Can you get life insurance with a pre-existing medical condition? 

A long-standing medical condition shouldn't exclude you from cover

When it comes to arranging life insurance, it's crucial to be honest and disclose any  and all medical conditions. The good news is that life insurers are now better prepared than ever to help those with a pre-existing medical condition. This guide will take you through everything you need to know.

Can I get life insurance with a pre-existing medical condition?

Just because you have (or had) a medical condition won't stop you from getting life insurance cover.

For people with pre-existing medical conditions, life insurance works in exactly the same way as a standard policy – you pay for the cover monthly over a term of your choosing, which is typically a number of years.

However, the main difference with life insurance for pre-existing conditions is that you'll need to provide a bit more information about your medical history.

Once the insurers have this, they can establish whether you'll have to pay an additional premium, and whether any conditions will need to be applied to your policy.

What policies might I be offered if I have a medical condition?

As we've said, life insurance for pre-existing conditions works in exactly the same way as a standard life insurance policy, EXCEPT that the cover, and the cost, will depend on your medical condition and its history. These then dictate whether or not the policy will come with any restrictions or exclusions, but bear in mind that some providers may choose not to quote at all.

In short, where an insurer will offer cover, it'll be in one of two categories:

  • Policies WITHOUT exclusions. This is where the insurer deems your medical condition not worrying enough to exclude any part of the cover, such as death connected to the condition. It's worth knowing that you may have to pay an additional fee to ensure you get the full 'unrestricted' cover.

  • Policies WITH exclusions. If the insurer classes your medical condition as a high risk, it may impose terms, such as saying that a claim can only be made as long as it's not connected/associated with your medical condition. There may also be an additional cost alongside the restriction.

What is considered a pre-existing condition for life insurance?

If you have a pre-existing condition, don't automatically assume that you'll need a specialist policy. This will be dependent on the insurer and the medical condition.

Usually, if you've had to see your doctor, a medical consultant or a specialist, it's likely that you will need to declare it.

It's important to read the questions asked by the insurer carefully – it may want to know of medical conditions or visits for medical treatment within the last three, four or five years, and some insurers may even want to know your medical history even further back, as you're usually considered to be more likely to make a claim.

Here are some of the most common medical conditions that you need to disclose when buying life insurance – though this is not a complete list:

  • Arthritis
  • Asthma
  • Cancer
  • Diabetes
  • Epilepsy
  • Heart conditions (including high blood pressure or cholesterol)
  • Mental health conditions (including depression, eating disorders, anxiety)

And it's worth knowing that you'll also need to share details of:

  • Treated broken limbs
  • Any surgery
  • Any ongoing treatment (including if you're waiting for an operation or investigation)
  • Any condition where you're waiting on test results

It may sound like a daunting task but it will help you to find the right policy for you. It's important that you're open and honest with insurers, as not sharing relevant information can lead to your policy being invalidated and cover voided, so be aware.

How do pre-existing conditions affect life insurance premiums?

Declaring pre-existing medical conditions is a critical part of the pricing process and how they will affect your premium really depends on the condition, when it was diagnosed, how it is managed, and other factors. And while some conditions will mean you pay more, others might not have much of an impact at all.

It is also worth knowing that your lifestyle combined with your pre-existing medical condition could also affect the premium – for example, if you have a heart condition, are a smoker and are also overweight.

Finally, another factor when you buy cover is that you could be given two choices regarding the monthly premium, which will affect how much you pay. You would choose one of the following:

  • Guaranteed – your insurer will never change the price over the life of the policy.
  • Reviewable – this option often costs less at first, but your insurer can hike costs later on, so a cheap deal now may prove costly in the long term.

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What kind of information do I need to provide to get a life insurance policy?

When buying a standard life insurance policy, the set of questions you'll generally be asked is short, to find out information such as:

  • Your name, address and date of birth/age
  • How much cover you're looking for
  • The term (how many years) you want cover for
  • Whether you've used tobacco or nicotine products in the last year

When it comes to declaring pre-existing medical conditions, you are likely to be asked for the following details:

  • What the pre-existing condition is (you usually select this from a list)
  • If it's a more general description, such as 'heart condition', you may be asked to be more specific about the health issue – it could be, for example, high blood pressure 
  • When it was diagnosed (and possibly the medication you're on) 
  • If any of your birth parents, brothers or sisters had any of the disclosed conditions (and usually before they were 65)

All this additional information helps the insurer assess the pricing, or add any policy conditions for extreme cases. Again, it's important to be upfront about any condition you have, and to provide accurate information, as not doing so is likely to result in a claim being rejected and your cover being voided.

Get a life insurance price from a 'non-advised' broker

The cheapest way to buy life insurance is from a broker, and preferably from a discount broker (where they sacrifice all, or most, of the commission for a small fee, making your policy cheaper). If you have a pre-existing medical condition, a discount broker may still be able to help, though it's likely best for those with less serious conditions. 

You'll need to know what you're doing to go down this route. Our main life insurance guide has full info on how to get a policy via these brokers. 

Yet if the broker returns a 'needs to be referred' or 'call us' message, then you'll need to go down the advised route... we take you through that below.

If you need advice, consider using one of these 'advised' brokers

If the discount broker route didn't work for you, or you're not sure what you're doing and want help, go down the 'advised route'. This is where you speak to an expert, and they do a full check of your financial and medical situation to find the right policy for you.

When we did our research into these brokers, there was no consistent winner which gave the cheapest premiums every time, so we'd suggest getting quotes from as many as you have time for. We've listed them alphabetically so this is not a set order in which to try them, as our research showed different brokers were cheapest for different scenarios.

Note that these brokers offer vouchers or cashback, but while you should factor these in to your calculations, you shouldn't be swayed by them. For example, if a broker with a £100 voucher gave you a premium just £1 a month more expensive than the same policy with another provider, over a 25-year term, that'd mean you'd be paying £300 more for the policy – NOT worth it for a £100 voucher.

You may feel more comfortable with one broker over another, so be guided by the service they're offering too...

'Advised' brokers to try (in alphabetical order)

ActiveQuote.

ActiveQuote*

Get an up to £130 Amazon voucher. New ActiveQuote* life insurance customers who use this link to request a callback and buy a policy will get an up to £130 Amazon voucher after they've made six monthly payments.

 

For monthly premiums from £10 to £34.99, you'll be emailed a £60 voucher and if your premium's more than £35, you'll get a £130 voucher.


Howden.
Howden Life & Health*
Earn £100 cashback. This is paid when you request advice and buy a policy through this Howden Life & Health* link, after you've made the first six monthly premium payments.
LifeSearch.LifeSearch*

Grab an up to £140 Amazon voucher. To get the voucher, answer some initial questions using this LifeSearch* link and arrange a callback.

 

Once you commit to buying a new policy, if your monthly premium is up to £30 you'll get a £60 voucher; if it's more than £30, you'll get a £140 voucher.

 

The policy needs to have been in force for 90 days, and after this time you'll be emailed details about getting the voucher (within another 45 days), and you must claim within 12 months of that email.

How can I get a cheaper life insurance policy with a pre-existing medical condition?

As much as you may feel that your options are restricted because you have a pre-existing medical condition, there are still ways you can try to make the cost more affordable. Here we list some factors that can have an impact on how much you pay, and how you can avoid shelling out more than you have to.

1) Your age. Now, we know you can't change your age, but do get cover arranged as soon as possible or as soon as you need it. Delaying it to tomorrow can roll in to next week, next month and then next year, which would mean getting insured when you're older still, and being hit with any price rises that happen in that time. Remember: the younger you are, the cheaper your cover will be. 

2) Lifestyle changes. If you smoke or vape, or like a few drinks, look at trying to stop these habits, and/or cut down on your alcohol intake. We don't want to come across as a party pooper, but these habits do increase the premium.

3) How much cover you want. The greater the potential payout, the more the cover will cost.

4) How long you want the cover for. The longer you want the policy to provide cover, the more it will cost. And as you get older, insurers will see a greater chance of a claim.

5) How you buy the policy. If you're buying a property, you might be encouraged to take out some form of life insurance by the mortgage company, bank or a financial adviser. You don't have to go via them though – you might not get the best or cheapest options.

6) NEVER accept the first quote you get. 
It's important to get multiple quotes from different brokers as they could have different panels of insurers they can get quotes from.

7) Think carefully if you need extra cover. Critical illness is a common add-on, but does come with a cost. Read our full Critical illness cover guide.

Life insurance with a pre-existing medical condition FAQs

  • Can you get life insurance after a cancer diagnosis?

    If you have or have had cancer, finding an insurer that will provide life insurance cover can be more difficult but does depend on a number of factors.

    The insurance companies would take into consideration the type of cancer you have and the stage that it's at.

    If it is a recent diagnosis, the number of insurers that may offer a policy will be limited. But if you have been cancer-free for a number of years, it is possible that more insurers may consider offering you a quote. With your permission, the company will write to your doctor or hospital.

    With either of these situations, when you do find an insurer offering a policy, do check if any conditions, restrictions or exclusions in cover will be imposed, and if these are acceptable to you. If you feel these aren't acceptable, then try another broker or insurer.

  • Can I get life insurance if I've had a stroke?

    This really depends on whether it was a mini stroke or a full stroke, how it has affected you and whether you're receiving any ongoing treatment.

    As a rule of thumb, if it was a mini stroke then insurers will usually consider offering a quote once about six months have passed.

    If it was a full stroke, then it could be at least six years before an insurer will consider offering a policy.

    Whether it was a full or a mini stroke, getting life insurance cover is also dependent on you not having developed any further symptoms since.

    On a positive note, not all insurers are the same so it's worth trying a good insurance broker to find out what is available.

  • Can my life insurance policy be cancelled if I get sick?

    As long as you provided complete and accurate information when applying for life insurance, and are up to date on your monthly premium, then the answer is no.

    If it comes to light that you withheld any information or were not completely honest about your medical condition, and history, then the insurer can cancel your policy (and this is usually from the day the policy commenced), removing any cover and the possibility of making a valid claim.

  • How are premiums for life insurance calculated?

    Like car and home insurance, your life insurance premium will be specific to you as insurers consider a few factors when getting to a price.

    When it comes to life insurance, providers will use the following (which is not a complete list) when generating a price:

    • Your age (the younger you are, the cheaper it usually is).
    • Details of your medical history, and typically those of any close family members, in case of heredity conditions.
    • The level of life insurance cover that you need (the greater the amount, the greater the cost).
    • Length of time you want cover. The shorter the term, the cheaper it is likely to be.
  • Can I get life insurance without a medical check?

    For many, this is possible, as a medical check is not always needed. The challenge comes if you have, or had, a pre-existing medical condition which is concerning the insurers. This usually applies if you are older, and could also apply if there is a history of a common pre-existing medical condition in the family line or even an unhealthy lifestyle.

  • Can I get critical illness cover if I have an existing medical condition?

    It is still possible to get critical illness cover if you have a pre-existing medical condition, but insurers will most likely exclude any claims connected to your medical condition and may also exclude any hereditary medical conditions.

  • Do all life insurance companies consider the same conditions as pre-existing?

    Fortunately, insurance companies' knowledge of medical conditions and how they can be treated and affect individuals has come a long way. Because of this, insurance companies do have similar lists of what they class as pre-existing medical conditions, but these are not identical.

    Having said that, how the insurers rate your pre-existing medical condition will differ. Some may be more considerate and will offer a quotation where others will have stricter acceptance rules.

  • How do insurance companies check for pre-existing conditions?

    Insurance companies generally rely on you to share all current and previous medical conditions, including doctor or hospital visits, when buying a policy.

    If and when your beneficiaries claim on your policy, this is when the insurers are likely to want to access your medical history to ensure all the information was accurate (at the time of purchase).

    Bear in mind that if you don't accurately share your medical history, the insurer will argue that, had it known of the prior conditions, it may not have offered cover. The result is usually a rejection on the grounds of 'non-disclosure'.

  • How long must a condition be present to be considered 'pre-existing'?

    A pre-existing medical condition is where you've needed to get advice, for example by visiting your GP or a hospital, been prescribed medication, have received treatment or had any symptoms – no matter whether the condition has been diagnosed or not.

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