Life insurance with asthma
Asthma is extremely common in the UK, affecting over 5 million people. The vast majority of asthmatics will be pleasantly surprised at how little their condition affects life insurance premiums. For most people with mild to moderate asthma, the impact ranges from nothing at all to a very minor loading. Only severe asthma with hospital admissions or oral steroid dependence attracts more significant attention from underwriters.
The short answer
Mild asthma managed with a blue reliever inhaler, or a blue inhaler plus a brown preventer, will typically get you standard rates or a negligible loading. Moderate asthma with additional inhalers or occasional steroid courses usually attracts only a minor loading. Severe asthma with hospital admissions, regular oral steroids, or biologic treatments like omalizumab (Xolair) will face more significant loadings, but cover is still available.
What insurers actually ask about asthma
Asthma is one of the conditions insurers are most experienced at assessing. The questions are designed to establish where your asthma sits on the severity spectrum. Knowing the answers before you apply makes the process straightforward.
What inhalers or medication do you use?
This is the single most important question. A blue reliever inhaler alone, or a blue plus brown preventer, signals mild asthma. Additional inhalers like Seretide, Symbicort, or Fostair suggest moderate asthma. Biologic injections like Xolair or Nucala indicate severe asthma requiring specialist treatment.
Have you had any hospital admissions for asthma?
Hospital admissions are a key marker of severity. No admissions is ideal. A single admission many years ago has limited impact. Multiple admissions, or any admission in the last 2-3 years, will attract more scrutiny and higher loadings.
Have you taken oral steroid courses (prednisolone) for your asthma?
Occasional short courses (e.g. one course per year during a chest infection) are viewed differently from regular or frequent courses. More than 2-3 courses per year suggests less well-controlled asthma. Long-term daily oral steroid use is a significant factor.
How often do you see your GP or asthma nurse about your asthma?
Routine annual reviews are normal and expected. Frequent unscheduled visits suggest the condition is less well-controlled. Insurers want to see that your asthma is stable and managed through regular planned reviews rather than repeated emergency consultations.
When was your last asthma attack or exacerbation?
The longer the period since your last significant episode, the better. Many people with mild asthma have not had an attack in years, which is viewed very favourably. A recent severe attack will prompt additional questions about your current management plan.
Do you know your peak flow or have you had spirometry?
Peak flow readings give insurers an objective measure of your lung function. If your peak flow is consistently above 80% of predicted, this supports a favourable underwriting decision. If you have had spirometry at your GP surgery, the results can be helpful for your application.
Know your inhalers and last hospital visit?
If you can share which inhalers you use and whether you have been admitted to hospital, our partner brokers can give you a clear picture of your options in minutes.
Get QuoteHow your asthma severity affects pricing
Insurers essentially categorise asthma into mild, moderate, and severe. The category you fall into determines the impact on your premiums. Most people in the UK with asthma fall into the mild category, where the impact is minimal or non-existent.
Mild asthma
Standard rates
Blue reliever inhaler only, or blue reliever plus a brown or purple preventer inhaler. No hospital admissions. No oral steroid courses. Annual or less frequent GP reviews. This covers the majority of adult asthmatics in the UK. Most insurers will offer completely standard rates with no loading.
Moderate asthma
Standard to +50%
Combination inhalers such as Seretide, Symbicort, or Fostair. Occasional oral steroid courses (1-2 per year). No recent hospital admissions. Regular GP or asthma clinic reviews. Most insurers will still offer cover, typically at standard rates or with a small loading of up to 50%. Many people in this category are surprised at how modest the loading is.
Severe asthma
+50% to +150%
Frequent oral steroid courses (3 or more per year). Hospital admissions for asthma, particularly in the last 2-3 years. Under specialist respiratory care. Additional medications such as montelukast, theophylline, or tiotropium. Loadings are more significant here, but cover is still available from multiple insurers.
Severe asthma on biologic therapy
+100% to +200% or individual assessment
Biologic treatments such as omalizumab (Xolair), mepolizumab (Nucala), benralizumab (Fasenra), or dupilumab (Dupixent). Long-term daily oral steroids. ICU admissions for asthma. This represents the most severe end of the spectrum. Premiums will be substantially loaded, and some insurers may decline. However, specialist insurers and brokers can usually find cover. If biologic treatment has significantly improved your control, this can work in your favour.
How your inhalers and medication affect premiums
Your medication is the primary way insurers gauge the severity of your asthma. Think of it as a step ladder - each step up in treatment corresponds to more complex underwriting.
| Medication level | Insurer view |
|---|---|
| Blue reliever inhaler only (salbutamol) | The mildest form. Standard rates from virtually all insurers. No loading expected. |
| Blue + brown/purple preventer (e.g. beclometasone, fluticasone) | Still considered mild. Standard rates from most insurers. The preventer shows good self-management. |
| Combination inhaler (e.g. Seretide, Symbicort, Fostair) | Moderate asthma. Most insurers will still offer standard or near-standard rates. Very common treatment step. |
| Additional controllers (montelukast, theophylline, tiotropium) | Suggests the asthma requires more to keep it controlled. Minor to moderate loading depending on overall control and hospital admission history. |
| Biologic injections (Xolair, Nucala, Fasenra, Dupixent) | Indicates severe asthma under specialist care. Significant loading expected. Specialist broker recommended to find the most favourable terms. |
| Long-term oral steroids (daily prednisolone) | Significant loading. Oral steroid dependence indicates difficult-to-control asthma and carries its own health risks that insurers factor in. |
Not sure where your asthma sits?
Tell us which inhalers you use and how often you need your reliever. Our specialist brokers will tell you exactly where you stand and which insurer is best for your situation.
Get QuoteRealistic pricing examples
These are illustrative examples to show how asthma typically affects premiums. Most people with asthma pay the same as or very close to someone without asthma. Actual pricing depends on your full medical history, age, smoking status, cover amount, and the specific insurer. Our partner brokers provide exact quotes on the phone.
| Profile | Cover | Indicative monthly premium |
|---|---|---|
| 30-year-old non-smoker, mild asthma, blue + brown inhaler, no hospital admissions | 250,000 level term, 25 years | 8-12/month |
| 40-year-old non-smoker, moderate asthma on Symbicort, one steroid course per year, no hospital admissions | 200,000 level term, 20 years | 14-22/month |
| 45-year-old non-smoker, severe asthma on biologic therapy, one hospital admission 3 years ago | 150,000 level term, 20 years | 35-60/month |
These are indicative figures based on typical market rates at the time of writing. They are not quotes. Actual premiums may be higher or lower depending on your full circumstances and the insurer selected.
The honest answer
If you have mild to moderate asthma - which covers the vast majority of asthmatics in the UK - your life insurance premiums will be standard or very close to standard. This is genuinely one of the most insurable conditions. Even moderate asthma on combination inhalers rarely attracts more than a small loading. The situation is different for severe asthma with frequent hospital admissions, oral steroid dependence, or biologic treatments. In those cases, premiums will be higher and insurer selection matters more. But cover is still available, and a specialist broker can navigate the market to find the best terms. The key message is this: do not assume asthma is a barrier to affordable life insurance, because for most people it simply is not.
Critical illness cover with asthma
Critical illness cover is generally available with asthma. For mild and moderate asthma, most insurers will offer standard or near-standard terms. Critical illness policies typically pay out for conditions like cancer, heart attack, and stroke, which are not directly related to asthma.
For severe asthma, some insurers may apply a loading or add a respiratory exclusion, meaning the policy would not pay out for claims arising from chronic respiratory disease. Others will include full respiratory cover but at a higher premium. The approach varies significantly between insurers, which is why specialist broker advice is valuable for more complex cases.
Income protection with asthma
Income protection is available with asthma, and for mild cases it is typically offered at standard rates. Moderate asthma may attract a small loading or a respiratory exclusion depending on the insurer.
Severe asthma that has caused time off work is viewed more cautiously for income protection because the product specifically covers inability to work due to illness. If your asthma has resulted in significant absences from work, some insurers may exclude respiratory claims or apply a more substantial loading. A specialist broker can find the insurer most likely to offer full cover without exclusions.
Need critical illness or income protection with asthma?
For mild asthma, these products are straightforward. For more complex cases, our specialist brokers will find the insurer that gives you the broadest cover at the best price.
Get QuoteWhat if your asthma is severe?
If your asthma is at the more severe end of the spectrum, you have options. Being declined by one insurer does not mean you are uninsurable - it usually means the wrong insurer was approached.
Use a specialist broker
Different insurers have very different appetites for asthma risk. Some are notably more lenient with respiratory conditions than others. A broker who understands the underwriting differences between insurers can place your application with the one most likely to offer favourable terms.
Demonstrate improved control
If your asthma has improved - fewer hospital admissions, fewer steroid courses, better peak flow readings, or a step-down in medication - make sure this is reflected in your application. A period of stability after a difficult phase can significantly improve your terms. A letter from your GP or respiratory consultant confirming improved control can be very helpful.
Guaranteed acceptance life insurance
No medical questions asked. Cover amounts are typically lower (up to 25,000) and there is usually a moratorium period in the first 1-2 years during which the full payout is not available. It is more expensive per pound of cover, but it guarantees you something while you explore other options.
Group life insurance through your employer
Many employer group life schemes offer cover at a multiple of salary (often 2-4x) without individual medical underwriting. If you have severe asthma and are struggling to find affordable individual cover, check whether your employer offers this benefit.
Put your policy in trust
This applies to everyone, not just people with asthma. If your life insurance policy is not written in trust, the payout goes into your estate on death. That means it could be subject to inheritance tax at 40% and delayed by months while probate is processed.
Writing your policy in trust is free, takes about 2 minutes, and ensures the money goes directly to your beneficiaries without delay or tax. Our partner brokers set this up on every policy they arrange.
Read our full guide to trusts and estate planning
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to declare my asthma on a life insurance application?
Yes. You must declare all known medical conditions, including asthma and all medication you take for it. Non-disclosure could void your policy entirely. For mild asthma, declaring it will have little or no impact on your premiums, so there is absolutely no benefit to concealing it.
I only use a blue inhaler occasionally - will this affect my premiums?
Almost certainly not. Occasional use of a salbutamol reliever inhaler is the mildest form of asthma and most insurers will offer you completely standard rates. This is one of the most straightforward scenarios in insurance underwriting.
I had asthma as a child but grew out of it - do I need to declare it?
If you no longer take any medication and have not had symptoms for several years, some insurers will not require further detail. Others will ask about childhood conditions. It is always best to mention it and let the insurer decide its relevance. Childhood asthma that has resolved is viewed very favourably.
Does smoking with asthma make it harder to get insurance?
Smoking always increases life insurance premiums significantly, regardless of asthma. The combination of smoking and asthma will compound the effect. If you smoke and have asthma, you will pay more than a non-smoker with asthma, and the difference is substantial. Stopping smoking is the single most impactful thing you can do to reduce your premiums.
I have been hospitalised for asthma - can I still get cover?
Yes. Hospital admissions increase premiums and narrow the range of insurers who will offer terms, but cover is still available. The key factors are how recently the admission occurred, how many admissions you have had, and whether your asthma is now better controlled. An admission several years ago with no recurrence is viewed much more favourably than a recent or repeated admission.
What is a loading?
A loading is a percentage added to the standard premium to reflect additional risk. A +50% loading means you pay 1.5 times the standard premium. For mild asthma, loadings are rare. For moderate asthma, any loading is typically small. For severe asthma, loadings are more substantial but cover remains available.
Will my premiums increase if my asthma gets worse?
No. Once your policy is in force with guaranteed premiums, the insurer cannot increase them because your health changes. This is one of the key reasons to get cover in place while your asthma is well-controlled - you lock in today's terms regardless of what happens in the future.
Get a life insurance quote with asthma
Tell us which inhalers you use, whether you have been hospitalised, and how your asthma is managed. Our specialist brokers will find the right insurer and give you an accurate quote in one free call.
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