or hybrid policies (life insurance or an annuity with an LTC rider) frequently have more lenient underwriting than traditional standalone coverage. See asset-based options.
• Short-term care insurance has lighter underwriting and a shorter benefit period.
• Working with an independent broker who knows which carriers are most comfortable with your specific condition, instead of applying blindly and collecting declines.

For the full picture on your specific condition, see our health & eligibility guides — 24 conditions covered in detail, including what improves your odds and what to do if you're declined.

General information only. This is educational and not insurance, legal, tax, or financial advice. Rules and products vary and change — confirm the specifics with a licensed professional.