Medical Conditions A-Z
Life insurance with a medical condition. What insurers actually look for.
Most people with medical conditions can get life insurance. The question is not usually whether you can get cover, but which insurer will give you the best terms for your specific situation. Every insurer underwrites differently - the one that declines you might simply be the wrong insurer, not a reflection of your risk.
Our approach: the truth about each condition
Most insurance websites tell you what you want to hear. We tell you what you need to know. For every condition on this page, we explain exactly what insurers ask, how they assess you, what affects your premium, and where your options genuinely narrow.
If your condition means standard rates, we will say so. If it means a loading, we will explain how much and why. If it means certain products are off the table, we will tell you that too - and explain what alternatives exist.
When you do call, our specialist partner brokers already know the landscape for your condition, so they can place you with the right insurer first time.
Common conditions
The conditions we help with most. Each has a dedicated guide explaining exactly what insurers look for and what to expect.
Type 2 Diabetes
Most people with well-controlled T2 diabetes can get life insurance at reasonable rates. HbA1c is the key factor.
Type 1 Diabetes
Harder than Type 2 but far from impossible. Age of onset, control, and complications all matter.
Cancer Survivors
Hugely variable by cancer type, stage, and time since treatment. Many survivors get standard or near-standard rates.
Heart Conditions
Heart attack, angina, AF, murmurs, high blood pressure, stents and bypass - each assessed differently.
Mental Health
Depression, anxiety, PTSD, bipolar, OCD and more. Mild to moderate conditions on stable medication are usually fine.
High BMI
BMI 25-30 usually standard rates. 30-35 minor loading. 35-40 moderate loading. 40+ limited but options exist.
High Cholesterol
Controlled with statins and no other risk factors? Usually standard rates. Combined with other conditions, it gets more complex.
Asthma
Mild to moderate asthma rarely affects life insurance premiums. Severe asthma requiring oral steroids or hospital admissions may see a small loading.
Not sure where your condition fits?
Call us for free. Our specialist brokers will tell you exactly where you stand and which insurer is best for your situation.
Get QuoteSpecialist conditions
Less common conditions that require specialist underwriting knowledge. The right broker and the right insurer make the difference between a decline and an acceptance.
MDS (Myelodysplastic Syndromes)
A complex blood condition. Underwriting depends on subtype, IPSS score, treatment, and blood counts. Specialist insurers exist.
Crohn's Disease / Ulcerative Colitis
IBD is usually insurable. Frequency of flare-ups, medication, surgery history, and current remission status all matter.
Epilepsy
Well-controlled epilepsy on medication with no recent seizures is typically insurable. Frequency and type of seizures are key.
Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
Relapsing-remitting MS with good function is insurable with some providers. Progressive MS is harder. Specialist brokers help.
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Most people with RA can get life insurance. Medication type matters - biologics may affect terms differently to DMARDs.
Kidney Disease
Depends heavily on the stage. Early CKD (stages 1-2) is usually insurable. Stage 4-5 or dialysis narrows options significantly.
HIV
Significant progress in recent years. Well-managed HIV with undetectable viral load and good CD4 count can now get cover from several UK insurers.
Liver Disease
Depends on cause and severity. Fatty liver disease is usually fine. Cirrhosis is much harder. Alcohol-related liver disease requires sustained abstinence.
COPD
Mild COPD is insurable with a loading. Moderate to severe COPD with oxygen dependency is much harder. FEV1 readings matter.
Stroke / TIA
Time since event is crucial. Most insurers want at least 12 months post-event. A TIA is generally viewed more favourably than a full stroke.
Parkinson's Disease
Insurable with some providers, particularly in the earlier stages. Medication response and functional ability are key underwriting factors.
Autoimmune Conditions
Lupus, scleroderma, vasculitis and others. Each assessed individually based on severity, organ involvement, and medication.
More conditions we cover
From common conditions that rarely affect premiums to rarer conditions that need specialist knowledge. Every situation is different and our partner brokers assess each one individually.
Sleep Apnoea
Usually insurable if managed with CPAP. Severity, compliance with treatment, and BMI all factor into underwriting decisions.
Fibromyalgia
Most insurers will offer life insurance cover. Medication, daily function, and any associated mental health conditions affect the terms.
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome / ME
Insurable with many providers. Severity, ability to work, and duration of illness are the key factors insurers consider.
Thyroid Conditions
Hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism are both very common and usually insurable at standard or near-standard rates when controlled.
Blood Clots / DVT / PE
A single provoked DVT with a clear cause is viewed very differently from recurrent unprovoked clots. Anticoagulant use matters.
Back Problems
Herniated discs, sciatica, chronic back pain, spinal surgery. Most back conditions are insurable. Severity and impact on work are key.
Migraines
Standard migraines rarely affect life insurance. Migraines with aura or requiring preventive medication may see minor terms.
ADHD / Autism
ADHD and autism spectrum conditions usually have minimal impact on life insurance underwriting. Medication and associated conditions matter.
Psoriasis
Mild psoriasis is rarely an issue. Severe psoriasis requiring biologics or with psoriatic arthritis may affect terms.
Coeliac Disease
Well-managed coeliac disease on a gluten-free diet is usually insurable at standard rates. Complications like osteoporosis may factor in.
IBS
Irritable bowel syndrome is very common and almost never affects life insurance premiums. Straightforward underwriting in most cases.
Endometriosis
Usually insurable at standard rates. Severe cases with multiple surgeries or associated conditions may see minimal impact.
PCOS
Polycystic ovary syndrome on its own rarely affects life insurance. Associated conditions like diabetes or high BMI may be considered.
Gout
Gout is common and usually insurable. Frequency of attacks, medication, and kidney function are the key factors.
Cystic Fibrosis
One of the more challenging conditions for insurance. Outcomes have improved dramatically with CFTR modulators, but options remain limited.
Sickle Cell Disease
Sickle cell trait (carrier) is usually fine. Sickle cell disease is harder - severity, crisis frequency, and organ damage all matter.
Cerebral Palsy
Highly dependent on severity. Mild CP with good mobility is insurable with many providers. Severe CP with complications narrows options.
Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome
Subtype matters enormously. Hypermobile EDS is usually insurable. Vascular EDS is much more complex due to arterial risks.
Scoliosis
Mild to moderate scoliosis rarely affects life insurance. Severe scoliosis with respiratory complications is more complex.
Lifestyle factors
Not medical conditions as such, but factors that affect your premiums and underwriting. Knowing how insurers view these can save you money and prevent unnecessary declines.
Smokers and Vapers
Smokers pay roughly double. Vapers are classed as smokers by most insurers. You must be nicotine-free for 12 months to qualify as a non-smoker.
Hazardous Occupations
Military, offshore, construction at height, mining, diving and more. Some insurers specialise in hazardous occupations and offer competitive rates.
Hazardous Hobbies
Skydiving, scuba diving, mountaineering, motorsport, martial arts. Loadings vary enormously - the right insurer makes a big difference.
Cannabis Use
Most insurers treat cannabis users as smokers. Some specialist providers are more lenient. Frequency of use matters.
Alcohol Dependency
Current or past dependency is treated very differently from moderate drinking. Abstinence period, treatment, and liver function all factor in.
Criminal Convictions
Spent convictions may not need disclosure. Unspent convictions vary by severity. Driving offences usually have minimal impact.
Family Medical History
A parent or sibling diagnosed with cancer, heart disease or diabetes before age 60 may affect your premiums. Two or more relatives increases the impact.
Already been declined?
A decline from one insurer does not mean you are uninsurable. It means that particular insurer, with their particular underwriting criteria, decided not to offer you cover at that time. Another insurer may view your situation completely differently.
Our partner brokers work with the full UK market, including specialist insurers who focus on higher-risk cases. In many situations, they can find cover after a mainstream insurer has declined. The terms may include a loading (a percentage added to the standard premium) or an exclusion, but cover is often still available.
If standard life insurance is genuinely not available for your situation, alternatives include:
- Guaranteed acceptance life insurance - no medical questions, but lower cover amounts (typically up to 25,000) and a moratorium period in the first 1-2 years
- Group life insurance - through your employer, where individual underwriting is often waived for a standard level of cover
- Over 50s plans - guaranteed acceptance, fixed premiums, but payout is typically capped and builds over time
Been declined? Let our specialist brokers look at your options.
They'll review what happened, check alternative insurers, and give you an honest assessment of what's available.
Get QuoteHow a specialist broker helps
They know which insurer to approach
Every insurer has different underwriting criteria. The insurer that's best for diabetes might be worst for heart conditions. Our specialist brokers match your condition to the right underwriter.
They present your case properly
How your condition is described to the insurer matters. They know what information to include, how to present it, and what supporting evidence helps your case.
They negotiate on loadings
If an insurer offers terms with a loading, they'll check whether an alternative insurer can do better, or whether additional medical evidence could reduce the loading.
They handle the medical evidence
GPR requests, underwriting queries, and medical reports - they manage the entire process so you don't have to chase your GP or interpret insurer requests.
Get honest advice about your condition
A free call with a specialist who understands medical underwriting. They'll tell you exactly where you stand and find the right insurer for your situation.
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