When applying for life insurance, you need to be aware that higher-risk factors are the things that may increase the chance of your making a claim on your policy. These can include some health conditions and lifestyle factors – as well as occupations and hobbies.
For example, smoking, drinking heavily or having certain medical conditions may affect how an insurer assesses your application. Jobs or hobbies that are viewed as ‘more risky’ may also be taken into account.
It’s important to understand that ‘high-risk life insurance’ is not, in itself, a specific type of life insurance. Rather, it is a term sometimes used when an insurer considers someone to have a higher level of risk when assessing their application.
If you are viewed as ‘higher risk’ you may still be able to get standard life insurance. Equally, you may be offered cover at a higher premiums, or asked for more detail about your health or lifestyle.
In some cases, you may have your application declined.
MoneySuperMarket helps you find good value life insurance policies by comparing quotes from providers across the UK market. Even if you are high-risk due to health or lifestyle e.g. being a smoker, there is a good chance that we can still help you find a good price for a policy. However, in some cases you may need to turn to specialist cover.
If you're over 50 or you have a history of serious health issues, it may be worthwhile to consider life insurance without a medical check. These types of term life insurance policies are more expensive than standard, but they don't require you to provide any medical information and almost guarantee cover. They are the preferred option for people that may not qualify for a standard policy.
There are two main options for life insurance:
Also called:Level-term insurance
Payout: Remains the same throughout your policy
Best for: Providing long-term financial security and support to your dependants.
Example: This type of policy could ensure that if you unexpectedly passed away you could still help your children with their house deposit or wedding when they grow up.
Fixed premiums: How much you pay never changes
Fixed payout: You know exactly how much money your beneficiaries will receive
Cost: Rarely the cheapest policy option
Not linked to inflation: Your payout will be worth less if the cost of living goes up
Also called:Decreasing-term insurance
Payout: Reduces in size over time
Best for: Covering large but shorter-term debts and expenses like mortgages.
Example: This type of policy could allow your loved ones to stay in their family home if you were no longer around to contribute to the mortgage payment.
Price: These policies are usually the cheapest type of life insurance
Specific: They can be used when you only want protection while you hold a lot of debt
Shorter-term protection: Payouts are highest when you first take out the policy
Not suitable for all mortgage types, including interest-only
Being high-risk to insurer doesn't always mean that you have health problems. Sometimes added risk comes from your lifestyle and hobbies. Below is a list of some things that may make you high-risk when applying for life insurance:
Being overweight can increase your risk of developing a number of health problems and reduce life expectancy
Smoking can have serious effects on your health. Life insurance will always cost more if you are a regular smoker
Government guidance says that you shouldn't drink more than 14 units a week. Regularly consuming more than this could have serious health consequences
Health problems become more common as we get older and accidents become more dangerous, so seniors are considered high-risk to insurers
You will be considered high-risk if you have any pre-existing conditions or if you've been diagnosed in the past for any severe conditions, such as cancer
Some life-long or chronic conditions may be considered high-risk if failure to manage them can have dangerous consequences, such as diabetes
Life insurance will be more expensive if you have a dangerous occupation that puts you at risk of injury or illness
You may need to disclose to your provider if you have any dangerous pastimes, like motorsports, skydiving, or mountaineering
High-risk life insurance has benefits and negatives, which you should consider before investing in a policy:
Provides life insurance options for those who might not qualify for standard policies due to health conditions or risky occupations
Ensures that beneficiaries receive financial support, which can help cover living expenses, debts, or future needs.
Offers peace of mind knowing that there is a policy in place can alleviate concerns for both the policyholder and their loved ones
Some insurers offer tailored policies that may address specific needs or circumstances of high-risk individuals
Due to the increased risk, premiums are generally much higher compared to standard life insurance policies
Some insurers may limit the amount of coverage available or impose stricter terms
Like many life insurance policies, high-risk insurance has specific exclusions relating to suicide, drug and alcohol abuse, criminal activity, and acts of war and terrorism
The underwriting process can be more rigorous, requiring extensive medical history and possibly additional medical examinations
The older you are, the more expensive your premiums are likely to be because there is a higher risk of a claim being made on the policy. Policies start from just £2.75[5] a month for under 30s.
If your job involves substantial hazards or poses a risk to your health, it's likely to increase the price of your policy. If you are a firefighter, for example, your premium is likely to be higher than someone employed as a librarian.
Your pre-existing conditions will make life insurance more expensive. While you can still get life insurance cover, you can expect to pay more if your policy covers your conditions
If you are a smoker or vaper the price of your premiums will almost certainly be higher, due to the associated health risks. Each insurer will have different rules over how it defines a smoker so check the small print.
For comparison, non-smokers pay on average £19.88[6], whereas smokers can expect to pay £27.97[6].
Some policies, such as those for over 50s, may not require a medical first.
A policy which offers a bigger final payout will generally require bigger payments from you.
Prices are also linked to the expected length of the policy, with a shorter policy usually requiring higher premiums.
Since different insurance providers offer differently-priced policies, shopping around is one of the most effective ways to save money and find the best deal for you.
If you are considered high risk, shopping for life insurance can be a bit more difficult than standard. With less choice and higher premiums, you need to pay special attention to the details of your policy to get the most out of it. Here are a few things to keep in mind:
If you have a pre-existing condition but don't choose a specialist life insurance provider, your condition may be excluded from your cover. This means that if your death is related to your condition, your family may not be able to claim. Some conditions may not be covered by life insurance at all
High risk life insurance policies are usually offered by specialist providers, so it's unlikely that the choices you get when shopping for your policy are considerably less than they are for standard policies. Because not many providers offer this type of cover, you also will typically have to pay more
You need to think carefully about what you want from a life insurance policy before you begin choosing your options. Decreasing term life insurance, for example, is an affordable way to protect a repayment mortgage but won't provide your loved ones with much support. Details like this shouldn't be overlooked
You must always be honest with your insurance provider if they ask you about your medical history. Hiding your health conditions from your insurer when taking out life insurance puts you at risk of your policy being invalidated and any claims on your policy being rejected
Despite there being an increased cost for higher-risk customers, the likelihood of your policy paying out shouldn't be affected provided you are honest with your insurer about your occupation, lifestyle and smoking habits. You might feel that you are over sharing, but if you hold something back it could really affect whether the insurer pays out in the event of a claim.
Alicia Hempsted Insurance Expert
All you need to know about life insurance and medical records
Topics you are likely to discuss before speaking to a life insurance advisor
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If you’re not sure what life insurance cover you need or have questions that we haven’t answered in our life insurance guides, there is help for you. We have partnered up with LifeSearch to provide our customers with life insurance guidance and advice to help them find the right cover.
It’s free of charge. You can get in touch by calling 0800 197 3178.
Their opening hours are:
Monday to Friday: 8am – 8pm
Saturday: 9am-2pm
Sunday: 10am – 3.30pm
While specialist policies may be more willing to cover certain health conditions and lifestyle choices than a standard life insurance policy, they still have exclusions.
Like most other life insurance policies, high risk life insurance policies will not cover you if your death is related to:
Substance abuse;
Criminal activity;
Or acts of war
Another exclusion that you may find on your life insurance policy is for suicide within the first year of your policy, but this is not always the case. It is important that you read the terms of your cover in your policy documents to find out your provider's specific exclusions.
You can get life insurance policies that cover more than one person at a time – usually couples – but these policies don't usually offer the sae special terms that you get from a high risk life insurance policy. Joint life insurance policies usually offer standard cover, so your conditions or dangerous lifestyle may be excluded or have a significant effects on the cost.
In the event that one partner is a greater risk to insure than the other, it can sometimes be more effective to purchase separate life insurance policies.
Yes, you can get life insurance if you are in the armed forces. Because of your dangerous occupation you would be considered high-risk, so your life insurance will be more expensive. Your provider may also add some exclusions around your occupation. For example, if you add critical illness cover to your policy, your provider may exclude conditions that happened while in active deployments. However, this isn't always the case. That's why it's worth it to shop around and read the fine print of your policy before you buy.
If you're finding that the cost of a life insurance policy is difficult to afford, you may need to think carefully about whether you need it. If you don't have dependents that rely on you to take care of them or a mortgage debt that will be passed onto your loved ones, you might not need to pay out the nose for life insurance.
If you would like to speak to someone about your options, LifeSearch are a free advice service to help you find the right cover for you.
You can get in touch by calling 0800 197 3178.
Their opening hours are:
Monday to Friday: 8am – 8pm
Saturday: 9am-2pm
Sunday: 10am – 3.30pm
An uninsurable risk for life insurance is an event that an insurance provider will not cover because it's too likely to happen, or because the risk is unacceptable. For example, an individual with a terminal illness and a life expectancy of 6 months would be uninsurable for term life insurance.
This depends on individual circumstances, needs, and preferences. Factors such as coverage options, premiums, provider reputation, and specific risks should be considered when choosing a high risk insurance policy. It's advisable to compare multiple insurers and consult with an insurance expert to find the best fit for your unique situation.
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Reviewed on 23 Sep 2026 by
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YouGov Survey 1st July 2024 to 30th June 2025. Net Recommend score derived from “Which of the following online service websites would you recommend to a friend or colleague, or tell them to avoid?” Base: Current Customers of (MoneySuperMarket n=18,382, Compare the Market n=16,802, Go.Compare n=10,162, Confused.com n=8,229, Uswitch n=528).
Using the 51st percentile of cheapest premiums quotes, based on single non smoker policyholder aged under 30, with £100,000 of cover over a 10 year term with a decreasing term. Quoted between August 2025 and August 2026
Data based on life insurance policies for £200,000 of cover sold through MSM between 1st April and 30th June 2024
