Living with high blood pressure? The thought of your life insurance rates might be making it rise even more.
According to the American Heart Association, an estimated 103 million adults across the country have high blood pressure, also known as hypertension. That’s nearly half of all U.S. adults. If you’re one of them, we have good news: You can still get life insurance, and it may even be more affordable than you expect.
Here’s what you need to know about life insurance for hypertension.
Can I get life insurance with high blood pressure?
Having a medical condition like high blood pressure can impact your ability to get covered and the price you’ll pay for a policy.
When you buy life insurance, you’re signing a contract with your provider for a certain coverage amount. If you die while your policy is active, your beneficiaries get a cash payout to spend on bills, debts, savings, or whatever else they wish. Since life insurance providers are insuring your life, your health plays a big part in the approval process, and preexisting conditions like high blood pressure can impact your life insurance rates.
High blood pressure occurs when blood moves through your vessels at a higher-than-normal rate, putting consistent pressure on the vessel walls. It can affect your heart’s ability to operate efficiently and send blood to your vital organs. High blood pressure doesn’t have many specific symptoms, so it’s hard to detect unless you get your numbers checked periodically.
The real danger of hypertension – why it affects your policy rates – is that it can cause a number of other health complications. Strokes and heart disease remain leading causes of death in the U.S, and often result from high blood pressure. If left untreated, high blood pressure can also cause kidney failure and aneurysms.
That said, you can still be eligible for life insurance, even if you have a history of high blood pressure. When life insurance companies review your application, they’ll consider factors like:
- Your age at diagnosis
- The severity of your condition
- Your treatment plan and medications
- How well-controlled your condition is
If you apply for term life insurance with Fidelity Life that requires a medical exam, the exam will include a blood pressure test. The test typically looks at two sets of numbers, systolic and diastolic, to give you a complete reading. If you have a history of hypertension, our exam will include two additional readings to get a clearer picture of your blood pressure.
If you’re concerned about how your blood pressure reading could affect your ability to get covered, consider some lifestyle changes before you apply so you can lower your blood pressure. Adjusting your diet, cutting down on caffeine and alcohol, quitting smoking, and exercising can all help you manage symptoms and improve your condition.
Even if you have high blood pressure, don’t put off getting covered to try to improve your numbers. The older you are, the higher your rates become, and you also run the risk of developing a condition that could prevent you from qualifying.
Applying for life insurance with high blood pressure
Still have questions? At Fidelity Life, we’re committed to supporting you every step of the way. Our team is there to help guide you through the life insurance process, so you can get the protection you need. Contact us to speak with one of our agents or start your online quote today.
At Fidelity Life, our goal is to make life insurance simple, affordable, and understandable for everyday families. This content is intended for educational purposes only. Each post is carefully fact-checked, reviewed, and updated regularly to ensure the information is as relevant as possible.
