The American Cancer Society estimates doctors will diagnose over 1.4 million new cases of cancer in the U.S. in 2007, with more than 559,650 cancer-related deaths. If you are among the majority of cancer patients and survive for at least five years following your diagnosis, you may face another fight: buying life insurance.

Buying life insurance for cancer patients is challenging, but not necessarily impossible. Your chances for securing a policy depend greatly on the type, stage and grade of the cancer, and even on the treatment plan. There is a relationship between the rate you’ll receive and the curability of your cancer. Certain types of skin cancer, for example, are considered very low risk by life insurance companies and a skin cancer history may not even impact premiums.

Applicants with common and treatable forms of breast and prostate cancer may be able to get a “standard” rating under ideal circumstances. But patients with a history of leukemia or colon cancer may fall into a “substandard” or “high substandard” rating at best, or receive declines. Anyone with cancer that has metastasized likely won’t be able to obtain a policy.

Dr. Charles Levy, senior vice president and chief medical director of AIG American General Domestic Life Insurance Cos., says, “We’re better and better able to differentiate the risks of individual cancers.” Life insurers like AIG American General have sophisticated tables to determine premiums, where they can factor in cancer types and treatments. The end result is better premiums because applicants aren’t lumped together as an “average.”

Most insurers will not offer a policy to someone who is still undergoing treatment for cancer. Depending on your type of cancer, the life insurer may also want to add a surcharge, also called a temporary flat extra. For example, AIG American General sometimes charges temporary flat extras for two to five years, depending on the applicant’s cancer and treatment. The good news is that although these extra premiums can be expensive, they will automatically disappear after a set period of time.

Cancer insurance risk specialists

While a dedicated life insurance agent will search cancer insurance companies to find insurers that will sell you a life insurance policy, in some cases you may be better off seeking out a broker who specializes in finding life insurance for people who have a history of cancer.

These brokers will know the specific questions underwriters will want answered when considering your application. Many brokers have developed relationships with several insurers, so they know which companies offer the best-priced life insurance policies for cancer survivors. Some brokers have experts who specialize in gathering your medical records and organizing them.

By directing your application to life insurers that will view your application most favorably, these brokers will help you find the most accurate price quotes and the lowest premiums for life insurance. Always check the financial strength of the insurer before you buy any policy and be sure that the agent or broker you choose is licensed in your state.

Life insurance strategies for cancer survivors

If you are a healthy cancer survivor, life insurance is even more feasible. There are things you can do to ensure you’re getting the best premium offers possible for your situation.

1. Gather all possible medical records before you apply, from the first pathology report to medical records to treatment records. That ensures medical underwriters have the most complete picture of you, your health, and your cancer history. Having all those records before you apply for cancer insurance will reduce delays in your application process, because your life insurer is going to request them and will wait for them. The information you provide can garner you better premiums in the end: The less life insurer underwriters knows about you, the more likely they are to have to assume you are the highest risk and offer you high premiums accordingly. According to Levy, “If it’s fuzzy, we’re more likely to err on the side of conservatism.”

2. Make sure you have complied with your doctor’s treatment plans. For example, says Levy, if your doctor asked to see you back in one year and you haven’t been back in four years, get to your doctor for your check-up before you apply for life insurance. Your life insurer is not going to offer you a policy without before seeing the results of that check-up. Similarly, if you’ve had breast cancer and you’re due for a mammogram in December and you apply for cancer insurance in October, your life insurer will likely wait for the results of your next mammogram.

3. Get prices from several companies. Policy costs can vary a great deal among companies.

4. See if you can get group life insurance through a professional, fraternal, membership, or political organization to which you belong.

5. Consider a “graded” policy (one with limited benefits) if you cannot get full death benefits. In the first few years of a graded policy, the company pays only the premiums and part of the face value if the insured person dies of a condition, such as cancer, that existed before the policy took effect. If the insured person dies after the specified grading-in period, the company will pay the full face amount of the policy.

If your cancer has been successfully treated, and you are otherwise in good health, you can likely obtain a cancer life insurance policy. If you can show that you are healthy and your treatments have gone well, several insurers may compete for your business.

You may have heard of frequent flyer programs, where participants earn points which award free airfares and benefits not available otherwise. But did you know that you do not have to actually fly in an airplane to earn these rewards?

There are many credit card companies today which offer customers the benefit of frequent flyer points. These credit cards have a special partnership with designated airline companies, awarding points to consumers based on certain types of purchases, cash advances, or other transactions. By making regular, everyday purchases, cardholders receive additional points. Different cards will offer different benefits or incentives. Participating cardholders commonly earn one or two free airline tickets every year.

Airline frequent flyer rewards credit cards come in two distinctive types. The first type of card is issued through an affiliated airline carrier, and is a good option for those who travel often. These cards are also wonderful for those who fly regularly for business purposes. If you have a tendency to use different airlines, or if you do not travel often, then you would be wise to choose the second type of card, which awards all-inclusive points. With this type of card, you will be allowed to use your frequent flyer points for travel on any airline, rather than being obligated to any one particular airline company.

Most major credit card companies offer frequent flyer incentive programs. For example, American Express offers a credit card with no expiration date on corresponding airline points, with double rewards for dining, travel, leisure, or entertainment purchases. A card through Bank of America offers no black out dates and rewards for all types of purchases. Visa, MasterCard, and Discover cards also have numerous cards through various companies, many of which also offer frequent flyer incentives.

If you are a frequent traveler, and tend to use credit cards during your excursions, then it makes logical sense to transfer your balances to a credit card which offers miles rewards. You will earn free travel incentives as a reward for what you are already doing, using your credit card! Airline credit cards also tend to offer exceptional interest rates, quality customer service, and amazing travel opportunities. Most cards also have no restrictions or blackout dates when it comes to using the accrued frequent flyer points.

Airline rewards credit cards are the most popular type of plastics, according to recent cardholder polls. Naturally so, since these cards were the original companies to offer rewards. In order to earn the very best incentives, there are a few tips and tricks to follow. Make sure to pay your bills in full every month. Choose a card with flexible reward schemes. Do you homework to discover the various benefit packages, such as special purchase incentive, redemption policies, or promotions.

Regardless of which frequent flyer airline rewards credit card that you choose, always remember that these cards have credit fees and a corresponding APR rate, just as any other card does. Keep careful records of your purchases and related point earnings, so that you always know where you stand. Pay close attention to the conditions and terms of the card, so that your hard earned rewards are not in vain!

Dealing with Colorado Mortgage Programs

If you are already a homeowner or just someone who wants to own a home, you know there are many Denver mortgage choices available to you. But since people who are interested in buying a home are different, the top Colorado mortgage providers must be diligent about coming up with the right types of Denver mortgages for their customers. Colorado mortgage providers are looking for ways to meet the financial demands of their customers, who come from different financial backgrounds and have varied mortgage concerns.

The Colorado Mortgage That Fits

Denver mortgage lenders have different products to meet different needs, but all with the same goal of getting would-be home owners into a house and getting refinancing customers a deal that works for them. If you are a qualified Colorado borrower, then you will be able to tap into a broad range of home loan products which help you get into a home.

The scope of these products also comes with a downside. It makes it tough for the typical potential home owner to find out what Denver mortgage works best for them. In order to get the Colorado mortgage product that fits, you will need help from a professional who can examine the different programs, hold them up to your situation and find the right fit in terms of affordability and terms. This help will take your goals and needs into consideration.

Understanding Denver Mortgage Options

The best way to approach the Colorado mortgage search is as an educated customer. You want to know about the Denver mortgages you will be able to choose from in order to understand what will work best for you. By getting this information, you will also understand:

• Which loans you like

• Which loans to ask about during your meeting with a Colorado mortgage lender

• The varied mortgage terms you will be told about

• Which Denver mortgage programs lenders are looking at for you

Being educated about these programs will ease your search and perhaps you can find an overlooked program or one that will work the best for your specific needs. You can do this better when you understand what your choices really are.

Among the programs you will see when you meet with a Colorado mortgage provider include:

• Colorado Fixed Rate Mortgages. The interest rates of these are the same over the term of the loan.

• Colorado Adjustable Rate Mortgages, or ARM’s. The interest rates of this loan can change and are considered risky, but helpful to those people who may not otherwise get into a loan.

• Variable termed Denver mortgages, including 10, 15, and 30 years.

• Interest-only Colorado mortgages

• How the interest rates can change, depending on your program, your down payment and loan to value ratios.

• FHA mortgages and other special programs

There will be Denver mortgage options that are risky, but when they adjust to your specific needs, that risk, along with how much they cost, can change. If you have a home that you aren’t going to be in for long, then you can get a lower interest ARM which will work. But a fixed Denver mortgage with a moderate interest rate works better if you are looking to be in a home for a longer period.

If you think about it, the number of Colorado mortgage choices can be too much to understand. But on a positive note, the numbers of options available to home owners give many more people a chance to take part in home ownership. If you work with a skilled Denver mortgage lender, you can be on your way to ownership. Mortgage choices for Denver and Colorado are easier to understand if you have a professional working with you.