Can I get life insurance with a pre-existing condition?

In most cases, yes. Many conditions — including well-managed diabetes, high blood pressure, asthma, and a history of some cancers after a period of remission — are insurable. The condition may affect your premium, lead to specific terms or exclusions, or require more medical evidence, but an outright decline is far less common than people fear. Because insurers price the same condition very differently, comparing the whole market is where the value lies.

Will a pre-existing condition make life insurance more expensive?

It can, depending on the condition and how well it is controlled. Insurers assess the risk your condition adds and may apply a higher premium (a 'rating'), an exclusion, or standard terms if the condition is well managed. The key point is that insurers vary enormously in how they view the same condition, so the difference between the most and least competitive quote can be substantial — which is exactly why advice helps.

Should I disclose my medical history when applying?

Always, and fully. Answering the health and lifestyle questions completely and honestly is the single most important thing you can do to protect a future claim. Non-disclosure — even unintentional — is one of the most common reasons claims are disputed or declined. Disclosing a condition rarely means you can't get cover; hiding it can mean your family gets nothing when they need it most.

Can I get life insurance after cancer?

Often yes, particularly once you are through treatment and a period of remission. Insurers look at the type and stage of cancer, the treatment, and how long you have been clear. Some will offer cover at standard or slightly increased rates after a defined period; others may apply terms or a wait. Specialist insurers and whole-of-market advice make a real difference here, because attitudes to the same history vary widely.

Can I get life insurance with diabetes?

Yes. Both type 1 and type 2 diabetes are commonly insured. Insurers look at how well your condition is controlled — typically your HbA1c readings, any complications, and your overall health. Well-managed diabetes often attracts competitive terms, while less well-controlled diabetes may cost more. An adviser will know which insurers treat diabetes most favourably.

Why does using an adviser matter for pre-existing conditions?

Because the spread between insurers is widest exactly when your health is not straightforward. One insurer might decline or heavily load a condition that another covers on near-standard terms. A whole-of-market adviser knows which insurers are most sympathetic to which conditions, can present your case well, and can often secure cover — and a price — you would not find applying to a single insurer or comparison site yourself.

Life Insurance with Pre-Existing Conditions: A Complete Guide

If you have a health condition, it is easy to assume life insurance is either off the table or punishingly expensive. For most people, neither is true. Conditions like well-managed diabetes, high blood pressure, asthma, and even a history of cancer are insured every day. The condition may shape your premium or your terms, but an outright "no" is far rarer than the worry suggests.

This guide explains how insurers assess pre-existing conditions, what to expect for some common ones, why honest disclosure is essential, and why whole-of-market advice matters more here than almost anywhere else.

How insurers assess a pre-existing condition

When you apply, the insurer underwrites you — assessing the risk your health adds. For a pre-existing condition they will look at things like the type and severity of the condition, how well it is controlled, your treatment, and the time since diagnosis or last episode. Based on that, they may offer:

standard terms, if the condition is well managed and adds little risk;
a rating — a higher premium reflecting the added risk;
an exclusion — cover that pays out except for claims related to that specific condition; or, less often,
a postponement or decline, usually only for serious or very recent conditions.

The crucial thing to understand is that insurers disagree about the same condition. One company's "decline" is another's "standard terms". That disagreement is the opportunity.

Honest disclosure protects your family

Before anything else: disclose everything, fully and accurately. The health and lifestyle questions exist so the insurer can price the risk and honour the claim. Non-disclosure — even by accident — is one of the most common reasons claims are disputed or refused.

It is worth being blunt about the trade-off. Disclosing a condition rarely stops you getting cover; it just shapes the terms. Hiding a condition can mean your family receives nothing when they need it most. Always answer honestly, and let an adviser help you present your history accurately.

Common conditions and what to expect

Every case is individual, but as a general picture:

Diabetes (type 1 or type 2): commonly insured. Insurers look at control — typically your HbA1c readings — and any complications. Well-managed diabetes often attracts competitive terms.
High blood pressure: frequently covered on standard or near-standard terms if controlled with medication and monitored.
Asthma: usually insurable on standard terms unless severe.
History of cancer: often insurable after treatment and a period of remission. The type, stage, treatment and time since matter, and specialist insurers vary widely in their approach.
Mental health conditions: commonly covered; insurers look at severity, treatment and stability.

These are general patterns, not promises — your own terms depend on your specific history. The takeaway is that a condition is usually a question of terms, not whether you can be covered.

Why whole-of-market advice matters most here

For someone in perfect health, shopping around saves a little money. For someone with a pre-existing condition, it can be the difference between cover and no cover. The spread between insurers is widest exactly when your health is complicated.

A whole-of-market adviser knows which insurers are most sympathetic to which conditions, can present your case in the best light, and can often secure both cover and a price you would not find applying to a single insurer or a comparison site. This is the situation advice was made for. Our life insurance page covers how cover works, and the how much life insurance you need guide helps you size it once you know cover is available.

Getting cover that pays

If you have a pre-existing condition, the path is straightforward: disclose everything honestly, and let an adviser search the market for the insurer that treats your condition most favourably. The right specialist can frequently turn an expected decline or a heavy loading into affordable, valid cover.

Cover Your Family is not FCA regulated and does not give advice — we connect you, free of charge, with a separate, FCA-regulated adviser who provides whole-of-market life insurance advice with no obligation. Enquire today to find out what cover is available given your health history.