How to Get Life Insurance with a Pre-Existing Condition in the UK
Can You Get Life Insurance with a Pre-Existing Condition?
Yes - having a pre-existing medical condition does not automatically disqualify you from getting life insurance in the UK. It can affect your premium, policy terms, or result in specific exclusions, but cover is often available. Common conditions that affect applications include diabetes, heart disease, cancer, mental health conditions, obesity, high blood pressure, and epilepsy.
How Insurers Assess Medical History
Based on your health questionnaire, the insurer may: accept at standard rates if your condition is well-managed, add a loading (higher premium) to reflect additional risk, exclude the specific condition covering everything except death related to that condition, or decline the application in cases of very high risk. Each insurer has different underwriting criteria, so it is crucial to compare multiple providers.
Be Completely Honest
Non-disclosure is the biggest mistake applicants make. If you fail to declare a condition and then make a claim, the insurer can reject it. The FCA requires fair treatment but non-disclosure provides valid grounds for refusal.
Use a Specialist Broker
Brokers experienced in impaired life cases know which insurers are most sympathetic to specific conditions. They can approach multiple underwriters without leaving multiple application footprints on your record.
If You're Declined
- Try specialist insurers and reapply after your condition improves
- Explore guaranteed acceptance products (no medical questions, lower cover amounts)
- Check group life insurance via your employer - often no individual medical underwriting
- Contact the British Insurance Brokers' Association (BIBA) for a specialist broker referral
