Medical Disclosures

• Critical illness risks – as a general rule if you have suffered any core critical illness (see our ABI definition guidelines) then it is highly unlikely you will be able to secure any cover for critical illness

• Diabetes – Diabetes (regardless of type 1 or 2) will generally incur a medical rating with any insurer.  The length of time you have had it and how well it is controlled will dictate anything from a small rating to a postpone or decline for cover

• Body Mass Index (BMI) – any one with a very high BMI is likely to incur a medical rating on a life insurance policy, just how much depends on how high the BMI is – again this can range from a small rating to a decline. 
• Ratings are different between death only and critical illness policies
• Not all insurers view BMI the same – a company like Legal and General may add a rating whilst someone like AXA may not.  In our experience AXA have a conservative view of BMI

• Smoker status – this will increase your premium by around 100%.  Remember you have to be a non smoker for 12 months before benefiting from non smoker rates

• Asthma – Generally mild asthma does not cause too many issues.  If you have been recently hospitalised or had a few courses of steroid tablets this could cause and increased risk view to the insurer. If you are a smoker and have bad asthma some companies will apply an automatic medical rating

• Drug usage – This increases an insurer’s risk.  Any Class A drug usage in the last 5 years is generally met with a decline

• Alcohol – reasonable alcohol intake is unlikely to cause any issue.  Some one who has been diagnosed as an alcoholic and still drinks alcohol is likely to be declined by most insurers

• Raised blood pressure – if well maintained will not necessarily cause an issue.  If you know your last blood pressure reading companies such as Fortis will accept you ion standard terms – providing the last reading was within acceptable levels

• Family medical history
• Breast cancer – can generally be met with a medical rating on the female site
• Neurological conditions – can often attract a medical rating from critical illness
• Colo-rectal cancers – can often attract a medical rating for critical illness
• Heart conditions – usually don’t attract medical ratings unless more than 2 first degree relatives have suffered

• Stress/Anxiety and depression – long term suffering can often attract a medical rating – again AXA is more lenient than others

 

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