Life insurance with pre-existing conditions

It's still possible to get life insurance after a cancer diagnosis, but you may find your premium are more expensive, and you have fewer cover options to choose from. 

If you've been successfully treated for cancer in the past, insurers may want to know what kind of cancer you had, what stage it reached, whether it was metastasised and how it was treated. You may also be asked if any of you have a family history of cancer. 

If you're in remission, life insurance providers are likely to ask how long it's been since you last had symptoms. You're often likely to get a better deal on life insurance the longer your cancer has been in remission.

If you've had a heart attack, you should still be able to get life insurance cover - but again you may find fewer options available to you and insurers are likely to charge higher premiums. This is because insurers see those who have had a heart attack as higher risk. 

• When the heart attack occurred
• How severe it was
• If you required any surgery
• If you’ve had a stent fitted
• If you’ve been prescribed any medications
• If you’ve had any symptoms since your heart attack

If you've had a heart attack in the past, you can improve your chances of getting a good deal on life insurance by showing evidence of a healthy lifestyle. So, if you smoke, you may be able to expand your options by giving up. Similarly, you can reassure insurers by cutting down on alcohol or losing weight.

If you've had a stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA) (also known as a 'mini-stroke') you should still be able to get life insurance. The deals you can get will depend on the severity of your stroke and how long ago it happened.

If your stroke was very recent, it's possible that your insurer will offer restricted terms for your cover. Your policy might not pay out if you pass away in the first few years after you take out insurance. Insurers might also add a stroke exclusion, which means that your insurance only pays out if you pass away for reasons other than your stroke.

In most cases, you should be able to get a life insurance policy with diabetes. But like all pre-existing medical conditions, it's possible that your diabetes may affect your life insurance premium.

Life insurance for diabetes is more expensive because insurers see diabetes as an added health risk, which increases the chances of a claim being made on your policy. But don't worry - the cost of your life insurance will depend on the exact details of your condition and how it affects you.

If you're able to show that your condition is under control, and you don't have any other pre existing health conditions, it's likely that you'll be able to get a better deal on your life insurance cover.

If you have a pre-existing medical condition, it's important that you mention this when getting your quote. You may be asked questions about the condition, when it was diagnosed, what type of treatment you are on and if you're fully recovered (or if it is an ongoing condition.)

For some conditions, the insurer will need further medical evidence. This will usually be in writing for your doctor to confirm specific medical information, or you may be asked to have a medical screening.

Family medical history can affect life insurance, but you should still be able to get a level of cover. Your life insurer will either charge you more for your premium, or may exclude that particular condition entirely from your policy. 

You might find it more difficult to find critical illness insurance if you have a pre-existing condition, but it this will depend on your condition and your medical history.

Critical illness insurance is a form of cover that pays out a lump sum if you become critically ill. Unlike standard life insurance, critical illness insurance pays out to you rather than your loved ones or beneficiaries. These policies help you manage your costs while you're critically ill.

Because people with some pre-existing conditions are more likely to suffer a critical illness, insurers may be wary of offering you cover. It's possible that they'll insist on adding an exclusion to your insurance - this means that your policy will only pay out if you go through a critical illness that isn't related to your pre-existing condition.

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