Posted July 15, 2021

Having the right life insurance in place is important, but if you have a medical condition, it can put you off applying for a policy for fear of being declined. High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is one such condition that may have an impact on your ability to secure affordable life insurance.

In some cases, it is sometimes possible to access life cover at a standard rate with high blood pressure, but it can be helpful to understand what to expect when you apply. At Watts, our team of advisers are on hand to offer you support and guidance to make sure you’re able to access the right cover for your needs.

Getting life insurance with high blood pressure

High blood pressure is very common, and it affects around a third of UK adults. It doesn’t always present any symptoms, which means many people don’t know they have it. You’re more at risk of high blood pressure if you’re over 65, overweight, eat too much salt or drink too much alcohol or caffeine.

If you have high blood pressure when you apply for life insurance, it will likely be viewed as a pre-existing health condition. In some cases, it can be a sign of other medical conditions such as diabetes or kidney disease.

It’s likely that insurance providers will want to know your most recent blood pressure readings, and information on how long you have had the condition and whether you’re taking any medication for it. Insurers will also ask you standard health and lifestyle questions that everyone answers, such as your age, weight and smoking status.

Being accepted for life insurance cover can depend on how severe your condition is and what steps you’re taking to manage it. Even if it is severe, you can still be accepted for life cover, but the premiums may be more expensive.

Using a specialist adviser

At Watts, our team of trusted advisers have experience in finding life cover for unique circumstances, including pre-existing medical conditions such as high blood pressure. We can take the time to understand the type of cover you need, and are able to search the whole of market to find an insurance provider suited to you.

It’s our job to offer you impartial advice to help you understand the best course of action when looking for life insurance. The more information you can provide, the better, as insurers typically deal with applications on a case-by-case basis. If you have any questions about applying for life insurance with high blood pressure, don’t hesitate to get in touch today.