High Cholesterol and Life Insurance: what you need to know
If you are looking for life insurance and you have high cholesterol, you may worry that it will be more expensive or difficult to find suitable cover.
However, getting high cholesterol life insurance can be accessible and does not have to break the bank. It is important to understand the life insurance process with a pre-existing condition and be prepared for what life insurance providers may ask you about your high cholesterol.
If you’re unsure about finding life insurance with high cholesterol, using an independent insurance broker can be beneficial. As they have access to the market and expertise in the industry, they are able to guide you through the process and compare your options.
What does high cholesterol mean?
Cholesterol is a fatty substance that is found in your blood, it can be defined as “good cholesterol” known as HDL and “bad” cholesterol, known as LDL.
There are no symptoms of high cholesterol, therefore it is only diagnosed through blood tests. If you have too much bad cholesterol can cause health issues, particularly heart problems or strokes.
There are a number of treatments designed to help people lower their cholesterol level. Primarily this involves lifestyle changes, such as eating fewer fatty foods, quitting smoking and exercising more.
However, if your cholesterol level does not change following lifestyle changes, you may be prescribed cholesterol medicines such as statins.
What is considered high cholesterol for life insurance?
The NHS recommends that 5 is a health level of cholesterol, with 3 or below being a healthy level for LDL (bad cholesterol).
When applying for life insurance, if your readings are above 6, you are likely to find it more difficult to find life insurance. Additionally, if you have a high BMI in addition to raised cholesterol, life insurance may be more expensive.
One of the best ways to ensure that you do not incur premium increases is attending regular check-ups with your doctor and making sure that your readings are up to date. Demonstrating that your cholesterol levels are well-controlled in this way is beneficial for your life insurance
Can I get life insurance with high cholesterol?
If you have a diagnosis of high cholesterol, you are able to get life insurance. The cost of cover is dependent on a range of factors, which tend to differ for each life insurance provider.
However, you may find that the cost of your life insurance can increase with high cholesterol. You are more likely to see an increase in the cost of life insurance if:
- Taking two or more medications for high cholesterol
- Have a family history of high cholesterol
- Cholesterol reading over 6
- Have a high BMI
Can I get critical illness cover with high cholesterol?
Similarly to getting life insurance with high cholesterol, it is possible to get critical illness cover with high cholesterol – but the underwriting process on this varies for each insurance provider.
If you’d like to find out more about what critical illness entails and why it may be beneficial for you, you can read more about it on our critical illness cover page.
Associated conditions with high cholesterol and how they can affect life insurance
If you have high cholesterol, this may not be the only thing that life insurance providers consider as high cholesterol can lead to a range of different conditions.
It is most often linked with an elevated risk of cardiovascular disease and circulatory conditions. This risk will be taken into consideration when insurers create a policy designed for you and determine how much this will cost.
Why do insurers need to know about high cholesterol?
Insurance providers provide life insurance on a case-by-case basis, therefore need to know relevant information about your lifestyle and medical history. This information helps them to assess the risk and determine the cost of your life insurance cover.
If you have a diagnosis of high cholesterol at the time of your life insurance application, it is likely your life insurance provider will want to know more information about your condition.
In some cases, life insurance providers may request medical evidence such as a GP report. Your consent is required before they can obtain this information.
What information do you need to provide to insurers if you have raised cholesterol?
While you can expect life insurance providers to ask for additional information about your high cholesterol, each insurer assesses applications on a case-by-case basis. This means that the information that they require can vary from provider to provider.
However, you can expect to be asked these questions or information in regard to high cholesterol:
- Date of your diagnosis of high cholesterol
- Up to date cholesterol readings (ideally within the last 6 months)
- If you have any other risk factors or medical conditions, for example high blood pressure
- Details of any medication you take to control cholesterol level
- How high cholesterol affects your daily life
- How you are managing your cholesterol
Providing up to date information about your condition and showing that your cholesterol level is well-controlled will be beneficial to your application.
It is important when applying for life insurance that you are honest in your application, failure to disclose information such as high cholesterol could result in your policy being voided.
What is the best life insurance provider for people with high cholesterol?
Finding the best life insurance for high cholesterol is not as simplistic as using a comparison website. There are many factors involved and the cheapest insurance is not necessarily the most suitable, especially if you have high cholesterol.
Using an independent insurance broker is the best way to find the most suitable life. As brokers, they will have expertise and access to the market to help find insurance that meets your needs and at a reasonable rate.
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