Life Insurance, Critical Illness cover and Income Protection are usually easily obtainable for someone with a history of high blood pressure. This is providing the blood pressure is well controlled, often by medication. Someone with consistently high or badly controlled blood pressure can expect to see premium increases when applying for cover.

How much will it cost?

We should be able to arrange a policy on standard terms with no premium increases so long as:

  • Your GP told you the reading taken at your last review was normal.
  • You take no more than 2 types of medication for blood pressure.
  • You have no associated complications e.g. high BMI, Diabetes or kidney problems.

Having a combination of high blood pressure and a high BMI for example, could result in a premium increase or the insurer may request a nurse medical is carried out so that they can get a general overview of your health.

Life Insurance – Costs

  • A 40 year old non-smoker arranging £100,000 of cover to age 80 would pay £15.94 per month.
  • A 50 year old non-smoker arranging £100,000 of cover to age 80 would pay £25.62 per month.
  • A 60 year old non-smoker arranging £100,000 of cover to age 80 would pay £50.05 per month.

Critical Illness Cover – Costs

  • A 35 year old non-smoker arranging £50,000 of cover to age 70 would pay £25.39 per month.
  • A 45 year old non-smoker arranging £50,000 of cover to age 70 would pay £40.42 per month.
  • A 55 year old non-smoker arranging £50,000 of cover to age 70 would pay £70.23 per month.

Income Protection – Costs

  • A 45 year old who has a history of raised blood pressure, which is well controlled with medication, could obtain a full income protection policy offering a monthly income of £1,000, after a deferred waiting period of 3 months, for a premium of around £30.09 per month. Guaranteed end of contract, not index linked.

If an applicant’s blood pressure is not well controlled, then you can expect premiums to be as much as double the prices shown above. In some circumstances the insurer may even postpone offering the cover until the readings are within normal parameters.

All premiums correct at Dec 2018.

Please note that the premiums provided are indicative only and based on this specific case study/ example, which is shown for information purposes only. Your own circumstances will determine whether the amount payable is more or less than the figure quoted.

  • Case Study

    We recently dealt with a non-smoking male client, aged 39. He was diagnosed with raised blood pressure at the age of 31 years and prescribed one medication a day. His latest blood pressure reading was 130/85. He had also been diagnosed with raised cholesterol and prescribed statins which had lowered his cholesterol to a current reading of 5.8. The client’s BMI is 29 and he has no had no additional complications such as heart or kidney problems. We discussed his medical history with all of the leading insurance companies and they advised that life insurance would be available, although many said that they would increase the premium by up to an additional 75% on top of the original quote.

    There were only three companies who were prepared to offer cover on standard terms (with no increase applied to the quoted premium).

    We arranged £70,000 of level term life or earlier terminal illness cover over a term of 21 years for an underwritten premium of £6.97 a month. However, if the client had made an application for cover with the insurance company who ‘quoted’ the cheapest premium (£6.45 a month) he would have actually ended up paying £8.06 a month as they would have loaded his premium by 25 per cent. By choosing the insurance provider with the best underwriting decision, the client was able to make a saving of approximately £275 over the full term of the policy. If he had chosen to accept cover from another well-known company who quoted a premium of £7.16, he would have ended up paying £12.63 a month (£1425 extra over the 21 year term).

    This really does demonstrate that if you have a medical condition and you are unsure how it will affect a life insurance, critical illness or income protection application, you need to speak to a specialist adviser who can offer you expert advice.  Call us on 0800 644 4468.

What is high blood pressure?

Sometimes referred to as Hypertension, high blood pressure rarely presents any symptoms. If uncontrolled (by medication or lifestyle changes), it results in an enhanced risk of serious illnesses such as stroke, heart problems and dementia.

An example of a blood pressure reading would be ‘120/80’. This consists of:

  • Systolic pressure: (top number) The force at which the heart pumps blood around the body.
  • Diastolic pressure: (bottom number) The resistance of the blood flow in the blood vessels.

Having a blood pressure regularly exceeding 140/90 would generally constitute it being classed as high.

 

What information does the insurer need?

Upon application, the insurer will usually ask for the original diagnosis date as well as the date of your last review, the reading from your latest review and details of what treatment you are taking.

The Insurer may also ask whether there have been any associated complications such as kidney stones or urine infections.

 

Is the premium affected and how much does cover cost?

Life insurance, critical illness and income protection applications won’t generally be subject to an increase on the original quoted premium for someone with high blood pressure which is well controlled, so long as there are no other conditions or complications.

Why not call us now for expert advice?

Call 0800 644 4468Mobiles call01737 336 990