Money Expert > Life Insurance > Does my family history affect my life insurance?
Then you may find it harder to find cheap life insurance - compare policies now to see your options.
Last updated: 23/05/2025 | Estimated Reading Time: 4 minutes
Life insurance is, by nature, a complicated business. In order to create life insurance policies that provide value to both the policyholder and the insurance company, life insurance providers need to understand as much as possible about each applicant. This information is used to work out a customer’s risk to the insurer, and is judged by collecting as much information about them as possible.
One key factor insurers consider is how family health history affect your life insurance policy. While it may seem unfair that your life insurance policy could be influenced by conditions you do not have, the reality is that your family health history can play a major role in determining your risk profile.
Your family's medical history is important because certain inherited medical conditions can increase your risk of developing serious health issues later in life. Medical underwriters use this information to assess how likely it is that you will develop health conditions that may lead to a claim.
Certain conditions, such as breast cancer, bowel cancer, heart disease, and motor neurone disease, often run in families. If your biological parents or other direct family members have experienced these illnesses, you may be seen as a higher risk by life insurance companies.
Generally speaking, the greater the risk you represent to the insurance company, the higher your life insurance premiums will be. However, your family medical history is just one part of the picture. Your age, health, occupation, and lifestyle choices – such as whether you are a non-smoker or drink alcohol – are also major factors considered in your life insurance application.
When completing an application form for life cover, you will be asked a series of health questions about your own health and your family members' medical background. It may be tempting to omit certain details in the hope of securing a lower premium, but doing so can have serious consequences.
If an insurer later finds out that you withheld or falsified information about your family health history, they may refuse to pay out the insurance policy. This would leave your loved ones without the financial protection you intended to provide in the event of your death. Additionally, you would have paid for cover that is essentially void.
To avoid this, it is crucial to answer all questions truthfully and to provide complete medical information, including any known health conditions among family members and the results of any predictive genetic tests. Some insurance providers may also request access to your medical records or additional documentation to verify the information.
The impact of your family history on your life insurance premiums depends on several factors, including the specific conditions present, your own health, and whether you have developed any related medical conditions yourself.
For example, if you have a family history of heart attacks and you also have high blood pressure, your insurance options may be limited and your premiums could be significantly higher. In some circumstances, the life insurance company may even decide not to offer you cover if they consider you too high risk.
That said, many insurers have different criteria for assessing risk. While one provider may view your family health history as a red flag, another may take a more lenient approach, especially if you lead a healthy lifestyle and take preventative steps.
Every insurance provider uses its own guidelines and risk models to assess applications. That means some life insurance companies may put more weight on your family's medical history, while others may focus more on your current health and lifestyle.
This is why it is so important to shop around when applying for life insurance. Even if one insurer offers an increased premium, others may offer better rates or more tailored policies based on your individual circumstances. It is also worth checking if critical illness cover can be added, particularly if you have a family history of serious conditions that may lead to a claim.
To get the best deal, it helps to compare life insurance policies from multiple insurance companies. Using a comparison tool like Money Expert allows you to see a range of quotes based on your personal details, including your age, employment status, and answers to key health and lifestyle questions.
This gives you a clear view of how much cover you can expect and how much it will cost. It also helps you identify which life insurance providers are more likely to accept your application given your family medical history.
Your family health history may influence your life insurance policy, but it does not automatically mean you will face rejection or unaffordable premiums. Being open about your background and comparing quotes across providers can help you secure valuable life cover for your loved ones.
Being honest about how your family health history affect your risk profile will help you avoid issues with claims in the future and give you peace of mind.
Remember: full disclosure ensures that your policy is valid and your beneficiaries are protected when it matters most.