Remicade and Term Life Insurance in 2026

If you’re taking Remicade and wondering whether you can get term life insurance, the short answer is yes. You can. But the process isn’t as simple as filling out an application online and getting instant approval. Remicade is a biologic medication, and underwriters pay close attention to biologics. The good news is that plenty of people on Remicade get approved every year, often at better rates than they expected. If cash value coverage ever enters your plans beyond term, our IUL company selection guide ties the risks and costs of indexed policies to your health, goals, and timeline.

Does Remicade Affect Life Insurance?

It does, but probably not the way you think. Underwriters don’t have a simple “takes Remicade, charge more” rule. What they actually care about is the underlying condition that led your doctor to prescribe it.

Remicade (infliximab) is used for conditions like Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, and plaque psoriasis. Each of those conditions carries its own risk profile, and the severity of your specific case matters far more than the medication itself. Someone with mild, well controlled Crohn’s disease on Remicade is a very different applicant from someone with severe rheumatoid arthritis and joint damage.

The medication actually works in your favor in one important way. It tells underwriters you’re being actively treated and monitored by a specialist. That’s better than an untreated condition any day of the week.

What Underwriters Actually Look At

When your application lands on an underwriter’s desk, they’re building a complete picture. The Remicade prescription is just one piece. Here’s what moves the needle.

Your underlying diagnosis and how stable it’s been over the past two to three years matters most. They want to see that your condition is controlled. Frequency of flare ups, hospitalizations, and surgeries related to your condition all factor in. They’ll look at how long you’ve been on Remicade and whether your dosage has been stable or recently adjusted. Any complications from the condition itself (not just side effects from the medication) get scrutinized. And they’ll check for other health conditions alongside the one being treated.

A stable patient who’s been on Remicade for two years with no hospitalizations and routine specialist visits is going to get a much better offer than someone who just started treatment after a hospital stay. Trends matter. If your condition has been improving or holding steady, that story comes through in your medical records.

Remicade and Life Insurance Rates

Let’s talk real numbers, because that’s what you actually want to know. A healthy 40 year old male might pay $45 to $65 per month for a $500,000 20 year term policy at standard rates. With a well controlled condition requiring Remicade, you might see a table rating that pushes that to $65 to $95 per month, depending on the carrier and your specific health picture.

That’s real money, but it’s also the price of a couple of takeout meals per week. And here’s something most people don’t realize. The variation between carriers can be enormous. One company might offer you Table 2 while another offers Standard rates for the exact same health profile. That spread can easily mean $30 or more per month in savings.

Getting personalized quotes based on your specific situation is the only way to know your actual rate. Estimates and online calculators can’t account for the nuances of your case.

Why an Independent Agency Makes the Difference

This is where most people get tripped up. They go to one insurance company’s website, apply, get a rate that seems high (or worse, get declined), and assume that’s the final answer. It’s not.

Here’s how the industry actually works. A captive agent, the kind you see at the big name companies, can only sell you that one company’s products. If their underwriting guidelines don’t look favorably on Remicade or your specific condition, that agent can’t help you. They’re stuck. You get one shot with one set of guidelines.

An independent agency works with dozens of carriers. Every single one of those carriers has different underwriting guidelines. One might be conservative about autoimmune conditions. Another might specialize in them and offer competitive rates. The difference in pricing for the same person, same coverage, same health history can be 50% or more between companies. That’s not a small gap you can ignore.

Insurance by Heroes was founded by a former first responder and military spouse. Our team comes from backgrounds in public service, including military, law enforcement, fire, EMS, healthcare, and education. We serve everyone, but those values of service, integrity, and hard work shape how we do business. When we shop your case across multiple carriers, we’re doing the legwork so you don’t have to call ten different companies and fill out ten different applications. You get real options with real numbers, and you pick what works best.

Remicade and Whole Life Insurance

Some people taking Remicade want permanent coverage rather than term. Whole life insurance builds cash value over time and lasts your entire life, but it costs significantly more than term. For someone on Remicade, the same underwriting factors apply. Your underlying condition, its stability, and your overall health determine your rating class.

If your primary need is covering a mortgage, protecting your family while kids are growing up, or replacing income during your working years, term life is almost always the smarter financial move. You get far more coverage for your dollar. But if estate planning or guaranteed lifetime coverage is your goal, whole life has its place. Many term policies also include a conversion option that lets you switch to permanent coverage later without going through medical underwriting again. That’s a valuable safety net if your health changes down the road.

Remicade and Universal Life Insurance

Universal life insurance offers more flexibility than whole life, with adjustable premiums and death benefits. For Remicade patients, universal life can work well if you want some permanent coverage but need flexibility in how much you pay year to year. The underwriting process is similar, and rates will reflect your health profile the same way. Just keep in mind that the flexibility comes with complexity, and term life remains the most straightforward and affordable option for most people with temporary coverage needs.

Tips for Getting the Best Outcome

Be thorough and honest on your application. Bring documentation of your treatment history, including how long you’ve been on Remicade, your dosage schedule, and records showing your condition is well managed. If you’ve had a recent dose change, consider waiting until you’ve been stable on the new dose for a few months before applying.

Don’t assume you’ll be declined. This is one of the biggest mistakes people make. They hear “biologic medication” and think no carrier will touch them. That’s simply not true in 2026. Underwriting guidelines have evolved, and carriers have gotten much better at distinguishing between well managed conditions and high risk ones.

If you’ve been turned down by one company, that tells you almost nothing about what the other 30 plus carriers might offer. Every carrier weighs these factors differently, which is why comparing quotes is so valuable. A decline from one company might turn into a Standard offer from another.

Common Myths About Remicade and Insurance

“Taking a biologic means automatic decline.” Not true. Biologics like Remicade are mainstream treatments, and underwriters are familiar with them. A well controlled condition on Remicade is far more insurable than an uncontrolled condition with no treatment.

“I should stop taking Remicade before applying.” Absolutely not. Never alter your medication for an insurance application. Going off treatment could destabilize your condition, which would actually hurt your application. Consistent treatment is what underwriters want to see.

“I need to wait until I’m off Remicade to apply.” Waiting almost always costs more. Every birthday raises your base premium regardless of health. And conditions can develop complications over time. Locking in a rate now, even with a table rating, beats gambling on better health later. It’s not a scare tactic. It’s just math.

“My employer’s group life coverage is enough.” Group life insurance through work is usually one to two times your salary with no portability. Leave the job, lose the coverage. And when you go to replace it later, you’ll be older, potentially less healthy, and facing higher rates. An individual term policy stays with you no matter where you work.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get life insurance if I take Remicade? Yes. Many people on Remicade qualify for term life insurance. The key factors are your underlying condition, how well it’s controlled, and your overall health. An independent agent can identify which carriers are most favorable for your situation.

Does Remicade increase life insurance rates? It can, but the increase depends more on your underlying condition than the medication itself. Well controlled conditions may qualify for standard or near standard rates with certain carriers. Getting quotes is free and gives you real numbers instead of guesswork.

What happens during the application process? You fill out a short form, and a real person (not a call center) reviews your situation. They shop your case across multiple carriers, find the best fit for your health profile, and come back to you with options and actual numbers. There’s no obligation.

Should I disclose Remicade on my application? Always. Full disclosure is required, and your medical records will be reviewed during underwriting. Being upfront about your medication and treatment history actually helps build a stronger case, especially when your records show consistent, well managed care.

Related medications

Remicade is far from the only medication with its own underwriting story. The same condition-and-prescription questions apply to term life insurance while taking Immunosuppressant, Descovy term life insurance, Cetirizine term life insurance, HRT term life insurance and HIV Medications term life insurance.