What the application asks
Insurers want to know when your doctor first diagnosed high blood pressure, also called hypertension, and what your most recent readings were. Many application forms ask for the date and result of your last check, so it helps to look it up on your NHS app or ask your surgery.
They will also ask about treatment. Some people manage their pressure through diet and exercise, others take one tablet, and some need two or three different medicines. The number of medicines can matter, as it gives a sense of how hard your pressure has been to bring down.
- Date of diagnosis
- Your latest readings and when they were taken
- Names and number of medicines you take
- Whether your doctor has checked your heart or kidneys
- Cholesterol, weight and smoking status
Control matters more than the label
An underwriter looks at the full trend. Pressure that sits within your target on medication, checked regularly, is a different risk from pressure that stays high despite treatment. Someone who was diagnosed a few years ago and has had steady readings since often gets a good result.
The insurer also looks at what comes with it. High blood pressure together with raised cholesterol, diabetes, smoking or a high BMI adds up to a bigger risk to the heart. On its own and well treated, it is a condition insurers see every day.
Outcomes you might be offered
If your pressure is controlled and you have no related problems, several insurers may offer standard terms. Readings that are borderline or a recent diagnosis can lead to a modest loading. Pressure that remains high, or signs of strain on the heart or kidneys, can push the premium up further.
Critical illness cover looks at the same facts with an eye on heart attack and stroke, so terms there can be less generous than for life cover. If you are part way through finding the right medication, an insurer may postpone until your readings settle. Each insurer reaches its own decision.
Be open about your readings
It can be tempting to quote your best reading rather than your typical one. Give the figures the form asks for, as accurately as you can. If the insurer asks your GP for a report and it shows something different, they may question the application or reduce a later claim.
If you have been told your pressure is a bit high but you are not on treatment, mention it where the question covers it. White coat readings taken at a stressful appointment can be explained, and your adviser can help you word that clearly.
Things that can help your terms
Your blood pressure reading is a snapshot, and the insurer wants a fair one. Keep up with your regular checks so your GP has recent figures on file. If you measure at home, keep a record, as your GP may already use those readings to judge your control.
The other heart risk factors count too. Not smoking, keeping cholesterol in check and staying at a healthy weight help the underwriter see a lower risk. If your doctor has just changed your tablets, consider waiting until your readings settle before you apply.
If you were diagnosed after taking out an existing policy, you do not usually need to tell your insurer, because most life policies are fixed at the start. Changes between applying and the start date are different, and you must tell the insurer about those. Check your policy wording or ask us if you are unsure.
How Hi Tomorrow helps
We know which insurers on our panel take a reasonable view of treated hypertension and which add loadings more readily. With your readings and medication in front of us, we can usually tell you where to apply first and what to expect.
If an insurer asks for a nurse visit, we can help arrange it. Try to keep to your usual routine on the day and take your medication as normal. Once an offer comes back, we explain it and, if it is not right, look at other insurers.