Can you get life insurance with schizophrenia?

Yes, it could be possible to get life insurance if you have schizophrenia or a history of schizophrenia.

Your available options and the cost of your cover will depend on your individual circumstances.

If you’ve been diagnosed with schizophrenia and would like to financially protect your loved ones, then contact Reassured.

We compare quotes from leading insurers, including specialists, to help you explore all your possible options.

There’s no judgement, no-obligation and no-fee when using our award-winning service.

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Life insurance and schizophrenia quick summary

  • ‘Schizophrenia life insurance’ isn’t a type of policy designed specifically for people with schizophrenia, it simply refers to a policy that’s taken out by someone who’s been diagnosed with schizophrenia
  • If you’re living with schizophrenia, standard types of life insurance might not be available depending on the severity of your condition and the insurer you apply to
  • During the application process, you’ll be asked questions specific to schizophrenia. These need to be answered fully and honestly to ensure that any policy you take out it valid
  • Insurers may request access to your medical records (through your GP) for a more detailed picture of your health if they can’t make an immediate decision
  • If you struggle to secure a policy through standard insurers, you may have better success with specialist insurers. Alternatively, if you’re a UK resident aged 50 - 85, then guaranteed acceptance policies (over 50s plans) could be a suitable option
  • Using a broker, such as Reassured, can help you to identify which insurers are able to offer you some form of cover based on your unique circumstances

How does schizophrenia affect life insurance?

Schizophrenia will affect whether you’re eligible for life insurance and the cost of your monthly premium.

This is because of the risks associated with schizophrenia, including a higher risk of additional health problems, substance abuse and suicide.

During the application process insurers will ask questions about your condition and may ask for further medical evidence from your GP (see below).

They’ll decide whether to offer you a policy and how much you’ll pay based on your individual circumstances.

Those with milder symptoms and less frequent episodes (and no other medical problems) may be able to secure standard types of life insurance.

What questions will an insurer ask?

Insurers will ask you a range of questions about your health, lifestyle and family medical history. This is part of the standard application process.

If you have schizophrenia, they’ll also ask some questions related to this condition, such as:

  • When were you diagnosed with schizophrenia?
  • How severe/frequent are your symptoms?
  • Have you been hospitalised due to schizophrenia?
  • Have you attempted to take your own life or intentionally harmed yourself?
  • Have you been referred to or seen a psychiatrist?
  • Have you experienced any psychotic episodes?
  • What is your treatment plan/what treatment have you received?
  • What medication do you take and what dosage?

It’s essential not to withhold any information about your circumstances when applying for life insurance.

This is known as 'non-disclosure' and will invalidate your policy, meaning a claim would be denied in the future.

Will I need to have a medical exam?

A medical exam may be necessary for applications where schizophrenia is disclosed, depending on the severity of your condition, your personal circumstances and the insurer’s underwriting criteria.

Some insurers may request a medical report from your GP as opposed to requiring a medical exam. This is so they can verify the information you’ve provided about your health.

In this instance, the insurer will need your consent. They will also need your GP contact details. Without your consent, they may refuse your application as they won’t have access to the information needed to make their decision.

There isn’t any cost involved with obtaining a medical report, and you’ll also have the option to see the report before it’s sent to the insurer.

Providing your permission for this process will allow insurers to make the most accurate decision based on your personal circumstances.

Best life insurance for people with schizophrenia

There isn’t one type of life insurance that’s best for people with schizophrenia.

Ultimately, your best life insurance policy will depend on the severity of your condition and which options are available to you.

For example, if you’re unable to secure affordable cover through a standard insurer, your best solution may be available through a specialist insurer.

Specialist insurers are more accommodating to applicants with serious physical and mental health conditions, including schizophrenia.

At Reassured, we work with both type of insurers, allowing us to help you weigh up your options that may allow you to secure some form of cover.

We can also compare quotes for over 50s life insurance; a type of policy that offers guaranteed acceptance to all UK residents aged 50 - 85.

An over 50s application doesn’t include any medical questions, so providing that you are within this age range you can get protection without the need to declare your schizophrenia.

Get your free, personalised quotes through us today.

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Types of life insurance

At Reassured, we can provide quotes for the below policy types:

Level term life insurance

  • Pays out if you pass away during a set term (2 - 40 years)
  • Cover amount stays the same throughout the term
  • Can help to cover an interest-only mortgage and/or family living costs
  • Application requires medical information

Decreasing term life insurance

  • Pays out if you pass away during a set term (2 - 40 years)
  • Cover amount decreases every policy anniversary until it reaches zero
  • Can help to cover a repayment mortgage
  • Application requires medical information
  • Usually the cheapest form of cover

Whole of life insurance

  • Guarantees a lump sum pay out when you pass away
  • Could help to provide an inheritance or cover funeral costs
  • Usually more expensive that term-based cover
  • Application requires medical information

Over 50s life insurance

  • Guarantees acceptance to UK residents aged 50 – 85
  • Secure up to £20,000 which could help to cover funeral costs
  • Waiting period applies (12 or 24 months depending on the insurer) before cover starts
  • Application doesn’t require medical information
  • Premiums from £5 a month through Reassured +

If you need help choosing the right policy type and finding out your available options, get in touch with our award-winning team.

Schizophrenia life insurance cost

The cost of life insurance with schizophrenia will depend on factors related to your condition, as well as other key factors listed below:

  • Age
  • Smoking status
  • Physical & mental health conditions
  • Alcohol consumption
  • Drug use
  • Weight/BMI
  • Family medical history
  • Policy type
  • Policy length
  • Cover amount

Insurers will use this information to determine the level of risk you pose and calculate the cost of your monthly premium.

If you’re looking after your health (for example, not smoking, drinking alcohol in moderation, exercising regularly), this can help reduce your risk of a relapse and may reduce the risk of the insurer increasing your premiums further.

Contact Reassured for your free, personalised life insurance quote.

About schizophrenia and common symptoms

Schizophrenia is a long-term mental health condition that’s often described as a type of psychosis. It can affect how someone thinks and behaves[1].

Symptoms are divided into two categories:

Positive symptoms

These include hallucinations (such as hearing voices), delusions, confused thinking and speech (leading to unpredictable behaviour).

Negative symptoms

These include: losing interest in everyday activities, not looking after oneself (such as not caring about personal hygiene), avoiding people including friends, feeling disconnected from feelings or emotions.

Information & support

If you’re worried about your mental health, it’s important to seek the right help. There are a variety of charities and support groups in the UK for people with schizophrenia.

Some of these include:

Schizophrenia facts & figures UK

According to Living with Schizophrenia:

  • 1 in 100 people will suffer an episode of schizophrenia during their lifetime[2]
  • 70% of people with schizophrenia will experience at least one episode of depression during their illness[3]
  • 220,000 people at any one time are being treated for schizophrenia by the NHS
  • 25% of people who suffer an episode will fully recover without further problems
  • Schizophrenia is linked to various physical conditions such as coeliac disease, heart disease and diabetes

Schizophrenia life insurance quotes

Applying for life insurance with schizophrenia isn’t always straight forward and can be a challenge, especially if you’ve experienced severe symptoms.

Some insurers are better equipped when it comes to mental health conditions and may be able to accept your application (depending on your circumstances), while others may decline your application simply due to your schizophrenia.

For this reason, it’s important to apply to different insurers and get several quotes when looking for financial protection for your family.

Reassured are here to help you with this process, offering fee-free expert support along the way.

Even if you’ve been declined in the past, our dedicated impaired risk team may be able to help you find some form of cover that suits your needs and budget.

Get in touch with our award-winning team to find out your available options today.

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Sources:

[1] https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/conditions/schizophrenia/overview/

[2] https://livingwithschizophreniauk.org/facts-and-figures/

[3] https://livingwithschizophreniauk.org/information-sheets/depression-and-schizophrenia/

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