Several factors affected life insurance eligibility and premiums, including age, health history, and certain occupations. During the COVID-19 pandemic, as vaccines became more widely available, many people had questions about how vaccination related to life insurance.
Some wondered whether getting vaccinated affected coverage or eligibility. Because misinformation was common at the time, it helps to clarify how the COVID-19 vaccine related to life insurance coverage.
Does the COVID-19 Vaccine Void Life Insurance?
After extensive clinical trials involving thousands of participants and a large body of research data, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention approved three COVID-19 vaccines:1
- Pfizer BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine, bivalent
- Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine, bivalent
- Novavax COVID-19 Vaccine, adjuvanted
All three vaccines were considered safe and effective during the pandemic.2 Between December 13, 2020, and August 14, 2024, more than 676 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine were administered in the United States.3
Misinformation About COVID-19 Vaccines & Life Insurance
During the COVID-19 pandemic, misinformation circulated suggesting vaccines were experimental and could void an existing life insurance policy or make coverage harder to obtain. This was not true. State regulators and insurance industry groups issued clarifying statements to address these concerns.
State Insurance Departments
During the COVID-19 pandemic, several state insurance regulators issued guidance to address misinformation about vaccines and life insurance. Many of these bulletins were published early in the pandemic, but the message remained consistent. Vaccination status did not affect life insurance coverage or death benefit payments.
Multiple state departments of insurance stated that insurers could not deny life insurance claims solely because a policyholder received a COVID-19 vaccine.
States that publicly clarified this included:
- New York
- Texas
- Alaska
- Louisiana
- Maryland
- Washington
- Wisconsin
Regulators in these states confirmed that vaccination status was not a valid reason to refuse payment of a life insurance death benefit.
For the most up to date guidance from a specific state, visiting that state’s department of insurance website or contacting the department directly provided the most reliable information.
American Council of Life Insurers (ACLI)
The American Council of Life Insurers is the main trade association for United States life insurers. It represents most of the industry and regularly explains how life insurance contracts work.
ACLI has consistently rejected claims that COVID-19 vaccination status affects life insurance benefits. Ongoing online misinformation has suggested insurers could deny or reduce claims based on vaccination status, but ACLI states these claims are unfounded. Life insurance policies have not changed how they evaluate covered events, and vaccination status is not considered in claims decisions.4
What ACLI clarifies about life insurance claims
- Vaccination status does not affect life insurance payouts
- Policies are evaluated based on contract terms, not medical choices like vaccines
- Coverage remains the same regardless of COVID-19 vaccination
Valid reasons a claim may be denied
- Misrepresentation on the application
- Failure to pay premiums
Policyholders who have questions about their coverage are encouraged to contact their insurer or a licensed professional to review their specific policy terms.
Could the Vaccine Actually Have a Positive Effect on Life Insurance?
Getting the vaccine does not negatively affect life insurance coverage. Despite early pandemic speculation, many life insurance applications asked about COVID-19 vaccination status and treated it like other routine vaccines, such as the flu shot. Insurers used this information as part of overall health reviews, not as a reason to deny coverage or reduce death benefits. Applicants were not penalized for being vaccinated.5
COVID was the 10th leading cause of death in the U.S. in 2025, a notable drop from when it ranked among the top five.6 Life insurers continue to review an applicant’s health history to evaluate mortality risk and set premiums.
Vaccination also helped lower certain health risks insurers consider, including the likelihood of serious illness and long term complications.
Potential Health Risk Reductions From Vaccination
- Lower risk of long haul symptoms
- Reduced likelihood of severe illness from breakthrough infections
- Lower chances of lasting lung damage or ongoing cardiac issues
- Reduced risk of anxiety and depression linked to long term illness
These factors could have supported a more favorable health profile during underwriting.
COVID-19 Vaccines & Life Insurance: Learn the Facts
If you heard or saw information about COVID-19 vaccines and life insurance and still wondered whether the COVID-19 vaccine would void your life insurance, the best step was to contact your life insurance company directly.
Doing so helps you:
- Get clear answers from the insurer.
- Understand whether vaccination could lead to benefit denials.
If you are shopping for a policy, you could call the life insurance carriers you were considering to:
- Ask how COVID-19 vaccination is treated.
- Review each policy carefully before signing up for coverage.
The Bottom Line
Because there was widespread confusion and misinformation in the media during the pandemic, it was important to verify the accuracy of information about COVID-19 and life insurance. Learning the facts can help ease concerns and prevent delays in getting life insurance coverage to help financially protect your family today.
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Sources
- Overview of COVID-19 Vaccines and Vaccination. https://www.cdc.gov/covid/hcp/vaccine-considerations/overview.html.
- Safety Considerations for COVID-19 Vaccines. https://www.cdc.gov/covid/hcp/vaccine-considerations/safety-considerations.html.
- Does the COVID Vaccine Void Life Insurance? https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/cumulative-covid-vaccinations.
- Insurance Industry News & Info. https://insuranceagentresources.org/insurance-industry-news/debunking-the-myth-life-insurance-companies-are-not-denying-coverage-or-claims-due-to-the-covid-19-vaccine.
- Does being vaccinated affect your life insurance coverage? https://www.quickquote.com/does-being-vaccinated-affect-life-insurance/.
- Leading Causes of Death - NCHS. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/leading-causes-of-death.htm.
