Life Insurance with High Blood Pressure
If you have high blood pressure and are afraid that you can’t get affordable life insurance, we have good news for you. Not only can you still get life insurance if you have high blood pressure, but in some cases you can even qualify for the best health rating. It will really come down to how well you are managing your blood pressure and if it is coupled with any other health issues. The key to getting the best rate for life insurance with high blood pressure is finding the company that will view your particular case most favorably. Here is what you need to know about life insurance with high blood pressure.
Facts About High Blood Pressure
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 70 million America adults (29%) suffer from high blood pressure and only about half of these people have their high blood pressure under control. Blood pressure is the force of blood pushing against the walls of your arteries, which carry blood from your heart to other parts of your body. If your blood pressure stays elevated for extended periods of time, it could lead to many health problems. High blood pressure is often called the “silent killer” because it often shows no warning signs. It can increase the risk for heart disease and stroke, the two leading causes of death in the U.S. The good news is that high blood pressure can be controlled with simple lifestyle changes and medication.
How Life Insurance Companies Underwrite High Blood Pressure
Every company has its own underwriting guidelines when it comes to high blood pressure. Insurance companies are very interested in whether or not you are controlling your high blood pressure. Maintenance and control tells the insurance company that you are taking your high blood pressure seriously. When it comes to high blood pressure, important factors in determining your health rating will focus on the following:
Recent blood pressure readings
Date of diagnosis
Medications taken
Maintenance – Are you following your doctor’s orders for treatment?
Other health issues
Depending on the severity of your high blood pressure, the life insurance company will most likely want to review your medical records to take a look at past blood pressure readings and to see if you are compliant with treatment. High blood pressure can be a function of tobacco use, excessive drinking, poor diet, obesity or hereditary factors. The insurance company will look out for other related health issues that could have possibly lead to your high cholesterol. They will also look to see if your blood pressure might be impacting your overall health. High blood pressure coupled with other health issues could easily push you into a substandard rating.
Blood Pressure level and Health Ratings
Since blood pressure can lead to more serious issues such as heart disease or stroke, some companies are very strict on underwriting applicants with high blood pressure. The good news is that there are some companies out there that are a bit more lenient when underwriting applicants with high blood pressure. Although each insurance company has its own criteria for underwriting applicants with high blood pressure, here are some general guidelines as to the health ratings you could expect for various blood pressure readings. This is assuming that there are no other major health issues present.
Blood Pressure ReadingHealth Rating
135/85 Preferred Plus (some companies will allow treatment)
140/90 Preferred (treatment is allowed)
145/90 Standard Plus (treatment is allowed)
150/90 Standard (treatment is allowed)
There are insurance companies that will offer their best ratings to those who are keeping their blood pressure in check with medication. In most cases, it will be required that you’ve been compliant with your medication for a specified period of time with acceptable blood pressure readings. In other cases, extremely high blood pressure readings, high blood pressure that is being untreated or high blood pressure that is associated with serious cardiovascular disease could lead to a straight decline with certain companies.
Finding the Right Company
As we mentioned before, it is important to find the company that most favorably rates life insurance with blood pressure. For Instance, if you are controlling your blood pressure with medication, one of the first things to look for is an insurance company that will offer preferred best rates if you are on blood pressure medication. United of Omaha, Banner Life and John Hancock are just a few of the companies out there that will offer preferred best rating if your blood pressure is being controlled with medication. There are also companies out there that have separate blood pressure guidelines that are more liberal for older applicants. United of Omaha, American General, Prudential and Genworth are examples of companies that allow higher blood pressure readings for older applicants. An independent agent who has access to multiple insurance companies will be able to best shop your policy for the best rate on life insurance with high blood pressure.
Non- Medical Life Insurance Option for High Blood Pressure
If you’re not sure if you have high blood pressure and want to avoid the possibility of getting flagged on a fully underwritten policy, you might consider a no exam policy. You will not have to take a medical exam and in many cases you can get a decision quickly. It is important to note that no medical exam life insurance not only has lower coverage limits, but is also more expensive than fully underwritten insurance. It should only be used if fully underwritten coverage isn’t a viable option.
The Best Way to Get Life Insurance with High Blood Pressure
If you have high blood pressure and you need life insurance, don’t go it alone. We will gather all of the necessary information about your particular case and shop over 40 of the industry’s top companies to find you the best rate. We know which companies underwrite high blood pressure most favorably. If you have high blood pressure and need life insurance, give us a call today at 888-687-9444 or email us at info@archstoneagency.com and we will be happy to give you a complimentary review of your case.
About Us
Archstone Insurance Services, LLC is an independent agency that shops over 40 of the top life insurance carriers to provide huge savings on life insurance coverage for our clients. We are happy to answer any questions you might have about any of the insurance products we offer, your planning needs or your existing coverage. Feel free to call us directly at (888) 687-9444 or email us at info@archstoneagency.com.
