Health Issues

Medical underwriting is an insurance term regarding the use of medical and health information of an applicant when applying for protection insurance. In particular Life insurance, Critical illness and Income protection are the policies we are looking at.

When answering the questions about your medical history, it is essential that you give all the information that you are asked for. If you don’t, you may find that your claim may not be paid. If you had a medical condition which is likely to come back or a current medical condition then this condition may not be covered within your policy.

Height & Weight or BMI (Body Mass Index) is a common cause for ratings and increased premiums. Again insurance underwriters have different views on the limits for your height and weight, with some asking for waist size as a calculation towards their decision. Our advisors will always ask your height and weight when collating their information and will be able to advise you on which insurers are not so strict on BMI tables.

Family history – meaning your direct blood relatives, Biological parents, brothers and sisters. The underwriters are looking for what they call hereditary illnesses such as, heart attack, diabetes, cancer (not all types are deemed hereditary) which family members have suffered in the past. Depending on what age they suffered a condition will determine your rating or whether they will decline you cover all together.

Health issues such as high/raised blood pressure can affect premiums directly and in some cases depending on control of the condition be a decline for life ad critical illness.

In our experience not all insurers view raised blood pressure in the same way. For example “Company A” may apply a standard rating (50% loading, so £50 a month is increased to £75p/m) as soon as your blood pressure is above a certain level, where as “Company B” will underwrite on your last 3 readings and as long as you show good control, your premiums may not even increase.

Diabetes affects an estimated 1.4 million people in the UK and they estimate the same amount of people again have the condition without realising. Much the same as blood pressure underwriters will asses you on your control of diabetes and many people find it difficult to get life insurance. If you have diabetes or know someone that has the condition then we would advise you to call us because in our experience we are able to get you insured even though in most cases the premiums will be higher (high risk for the insurance company). We feel that everyone who approaches The Policy Store for insurance or general advice, deserves the right to protect their selves and their family.