Glossary

Postponement

An underwriting decision that neither approves nor declines an applicant but asks them to reapply after a set time, often following recent treatment.

Also called: postponed application, deferred decision

A postponement is an underwriter's way of saying "not now." Instead of issuing coverage or declining the application, the insurer defers a decision until enough time has passed to judge a risk. The letter usually names a period, such as six months or a year, after which you can reapply.

Common triggers include a recent cancer diagnosis or treatment, upcoming or recent surgery, an abnormal test result still under investigation, a recent heart event, pregnancy complications, recent treatment for substance use or a pending criminal charge. In each case the insurer can't yet estimate mortality with confidence. Hypothetically, someone who finished chemotherapy two months before applying may be told to wait until a year or more after treatment, when the insurer's guidelines allow it to offer a rating.

A postponement isn't a decline, but the medical information behind it may be reported to the MIB, where other insurers can see it if you apply elsewhere. Guidelines vary widely by insurer, so an independent agent or broker can sometimes find one that will offer coverage sooner, possibly at a substandard rating. Simplified issue or guaranteed issue policies are other stopgaps. Our guide to a postponed application: why insurers make you wait covers the next steps.

Last reviewed October 4, 2026

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Related terms

Underwriting The process an insurer uses to evaluate an applicant's risk, from health and lifestyle to finances, and decide whether and at what price to offer coverage. Underwriter The insurance company professional who evaluates an application's risk and decides whether to approve it, in which rate class, or to decline it. Insurability Whether, and on what terms, an insurer will cover a person, based on health, age, habits, occupation and other risks reviewed in underwriting. Rate class The underwriting category, such as preferred plus, standard or substandard, that sets the price an insurer charges for a given age and coverage. Evidence of insurability Health and other information an insurer requires to approve coverage, such as medical questions, records or an exam, often for amounts above guaranteed issue.

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