For those with pre-existing medical conditions, the idea of getting a life insurance policy can be a daunting prospect. Insurance providers will set your premiums based on the likelihood of them having to pay out, and having a pre-diagnosed health condition may be seen as higher risk.
You may be worried that your condition will result in an excessive premium cost, or that you'll struggle to even find cover at all. To help you navigate this rather tricky subject, we have put together a quick guide to make sure you're informed when looking for life insurance with pre-existing conditions.
In This Guide:
- How do you define a pre-existing condition?
- What do I have to tell my insurer?
- How will a pre-existing medical condition affect my policy?
- What type of policy should I get with a pre-existing condition?
How do you define a pre-existing condition?
When it comes to life insurance, any injury, illness or disease that you were already suffering from at the time you take out a policy will be classified as a pre-existing medical condition.
Having a pre-existing condition could have an impact on your life insurance premiums. How much of an effect it has depends on the severity of your condition and the criteria of the particular insurer.
Ailments that will be typically be considered a pre-existing condition include:
- Cancer
- Heart disease
- Diabetes
- Obesity
- Asthma
- Epilepsy
- Neurological conditions
- High blood pressure or cholesterol
- Strokes
- Mental health conditions including anxiety and depression
Please note that each insurance provider will have a slightly different definition of what qualifies as a pre-existing condition, so make sure to check with the insurer you decide to go for.
What do I have to tell my insurer?
When applying for a life insurance policy, the company will take a look at your medical history, current lifestyle and general health in order to determine your premiums. One of the first questions they'll ask you, alongside your age, occupation and drinking/smoking habits, is if you have any pre-existing medical conditions.
Once you disclose a pre-existing condition, your insurer will then typically ask you some further questions in order to assess the risk. You may have to provide information on:
- When you were diagnosed with the condition
- Any known family history of the condition
- Any medication you are taking for it
- Any previous hospital visits due to the condition
If you omit any of this information when applying for life insurance it could void your policy, meaning that your family will not receive any payout if you pass away.
Your insurer may also request to see your medical records from your GP, or undertake a medical examination. Your personal medical history is confidential, so you are not obliged to hand over this information, although failing to do so could mean you're denied cover.
If you're uncomfortable about sharing your medical records or undergoing a medical exam, it is possible to find life insurance without a medical. However, going for this type of policy may mean missing out on the best rates.
How will a pre-existing medical condition affect my policy?
This will depend entirely on what kind of medical condition you have. For example , if you are young and have been diagnosed with something that is not life changing, you might find that this does not have a dramatic effect on whether an insurance company will accept your application.
If, however, you and have suffered from a serious and debilitating illness which poses an immediate risk to your health, then you might find that you are not able to take out a policy at all as you are deemed to be too high of a risk.
If your pre-existing condition is serious and you do find an insurer to cover you, you will find that your premiums will be far higher than usual, which in some cases will prevent the policy from being worth it. Your policy may also come with certain exclusions written in around certain causes of death related to the condition. They will never require an ongoing action such as taking medication.
What type of policy should I get with a pre-existing condition?
Life insurance is designed to provide a financial safety net to your loved ones should you pass away. There are many different types of life insurance policy, some of which will be more beneficial to you or not depending on your circumstances. Remember to always disclose your pre-existing condition.
- Level term life insurance: This is a standard life insurance policy in which you agree with your insurer a set payout, term length, and monthly premium. Your beneficiaries will be paid a fixed sum should you die within the term.
- Decreasing term life insurance: This is typically cheaper than level term life insurance, but the payout you receive will be smaller the longer you are into your term when a claim is made. These policies are great for people with outstanding debts, such as a mortgage.
- Critical illness cover: With this type of cover, you won't have to wait until death to benefit from it, as it pays out upon the diagnosis of any critical illness which may leave you unable to work. However, this doesn't apply to any pre-existing conditions, so disclosing them is vital. Critical illness cover can typically be included as an add-on to your existing life insurance policy, or alternatively can be taken out separately with some providers.
