Can you get life insurance with pre-existing conditions?

Yes, it’s possible to get life insurance for people with pre-existing conditions.

Due to the increased health risks associated with having a pre-existing medical condition, it’s often believed that securing cover is impossible.

Thankfully, this isn’t the case. Using an FCA-regulated broker, like Reassured, you could secure cover with a pre-existing medical condition.

We can help you to compare quotes from a panel of insurers and inform you of who is most likely to accept your application.

Please note, the type and severity of your condition may have an effect on your life insurance (such as the policy terms you’re offered and the price you pay)

Compare quotes for life insurance with pre-existing conditions through Reassured today for your personalised, fee-free quotes.

Keep reading this helpful guide to find out:

Compare Life Insurance with Pre-Existing Condition »

What is a pre-existing medical condition?

A pre-existing medical condition is a condition that existed or still exists at the point of applying for life insurance.

For example, high blood pressure, Crohn’s disease, a heart condition, cancer or a mental health condition.

When applying for life insurance it’s essential to be completely honest about any medical conditions to ensure the policy you take out is valid.

Withholding information or failing to tell the truth on your life insurance application is known as non-disclosure and this can prevent a pay out from being made to your loved ones later down the line.

Insurers are used to receiving applications from those with pre-existing conditions and it can still be possible to secure the cover you need, so always be 100% open and honest.

How much life insurance do you need?

Enter your financial commitments to understand the level of life insurance cover you require.

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£137,934 is the estimated mortgage debt per household in the UK.

The purchase of a home is likely to be the largest financial commitment any of us will make in our lifetime. Your life insurance should cover your remaining mortgage balance to allow your loved ones to stay in the family home should anything happen to you.

Source: Moneynerd.co.uk
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The average monthly household budget in the UK is £2,548 (that’s £30,576 per year), which is spent on transport, food & drink, utilities (gas, electricity, water etc), clothing, council tax and leisure activities.

With energy prices hitting a record high and the cost of living rising sharply in the UK, you may wish to factor in utility bills and family living expenses into your cover.

Source: Nimblefins.co.uk
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The average personal debt of UK adults has risen to £34,566 (not including mortgage debt), with credit cards, personal loans and overdrafts being the most common forms of debt.

Factoring in any debts into your life insurance cover means that, if they need to be paid back from your estate after your passing, your loved ones won’t miss out financially.

Source: Money.co.uk
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According to SunLife, the average cost of a funeral in the UK is £3,953 (with the overall cost of dying at £9,200).

Funeral costs have increased by 116% since 2004 and are a significant cost which should be factored into the amount of life insurance you secure.

Source: SunLife.co.uk
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When factoring in cover for your children, you may wish to calculate the amount based on how long it is until they reach financial independence.

This could include childcare (£7,000 per year for part-time care), school expenses (£1,519 per school year for uniforms, lunches, stationary etc), as well as an additional sum for further education (this could be a contribution of up to £5,000 per year).

Sources: Daynurseries.co.uk, Primarytimes.co.uk & Savethestudent.org
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2 in 5 adults say they are relying on an inheritance to fund their retirement.

Factoring in an inheritance to your sum assured could allow loved ones to live a more financially comfortable life. Alternatively, you could leave a cash gift to a charity of your choosing.

Source: Moneyage.co.uk
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If you’re lucky enough to have your own savings or are part of the 30% of UK residents who already have a life insurance policy in place, this can provide financial protection for loved ones.

By entering your current cover, savings or death in service amount you can reduce the sum assured you require.

Source: Scottishbusinessnews.net
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What medical conditions affect life insurance?

There are a wide range of pre-existing medical conditions that could have an effect on your life insurance.

When applying for life insurance with a pre-existing medical condition, conditions can be split into two categories:

  1. Ongoing/manageable conditions
  2. Life threatening events

Pre-existing conditions can include but are not limited to:

Ongoing / manageable conditionsLife threatening conditions
DiabetesCancer
Heart diseaseStroke
High blood pressureHeart attack
HIVSevere diabetes
Depression / AnxietyOther cardiac / heart problems
EpilepsySevere seizure disorders
ObesitySevere kidney problems (such as kidney damage)
Crohn’s disease
Lupus disease
Rheumatoid arthritis
Asthma
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)


The ailments considered as pre-existing conditions can vary between providers (as well as their definitions of these conditions).

This highlights the need to compare quotes from multiple providers to secure the right policy.

Why not let Reassured help you do this? Our quotes are personalised, fee-free and without obligation.

Compare Life Insurance with Pre-Existing Condition Quotes »

Why is life insurance important for those with pre-existing conditions?

As someone with a pre-existing condition, the need for life insurance only becomes more prevalent.

It’s estimated that, in the UK, over 26 million people are living with a long term pre-existing medical condition[1].

Life insurance can help to secure the financial future of your loved ones if the worst were to happen to you.

Without adequate life insurance cover in place could your loved ones:

  • Meet monthly mortgage or rent payments?
    (Average mortgage debt in the UK currently stands at £142,755[2])
  • Afford daily family living costs?
    (£157,562 is the average cost of raising a child to the age of 18[3])
  • Pay off any outstanding debts in your name?
    (The average total debt per UK household is £65,510[4])
  • Cover the cost of additional childcare
    (£285.31 a week is the cost for full-time childcare)[5]
  • Cover the cost of your funeral?
    (The current cost of just a basic funeral is £3,953[6])
  • Receive an inheritance?
    (1 in 10 people in the UK have no savings, an inheritance could provide your loved ones with financial support[7])

Speak to a friendly member of our team about securing the right life insurance to protect your loved ones. We can provide you with all the information you need to make a fully informed decision.

Applying for life insurance with a pre-existing medical condition

If you have a pre-existing medical condition, then your life insurance application may differ to that of a standard applicant.

This is because insurers will need to ask further questions in order to gain a better understanding of your condition and how it affects your day-to-day life.

As well as a standard application questionnaire, you will also likely be asked additional questions such as:

  • When were you diagnosed with your condition?
  • How frequent and severe are your symptoms?
  • Have you had to take time off of work as a result of your condition?
  • Are you on medication? (If so, what medication?)
  • Have you received or are you receiving treatment? (If so, what treatment)
  • If you have recovered, when did you recover?

The questions asked will vary depending on the provider and will also depend on which condition you have.

For those with a pre-existing medical condition that’s well managed and with mild symptoms, the application may carry on as normal with just a slight inflation being added to your premiums (or potentially no inflation at all).

If your condition is more severe your application may have to undergo manual underwriting and it’s likely your premiums will be inflated (or loaded).

Manual underwriting is where the application will be reviewed and written by an underwriter (rather than going through an automated process) where the circumstances of your condition will be taken into consideration.

What is the best life insurance for pre-existing conditions?

The best life insurance for someone with a pre-existing medical condition will be the policy that provides you with the cover you need at the most affordable price.

There are multiple life insurance policy options, each one will be affected differently by your condition.

Therefore, it’s important to compare multiple policies to find the most suitable option.

The most common life insurance policies include:

  • Level term life insurance
  • Decreasing term life insurance
  • Whole of life insurance
  • Over 50s plan

Keep reading to find out more about these life insurance policy types…

Life insurance policies for pre-existing conditions

Level term life insurance pre existing condition

Level term life insurance

Level term life insurance provides cover for a specified period of time (the term) and will pay out a fixed lump sum if you pass away during this time.

Due to the fixed pay out, a level term policy is well suited to protecting large expenses such as an interest-only mortgage, family living costs or leaving an inheritance.

You’ll need to disclose your pre-existing condition during the application process. This could affect the cost of your monthly premium, (depending on the type and severity of your condition).

Compare level term cover quotes through Reassured to find the best available deal from our panel of insurers.

Decreasing term life insurance pre-existing condition

Decreasing term life insurance

Decreasing term life insurance (or mortgage life insurance) for pre-existing conditions will provide cover for a set term and will only pay out if you pass away during this time.

The pay out sum (sum assured) will reduce over the policy lifetime, making it ideal for protecting a repayment mortgage - as your sum assured can reduce in line with your remaining mortgage balance.

You’ll need to disclose your condition during the application process which could affect the cost of your premium (depending on the type of condition you have and the severity of your symptoms).

Compare decreasing term quotes through Reassured.

Whole of life insurance with pre-existing conditions

Whole of life insurance

Whole of life insurance is unlikely to be an affordable option for those with pre-existing medical conditions.

This is because cover lasts for life, and you’ll need to continue paying premiums for the remainder of your life to keep cover valid.

You’ll need to disclose your condition during the application process which could lead to loaded premiums.

Paying inflated premiums could become extremely costly over your lifetime.

If you’re over the age of 50, you could opt for an over 50s plan instead.

Compare whole of life insurance quotes with Reassured.

Over 50 plans with pre-existing conditions

Over 50s plan

Life insurance for seniors with pre-existing conditions can be secured in the form of an over 50s plan.

This type of cover differs to traditional life insurance as no medical information is required and acceptance is guaranteed to those aged 50 - 85.

Instead, your premiums are calculated using your age, sum assured and sometimes smoking status.

Making this an ideal option if you’ve previously struggled to secure cover due to your condition.

For more information we have written a life insurance for smokers article »

Over 50s plans start from just £5 a month through Reassured + .

Compare Multiple Life Insurance Quotes »

Additional policy options

Terminal illness cover

This comes at no extra cost with all term policies arranged through Reassured.

Terminal illness cover allows you to make an early claim on your policy if you’re diagnosed with a life-threatening illness and predicted to pass away within 12 months.

However, it’s likely your policy will contain exclusions for your condition as well as any related conditions.

Critical illness cover

Critical illness cover can be purchased as a standalone policy through some providers or added to a life insurance policy for an additional cost.

It can still be possible to secure critical illness when applying with a pre-existing condition but it’s likely the policy will contain exclusions.

Family income benefit

Family income benefit works in a similar way to term life insurance. You’ll be covered for a specified period of time and a pay out will be made to your loved ones if you pass away during the term.

The difference is that loved ones will receive monthly income payments (rather than a lump sum) which can be used to help with long term family budgeting.

You’ll need to disclose your pre-existing condition during the application process and, depending on the severity of your condition, the cost of your premium could be affected.

Income protection

Income protection can be taken out alongside a life insurance policy and can pay out up to 70% of your income if you’re unable to work due to illness or injury.

It’s likely exclusions will be added to your policy to prevent a claim being made for your condition.

Reassured can help you to compare quotes from the UK’s leading providers.

How much does life insurance cost with a pre-existing condition?

The price you pay for life insurance with a pre-existing condition will likely be more than a standard applicant.

However, this isn’t to say that you can’t secure affordable life insurance.

The extent to which your premiums are affected by your condition will depend on what condition you have and the severity/frequency of your symptoms.

Some conditions may have only a small influence on the price you pay (or some conditions may not have an impact at all), whereas others may have a greater influence causing premiums to be inflated.

Different insurers have different thresholds for increasing premiums so it’s essential to compare quotes to find the most suitable provider.

Insurers will calculate your life insurance premium using key information which you’ll need to provide during the application process. This includes:

  • Age
  • Smoking status
  • Health & wellbeing
  • BMI
  • Lifestyle
  • Policy type
  • Length of cover
  • Level of cover

When disclosing a pre-existing medical condition, it’s also likely that you’ll need to provide further information, such as:

  • Date of diagnosis
  • Whether you’re on any medication
  • Whether you’re receiving treatment/have received treatment in the past
  • If so, what treatment
  • Severity and frequency of your symptoms
  • Date of recovery (if applicable)

Please be aware that the questions asked can vary depending on which condition you have and can also vary between providers.

Cover can be secured through specialist insurers from as little as £15 a month » .

Compare quotes from some of the UK’s leading providers to help secure your life insurance.

Simply get in touch, we're here to help.

Does critical illness insurance cover pre-existing conditions?

It can be possible to secure critical illness cover with a pre-existing medical condition.

However, it’s likely that your condition and any related conditions will be added as exclusions to the policy.

For example, if you’ve previously suffered from a heart attack, this and any related heart conditions may be added as exclusions.

You’ll be covered for any other new conditions (unrelated to your conditions).

As with a life insurance policy, you may experience inflated premiums for your cover due to the increased risk of a claim being made.

Are there any insurance companies that cover pre-existing conditions?

Some life insurance providers specialise in providing cover to those with pre-existing medical conditions.

These providers are often referred to as ‘specialist providers’.

Reassured have a specialist impaired life insurance team who’re dedicated to finding some form of cover for those who have been declined previously.

We can help you to compare quotes from The Exeter, one of the UK’s leading specialist insurance providers.

Put our team to work today and let us help you find suitable life insurance.

Can I be denied life insurance due to a medical condition?

While it’s unlikely you’ll be refused life insurance due to a pre-existing medical condition alone, in rare cases, it can be a possibility.

Each application will be reviewed on a case by case basis, and if insurers perceive you to be too great of a risk, cover can’t be offered.

If you’ve previously been declined, all is not lost, there could still be a chance for you to secure the life cover you need.

If you’re declined by a mainstream provider, it could still be possible to secure some form of cover through a specialist insurer as they are more equipped to provide cover to non-standard applicants.

Why not put our specialist impaired risk team to work?

Will I need to take a medical exam?

You won’t always be asked to undergo a medical exam when taking out life insurance with a pre-existing medical condition.

However, insurers do have the right to request a medical if necessary.

Particularly when applying for life insurance with a pre-existing medical condition, insurers will need to find out more about your condition.

They typically do this by:

  • Asking additional medical questions
  • Requesting a medical report from your GP (they can’t do this without your permission)
  • Requesting a medical exam

It’s more likely for insurers to request a medical report but sometimes a medical exam is required to see if your condition has had any other impact on your health.

If you're asked to undergo a medical exam by an insurer, they'll cover the cost and it will be arranged for a time and date that suits you.

The exception to this is an over 50s plan where no medical information is required. Read our dedicated life insurance no medical guide for more detailed information »

Secure an over 50s plan through Reassured from just £5 a month.

What if I develop a medical condition during the policy?

Developing a medical condition won’t affect the validity of an existing life insurance policy.

As long as all the information you provided during the application process was correct, your cover will remain intact even if you develop a medical condition.

You’re not obligated to inform your insurer of your new diagnosis, but you may wish to in order to make the claims process smoother for your loved ones.

If insurers are unaware of when the diagnosis occurred, they may need to investigate after your passing which could delay your loved ones getting a pay out.

Compare life insurance quotes with pre-existing medical conditions

It’s possible to secure life insurance even with a pre-existing medical condition.

If you suffer from a medical condition, the cost of premiums can vary more when compared with a standard applicant - making it even more essential to compare quotes.

Reassured can help you to compare multiple quotes to find our most cost-effective policy.

And the best part is our quotes are personalised, fee-free and totally without obligation.

Get in touch with a friendly member of the team today.

Compare Life Insurance with Reassured »

Sources:

[1] https://www.england.nhs.uk/blog/making-the-case-for-the-personalised-approach/

[2] https://www.finder.com/uk/life-insurance-statistics

[3] https://cpag.org.uk/sites/default/files/files/policypost/Cost_of_a_child_2022.pdf

[4] https://themoneycharity.org.uk/money-statistics/

[5] https://www.daynurseries.co.uk/advice/childcare-costs-how-much-do-you-pay-in-the-uk

[6] https://www.sunlife.co.uk/siteassets/documents/cost-of-dying/sunlife-cost-of-dying-report-2023.pdf/

[7] https://yourmoney.lumio-app.com/uk-savings-statistics

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