Yes, you can still get life insurance if you have a pre-existing medical condition.
What is it? Insurance that covers you for a fixed period of time. It only pays out if you die during that term.
Can I get it? Most people can get term life insurance, even with medical conditions. If your symptoms aren’t severe, many providers will still offer cover. You may pay more for your premiums.
What is it? Insurance lasts for your entire lifetime and guarantees a payout whenever you die, as long as you keep paying your premiums.
Can I get it? Many whole of life policies offer guaranteed acceptance with no medical questions. This is especially true of over 50s life insurance (although you'll need to meet the age criteria).
A pre-existing condition is any medical issue you already have, or have had in the past.
This can include diagnosed illnesses, ongoing symptoms, past treatments, or anything recorded on your medical history. Insurers set their own timeframes for what counts as “pre-existing,” which can stretch back several years.
If you have a pre-existing condition, you may pay more for cover because insurers see you as a higher risk. The increase depends on the condition itself and how well it’s managed.
Some policies may also include exclusions, meaning certain conditions or causes of death won’t be covered.
This is how term life insurance policies work:
Decide how long you want the policy to last and the cash sum you’d like your loved ones to receive if you pass away during that period.
Complete an application, which includes personal and health details. You'll need to declare any medical conditions you have.
The insurer reviews your information. They may ask extra medical questions or request a GP report to confirm your health status.
Once approved, you’ll receive your policy documents confirming your cover amount, term length and monthly premium.
You’ll pay the same fixed amount each month throughout the policy term, keeping costs predictable.
If you pass away during the policy term, your beneficiaries notify the insurer to start the claims process.
After the claim is approved, the insurer pays the agreed lump sum, usually within a few weeks.
If you outlive your policy term, the policy simply ends. No money is paid out or refunded.
Most people with pre-existing conditions can still choose from a wide range of protection policy types:
Pays out a fixed cash sum if you die within the policy term.
Payout goes down over the term. Usually matched to mortgages.
Pays out if you are diagnosed with a serious illness.
Pays out a percentage of your salary if you temporarily cannot work.
A whole of life policy offering guaranteed cover and payouts.
Covers two people. Only pays out once, on the first death.
Payout increases over time, generally in line with inflation.
Some businesses will pay out if staff die while employed by them.
Prices vary because alongside your condition insurers consider your age, lifestyle and overall health. But premiums are often more affordable than people expect.
Here are some example case studies to give you an idea of what you could pay.
Policyholder age: 20-25
Policy type: £200,000 cover | 40 year term
Policyholder age: 60+
Policy type: £50,000 cover | 10 year term
Policyholder age: 30-35
Policy type: £250,000 cover | 30 year term
Diabetes | Minimum Monthly Cost |
|---|---|
No diabetes | £7.96^ |
If well controlled | + £3 |
If moderate symptoms | + £6 |
If severe symptoms | + £18 |
Arthritis | Minimum Monthly Cost |
|---|---|
No arthritis | £7.96^ |
If well controlled | + £0 |
If moderate symptoms | + £3 |
If severe symptoms | + £12 |
Depression | Minimum Monthly Cost |
|---|---|
No depression or anxiety | £7.96^ |
If well controlled | + £0 |
If moderate symptoms | + £3 |
If severe symptoms | + £12 plus self harm exclusion |
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.
Generally the healthier you are, the cheaper life insurance will be.
If you have factors in your life which suggest you aren’t in good health, you have a high BMI or blood pressure for example, or you’re often hospitalised because of your pre-existing medical condition, you will be seen as a higher risk to an insurer and can expect to pay more for a life insurance policy.
Insurers will also look at your family medical history to see if your family members have had any serious medical conditions and how likely it is that you may develop similar health issues.
The more severe or poorly controlled your condition is, the higher your premiums are likely to be. Insurers look at things like your symptoms, treatment, test results and how stable your condition is to gauge how much extra risk it adds.
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.
If you regularly take part in high-risk sports or hobbies, such as off-piste skiing or free-climbing, you may have to pay more for life insurance.
That’s because these activities are seen as increasing your risk of a claim being made on the policy.
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.
The level of medical information you're asked to provide will depend on your insurer, your condition, and the type of policy you want to take out.
Insurers may ask to contact your GP or request access to your medical records.
They cannot access this information without your permission, but if you decline, they may refuse to offer cover.
Insurers may also check medical records during the claims process.
Some insurers may ask you to complete a medical assessment. This usually involves simple health checks such as:
a blood pressure measurement
a blood test
a urine sample
These assessments are usually arranged by the insurer and free of charge.
Common questions insurers will ask about pre-existing conditions include:
When were you first diagnosed?
Are you currently taking medication?
Have you recently been admitted to hospital for your condition?
Do you have a family history of any conditions?
Some insurers may decline cover if you have a very severe medical condition, if your symptoms are unstable, or if they believe you haven’t managed the condition properly (for example, refusing recommended treatment).
More commonly, insurers still offer life insurance but exclude the condition from your cover or decline optional extras such as critical illness cover.
If you’re finding it difficult to get standard life insurance, guaranteed acceptance policies may be an option. These don’t require medical checks, but they usually include a waiting period of 12–24 months where they won’t pay out for death from illness.
If you have a pre-existing medical condition, you can still buy life insurance, but premiums may be higher and insurers may ask for more detail about your health than they would for someone without medical issues.
If mainstream providers are quoting high prices, a specialist insurer may offer a more affordable option. And if you’ve been diagnosed with a terminal illness with a life expectancy of 12 months or less, you may be able to access your policy’s payout early through its terminal illness benefit.
David McDermottroe Insurance & Personal Finance Expert
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To help you find the right life insurance cover, we just need a few minutes of your time and the following information to get you a personalised quote:
Such as your name, address, date of birth, and occupation
Any pre-existing medical conditions and basic health information, such as height and weight.
For example, if you're a smoker or drinker, or engage in any activities that may be classed as dangerous
Including the type of life insurance you want, if you want to cover your spouse or partner, and how much you would like to pay
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When you compare life insurance through MoneySuperMarket, you’ll see options from insurers LifeSearch work with — helping you find cover that fits your circumstances.
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Most insurers treat any condition you’ve had symptoms of, received treatment for or been advised about within the last five years as pre-existing. Some insurers look back further for certain conditions.
If you fail to declare a pre-existing condition, your policy could be invalid and your insurer may refuse to pay out. Always answer medical questions honestly so your loved ones are protected if they need to make a claim.
Yes, you can usually still get life insurance after a heart attack, though you may have fewer options and premiums are likely to be higher because insurers see you as a higher risk.
When assessing your application, insurers typically look at:
When the heart attack happened
How severe it was
Whether you needed surgery
Whether you have a stent
Any medication you take
Whether you’ve had symptoms since
You can improve your chances of getting a better price by showing evidence of a healthy lifestyle. Quitting smoking, reducing alcohol intake, losing weight or keeping active can all help reassure insurers.
Yes, you can usually get life insurance if you have diabetes. Insurers will consider factors such as your age, type of diabetes, HbA1c levels, medication, and how well your condition is controlled.
Premiums may be higher, but many people with well-managed diabetes pay only slightly more than someone without the condition. In some cases, insurers may exclude diabetes-related complications from the policy.
Yes, but your options will depend on the type of cancer you had, how long ago you finished treatment, and whether you’ve been in remission.
Most term life insurers require a waiting period - typically one to five years after the end of treatment - before offering cover.
Premiums are likely to be higher, and some policies may exclude claims related to your previous cancer, but many people can still get cover as long as their doctor is happy with their recovery.
You can still get life insurance after a stroke or TIA (mini-stroke). Your options and price will depend on how severe it was and how long ago it happened.
If your stroke was recent, an insurer might offer restricted terms. For example, the policy may not pay out if you die within the first few years of the policy starting. They may also add a stroke exclusion, meaning the policy will only pay out if you die from an unrelated cause.
Yes, there are life insurance policies with no medical checks.
Guaranteed acceptance policies, such as over-50s life insurance, don’t require any medical checks at all. They offer automatic approval, but premiums are usually higher and there may be a waiting period before full cover begins.
It’s also possible to get standard term life insurance without a medical exam, but only if your health and application don’t raise any red flags. You’ll still need to answer medical questions, and insurers may request a check if they need more information.
Insurers do consider family medical history, and they may charge higher premiums or exclude certain conditions from your cover. However, you should still be able to get a policy.
In many cases, yes, but your existing condition may be excluded. If your condition significantly increases the risk of a critical illness, insurers may decline cover or increase premiums.
Not usually - insurers often exclude conditions you already have from a new critical illness policy. Similarly, if your condition increases your risk of developing a critical illness, the insurer may add exclusions or decline to offer cover.
Insurers use many factors to calculate your premium, including:
Age – premiums rise as you get older
Location – life expectancy varies across the UK
Occupation – risky roles can increase prices
Policy type – e.g., level term vs decreasing term
Payout amount – higher cover costs more
Policy length – longer terms cost more
Health and lifestyle – smoking, drinking, BMI and hobbies all affect risk
Medical history – past or current health conditions may increase costs
Payment frequency – annual payments are often cheaper than monthly
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Reviewed on 24 Dec 2025 by
