Smoking
If you smoke, this can affect the cost of your cover; you could pay significantly more than a non-smoker
High-risk life insurance
Affordable life insurance for higher-risk.
What is high-risk life insurance?
High-risk life insurance generally means life insurance for someone an insurer considers more likely than average to make a claim during the policy term.
It isn't usually a distinct type of life insurance policy, although there are some specialist life insurance policies made for specific high-risk groups such as serving members of the armed forces.
If you are viewed as ‘higher risk’ you can often still get standard life insurance. But you may be offered cover with higher premiums or more restrictions. You may also be asked to provide more detail about your health or lifestyle during the application stage.
In some cases, you may have your application declined.
What are higher-risk factors?
Higher-risk factors are the things that may increase the chance of your making a claim on your life insurance policy. These can include:
medical conditions, especially serious or chronic ones
a particularly high or low BMI
smoking and drinking alcohol
a hazardous occupation, such as working offshore or at height
high-risk hobbies, such as mountaineering or some forms of diving
What factors can affect my life insurance application?
There are a host of factors which can have an impact on your price and cover when you apply for life insurance. Some of the major ones include:
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BMI
Insurers may take your height and weight into consideration; a higher BMI can be associated with an increased risk of certain health conditions
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Alcohol
Drinking above the recommended limits can mean higher premiums, or make it harder to get cover
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Medical conditions
Some health conditions can affect your application; you may be asked more about your diagnosis and treatment
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Occupation
Some jobs carry greater risks than others; for example, working in construction or working at sea may affect how your application is assessed
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Hobbies
If you spend time doing activities deemed ‘risky’ or ‘hazardous’ by insurers, such as scuba diving or rock climbing, these may affect your application
Will my health condition affect my life insurance?
You may still be able to get life insurance if you have a health condition, but you could end up paying more for your policy. This will depend on your individual circumstances.
Here are some of the health conditions that insurers may take into account when assessing your application:
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Cancer
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Mental health
Can I get life insurance if I’m considered higher risk?
Having a health condition – or other higher-risk factor – doesn’t automatically mean you’ll be disqualified from getting life insurance. Insurers will look at your individual circumstances when assessing your application.
What you may find is that you get offered cover at a higher premium, or that you get asked to provide more information. In some cases, you may get your application turned down.
The key is not to assume you can’t get cover: it’s still worth comparing your options.
Whatever you do, be sure to be honest about any pre-existing conditions you have during your application. Failure to provide accurate information could affect a future claim.
How does life insurance underwriting work?
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Complete your application
This involves you providing details about the cover you want, as well as details about your health, lifestyle and circumstances
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Answer questions about your health
You may be asked about medical conditions, treatments, your medical history, and your family medical history
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Answer questions about your lifestyle
Insurers may ask you about factors such as whether you smoke, how much you drink, your occupation and your hobbies
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Your application is assessed
The insurer uses the information you’ve provided to assess your level of risk. They may ask for further information or, in some cases, request a medical report
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Get a decision
The insurer will decide whether to offer cover and, if so, on what terms. You may be offered standard cover, cover at a higher premium – or you may be declined
Will I pay more for life insurance if I’m considered ‘higher risk?’
Often, yes. If an insurer decides that you are a higher risk, you may be offered cover at a higher premium. The amount you pay will depend on a range of factors such as your health, lifestyle, age, occupation and the level of cover you choose. This is known as ‘risk-based pricing.’
What if my life insurance application is rejected?
If one life insurer turns you down, it doesn't necessarily mean you won’t be able to get life insurance.
You have a few options you could try:
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Other insurers
Insurers have different underwriting rules, so another standard life insurance provider may be willing to cover you.
If you compare quotes with MoneySuperMarket, we can show you which of our policies could be available to you in just a few minutes.
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Specialist insurers
There are life insurers who specialise in covering people with higher-risk medical conditions, occupations or lifestyles.
They tend to be more expensive and may not be available on price comparison websites.
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Life assurance
Some types of life assurance, such as over-50s cover, can offer guaranteed acceptance without medical questions.
These policies work differently from standard life insurance. They often offer less cover and you can pay in more than you get out.
Our expert says…
If you have a condition such as asthma or arthritis, you should be transparent about it. This gives insurers the best chance to assess your risk accurately – helping ensure you get the right level of cover.
Equally, if you’re a smoker, give some serious thought to quitting. Smoking is one of the biggest lifestyle factors that can affect the cost of life insurance. Quitting can bring significant health benefits over time – and may improve your insurance options in the future.
When it comes to alcohol, even small, sustained reductions can help lower health risks – and could improve not only your wellbeing, but in some cases, the terms you’re offered on your life insurance. Whatever you do, be honest with your insurer about your lifestyle, smoking and drinking habits. If you hold something back, this could affect whether the insurer pays out in the event of a claim.
Alicia Hempsted Insurance Expert
More life insurance guides
Need to speak to someone about life insurance?
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
Does high risk life insurance have any exclusions?
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.
Can a high risk life insurance policy cover more than one person?
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.
Can I buy life insurance if I am in the armed forces?
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.
Is high risk life insurance worth the cost?
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
What is uninsurable risk of life insurance?
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.
What is the best high risk 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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Every page on our website goes through a careful editorial process before it is published. It’s written or reviewed by one of our experienced experts, checked for accuracy, and updated regularly to reflect the latest information.
We do use AI tools to support our research and drafting, but a human editor is always in the loop to review, fact-check and approve everything before it’s published, so you can trust that what you’re reading is both reliable and up to date.
You can read more in our editorial guidelines.
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Our comparison service is, and will always be, free to use.
Why should I use a price comparison website?
One of the best ways to get the lowest prices and best deals is to compare quotes from different companies. We do the work for you, comparing quotes side-by-side and giving you all the information you need so you can choose the right deal for your needs and your wallet.
We don’t give recommendations or financial advice, but we give you clear information so you can choose financial products that suit your circumstances.
Does MoneySuperMarket work with all the providers on the market?
No, not every company can be included in our service. This is because some companies don’t want their products included on comparison sites, and some decide that they would rather not pay a fee. There are also a few smaller providers who can struggle to cope with the volume of customers that can find their products if they appear on MoneySuperMarket.
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Is life insurance eligible for SuperSaveClub and rewards?
No, at this time life insurance is not an eligible product for unlocking our SuperSaveClub rewards. It is also not included in our Price Promise.
Reviewed on 7 Oct 2026 by
Sources and supporting information
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[1]
Prepaid Mastercard value varies based on the first monthly premium of the policy and will be confirmed on the results page, T&Cs apply
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[2]
Use your card everywhere Mastercard is accepted. Mastercard is a registered trademark and the circles design is a trademark of Mastercard International Incorporated. This card is issued by Transact Payments Limited pursuant to licence by Mastercard International. Transact Payments Limited is authorised and regulated by the Gibraltar Financial Services Commission.
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[3]
YouGov Survey 1st July 2025 to 30th June 2026. 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=17,883, Compare the Market n=16,193, Go.Compare n=8,523, Confused.com n=7,918, Uswitch n=514)
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[4]
Estimated increase in life insurance premiums based on Vitality Life data. Alcohol intake is just one factor considered by underwriters, and your own price could differ depending on your individual circumstances.
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[5]
Estimated increase in life insurance premiums based on Vitality Life data. Smoking is just one factor considered by underwriters, and your own price could differ depending on your individual circumstances.
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[6]
Estimated increase in life insurance premiums based on Life Search data, 2025. Pre-existing health conditions are just one factor considered by underwriters, and your own price could differ depending on your individual circumstances.
Percentage increase is based on comparing the starting price for a 30 year old non-smoker with no medical conditions, taking out a £200,000, 30-year life insurance policy (£7.96) and the starting price if that same user had diabetes with moderate symptoms. (+£6).
