Life insurance with a pre-existing condition

• Yes. However, it’s crucial that you disclose any relevant medical history during your application process. The failure to do so could result in a canceled policy, or even worse, a denied claim because you were untruthful when your family needs it most.

What’s considered a pre-existing medical condition?

When it comes to life insurance, a pre-existing medical condition is usually a detrimental health situation that’s present before the beginning of your policy. Insurers will also want to know about the time period of an illness, whether short-term or long-term and if it was hereditary.

Definitions vary from company to company, so if you have a pre-existing medical condition and are trying to purchase a new insurance policy, it’s important to be aware of exactly what qualifies according to the company you’re interested in.

For example, the Co-operators life insurance defines a manageable medical condition, for which you may still receive coverage, as one that doesn’t debilitate your every day life. It may be worth calling the insurance company you’re interested in to speak with an agent and ask about their coverage options for your specific condition.

Why do some life insurers exclude pre-existing conditions?

When applying for life insurance, an insurer will calculate the premium you’ll pay based on a number of risk factors including your medical history — this is known as underwriting. Insurers generally take into account your personal medical history, family medical history and lifestyle habits when calculating your overall health and life expectancy.

This is simply done to minimize the risk of a company insuring someone who has a high percentage of filing a payable claim.

Tips for buying life insurance with a pre-existing condition

A pre-existing condition like diabetes or heart disease can complicate the application process – but it doesn’t mean you’ll be denied coverage. To boost your chances of approval and get the best possible rates, follow these steps:

1. • Gather information about your condition.

     Before starting an application, make sure you’re well-versed about your condition. The more information you can give the insurer, the better equipped they’ll be to assess your risk factors. Include the name of the disease or illness, as well as details about any treatments or surgeries you’ve had, and the doses and frequency of medications you take. List the doctors and medical professionals who have seen you over the last seven to 10 years, too – this will prove you have nothing to hide and hopefully increase your chances of getting coverage.

2. • Check in with your doctor.

     While you’re at it, speak to your doctor and confirm that your medical records are accurate and up to date. If you have a pre-existing condition, your life insurance company will likely request an attending physician’s statement (APS) from your doctor. They may also request documents from other medical professionals you’ve seen.

3. • Work with an independent insurance broker.

     To cut down on your research time, talk to a broker. Unlike agents, brokers typically aren’t tied to one particular provider, so they can offer you quotes from multiple companies. If possible, find a broker who has experience with high-risk applicants. They’ll know which carriers to approach, and how to present your case in a favorable light.

4. • Choose an insurer who specializes in pre-existing conditions.

     A standard insurer might automatically charge extra for coverage or deny you because your case is too complex. On the other hand, an insurer who specializes in pre-existing conditions will be better able to assess your risk factors and offer adequate, affordable coverage.

5. • Pull together a health summary.

     You already have all the documents about your condition. Now, highlight all the positive aspects about your health. If you’re diligent about attending check-ups and following your treatment plan, write that down. Point out other healthy habits too, like if you’re a nonsmoker, don’t drink alcohol or if you regularly visit the gym.

6. • Don't put all your eggs in one basket.

     To increase your odds, aim to apply for coverage with three to four different insurers. Every insurer has their own underwriting standards, requirements and rate classes, and some are more lenient than others. When you’re comparing policies, read the fine print. Check the exclusions and limits so you know the extent of your coverage.

7. • Agree to the medical exam.

     If your insurer asks you to take a medical exam, oblige. As long as you’ve been honest and upfront in your application, you should have nothing to hide – and the insurer may reduce your rates. To get the best results, schedule the exam for early in the day when you’re awake and alert, and avoid caffeine, alcohol, sugar and fatty foods for 12 hours before. If the medical exam doesn’t go as well as you hoped, you can look into a no-medical exam policy as a backup. It will cost more, but at least you’ll have coverage.

Life insurance policies that don’t require a medical exam

What details about my medical history will insurers want to know?

When purchasing an insurance plan with a pre-existing medical condition or illness, you’ll need to disclose personal information. However, the details can vary depending on your condition and the insurance company you’re applying with.

What questions should I be prepared to answer about my condition?

Some types of questions you could be asked for specific conditions include:

• Asthma or other breathing disorders

  • When were the first symptoms present?
  • When were the most recent symptoms present?
  • Have you taken off work as a result of asthma?
  • How many asthma attacks do you have per year?
  • Are you taking medication for asthma or have you been hospitalized?

• Sleep disorder

  • What sleeping conditions are you diagnosed with and when was the diagnosis made?
  • What is the severity of the sleeping disorder?

• Raised cholesterol and high blood pressure

  • Have you visited a medical specialist and received treatments or tests?
  • When were you diagnosed and what was the original and most recent result of testing?
  • Have you ever or are you currently taking medication for either condition?
  • Has your treatment changed in the last 12 months?
  • How often do you get your blood pressure or cholesterol levels checked?

• Diabetes

  • What type of diabetes was diagnosed?
  • When was the original diagnosis?
  • How often do you visit the doctor for checkups and when was the most recent visit?
  • What treatments and medications are you currently taking?
  • Have you suffered any complications as a result of diabetes including insulin coma, eye problems, high blood pressure, kidney problems or numbness or tingling in your feet or legs?
  • Can you provide your most recent blood glucose and HbA1C results?

• Skin conditions including cysts and skin lesions.

  • What type of skin problem have you had or currently have?
  • Where is the location of the skin condition?
  • Was the cyst, mole or lesion removed and were any special tests or treatments prescribed?
  • Do you have pathology results?
  • Was the skin condition benign or malignant?
  • Did you have any further treatments?

• Mental health conditions*

  • When did you first experience symptoms and do you currently still experience symptoms?
  • Has the cause of the problem been identified or diagnosed by a qualified health professional?
  • Are you taking medications or having treatments from a qualified counselor or therapist?
  • What is the contact information for your doctor or medical counselor?
  • Have you been hospitalized because of the mental health condition?
  • Has your ability to work or perform daily activities been limited because of the condition?
  • Have you attempted suicide?

  *_{Mental health conditions can include: Depression, anxiety, panic or phobia disorder, schizophrenia, eating disorders, manic depressive or bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, ADD or ADHD or the possibility for other mental health conditions.}

• Back, neck, joint or Musculoskeletal pain

  • What part of your body is affected?
  • When was your first experience with the specific pain?
  • What is the potential cause of the pain?
  • Have you experienced any symptoms because of back, neck, joint or Musculoskeletal pain?
  • Have you gone through treatment and has the treatment included an X-ray, CT scan or MRI?
  • Have you had to miss work as result of the pain?
  • What are the contact details for the health professionals you’ve visited?

Will I need to inform my insurer if my condition changes?

You’ll need to disclose any changes in circumstances before your insurer provides you with coverage.

Can I get life insurance if I’m HIV-positive?

Yes, but it might be challenging — and your options will be limited. Though HIV is now a manageable condition, many insurance companies still view HIV-positive people as too risky to insure. And since the medical exam tests for HIV, that means most insurers will automatically decline people with HIV. There are a few ways you can go about getting coverage:

• Buy a guaranteed issue policy. This policy skips the health questionnaire and medical exam, and all applicants are approved. However, since the insurer doesn’t have a complete picture of the person they’re covering, it’s one of the most expensive policies on the market.
• Join group life insurance. If your employer participates and you want to enroll, you usually won’t have to fill out a health questionnaire or take a medical exam. The employer typically pays all or most of the premium – making this a cheap and easy way to get life insurance, although the coverage is not very substantial.

What types of medical exams will I need to take?

When applying for life insurance, you may undergo one of the following types of medical tests:

• A checkup. This checkup will record your weight and height, and may include a blood pressure and urine test.
• A checkup and a blood test. In addition to a checkup, your doctor or nurse will also take some blood to see whether you’re HIV positive – or if you have illnesses such as hepatitis. The insurer may also request a cholesterol reading.
• Medical records. This is a detailed medical history report that may be completed by a physician and sent off to your insurer.

• Tips to prepare for a medical examination

  • Gather any documents needed, like your driver’s license or passport.
  • Fast 8 to 10 hours before your blood test, or as recommended by your doctor.
  • Drink a glass or two of water before giving a urine sample (avoid alcohol for 72 hours before the test, avoid fatty foods 24 hours before the test).

• What happens after I submit my results

  The results of your examination are sent to your insurer to help them further review the life insurance application. If accepted, you’ll be sent policy documents to review. If rejected based on your medical results, the insurer may offer you an alternative policy. Just because one insurer won’t offer coverage, it doesn’t mean you won’t have better luck getting approved with a different provider.

What does the full process involve to buying life insurance?

The underwriting process explained

During the underwriting process, your insurer will look at various risk factors that can affect the probability of paying out a life insurance claim. It can generally be broken down into eight risk groups:

• Medical history. You should let your insurer know of any hereditary problems, illnesses or diseases, injuries, psychological issues or any ongoing symptoms you may have.
• Family medical history. Family history is an important indicator for ailments that are known to have familial links such as cancer, depression or congenital heart defects.
• Lifestyle. You should inform your insurer if you’re a smoker, drinker, or taking any prescription or non-prescription drugs.
• Occupation. Your occupation, hours you work, your title and the size of the company you work for, are all important factors.
• Financial situation. Your insurer will want to make sure that the amount you’re being insured for is logical and that you’ll be able to to pay the premium.
• Hazardous hobbies. This will be assessed depending on both the type of activity and your level of competency.
• Location. Your insurer will look at your access to medical facilities and the likelihood of natural disasters in the areas you work and live.
• Current risk. Any risks that may pose an immediate threat such as civil disorder or natural disasters.

Life insurance and medical tests

You may be asked to get a medical screening before getting approved for life insurance. This is common with older applicants and for those who want to be insured for a large amount of money. Based on your test results, your life insurance provider looks for:

• Heart disease. Coronary heart disease is the second leading cause of death in Canada (next to cancer). Insurers will assess your blood pressure to determine if you have high cholesterol, which is an indicator of coronary artery disease. Also, depending on your age and medical history, you may need to have an electrocardiogram to check for an irregular heartbeat.
• HIV. HIV has the potential to become AIDS. If you’ve contracted HIV, antibodies or antigens will have developed in response to the virus and will be present in your blood.
• Diabetes. People with chronic diabetes are more likely to suffer a heart attack, kidney disease, stroke and many other unsavory health conditions. Your blood and urine may be tested for unusually high glucose levels, which can be an indicator that your body is not processing sugars properly.
• Kidney disease. Kidney disease can lead to kidney failure and if you don’t receive dialysis or a transplant the disease can be fatal. Your blood will likely be checked for high levels creatinine and your urine for high levels of albumin. Both creatinine and albumin are proteins that shouldn’t be present in your blood and urine samples, respectively, if your kidney is functioning properly.
• Liver disease. Liver disease can develop into liver cancer or cause gastrointestinal bleeding. To test for liver disease, your blood will be screened for high levels of certain enzymes or proteins, such as bilirubin.
• Cancer. Some forms of cancer can be identified through blood and urine tests.

What are your rights if you have a pre-existing condition?

It’s against the law for companies to discriminate against people with disabilities during the underwriting process. However, there are instances where the risks associated with an individuals disability may be far too high for the insurer to give coverage. Different providers have different criteria for assessing people with disabilities.

Will I need to disclose my results of genetic testing?

If you’ve previously undergone genetic testing for hereditary diseases, then you could be required to disclose the results of those tests to your insurer.

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Name	Product	Types of Insurance	Coverage Range	Issue Ages	Medical Exam Required	Province Availability
Promoted PolicyMe Life Insurance		Term Life	$100,000 - $10,000,000	18 - 75 years old	No	Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island and Saskatchewan	Get fast and affordable term life insurance without the need for a medical exam with PolicyMe.	Get a quote More Info	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
TermLite Term Life Insurance		Term Life	$10,000 - $1,000,000	18 - 80 years old	No	All of Canada	Get fast and easy-to-understand term life insurance with no medical exam and no paperwork required.	Get a quote More Info	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Sun Life Go Term Life Insurance		Term Life	$100,000 - $1,000,000	18 - 69 years old	No	All of Canada	Sun Life Go Term Life Insurance is a standard term life insurance option that guarantees your premiums in the first 10 or 20 years of your policy.	Get a quote More Info	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
RBC Life Insurance		Term Life	$50,000 - $25,000,000	18 - 75 years old	No	Ontario, Alberta and Manitoba	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 PolicyAdvisor.	Get a quote More Info	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
PolicyAdvisor		Whole Life, Term Life, Universal, No Medical	$25,000 - $5,000,000	18 - 75 years old	No	Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario	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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Frequently asked questions

• Can you take out life insurance if you have a pre-existing condition?

  • Yes. If you’ve suffered a disease or disablement in the past, you can still apply for life insurance coverage for protection against a range of future events. However, the premiums may be higher.

• What sorts of conditions can be covered by life insurance?

  • The illnesses and disabilities covered under your life insurance policy will depend on your insurer and be detailed in full in your policy contract.

• What does a life insurance medical exam involve?

  • A medical exam can be as simple as checking your weight and blood pressure, or as extensive as a blood test, a urine test, or a cholesterol test.

• How should you apply for life insurance if you have a pre-existing condition?

  • Compare insurance companies and quotes online. If you have a specific condition, you’ll receive the most accurate prices and information by calling or visiting the insurer directly. A life insurance broker may also be a good option as they could potentially know which insurance companies have a history of insuring people with your condition.

Learn about types of life insurance policies and compare providers