Life Insurance with Health Conditions

Most people with a health condition can still get life insurance. Insurers look at the condition, how well it is controlled, any treatment and how recently you had symptoms. You might be offered standard terms, a higher premium, an exclusion or, less often, a postponement. Answering every medical question fully and honestly is essential, because it protects your family’s claim.

A diagnosis like diabetes, high blood pressure, anxiety or a past cancer can make people assume life cover is out of reach, or that it will cost a fortune. Often neither is true. Insurers assess conditions very differently from one another, so the insurer you choose can make a big difference to the price and terms. This guide explains how it works.

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

Usually, yes. Many common conditions are accepted, often at standard rates when they are well controlled. More serious or recent conditions may mean a higher premium or an exclusion. Declines do happen, but a decline from one insurer does not mean every insurer will say no.

What matters most to the insurer is risk, measured by:

what the condition is
how severe it is and how well it is controlled
when you were diagnosed and when you last had symptoms or treatment
your medication and any hospital admissions
your overall health, including your weight, blood pressure, and whether you smoke or vape.

What outcomes can an insurer offer?

Outcome	What it means
Standard terms	Cover at the normal price, as if you had no condition
Rated (loaded) premium	Cover at a higher price, often shown as a percentage on top of the standard rate
Exclusion	Cover with a specific condition excluded. This is more common on critical illness and income protection than on life cover
Postponement	The insurer asks you to reapply later, often after recent treatment or tests are complete
Decline	The insurer will not offer cover. Another insurer, or a specialist insurer, may still offer terms

One insurer’s decline can be another insurer’s standard terms. That is why comparing insurers matters so much more when you have a health condition.

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How are common conditions usually assessed?

Every insurer and every case is different. These are general patterns only.

Diabetes

Insurers look at the type of diabetes, your age at diagnosis, your HbA1c readings, your medication and any complications affecting your eyes, kidneys, nerves or heart. Well-controlled type 2 diabetes is often accepted, sometimes with a modest loading. Type 1 is usually also insurable, with the price depending on control and complications.

High blood pressure and cholesterol

When these are well controlled with medication and your readings are in range, many insurers offer standard or near-standard terms. Recent readings help.

Mental health

Anxiety and depression are very common, and many applicants with a history of them get standard life cover. Insurers look at severity, treatment, time off work, any hospital admissions and any history of self-harm. Mild, well-managed conditions are usually treated quite favourably for life cover. Income protection and critical illness may be assessed more strictly.

Heart conditions

Insurers look at the exact diagnosis, treatment such as stents or surgery, how long ago it was, and your current heart function. Some conditions are accepted with a loading. Recent events may lead to a postponement.

Cancer history

The type and stage of cancer, the treatment and how long you have been in remission all matter. Some cancers treated many years ago may have little effect on the price. Recent diagnoses are more likely to lead to postponement until a set time after treatment ends.

Weight

Insurers use your height and weight to calculate your body mass index. A high BMI can lead to a loading, especially combined with other conditions such as diabetes or high blood pressure.

Illustration only

Morgan, 42, has type 2 diabetes, managed with tablets and with good recent HbA1c readings. Morgan was told by a comparison site that cover would be expensive. A broker compared insurers that assess diabetes in detail, and found one offering cover with a small loading based on Morgan’s actual readings, rather than a high price based on the diagnosis alone. These details are made up to show how the process works and are not based on any real client.

Does family history affect life insurance?

It can. Insurers usually ask whether a parent, brother or sister has been diagnosed with certain conditions, such as heart disease, stroke, some cancers or diabetes, often before a certain age. A family history does not automatically mean you will pay more. How much it matters depends on how serious the condition is, how many close relatives were affected and how young they were. Insurers weigh it alongside your own health, and some give it far less weight than others. That is why the insurer you choose matters.

Real case: family history of diabetes, accepted at standard rates

We recently arranged life cover for a client whose mother has diabetes. He had to declare this as family history, which can lead to a higher premium depending on how the insurer views it. We approached an insurer that looks at family history in more detail, and his policy was accepted at standard rates with no extra loading. Choosing the right insurer from the start meant his family history made no difference to his price.

Real case: hereditary blood condition in the family, accepted at standard rates

Another client’s father has a hereditary blood condition, which she had to declare on her application. The condition has not affected her own health. The insurer looked at her own medical history alongside the family history, and her policy was accepted at standard rates with no extra loading.

What do you have to tell the insurer?

You must answer every question on the application fully and honestly, taking reasonable care. This is a legal duty under the Consumer Insurance (Disclosure and Representations) Act 2012 (legislation.gov.uk).

In practice that means:

answer exactly what is asked, including conditions you think are minor
check dates, medication names and readings if you are not sure
do not guess. If you do not know, say so and we can help you find out
tell the insurer about changes that happen before the policy starts.

If you make a careless mistake, the insurer may be able to reduce a claim payment or change the terms. If information is deliberately left out, it can refuse the claim and cancel the policy. The money your family would rely on depends on getting this right at the start.

Will the insurer contact my GP?

It might. For some conditions, larger sums or older applicants, the insurer may ask your GP for a report, or arrange a nurse screening or medical exam. You have to agree first.

Under the Access to Medical Reports Act 1988, you have the right to ask to see a report from your own doctor before it is sent to the insurer, and to ask for corrections if you think something is wrong (legislation.gov.uk). Asking to see the report can add some time to the application.

Do insurers ask about genetic tests?

Insurers have agreed not to ask for, or take into account, the result of a predictive genetic test, with one exception. That exception is life insurance over £500,000 where you have had a predictive test for Huntington’s disease (Code on Genetic Testing and Insurance, GOV.UK). You must still answer questions about family history and any diagnosed conditions.

How can a broker help with a health condition?

This is where advice makes the biggest difference. We can:

find out how different insurers view your condition before you apply, so you are not declined on your record unnecessarily
help you gather the right details, such as readings, dates and medication, so the application is accurate
compare standard and specialist insurers
ask for terms to be reviewed later if your health improves
look at alternatives, such as a smaller sum, a different term or a different type of cover, if full cover is not available.

What if your health improves?

If you were charged a higher premium because of a condition that has since improved, such as weight loss, stopping smoking or a long period without symptoms, some insurers will review the rating. Others may offer better terms on a new policy. Speak to us before cancelling anything.

Is critical illness cover or income protection harder to get?

Often, yes. Because these policies pay out while you are alive, insurers tend to be stricter, and exclusions are more common. Life cover may be available on good terms even when critical illness cover or income protection carries an exclusion for your condition. We look at each type separately so you can decide what to keep.

Common mistakes

Leaving something out because it seems minor.
Applying to several insurers yourself and collecting declines on your record.
Accepting the first price, when another insurer may assess the condition differently.
Giving up after a decline.
Not reviewing a loaded premium after your health improves.

How Option Finance helps

We arrange protection alongside mortgages, including for clients with health conditions. We will:

understand your condition before any application is made
approach insurers likely to view it favourably
help you answer the medical questions accurately
explain any loading or exclusion in plain English
review the cover as your health and mortgage change.

How we are paid. There is no fee for our protection advice. We are paid by commission from the insurer you choose. If we are arranging your mortgage, protection advice is included at no extra cost.

Frequently asked questions

Can I get life insurance if I have diabetes?

Often, yes. The price depends on the type of diabetes, how well it is controlled and any complications.

Can I get life insurance with anxiety or depression?

Usually, yes, and often at standard rates when the condition is mild and well managed. Insurers look at severity, treatment and time off work.

Can I get life insurance after cancer?

Often, depending on the type of cancer, treatment and time in remission. Recent diagnoses may need to wait until a set time after treatment.

What happens if I do not disclose a condition?

The insurer could reduce or refuse a claim, or cancel the policy. Always answer every question fully and honestly.

Will I need a medical exam?

Most people do not. For some conditions or larger sums, the insurer may ask for a GP report or a nurse screening.

Does a decline from one insurer mean nobody will cover me?

No. Insurers assess conditions differently, and a specialist insurer may offer terms.

Does a family history of diabetes affect life insurance?

It can, but not always. It depends on how serious the condition is and how the insurer views it. Some insurers give it little weight if your own health is good.

Can my premium go down if my health improves?

Some insurers will review a rating after an improvement. Others may offer better terms on a new policy.

Do insurers ask about genetic test results?

Generally not. The only exception is a predictive test for Huntington’s disease on life cover over £500,000.

Speak to Option Finance

Tell us about your health in confidence before you apply. We will find out which insurers are likely to view it favourably and explain your options, with no obligation to go ahead.

Book a free initial consultation using the enquiry form below. See also our mortgage life insurance guide, critical illness cover guide and ultimate UK protection guide.

Life Insurance with Health Conditions: What to Expect