Can you get life insurance with high cholesterol?

Yes, you can get life insurance with high cholesterol. It’s possible to take out an affordable policy to protect your loved ones should the worst happen.

Factors such as your lifestyle, overall health and cholesterol levels will be considered by insurers to determine the cost of your monthly premium.

In many cases, high cholesterol doesn’t affect life insurance rates, but it depends on your personal circumstances and the insurer you apply with.

Continue reading this guide to find out more about applying for life insurance with high cholesterol and how you can secure an affordable policy.

In this guide:

At Reassured, our dedicated team of experts are on hand to help you find suitable financial protection that won’t cost the earth.

We compare quotes from a panel of leading insurers, including specialist insurers, in order to find you our best deals.

Contact our award-winning, friendly team for your free personalised quotes.

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Should I get life insurance if I have high cholesterol?

Life insurance could be essential for anyone who has financial dependents, particularly those who are at higher risk of heart conditions.

Having life insurance in place can give you peace of mind knowing that your loved ones have a financial safety net if you were no longer around.

The proceeds from a policy can be used in a variety of ways, but most commonly it’s used to help cover:

  • Mortgage repayments or rental costs. Whether you own a property or rent, life insurance can help protect your family’s home
  • Family living expenses. A policy could help to cover day to day family living costs (such as food and transport) and/or utility bills (such as gas, electric and water)
  • Childcare costs or schooling fees. If you have children, or plan to have children in the future, then a pay out from life insurance could help towards nursery fees so your partner can go to work or increase their hours at work to make up the lost income
  • Outstanding debts in your name. Life insurance can help settle any unpaid debt such as credit cards, personal loans or store cards
  • Funeral costs. The average cost of dying is currently £9,200 in the UK[1], so you could set aside some money to help towards this expense
  • Inheritance. Some people choose to take out life insurance so they can provide a cash gift for loved ones, or to cover an inheritance bill if their estate is liable

How much life insurance do you need?

Find out how much life insurance may be right for you by using our simple calculator. Fill in the costs you would like your policy to cover.

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£121,687 is the estimated average outstanding mortgage per household in the UK.

Our property is generally the largest financial commitment any of us will make.

Your life insurance should cover this significant debt should you no longer be around.
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According to Money Advice Service, full-time childcare in the UK now costs £242 a week.

The loss of a parent could result in the need for additional childcare whilst the surviving parent increases their hours to account for lost income.

Your life insurance cover should factor in this additional required outgoing.
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The average level of debt (minus a mortgage) in the UK is £15,385.

Factoring in any outstanding debts in your name when arranging life insurance ensures this burden is not passed to loved ones.
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You may wish to leave your loved ones an inheritance or lump sum gift upon your passing.

Factoring in the gift amount when arranging your cover will ensure the pay out amount will be sufficient to provide your loved ones with this selfless gesture.
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According to SunLife, the average cost of a UK funeral is now £4,417, whilst the total cost of dying is £9,493.

This is a 130% increase over the past 16 years and shows no signs of slowing down.

A significant cost which should be factored into the amount of life insurance you secure.
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If you are one of the 65% of the UK who are lucky enough to have savings, this could be used as protection if you were to pass away.

Any pay outs from existing life insurance policies and investments can also be used as financial protection for your loved ones if you were no longer around.

Factor this into your required cover amount.
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Your total cover estimate

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Let us find you our best quote.

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What is high cholesterol for life insurance?

High cholesterol is when you have too much cholesterol in your blood, which can increase your risk of heart conditions, such as heart disease.

In the UK, the average total cholesterol level is 5.7mmol/l[2]. For life insurance, you may be charged a higher premium if your cholesterol reading is over 6.

Cholesterol level (mmol/L)Rating
5 or belowNormal (or low)
5 to 6.4High
6.5 to 7.8Very high
7.8 or aboveExtremely high


High cholesterol is caused by many different things, including lifestyle and other health conditions (such as kidney disease). It affects more than 2 in 5 people in the UK[3].

If you’re improving your health by eating a healthy diet, exercising, and not smoking, you could lower your cholesterol to a healthy level.

It’s important to have a recent cholesterol reading for your life insurance application. Heart UK, the cholesterol charity, has this guide to getting a cholesterol test and how to understand your test results.

Is high cholesterol a pre-existing condition for insurance?

Yes, for life insurance and other types of insurance, high cholesterol is considered a pre-existing medical condition.

A pre-existing medical condition is any condition that you already have when applying for life insurance.

It must be disclosed to the insurer to ensure that your policy is valid.

How does high cholesterol affect life insurance?

Having high cholesterol could have an impact on the cost of your life insurance and, in some cases, your eligibility.

Insurers will consider various factors when determining the level of risk you pose. If you have high cholesterol, then this will be one of those factors.

Here is how it can affect your life insurance:

Cost Money Quotes

Premiums - As an applicant with high cholesterol, insurers may consider you as higher risk for heart problems (such as heart attack and stroke), which could lead to higher premiums on your policy.
Heart

Lifestyle - Lifestyle choices such as smoking, drinking too much alcohol and not exercising enough can cause high cholesterol and other health problems. These factors will also be considered when you apply for life insurance.
Health

Medical conditions - Related medical conditions, such as high blood pressure and diabetes, are also factors that can affect your application. Insurers will ask about your medical history and family medical history to understand more about your health risks before offering you a policy.
Age

Age - It’s normal for your cholesterol levels to increase as you get older, therefore insurers will also consider your age when assessing your application.

You can minimise the effect of high cholesterol on your life insurance by leading a healthy lifestyle and following your recommended treatment.

Generally, if you’re a non-smoker in good health and your condition is well-managed, you shouldn’t have a problem securing the cover you need.

Shopping around and comparing different policies can help you to choose the best option to suit your circumstances and budget.

Why not contact the team at Reassured for your free, personalised quotes?

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High cholesterol life insurance questions

When applying for life insurance with high cholesterol, you may need to answer some additional questions about your health condition.

An insurer may ask the following:

  • When were you diagnosed with high cholesterol?
  • What is your most recent cholesterol reading and when was it taken?
  • Have you had any time off work due to high cholesterol?
  • Are you awaiting treatment or an appointment with a specialist/medical professional?
  • Are you currently receiving treatment or taking any medication?
  • Have there been any changes to your medication recently?

Your responses to these questions will allow insurers to better assess your application and provide you with a suitable quote.

If they can’t offer you a policy based on this information, then they may request access to your medical records or, in some cases, that you undergo a medical check.

Medical report

An insurer may request a medical report from your GP to clarify things like dates and medication, so they can obtain accurate information about your high cholesterol.

They can’t access your medical records without your permission first.

Medical check-up

If you don’t have a recent cholesterol reading and/or have other risk factors as well as high cholesterol, then you may be asked to attend a medical exam.

This would be at your normal surgery or local pharmacy, at a time that suits you. If an insurer requests that you attend an exam, they will cover the cost.

How much is high cholesterol life insurance?

Having a medical condition such as high cholesterol may affect the cost of your monthly life insurance premium.

Other factors that will determine how much you pay include:

Health

Pre-existing medical conditions, family medical history & weight (BMI).

Lifestyle

Smoking status, alcohol intake, occupation & hobbies.

Policy details

Policy type, sum assured (cover amount) & policy term (length of cover).

Insurers will take into account all this information, as well as your age, to work out a suitable price for your monthly premium.

If your high cholesterol is well-managed and you’re in good health, then you may be offered the standard price (starting at just £5 a month through Reassured † ).

However, if you have severe high cholesterol and/or other high-risk factors (such as a high BMI or other health condition), then the price may be inflated.

No matter your circumstances, it’s important to compare quotes. This is because different insurers offer varying prices for the same cover.

At Reassured, we can source quotes from a panel of leading insurers to help you find the right policy at the right price.

Can I be refused life insurance due to high cholesterol?

Yes, it’s possible to be refused standard life insurance due to high cholesterol, but it’s uncommon.

When high cholesterol is combined with other high-risk factors (as described below) it’s more likely to affect your eligibility.

Some reasons why an insurer may decline your application include:

  • You have a high BMI (over 40), smoke or regularly drink too much alcohol (over 14 units per week)
  • You have other medical conditions which are not well-controlled, such as high blood pressure or diabetes
  • You’ve previously had a stroke or heart attack
  • Your cholesterol levels are extremely high

If you’ve been refused life insurance in the past, then this shouldn’t stop you from exploring other options or applying with different insurers.

For example, if you’re aged 50 - 85 then you may consider over 50s life insurance. This is a type of policy that guarantees acceptance and has no medical questions.

Why not contact Reassured to find out your available options? We can search for policies from major insurers, as well as smaller specialists, saving you the time and hassle.

We also have a specialist impaired risk team that has a good track record of finding some form of cover for those who’ve been declined previously.

Make the most of our fee-free, award-winning service today.

Types of life insurance

Term life insurance with high cholesterol

Term life insurance

Provides cover for a set term (2 - 40 years) to help protect a mortgage and/or family living costs.

You can choose from different types of term life insurance to suit your needs (such as level and decreasing term).

This is usually the cheapest type of cover, but high cholesterol could affect your premiums depending on your circumstances.

Family income benefit with high cholesterol

Family income benefit

Provides cover for a set term (2 - 40 years) to help cover bills, housing costs and family living expenses.

Pays out in regular, tax-free monthly payments if you pass away during the term.

Another affordable type of cover for families, but high cholesterol could affect your premiums depending on your circumstances.

Whole of life policies with high cholesterol

Whole of life insurance

Provides cover for the rest of your life, and guarantees to pay out when you pass away.

Can help to cover anything you like including mortgage repayments, funeral costs and family living expenses.

Whole of life is typically more expensive than other types of cover, so not always best suited to applicants with medical conditions.

Over 50s life insurance with high cholesterol

Over 50s life insurance (over 50s plan)

Provides cover for the rest of your life and guarantees to pay out when you pass away.

Also guarantees acceptance if you’re aged 50 – 85 and the maximum cover is £20,000.

The application form doesn’t require your medical information, so high cholesterol won’t affect your eligibility or the cost of your premiums.

Best life insurance with high cholesterol

The best life insurance for people with high cholesterol will depend on their specific needs and circumstances.

If you would like to help protect your mortgage or other large debts, then you could apply for term life insurance (cover that lasts for a set period).

Term life insurance is typically the cheapest form of cover, so it may still offer an affordable premium for applicants with high cholesterol.

If you’re over 50 with high cholesterol and you have other high-risk factors (such as additional health issues) then you could take out over 50s life insurance.

The application form doesn’t have any medical questions and acceptance is guaranteed if you’re 50 - 85.

Over 50s life insurance provides up to £20,000 of cover (depending on your age, smoking status and budget) and guarantees to pay out when you pass away.

Get free, no-obligation over 50s life insurance quotes through Reassured to find out if this could be a good option for you.

Other types of insurance for people with high cholesterol

As well as life insurance, you may also consider additional types of insurance to protect your loved ones should the unexpected happen.

Other policies available through Reassured include:

Life insurance with critical illness cover

This type of policy provides a lump sum pay out if you pass away or become critically unwell during the policy term.

If you’re diagnosed with a critical (but not life threatening) illness, then you can make a claim on your policy to help cover essential costs.

Critical illness cover will pay out for a range of specified conditions but may not cover conditions related to high cholesterol (depending on your circumstances).

We have a life insurance with critical illness cover guide if you’d like to learn more.

Income protection

Income protection insurance is a type of policy that can help to replace your income if you’re unable to work due to an illness or injury.

You could protect up to 70% of your income (depending on the insurer) and choose how long you want to be covered for.

If you have high cholesterol, then this might affect the cost of income protection, or this condition may be excluded from the cover.

We have a full income protection insurance with pre-existing conditions guide for more information.

Get your FREE high cholesterol life insurance quotes

Life insurance is essential if you have a family who rely on you financially, particularly if you’re at higher risk of heart conditions.

At Reassured, our dedicated experts can help you find the best policy to suit your needs as well as source the best quotes from our panel of leading insurers.

We’re an award-winning life insurance broker, with more than 14 years experience providing a specialist service to families across the UK.

Our service is fee-free and without obligation, so get in touch today.

Get Free Quotes » High Cholesterol Life Insurance

Sources:

[1] https://www.sunlife.co.uk/funeral-costs/

[2] https://onlinedoctor.superdrug.com/ie/cholesterol-levels.html

[3] https://www.england.nhs.uk/2021/09/nhs-cholesterol-busting-jab-to-save-thousands-of-lives/

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