Life Insurance with Health Conditions
A health condition does not have to prevent you from getting the coverage your family needs. Asurgo works with carriers who specialize in covering people with pre-existing conditions, and we compare options from 25+ carriers to find the best fit.
THE BASICS
How Health Conditions Affect Life Insurance
When you apply for life insurance, carriers assess your health history through a process called underwriting. This helps them determine your risk level and set your premium. Common factors include your age, medical history, current medications, and lifestyle habits like tobacco use.
Having a health condition does not automatically disqualify you from coverage. Conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, and even some cancers are common among applicants, and many carriers have programs designed specifically for people with these conditions.
The key is comparing options. Different carriers evaluate conditions differently. One carrier might decline an applicant with Type 2 diabetes while another offers competitive rates. That is why working with an independent broker like Asurgo matters. We shop 25+ carriers to find the one that fits your health profile.
RISK FACTORS
What Insurance Carriers Evaluate
Every carrier weighs risk factors differently, but these are the most common factors that affect your eligibility and premium. Understanding them helps you know what to expect when you apply.
SIMPLIFIED UNDERWRITING
No Medical Exam Life Insurance
Simplified issue policies skip the traditional medical exam entirely. Instead, you answer a short health questionnaire, and most applicants receive a decision the same day. These policies are available for final expense insurance, mortgage protection, and some term life products.
Even with common conditions like high blood pressure, Type 2 diabetes, or controlled heart disease, many carriers offer no-exam coverage. Approval depends on the severity and management of the condition, which is why comparing across carriers makes a significant difference.
No-Exam Final Expense Insurance
Get $5,000 to $50,000 in whole life coverage without a medical exam. Most applicants approved the same day.
No-Exam Mortgage Protection
Protect your home without a medical exam. Simplified underwriting with coverage matched to your mortgage balance.
NO HEALTH QUESTIONS
Guaranteed Acceptance: Coverage for Everyone
Guaranteed acceptance life insurance is designed for people who cannot qualify for traditional or simplified issue coverage. There are no health questions, no medical exam, and no one is turned down. If you are within the eligible age range (typically 45 to 85), you are approved.
The trade-off is a graded benefit period during the first two years. If the policyholder passes away from natural causes during this period, the carrier returns all premiums paid plus interest rather than paying the full death benefit. After two years, the full benefit applies. For many people who have been declined elsewhere, guaranteed acceptance is the path to coverage.
Guaranteed Acceptance Life Insurance
No health questions, no exam, no denial. Available to adults 45 to 85 regardless of health history.
Guaranteed Acceptance Costs
See what guaranteed acceptance life insurance costs by age and coverage amount. Understand the pricing for this coverage option.
COMMON CONDITIONS
Coverage Options by Health Condition
The table below shows general eligibility patterns for common health conditions. Your actual options depend on the severity of the condition, how well it is managed, and which carriers are available in your state.
| Condition | Simplified Issue | Guaranteed Acceptance | Impact on Rates |
|---|---|---|---|
| High Blood Pressure | Usually eligible | Always eligible | Minor increase |
| Type 2 Diabetes | Usually eligible | Always eligible | Moderate increase |
| Heart Disease | Case by case | Always eligible | Moderate to significant |
| COPD | Case by case | Always eligible | Significant increase |
| Cancer (in remission) | Depends on timeframe | Always eligible | Varies widely |
| Tobacco Use | Usually eligible | Always eligible | 30-50% higher rates |
Eligibility and rate impact vary by carrier and individual health history. Asurgo compares options from 25+ carriers to find the best fit for your situation.
TOBACCO USE
How Tobacco and Nicotine Use Affects Your Rates
Tobacco use is one of the single biggest factors affecting life insurance rates. Most carriers define "tobacco use" as any nicotine product used within the last 12 months, including cigarettes, cigars, vaping, chewing tobacco, and nicotine patches or gum.
If you have quit for 12 months or more, most carriers will classify you as a non-tobacco user, which can reduce your premium by 30% to 50%. Some carriers have more lenient definitions or shorter lookback periods. If you currently use tobacco, coverage is still available at every level, from simplified issue to guaranteed acceptance.
Not sure if you qualify?
A licensed specialist can check your options across 25+ carriers in minutes.
COMMON QUESTIONS
Frequently Asked Questions About Health and Life Insurance
Can I get life insurance with diabetes?
Can I get life insurance with heart disease?
Do I need a medical exam to get life insurance?
What is simplified issue underwriting?
What is guaranteed acceptance life insurance?
Does tobacco use disqualify me from coverage?
What if I have been declined for life insurance before?
How much more does life insurance cost with health conditions?
Your health history does not have to hold you back.
Our licensed specialists compare rates from 25+ carriers to find coverage that works for your health situation. No obligation, no pressure.