Can You Get Life Insurance with a Pre-Existing Condition?

The number one reason people never apply for life insurance? They assume they’ll be denied. They’ve got diabetes, or they had a heart issue a few years back, or they take medication for anxiety — and they figure there’s no point in even trying. I hear it all the time.

Here’s what I tell every one of them: you’re probably wrong. The vast majority of people with pre-existing health conditions can get life insurance. It might not be the cheapest policy on the market, and it might take a little more work to find the right carrier — but coverage is absolutely within reach for most people. Let me walk you through how it actually works.

The Short Answer: Yes, You Can Probably Get Covered

If you have a pre-existing condition, you can almost certainly get life insurance. The real questions are: what kind of policy, and at what price?

Every insurance carrier has its own underwriting guidelines. That means the same person — same health history, same medications, same lab results — can get very different offers from different companies. One carrier might rate you as high-risk and charge double. Another might look at the same file and offer you standard rates. A third might decline you entirely. This is why where you apply matters just as much as what’s on your medical record.

Common Conditions and How Carriers View Them

Let’s go through the conditions I get asked about most often. Every situation is unique, but this will give you a general idea of what to expect.

Diabetes (Type 1 and Type 2)

Type 2 diabetes is one of the most common conditions I work with, and it’s very insurable — especially if it’s well-controlled. Carriers want to see a good A1C level (ideally under 7.0), no major complications like neuropathy or kidney issues, and consistent treatment. If you’re managing it with diet, exercise, and medication, many carriers will offer you coverage at standard or slightly rated prices. Type 1 diabetes is trickier because it typically means a longer history and higher risk of complications, but coverage is still available. You’ll likely pay more, and the carrier selection matters a lot here.

Heart Disease, High Blood Pressure, and High Cholesterol

These are extremely common, and carriers deal with them every day. If your blood pressure and cholesterol are controlled with medication and your doctor is happy with your numbers, most carriers will work with you. A history of a heart attack or bypass surgery makes underwriting more cautious — they’ll want to know when it happened, what treatment you received, and how your health has been since. The longer ago the event and the better your recovery, the more favorable your rates will be.

Cancer History

Cancer is very case-specific. The type of cancer, the stage at diagnosis, the treatment you received, and how long you’ve been in remission all matter enormously. Some early-stage cancers with successful treatment can be underwritten at standard rates after a few years in remission. More aggressive cancers or recent diagnoses will require specialized carriers and may come with higher premiums. The key number carriers care about: how many years since you completed treatment with no recurrence.

Mental Health: Anxiety and Depression

This one surprises people. Anxiety and depression, on their own, are generally not a big deal for life insurance underwriting. If you’re managing your mental health with therapy, medication, or both, and you’re stable and functioning well, most carriers will issue a policy at standard or near-standard rates. Where it gets more complicated is if there’s a history of hospitalization, substance abuse, or multiple medication changes in a short period. But for the garden-variety anxiety or depression that millions of Americans deal with? It’s usually a non-issue.

Obesity and BMI Concerns

Carriers use height-and-weight charts, and every company’s chart is different. Some carriers are much more lenient on BMI than others. If you’re moderately overweight but otherwise healthy — good blood pressure, good labs, no diabetes — there are carriers that will offer you competitive rates. If your BMI is significantly elevated, the rates will be higher, but coverage is still available. This is one of those areas where shopping multiple carriers makes a huge difference.

Asthma and Sleep Apnea

Mild to moderate asthma that’s controlled with an inhaler is typically rated very favorably. Most carriers won’t even add a surcharge if you haven’t been hospitalized for it. Sleep apnea is similar — if you’ve been diagnosed, you’re using a CPAP, and your compliance data looks good, many carriers will offer standard rates. The carriers that are strictest on sleep apnea are the ones that don’t see your compliance data, so having that information ready helps.

How Underwriting Works: Table Ratings Explained

When a carrier evaluates your application, they assign you a risk classification. Here’s how the rating system works in plain English:

Table ratings work on a scale. Table A (or Table 1) adds about 25% to your standard premium. Table B adds 50%. It goes up from there. A Table D rating means you’re paying double what a standard-rated person would pay for the same coverage. That sounds like a lot, but here’s the thing — life insurance is still relatively affordable even with a table rating. A $500,000 term policy at Table D rates might cost you $120 per month instead of $60. That’s still very manageable for most families.

And here’s what most people don’t know: some carriers specialize in higher-risk cases. They might offer you a Standard rating where another carrier gave you a Table C. That’s thousands of dollars in savings over the life of the policy.

Why an Independent Broker Matters Here

This is where the difference between a captive agent and an independent broker really shows up. A captive agent works for one insurance company. If that company doesn’t like your health history, you’re out of luck — they can only sell you what their carrier offers, and if their carrier declines you, they’ve got nothing else to show you.

An independent broker like Ingot works with dozens of carriers. We know which companies are lenient on diabetes. We know which ones specialize in cardiac histories. We know which carriers barely blink at a well-controlled anxiety diagnosis while others make it a big deal. When you have a pre-existing condition, this kind of market knowledge isn’t a nice-to-have — it’s the difference between getting coverage and getting a rejection letter.

We also do informal inquiries before submitting a formal application. That means we can check with carriers confidentially to gauge how they’d likely rate you, without creating a record of a decline on your file. A decline on your MIB (Medical Information Bureau) record can make future applications harder, so this step matters a lot.

Guaranteed Issue and Simplified Issue: The Last Resort Options

If traditional underwriting isn’t working — maybe your condition is too recent, too severe, or too complex — there are still options on the table.

Simplified issue policies ask a limited number of health questions (usually 5 to 10) but don’t require a medical exam. If you can answer the health questions favorably, you can get coverage relatively quickly. Coverage amounts are typically lower — often capped at $50,000 to $300,000 — but the process is fast and the approval rates are higher.

Guaranteed issue policies ask no health questions at all. If you’re within the age range (typically 50 to 85), you’re approved. Period. The tradeoff is that coverage amounts are small (usually $5,000 to $25,000), premiums are higher per dollar of coverage, and there’s typically a two-year waiting period before the full death benefit kicks in. These are primarily used for final expense and burial coverage.

I’ll be honest with you: guaranteed issue should be a last resort, not a first choice. The cost per dollar of coverage is significantly higher than a traditionally underwritten policy. But if you genuinely cannot qualify for anything else, it’s better than leaving your family with nothing.

Tips to Improve Your Application

If you have a pre-existing condition and you’re thinking about applying for life insurance, here’s what I’d recommend:

• Get your conditions managed and controlled before applying. If your A1C is trending down, wait until it hits your target. If you just started blood pressure medication, give it a few months to show results in your labs. A few months of patience can save you thousands in premiums.
• Gather your medical records. Know your most recent lab results, medication list, and treatment history. The more information you can provide upfront, the smoother the process goes.
• Be completely honest on your application. This is non-negotiable. If you lie or omit information on a life insurance application and you pass away within the contestability period (the first two years), the carrier can deny the claim entirely. Your family gets nothing. Every dollar you saved by hiding a condition is worthless if the policy doesn’t pay out. Tell the truth, always.
• Work with a broker who knows which carriers are lenient on which conditions. This is the single biggest factor in getting the best rate. The right broker will know exactly where to send your application for the most favorable outcome.
• Don’t apply to multiple carriers on your own. Every formal application creates a record. Multiple declines make you look riskier. Let a broker do informal inquiries first to find the right fit before putting anything on paper.