Life Insurance With Pre-Existing Medical Conditions

If you have a pre-existing medical condition prior to signing up to a Life Insurance policy, you may be wondering whether you qualify for Life Insurance. While your application may be a slightly lengthier process, you can still be insured. Companies will assess your condition and find a policy to suit your needs. If you are over the age of 50 and seeking Life Insurance, companies will most likely not require you to take a medical examination, but only consider your age in the application.

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Life Insurance With Pre-Existing Medical Conditions

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Like so many things in life, our health is not certain. There could come a time when you fall ill or injure yourself, and when that day comes, you want to make sure that your life insurance doesn't let you down.

But a lot of the responsibility in making sure your policy pays out lies with you. You need to be honest and open with your life insurance provider and tell them about everything — maybe not that time you scraped your knees as a child, unless it resulted in a lasting injury that still affects you today.

 

What is a Pre-Existing Medical Condition?

Pre-Existing Medical Condition Types and Examples

Chronic conditions: Hypertension, asthma, high cholesterol.

Serious illness: Cancer, stroke, heart disease.

Serious injuries: Back and neck injuries.

Serious genetic disorders: Cystic fibrosis, sickle cell anaemia.

Mental health conditions: Depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia.

 

Should You Disclose Every Pre-Existing Condition?

You should definitely disclose every pre-existing medical condition . You might think that keeping something from your life insurer will lead to successful claims, but the opposite is usually true.

If a life insurance provider discovers that you knowingly withheld a pre-existing condition, it could result in a claim being rejected. This means your loved ones may not receive a payout, or you could be unable to claim for disability, income protection, or dread disease — despite paying premiums for years.

Even if the condition seems unrelated, insurers may argue otherwise. For example, untreated depression can affect physical health. If a heart attack occurs and depression was not disclosed, the insurer could argue that the condition contributed to the claim.

Insurers will also investigate claims thoroughly by reviewing medical records and consulting doctors. Any undisclosed condition is likely to be discovered and may result in a reduced payout or no payout at all.

The bottom line: never hide pre-existing medical conditions from your life insurer.

 

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Will You Need to Undergo Tests?

What is medical underwriting?

This is the process where a life insurer gathers info about your medical history and current health. They use the results of this to decide what, if any cover, they are willing to offer you and at what premium.

Most life insurers will perform some form of medical underwriting when you're looking to get cover, even if it's only an HIV test. Some will insist on more comprehensive tests, like cholesterol, blood pressure, thyroid checks, and more.

These tests can be a little scary, because you might find out about an underlying condition that you never knew you had. But knowledge is power, so take the tests and be ready to deal with whatever may come your way.

Will Your Life Insurer Exclude Pre-Existing Conditions?

This depends on the insurer and the pre-existing condition we're talking about. It really varies from person to person, case by case.

  • This is the process where a life insurer gathers info about your medical history and current health. They use the results of this to decide what, if any cover, they are willing to offer you and at what premium.
  • Most life insurers will perform some form of medical underwriting when you're looking to get cover, even if it's only an HIV test. Some will insist on more comprehensive tests, like cholesterol, blood pressure, thyroid checks, and more.
  • These tests can be a little scary, because you might find out about an underlying condition that you never knew you had. But knowledge is power, so take the tests and be ready to deal with whatever may come your way.
  • Some pre-existing conditions may be so serious that the life insurer won't cover them at all, such as cancer or tuberculosis. This doesn't mean that you definitely won't get cover if you've had cancer previously — but many life insurers might decline to cover you for it.

Should You Switch Life Insurers?

If you find that your life insurance provider won't cover you for a certain condition when you quote, it's a good idea to get multiple quotes from different insurers. You never know if another company will feel differently about your condition.

However, once you have life insurance, be careful when you want to switch. What you may be covered for under one policy might not carry over to another. Think of things like waiting periods, too, that may be activated when you change providers.

Make sure that you get all the same cover and benefits before making the switch, as you don't want to spend your hard-earned money on a monthly debit order, only for the policy to not pay out when you need it to.

If you're ready to find a better deal, Hippo.co.za is here to help! You can compare 12 life insurance providers side by side and stack 'em up against each other to see which one suits your lifestyle and needs best.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Clear answers to help you understand Life Insurance with pre-existing medical conditions, disclosure requirements, and how underwriting works.

Yes. If you have a pre-existing medical condition, you can still qualify for Life Insurance. The application may take longer because the insurer will assess your condition and look for a policy that suits your needs.

A pre-existing medical condition is a health condition you have before you apply for Life Insurance. Examples can include chronic conditions like hypertension, asthma, and high cholesterol; serious illnesses like cancer, stroke, and heart disease; serious injuries like back or neck injuries; genetic disorders; and mental health conditions such as depression or bipolar disorder.

Yes. You should disclose every pre-existing medical condition when applying. If an insurer finds out that you knowingly hid a condition, it could void a claim. That could mean your loved ones don’t get paid out after you pass away, or you may not be able to claim for disability, income protection, or dread disease cover.

Medical underwriting is the process where an insurer gathers information about your medical history and current health. They use this information to decide what cover they are willing to offer you and what premium you will pay.

Possibly. Many insurers will do some form of medical underwriting and may require tests, even if it’s only an HIV test. Some may request additional checks such as cholesterol, blood pressure, thyroid testing, and more. These tests help insurers assess risk and determine your premium.

It depends on the insurer and the condition. Some pre-existing conditions may be excluded or treated differently depending on severity. In some cases, a condition may be considered too serious for cover, such as certain cases of cancer or tuberculosis, although this can vary between insurers.

If your insurer won’t cover you for a certain condition when you quote, it can help to compare quotes from other insurers, as another provider may assess your risk differently. If you already have Life Insurance, be careful when switching because benefits, exclusions, and waiting periods may change. Make sure your new policy matches your cover needs before you cancel your existing policy.

Not always. If you are over the age of 50 and applying for Life Insurance, some companies may not require a medical examination and may consider your age as a key factor in the application process. This can vary by insurer and policy.

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Compare multiple Life Insurance quotes and find cover that fits your health profile and budget.

Being upfront about your medical history helps you get the right cover and reduces the risk of claim disputes later.

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Expert Tools, Tips and Guides

Explore our Life Insurance guides, from basic policy explanations to specialised cover like Mortgage Life Insurance, joint cover and high-risk options.

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  • Joint Life Insurance See how one policy can cover you and your partner under shared terms, and when a joint policy makes financial sense.

  • Traditional Whole Life Insurance Learn about lifelong cover (often up to age 95), fixed premiums and guaranteed payouts to your beneficiaries.

  • Term Life Insurance Understand fixed-term cover, how it works for temporary needs, and what happens when the term comes to an end.

  • Pre-Existing Medical Conditions Find out how existing health conditions affect your Life Insurance application, waiting periods and exclusions.

  • Mortgage Life Insurance See how this type of cover protects your bond by paying off the outstanding home loan if you pass away.

  • Critical Illness Cover Learn how Critical Illness Cover works, what conditions may be covered, and how payouts can help with treatment and recovery costs.

  • Universal Life Insurance Explore flexible life cover that can adjust over time, and learn how premiums and benefits may change based on your needs.