Can I Get Life Insurance with High Blood Pressure?

Many people think they can’t get life insurance if they have high blood pressure, or that they’ll have to pay sky-high premiums. But there are ways to lessen the impact, especially if you’re able to control your blood pressure and know the right steps to take when shopping for a policy.

Can I get life insurance if I have high blood pressure?

Yes, it’s possible to get life insurance if you have high blood pressure. But your premiums will depend on how long you’ve had high blood pressure and whether you’ve been able to get it under control.

If you were diagnosed with high blood pressure in the past, but it’s now at a healthier level due to medication, diet or exercise, you’ll likely qualify for competitive rates.

But if your blood pressure is still high, you’ll likely pay higher rates — especially if you’ve had high blood pressure for a long time or you haven’t seen a doctor for it before.

Yes, but it’s rare for an underwriter to deny someone coverage based on their high blood pressure alone. You’re more likely to be denied coverage if you have other risk factors on top of high blood pressure, like a high BMI (Body Mass Index), high cholesterol level, nicotine use or heart disease.
If you’re denied coverage for a medically underwritten policy, you can still get a guaranteed life insurance policy, which doesn’t require a medical history — though you’ll likely pay more and have less coverage.

Why do insurers care about my blood pressure?

Your premiums are based on the likelihood of the insurer having to pay out on the policy. Higher risk applicants pay more for insurance, because it’s more likely that they’ll die before the policy expires.

High blood pressure can be an indication of future health problems, including heart attack or stroke. The longer your blood pressure is elevated, and the higher it is, the higher your risk is for major health problems or even death.

How to manage your blood pressure

It’s essential to take steps to improve your blood pressure – both for your health and to lower your life insurance premiums.

Speak to your doctor about a healthy exercise and diet plan, and take all of your prescribed medications. For those with high blood pressure, the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada advises limiting your sodium intake to less than 2,000 mg per day. (To give you some context, the average Canadian consumes more than 3,400 mg per day.)

As part of your healthy eating plan, avoid foods that are high in sodium, including:

White bread
Chips and fries
Deli meats – e.g. turkey, salami and ham
Fast food – e.g. burgers, hot dogs and chicken nuggets
Processed cheese

Pizza
Canned sauces and condiments – e.g. ketchup and soy sauce
Bottled salad dressings
Canned soups
Frozen meals

Questions you might be asked in relation to high blood pressure

What was your most recent blood pressure reading?
When were you first advised that you had high blood pressure? What was the blood pressure reading at that time? What was your blood pressure before you were diagnosed with high blood pressure?
How often do you see your doctor for check-ups or tests? When is your next check-up?
Are you currently taking medication for high blood pressure? If so, what’s the medication and dosage?
Has your treatment or dosage changed over the last month? If so, why?
Do you manage your high blood pressure in ways other than with medication?
Has your doctor advised you to take other forms of testing such as ECG, urinalysis or echocardiogram? If so, provide details.
Has the underlying cause of your high blood pressure been found? If so, provide details.

What to look for when comparing policies with high blood pressure

If you have high blood pressure, there are a number of factors to consider when shopping for life insurance. Look at key areas like:

How much the insurance coverage will cost
The level of coverage you get for your money
What the plan does and does not cover (pay attention to the exclusions)

The claims process
Whether the coverage is term life insurance or whole life insurance
The length of the term, if it’s a term life insurance policy

Compare life insurance providers

1 - 3 of 3

Name	Types of Insurance	Coverage Range	Issue Ages	Medical Exam Required	Province Availability
PolicyMe Life Insurance	Term Life, Critical Illness	$100,000 - $5,000,000	18 - 75	No	AB, BC, MB, NS, ON, PEI, SK, NL, YT, NT, NU	Get fast and affordable term life insurance. Personalize your policy details and get an estimate price within seconds. No phone call, meeting or paperwork required. Get an instant decision.	Get a quote More Info	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
RBC Life Insurance	Term Life	$50,000 - $1,000,000	18 - 70	No	AB, NS, ON, PEI	Select from two unique RBC term life insurance plans to get flexible and affordable coverage that suits your lifestyle and budget. Get a free quote through Walnut.	Get a quote More Info	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
PolicyAdvisor	Whole Life, Term Life, Universal, No Medical	$25,000 - $25,000,000	18 - 75	No	AB, BC, MB, ON	PolicyAdvisor is a digital life insurance brokerage that has partnerships with 20 insurers in Canada.	Get a quote More Info	Compare	loading Fetching your data...

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Can someone with high blood pressure get critical illness insurance?

Like applying for a life insurance policy, people with high blood pressure, can get critical illness insurance coverage, but they might pay higher premiums than someone without HBP. Critical illness insurance can allow those diagnosed with a serious illness to concentrate on recovery instead worrying about their finances. Common critical illness insurance features can include:

Wide range of coverage. With higher insurance premiums, the range of covered conditions increases to include things like organ failure, HIV, loss of independent existence or loss of senses.
Premium treatment access. Some insurers will also provide access to medical specialists, rehabilitation as well as other support services.
Coverage for common critical conditions and illnesses. Some policies have coverage for over 30 different illnesses. If you receive a diagnosis, you can begin the claim process immediately.
Lump sum payout. A lump sum payment from critical illness insurance can range from $25,000 to to as much as $2 million, depending on the illness and the type of coverage purchased.
Kids can also be insured. Some insurers can bundle the critical illness policy with added coverage for your children.

Life insurance and critical illness insurance work differently, and many people use both to make sure themselves and their family are fully protected. You can purchase polices separately or bundle them together to save money.

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Bottom line

Insurers will consider your high blood pressure when determining whether you qualify for life insurance and at what rate. But high blood pressure isn’t a deal-breaker, and you could get a lower rate by managing it successfully and leading a healthy lifestyle.

Carefully consider and compare your options to ensure you’re getting the best policy for your needs and at the best rate.

Frequently asked questions

Blood pressure is classified into 5 categories:
- Normal – Less than 120/less than 80
- Elevated – 120-129/less than 80
- High blood pressure Stage 1 – 130-139/80-89
- High blood pressure Stage 2 – 140 or higher/90 or higher
- Hypertensive crisis – Higher than 180/higher than 120
The Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada recommends taking the following steps to manage high blood pressure:
Eat a healthy diet that's low in sodium and saturated fat
Limit your alcohol consumption
Exercise regularly
Manage stress
Maintain a healthy weight
Don't smoke
Take your medication as directed by your physician
Have your blood pressure checked regularly

Thank you for your feedback!

Julia Cameron

Julia Cameron is a freelance journalist and editor, specializing in personal finance, mergers and acquisitions and immigration law. Her writing and analysis has been featured in TechRadar, MSN, Harper's Bazaar, Time and other top media. She holds a BA in English literature from the University of Central Florida.

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Life insurance with high blood pressure

Follow your doctor's orders to get the best possible rates.

Can I get life insurance if I have high blood pressure?