Can you get life insurance if you have high blood pressure?
Having high blood pressure won’t disqualify you from getting life insurance, but your rates will depend on your blood pressure reading, whether your condition is being treated, and other health factors. The good news is you may be eligible for the lowest possible life insurance rates even if you have high blood pressure.
Alternatively, if you have untreated high blood pressure, you may receive more expensive rates, since the insurance company will view this as a higher risk.
Life insurance terms you should know
Beneficiaries: The people you name on your life insurance policy to receive the lump sum of money — also known as the death benefit — when you die.
Cash value: The portion of a permanent life insurance policy’s monetary value that grows tax-deferred over the life of the policy.
Death benefit: The amount of money the life insurance company will pay your beneficiaries when you die.
Face amount: The dollar amount, or death benefit, your beneficiaries receive if you die while your life insurance policy is active.
Insured: The person who is covered by the insurance policy.
Policy: The legal document that includes the terms and conditions of your life insurance contract.
Policyholder: The person who owns an insurance policy. Usually, this is the same person as the insured.
Permanent life insurance: A type of life insurance that lasts for the rest of your life and usually includes a cash value account.
Premium: The amount you pay your insurance company to keep your coverage active. Premiums are typically paid monthly or annually.
Riders: Add-ons to a life insurance policy that provide more robust coverage, sometimes for an extra cost.
Term life insurance: A life insurance policy that lasts for a set number of years before it expires. If you die before the term is up, your beneficiaries receive a death benefit.
Underwriting: The process where an insurance company evaluates the risk of insuring you and determines your final rate.
What is considered high blood pressure for life insurance purposes?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly half of U.S. adults have hypertension — blood pressure that is higher than normal. [1] Having hypertension is considered an insurance risk because, if left untreated, it can lead to complications like heart disease, stroke, and kidney disease. [2]
Many life insurance companies consider high blood pressure as a systolic reading over 135 and a diastolic reading over 85.
Others consider high blood pressure as a systolic reading over 130 and a diastolic reading over 80.
The impact of your blood pressure reading on your life insurance application will depend on additional risk factors, like your age and overall health, and the insurer you choose.
What factors impact life insurance for people with high blood pressure?
When you apply for coverage, the insurance company will want to learn details about your health and lifestyle in order to assess your insurance risk — a process known as underwriting. Based on this information, you’ll be assigned a health classification. The fewer risk factors you present, the better your health classification will be — and the lower your rates.
If you have a history of high blood pressure, prepare to answer questions such as:
When were you first diagnosed with high blood pressure?
Have you ever experienced any complications due to your blood pressure?
What medications are you taking for your blood pressure, if any, and what is the dosage?
What is your current blood pressure and when was it last measured?
How often do you measure your blood pressure?
Here’s a breakdown of how key factors like your age of diagnosis, symptoms, and treatment are evaluated during underwriting.
Age of diagnosis
The older you were when you first received your high blood pressure diagnosis, the less it will have an impact on your life insurance premiums. In fact, if you’re 50 years old or older, you may be able to get lower-than-average rates — depending on the severity of your condition.
Additionally, your hypertension may have a greater impact on your rates, regardless of your age, if it was diagnosed less than two years ago.
Severity of symptoms
Your blood pressure reading is made up of two sets of numbers: systolic (upper number on a blood pressure reading) and diastolic (lower number on a blood pressure reading). The following blood pressure numbers from the American Heart Association are broken down by category, ranging from Normal to Crisis.
Category | Systolic | Diastolic | |
|---|---|---|---|
Normal | Under 120 | and | Under 80 |
Elevated | 120-129 | and | Under 80 |
High (hypertension) Stage 1 | 130-139 | or | 80-89 |
High (hypertension) Stage 2 | 140 or higher | or | 90 or higher |
Crisis | Over 180 | and/or | Over 120 |
Source: American Heart Association.
Someone with numbers in the elevated or high stage 1 range is more likely to qualify for lower-than-average rates than someone in the high stage 2 range. Someone in the crisis range may be declined coverage altogether.
Some life insurance companies could request medical records going back up to 10 years to better understand your health history and blood pressure readings.
Treatment plan
Your insurer will likely ask which blood pressure medications you take to manage your condition. With a treatment plan, you could be considered lower risk than someone who hasn’t made any changes to control their symptoms.
Additionally, you might be asked questions related to your lifestyle that might have an impact on your blood pressure.
What does your diet look like?
How much caffeine do you consume?
Do you smoke?
Do you drink?
Do you exercise?
How do you manage stress?
Your answers to these questions can give the agent working on your application a more complete understanding of how well you’re managing your condition.
Don’t be too concerned if you’re shopping for life insurance with a high blood pressure diagnosis. Some people will pay higher rates, but you’ll likely qualify for affordable premiums if your blood pressure is well-managed.
Shop around with multiple insurers with a licensed broker to ensure you’re getting the best policy. A policycentral agent can help you find the right options for your unique needs.
Best life insurance options for people with high blood pressure
The best type of life insurance for you will depend on your budget and coverage needs. The two types of policies most people choose from are term and whole life insurance.
Term life insurance
Term life insurance is one of the most popular and affordable types of life insurance available on the market. It lasts as long as you need to cover your biggest financial responsibilities, like raising children or paying down a mortgage — for most people, that’s between 10 and 30 years.
In most cases, if you have high blood pressure, you’ll still be able to get affordable term life insurance rates.
Whole life insurance
Whole life insurance is a type of permanent coverage that doesn’t expire and comes with a cash value component that can be used as an investment vehicle. Whole life is generally a good fit best for high earners, people with long-term financial obligations, and people with dependents that require lifelong care.
Similar to term life, in most cases, as long as you disclose it during your application for whole life insurance, having high blood pressure won’t impact your ability to get coverage.
Best life insurance companies for people with have high blood pressure
We used industry data, pricing from policycentral carrier partners, and ratings from third parties like AM Best and J.D. Power to pick the best insurers on the market. Our independent recommendations will help you get life insurance coverage with confidence.
Methodology
Why you can trust our picks
Our recommendations are based on internal and external expert analysis, as well as our policycentral Life Insurance Price Index, which uses real-time data from leading life insurance companies to determine pricing trends. When reviewing a life insurance company, our editorial team uses a proprietary scoring rubric with five factors — price, policy details, financial strength, transparency, and customer experience — to assign an unbiased rating between one and five stars. These ratings are also taken into consideration as part of our company recommendations. We don’t get paid for our reviews.
Our reviews and recommendations can help you find a reliable insurer for your family’s financial protection, but the best life insurance company for you depends on multiple factors. A licensed agent at policycentral can support you during the application process to ensure you get the right coverage for your circumstances at the most competitive price.
Best overall life insurance if you have high blood pressure: Legal & General America
2024 policycentral award winner
Legal & General America
4.9
30+ year terms
All 50 states
No-medical-exam option
Why we chose it
Legal & General America, which also does business as Banner Life and William Penn, has some of the longest term lengths — up to 40 years — and most competitive life insurance rates available, even for people with a history of medical conditions.
Pros and cons
Pros
Competitive rates for a variety of health conditions
Fast instant-decision option for qualifying applicants
Variety of term lengths up to 40 years
Cons
Application underwriting can take longer than average
Does not have the most competitive rates for older applicants
Our analysis found that Legal & General America, which also does business as Banner Life and William Penn, is the best life insurance option for people with hypertension. If your blood pressure is under 135/85 with or without treatment, you may be eligible for the lowest rates, usually reserved for people in excellent health. If your blood pressure is under 140/90 with or without treatment, you may be eligible for the next best rates, usually reserved for those in very good health or with minor health conditions.
Cheapest life insurance if you have high blood pressure: Protective
Protective
4.8
30+ year terms
Why we chose it
Protective has some of the most affordable and comprehensive life insurance options available.
Pros and cons
Pros
Competitive rates for all ages and health classifications
Good for people with mental health conditions, kidney conditions, and some cancers, including prostate cancer
Term lengths up to 40 years
Cons
Not available in New York
Not great for people who have had bankruptcy, marijuana users, or visa holders
Limited no-medical-exam policy options
Similar to Legal & General America, Protective offers cheap premiums across many health classifications and is very flexible when it comes to offering coverage to people with high blood pressure. You can be eligible for rates usually reserved for people in excellent health if you’re under the age of 60 with a blood pressure reading below 135/85, with treatment.
Best term life insurance if you have high blood pressure: Corebridge Financial
2024 policycentral award winner
Corebridge Financial
4.6
30+ year terms
All 50 states
Why we chose it
With competitive pricing and a range of flexible term periods for its Select-a-Term product, Corebridge is a solid option for many life insurance shoppers. Note: We are currently using AIG’s financial strength ratings until Corebridge has its own rating.
Pros and cons
Pros
Competitive pricing for all ages
Favorable underwriting for people with heart conditions and diabetes
Good for current and recently pregnant people, including people with gestational diabetes
Cons
Not the best for people with mental health conditions, including anxiety and depression
No no-medical-exam term option
Corebridge Financial (formerly AIG Life & Retirement) has similar blood pressure guidelines as Legal & General America — people with blood pressure under 135/85, with or without treatment, can be eligible for the best rates, usually reserved for people in excellent health. Depending on your age, you can get rates usually reserved for people in very good health or with minor health conditions if your blood pressure is between 140/85 and 155/90, with or without treatment.
If you’re older, having higher blood pressure won’t disqualify you from having access to the best rates with Corebridge, as long as you’re managing your condition. The company also has a faster average turnaround time than some of its competitors, which can help get your application approved faster even if you have to take the medical exam that’s a standard part of the application process.
Best whole life insurance if you have high blood pressure: MassMutual
2024 policycentral award winner
MassMutual
4.9
All 50 states
Why we chose it
MassMutual’s whole life insurance plan provides a lifetime coverage option that builds cash value with the potential to earn dividends.
Pros and cons
Pros
Strong financial stability ratings
Higher potential for dividends for whole life policyholders than many competitors
Good customer satisfaction ratings
Cons
High term life premiums
Term life not available through Policygenius
MassMutual is a mutually owned company, which means policyholders have the chance to earn dividends. This makes it a solid option if you’re shopping for whole life insurance.
MassMutual’s guidelines around high blood pressure are similar to other insurers — as long as your condition is well-managed, it generally won’t have a significant impact on your rates.
Best no-medical-exam life insurance if you have high blood pressure: Brighthouse Financial
2024 policycentral award winner
Brighthouse Financial
5.0
No-medical-exam option
Why we chose it
Brighthouse Financial offers competitive rates, comprehensive coverage, and application decisions in as little as 24 hours, making it a great choice for people who want to get life insurance coverage without having to take the medical exam.
Pros and cons
Pros
Extremely affordable
Instant-decision applications
Best-in-class no-exam option
Cons
Traditional term life not available in CA, IL, LA, ME, or NY
Term life applicants limited to ages 25-50
Brighthouse Financial offers a no-medical-exam that allows people with few risk factors to skip the medical exam and complete an online health interview instead. Even if you have high blood pressure, as long as it’s controlled with up to one medication, you can even apply for instant-approval coverage — a type of policy that allows you to get approved the same day you apply.
Comparing the best life insurance companies for people with high blood pressure
Insurer | policycentral rating | Best for | AM Best rating | |
5.0/5 ★ | No-exam | A | ||
4.9/5 ★ | Overall | A+ | ||
4.9/5 ★ | Whole life insurance | A++ | ||
4.8/5 ★ | Affordability | A+ | ||
4.6/5 ★ | Term life insurance | A |
Learn more about the best life insurance companies of 2024
How much does life insurance cost if you have high blood pressure?
A 50-year-old non-smoking female with well-managed hypertension in otherwise excellent health can expect to pay less than $64 per month for a 20-year term life insurance policy with a $500,000 payout. A 50-year-old non-smoking male with a similar health profile can expect to pay less than $82 per month for the same coverage.
Cheapest 20-year term life insurance rates for people with well-managed high blood pressure
If you have moderately high blood pressure but your condition is well-managed, many life insurance companies may offer you their lowest possible rates, like those shown below.
Age | Gender | Non-smoker | Smoker |
20 | Female | $18.54 | $60.59 |
Male | $23.66 | $76.43 | |
30 | Female | $18.90 | $65.75 |
Male | $22.59 | $80.95 | |
40 | Female | $28.73 | $113.40 |
Male | $34.27 | $145.39 | |
50 | Female | $63.71 | $257.05 |
Male | $81.71 | $351.50 | |
60 | Female | $169.25 | $617.51 |
Male | $234.59 | $887.93 |
Methodology: Average monthly rates are calculated for male and female smokers and non-smokers in Preferred Plus and Preferred Smoker health classifications obtaining a 20-year, $500,000 term life insurance policy. Life insurance averages are based on a composite of policies offered by policycentral from Brighthouse Financial, Corebridge Financial, Legal & General America, Lincoln Financial, Mutual of Omaha, Pacific Life, Protective, Prudential, and Transamerica, and the policycentral Life Insurance Price Index, which uses real-time data from leading life insurance companies to determine pricing trends. Rates may vary by insurer, term, coverage amount, health class, and state. Not all policies are available in all states. Rate illustration valid as of 05/01/2024.
Lower-than-average 20-year term life insurance rates for people with high blood pressure
If your blood pressure reading is higher than 135/85, you may still be eligible for rates usually reserved for people in very good health or with minor health conditions, like those shown below.
Age | Gender | Non-smoker | Smoker |
20 | Female | $22.65 | $60.59 |
Male | $30.20 | $76.43 | |
30 | Female | $22.98 | $65.75 |
Male | $29.32 | $80.95 | |
40 | Female | $35.27 | $113.40 |
Male | $42.94 | $145.39 | |
50 | Female | $78.29 | $257.05 |
Male | $102.50 | $351.50 | |
60 | Female | $194.16 | $617.51 |
Male | $268.04 | $887.93 |
Methodology: Average monthly rates are calculated for male and female smokers and non-smokers in Preferred and Preferred Smoker health classifications obtaining a 20-year, $500,000 term life insurance policy. Life insurance averages are based on a composite of policies offered by policycentral from Brighthouse Financial, Corebridge Financial, Legal & General America, Lincoln Financial, Mutual of Omaha, Pacific Life, Protective, Prudential, and Transamerica, and the policycentral Life Insurance Price Index, which uses real-time data from leading life insurance companies to determine pricing trends. Rates may vary by insurer, term, coverage amount, health class, and state. Not all policies are available in all states. Rate illustration valid as of 05/01/2024.
20-year term life insurance rates for people with a complicated high blood pressure history
If you’ve been recently diagnosed with high blood pressure, if you were diagnosed at a young age, or if you’ve had inconsistent blood pressure readings, you may see average rates, usually reserved for people with mild-to-moderate health conditions, like those shown below.
Age | Gender | Non-smoker | Smoker |
20 | Female | $33.82 | $74.34 |
Male | $42.64 | $102.27 | |
30 | Female | $34.41 | $83.92 |
Male | $43.11 | $110.73 | |
40 | Female | $53.51 | $150.37 |
Male | $67.19 | $201.96 | |
50 | Female | $121.88 | $350.72 |
Male | $156.80 | $477.29 | |
60 | Female | $292.85 | $805.79 |
Male | $408.84 | $1,110.30 |
Methodology: Average monthly rates are calculated for male and female smokers and non-smokers in Standard and Standard Smoker health classifications obtaining a 20-year, $500,000 term life insurance policy. Life insurance averages are based on a composite of policies offered by policycentral from Brighthouse Financial, Corebridge Financial, Legal & General America, Lincoln Financial, Mutual of Omaha, Pacific Life, Protective, Prudential, and Transamerica, and the policycentral Life Insurance Price Index, which uses real-time data from leading life insurance companies to determine pricing trends. Rates may vary by insurer, term, coverage amount, health class, and state. Not all policies are available in all states. Rate illustration valid as of 05/01/2024.
How to buy life insurance if you have high blood pressure
It’s fairly simple to buy life insurance even if you have high blood pressure.
You’ll need to disclose your condition on your health questionnaire and list any medications as well as your recent blood pressure readings.
Next, you may take a medical exam, which is a very common part of the life insurance application process. The medical exam is similar to an annual physical and can be conducted by an examiner in your home or office. It takes about 30 minutes and is covered by the life insurance company.
Some companies don’t require a medical exam for people in above-average health, including some people with high blood pressure. This means you may answer a few additional health questions over the phone or online instead of taking the exam.
You’ll then wait for the insurer to review your application and extend a final offer, which can take up to a couple of weeks — but the entire application process can take up to six weeks on average.
Once underwriting is complete and you have a final rate, you can accept your offer and pay your first premium. Your policy will now become active and your coverage will go into effect.
What happens if your high blood pressure gets worse?
If your blood pressure gets higher after you’ve purchased your policy, your rates won’t change. A benefit of buying life insurance early is that once your policy goes into effect, your rates will remain the same for the duration of your coverage, as long as you continue to pay your premiums.
Can your life insurance policy be canceled after you develop high blood pressure?
No, the life insurance company can’t cancel your policy once it becomes active as long as you pay your premiums. However, in rare cases of insurance fraud — for example, if you lied or misrepresented yourself during the application process — the insurance company has the right to withhold the death benefit.
Life insurance options if you’re denied coverage
If you’re declined for traditional life insurance coverage due to your blood pressure, you can look to other types of policies that usually don’t require you to take a medical exam or answer as many questions about your health history for approval. Options include guaranteed issue life insurance and burial insurance.
Guaranteed issue life insurance is a type of permanent coverage that’s best for people between age 45 and 85 and those who can’t qualify for a standard policy due to a serious medical condition or terminal illness. Application acceptance is near-guaranteed.
Final expense insurance, also known as burial insurance, is a type of permanent policy designed to pay a small death benefit to your family to help cover end-of-life expenses. It’s best for people over the age of 45 who have trouble qualifying for traditional coverage or have serious health conditions.
Alternatively, you can consult a doctor for a treatment plan that can help you lower your blood pressure. Showing one year’s history of improved blood pressure readings before submitting another application can help you get approved for standard life insurance.
Other health concerns that can affect your life insurance
Certain pre-existing conditions and other health-related concerns can affect your life insurance options or costs. A policycentral expert can help you find the right policy for your needs.
Mental health issues such as depression or anxiety
