Pre-existing medical conditions and life insurance

It’s when you had symptoms, medication, advice, treatment or diagnostic tests for a disease, illness or injury before taking out a life insurance policy. 

Insurers have their own definitions, but they usually include conditions like heart disease, asthma, diabetes and cancer. They’ll also consider the severity of the condition.

Pre-existing medical conditions are just one of many factors that insurers consider when you apply for cover. Other things, like your job and how much cover you’re asking for, also play a part. 

A pre-existing medical condition won’t necessarily prevent you from getting cover. Just be aware that:

• The insurer might ask for more medical information. That might be a report from your GP, a call from a nurse, a mini screening, or a medical exam, where they find out more about your general health or the condition you have. At Aviva, if we ask you to have a medical exam as part of your life insurance application, we'll cover the cost, and we'll try to arrange this at a time and place that's convenient for you. 
• It might cost more. Underwriters will consider from reviewing your application how likely you are to make a claim, and if it’s more or less likely than the average person. So, for example, your premiums may be higher if you have a serious, chronic medical condition. 

Unfortunately, sometimes an insurer will be unable to offer cover due to medical reasons, such as if you have a serious condition. If this happens, you may be able to get life insurance elsewhere. Make sure you check the policy wording, so you know the cover’s right for you.

Having a pre-existing medical condition won’t necessarily stop you getting any type of life insurance, but some policies may not pay out if you pass away as a result of your condition.

But if you do already have a medical condition, certain types of cover might be cheaper or more accessible for you. One is Over 50 Life insurance. Aviva’s Over 50s Life Insurance covers you for the rest of your life, regardless of your health - as long as you’re able to continue making payments, otherwise known as premiums. There is no cash-in value at any time.

If Over 50 Life insurance isn’t right for you, other options could include paying more to cover a pre-existing condition or taking out a policy which excludes the condition.

As part of the life insurance application, you’ll be asked questions about your health and lifestyle, including whether you have any pre-existing medical conditions.

Make sure you answer any medical questions, and all application questions, truthfully and correctly. Insurers regularly check this information and may contact your doctor to confirm it's accurate.

If your insurer discovers any inaccuracies in your application, they may have to raise your cover price, delay your cover start date, or cancel your policy altogether. Incorrect information could also invalidate your policy, meaning your insurer won’t pay out for a claim.

If you’re eligible for our Over 50s Life Insurance, you won’t need to answer any health questions or have a medical exam when you apply. 

Our Over 50's Life Insurance is a whole of life policy which lasts for the rest of your life, instead of a specific number of years.  And the payout is guaranteed whenever you pass away. That’s why monthly payments for whole of life policies tend to be higher than for term policies.

Although acceptance is guaranteed, you won’t be able to cash in your cover at any time. If premiums stop, the cover will end. The total amount you'll pay for cover will depend on how long you live for, and you could pay in more than is paid out. Premiums will cease after 30 years or on the policy anniversary after the 90th birthday. We'll only pay out the full cover amount if:

• you pass away after a specified initial period, which is one year
  
• you pass away as a result of an accident during the first full year
• you make all monthly payments.

Aside from pre-existing medical conditions, a few things could nudge the cost of life insurance premiums up or down. 

First is your age. It’s no secret that the younger you are, the lower the cost tends to be. Next is your lifestyle. For example, if you’re a smoker, your premiums are likely to be higher, even if you don’t have any specific illness. And then there’s the type of policy you opt for, including whether you choose any extras such as critical illness cover.  

What matters is getting the life insurance that’s right for you at a price you can afford. Having a medical condition shouldn't put you off applying. Even if it takes a little longer to get your application accepted, that doesn’t mean you won’t get cover. And there are other ways of lowering your premiums, or monthly payments, to help offset higher costs.