Compare + more

🔥 Join the 12,000+ families who have found the right policy for them Get started →

Home › Critical Illness Cover › Pre-Existing Conditions
🏥 Critical Illness Cover

Critical Illness Cover with Pre-Existing Conditions

Over 15 million people in the UK live with a long-term health condition. Most can still get critical illness cover, often with an exclusion rather than a decline. A specialist broker finds the right insurer for your medical history.

  • Most conditions covered
  • Free & no obligation advice
  • Specialist broker access
  • Whole of market comparison
Compare Critical Illness Cover →
Family protected by critical illness cover despite pre-existing health conditions
12,000+
Customers
£5/mo
Plans From
60s
Assessment
4.9★
Online Rating
📋 Get your quote

Find out what you'd pay in 60 seconds

Answer a few simple questions about your health and circumstances. A specialist adviser will compare critical illness cover options from every major UK insurer, even with pre-existing conditions.

Can You Get Critical Illness Cover with Pre-Existing Conditions?

Yes, and the answer is more positive than most people expect. The majority of applicants with pre-existing health conditions can still get critical illness cover in the UK. The key is understanding how insurers assess your medical history and finding the right insurer for your specific situation.

When you apply for critical illness cover with a pre-existing condition, insurers will typically respond in one of four ways:

  • Standard terms, your condition is minor or well-managed enough that the insurer offers cover at the normal price with no restrictions.
  • Exclusion, the insurer covers you for all specified critical illnesses except those related to your existing condition. This is the most common outcome.
  • Premium loading, you pay a higher monthly premium to account for the additional risk, but your condition remains covered under the policy.
  • Decline, the insurer declines to offer cover. This is relatively uncommon for most conditions, and another insurer may still say yes.
Key fact: Critical illness cover is harder to obtain with pre-existing conditions than life insurance. This is because CIC specifically insures against the risk of developing a serious illness, so your existing health history is directly relevant to the risk being covered. However, most people still get cover with adjustments.

The crucial point is that insurer approaches vary enormously. One insurer might decline you for a condition that another insurer would cover with a simple exclusion. This is why using a specialist broker with whole-of-market access is not just helpful, it is essential. For a thorough overview, read our guide to critical illness cover with pre-existing conditions.

Underwriting Outcomes

Typical Outcomes by Condition Type

How insurers typically respond to common pre-existing conditions. Remember: each insurer is different, so whole-of-market comparison is essential.

ConditionStandard TermsExclusionLoadingDecline
High blood pressure (controlled)PossibleCommonSometimesRare
Asthma (mild/moderate)CommonSometimesRareVery rare
Type 2 diabetes (well-controlled)RareCommonCommonSometimes
Type 1 diabetesVery rareSometimesCommonSometimes
Depression/anxiety (managed)PossibleSometimesSometimesRare
Cancer (in remission 5+ years)Very rareCommonSometimesSometimes
Multiple conditionsRareSometimesSometimesPossible

Outcomes are indicative and vary significantly between insurers. A specialist broker will identify the best insurer for your specific circumstances.

Important: Never assume you will be declined. Insurer underwriting criteria differ enormously, one insurer's decline is often another insurer's exclusion. A whole-of-market broker can make the difference between getting cover and going without. Learn more about how critical illness cover works.
Common Conditions

Your Condition, Your Options

Here is what you can typically expect for the most common pre-existing conditions when applying for critical illness cover.

💉

Diabetes (Type 1 & Type 2)

Type 2 diabetes that is well-controlled with medication is routinely covered with an exclusion for diabetes-related claims. Type 1 is more challenging but specialist insurers can often help. HbA1c levels, duration, and complications all matter.

Exclusion or loading typical
❤️

High Blood Pressure

Hypertension is one of the most commonly disclosed conditions. If your blood pressure is well-controlled with medication, most insurers will offer cover with standard terms or a small loading. Uncontrolled hypertension may require stabilisation first.

Standard terms or small loading
🌬️

Asthma

Mild to moderate asthma is one of the easiest conditions to get covered. Most insurers offer standard terms if your asthma is well-managed with inhalers and you have not been hospitalised. Severe or brittle asthma may attract a small loading.

Standard terms very common
🧠

Depression & Mental Health

Depression and anxiety are among the most commonly declared conditions. If well-managed and you have not been hospitalised or had extended time off work, most insurers offer standard terms or a small loading. Severe ongoing conditions may face postponement.

Usually standard or small loading
🏥

Cancer History (In Remission)

A previous cancer diagnosis is one of the harder conditions for CIC, but it is not impossible. Most insurers require 5 to 10 years of remission depending on the type and stage. After this period, cover with a cancer exclusion or loading may be available.

Possible after remission period
📋

Multiple Conditions

Having more than one pre-existing condition makes getting CIC more challenging, but it does not make it impossible. Each condition is assessed individually and the combined picture determines the outcome. A specialist broker is especially valuable here.

Specialist broker essential

Have a pre-existing condition? A specialist broker can help.

Get matched with an FCA-regulated adviser who knows which insurers are most lenient for your specific health history. Free, no obligation.

Get a Free Quote →
Costs Explained

How Much Does CIC Cost with Pre-Existing Conditions?

The cost depends on your condition, its severity, and how each insurer assesses your risk. Here is a typical comparison for £100,000 cover over 20 years.

£25–£40/mo
With Exclusion
Your existing condition is excluded from cover. You still get protection against all other specified critical illnesses at a competitive price.
£35–£65/mo
With Premium Loading
You pay more, but your pre-existing condition remains covered under the policy. The loading typically adds 25% to 100% to the standard premium.
Worth knowing: An exclusion does not usually increase your premium at all, you simply have a condition excluded from your cover. If budget is a concern, an exclusion-based policy can be an affordable way to get meaningful critical illness protection. See our full guide to critical illness cover costs.

Prices vary by up to 40% between insurers for the same condition. A whole-of-market comparison ensures you are not paying more than you need to, and that you are getting the best terms available for your health history.

Simple Process

How It Works

1

Tell us about yourself

Quick questions about your life and health. Done in 60 seconds.

2

You evaluate quotes

Compare benefits and cover from every major insurer.

3

You decide

Pick a policy yourself, or let one of our advisers help.

Real Reviews

What Our Customers Say

James P.
James P.
Manchester • CIC with Type 2 Diabetes
★★★★★
“Thought I'd be declined”

I was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes three years ago and assumed critical illness cover was off the table. My adviser found an insurer who covered me with a diabetes exclusion at a really reasonable price. Still protected against cancer, heart attack, stroke, everything else.

Sarah H.
Sarah H.
Leeds • CIC with High Blood Pressure
★★★★★
“Standard terms despite hypertension”

I have been on blood pressure medication for five years. I expected it to be a problem, but my adviser found an insurer who offered me standard terms with no exclusions at all. The whole process took about 20 minutes from start to finish.

David W.
David W.
Bristol • CIC after Cancer Remission
★★★★★
“Cover I didn't think was possible”

Six years after my cancer treatment, I assumed no insurer would touch me. My broker tried three different insurers and got me cover with a cancer exclusion and a small loading. It is not cheap, but having that protection means everything to my family.

Emma T.
Emma T.
Birmingham • CIC with Asthma
★★★★★
“Asthma was not an issue at all”

I have had moderate asthma since childhood and was convinced it would make CIC difficult. My adviser got me £120,000 of cover at standard rates with no exclusions whatsoever. I was genuinely surprised at how straightforward it was.

Robert K.
Robert K.
Glasgow • CIC with Depression History
★★★★★
“My mental health history didn't hold me back”

I had been on antidepressants for two years and feared the worst. My broker knew exactly which insurers were sympathetic and got me £80,000 of cover with just a small premium loading. No mental health exclusion either. Really impressed with the service.

Claire M.
Claire M.
Edinburgh • CIC with Multiple Conditions
★★★★★
“Two conditions and still got covered”

With both high cholesterol and a thyroid condition, I thought I would be uninsurable. My adviser tried five different insurers and found one who offered me £100,000 of cover with only a cholesterol exclusion. Having that safety net for my family is a huge weight off my shoulders.

Learn More

Related Guides

Explore our in-depth guides to critical illness cover and pre-existing conditions.

CIC with Pre-Existing Conditions

Complete guide to your options

What Is Critical Illness Cover?

How CIC works explained

Conditions Covered by CIC

Full list of covered illnesses

CIC vs Life Insurance

Key differences explained

How Much Does CIC Cost?

UK pricing breakdown

Is CIC Worth It?

Weighing up the pros and cons
Got Questions?

Critical Illness Cover & Pre-Existing Conditions: FAQs

Yes, most people with pre-existing conditions can get critical illness cover. The most common outcome is an exclusion, where your existing condition is excluded from the policy but all other critical illnesses are still covered. Some conditions may result in a premium loading (higher cost) rather than an exclusion. Outright decline is relatively uncommon for most conditions.
Common conditions that affect CIC applications include diabetes (Type 1 and Type 2), high blood pressure, asthma, depression and anxiety, heart conditions, and a history of cancer. Each insurer assesses these conditions differently, which is why comparing the whole market through a specialist broker is essential.
Yes, critical illness cover is generally harder to obtain with pre-existing conditions than life insurance. This is because CIC specifically insures against the risk of developing a serious illness, so an existing health condition is directly relevant to the risk being covered. Life insurance only pays on death, so insurers are often more lenient with health conditions.
An exclusion means a specific condition or group of related conditions will not be covered by your policy. For example, if you have Type 2 diabetes, an insurer might exclude diabetes-related claims but still cover you for cancer, heart attack, stroke, and all other specified illnesses. You still get valuable protection, just not for the excluded condition.
A premium loading means you pay a higher monthly premium to account for the increased risk your condition presents. Unlike an exclusion, a loading means your condition is still covered, you just pay more for that coverage. Some people prefer a loading to an exclusion because they retain full cover.
Yes, many people with diabetes can get critical illness cover. Type 2 diabetes that is well-controlled is more straightforward, most insurers will offer cover with an exclusion for diabetes-related conditions or a premium loading. Type 1 diabetes is harder but not impossible. Insurers will look at your HbA1c levels, how long you have had the condition, and whether you have any complications.
Cancer history is one of the more difficult pre-existing conditions for CIC, but it is not impossible. Most insurers require a period of remission, typically 5 to 10 years depending on the type and stage of cancer. After this period, some insurers will offer cover with a cancer exclusion or a premium loading. A specialist broker can identify which insurers are most sympathetic.
Yes. Depression and anxiety are among the most common conditions disclosed on CIC applications. If your condition is well-managed and you have not been hospitalised, most insurers will offer standard terms or a small premium loading. Severe or ongoing mental health conditions may result in a temporary postponement until your condition stabilises.
Each insurer uses its own underwriting criteria and risk assessment models. One insurer might exclude a condition while another applies a loading, and a third might offer standard terms. This is why whole-of-market comparison through a specialist broker is critical, the difference between insurers can be the difference between getting cover and being declined.
Yes, you must declare all pre-existing conditions honestly and fully. Failure to disclose a relevant condition is called non-disclosure and can result in your claim being rejected when you need it most. Insurers have access to your medical records via your GP, so undisclosed conditions are very likely to be discovered at claim stage. Always be completely honest.
Yes, high blood pressure (hypertension) is one of the most commonly disclosed conditions and most insurers will offer cover. If your blood pressure is well-controlled with medication, many insurers will offer standard terms or a small loading. Uncontrolled or very high blood pressure may result in a postponement until it is better managed.
Having multiple conditions makes getting CIC more challenging, but it is not always a barrier. Each condition is assessed individually, and the combined picture determines the outcome. A specialist broker is particularly valuable in these cases, as they can identify insurers who are most favourable for your specific combination of conditions.
Yes, a specialist broker who has whole-of-market access is strongly recommended for anyone with pre-existing conditions. They know which insurers are most lenient for specific conditions, can present your application in the best possible light, and can often negotiate better terms on your behalf. Going directly to a single insurer means you only get one answer, a broker gives you access to all of them.
The additional cost depends on the condition, its severity, and the insurer. A premium loading might add 25% to 100% or more to a standard premium. However, an exclusion typically does not increase the cost at all, you simply have a condition excluded from cover. Comparing the whole market ensures you find the most competitive terms for your situation.
If you fail to disclose a pre-existing condition (known as non-disclosure), the insurer may void your policy entirely or refuse to pay a claim. In serious cases, they may treat it as fraud. Always be completely honest on your application, even if you think the condition is minor or irrelevant. A good broker will help you present your medical history accurately and favourably.

Have a Health Condition? Get Covered.

It takes 60 seconds. It costs nothing to check.

Compare Critical Illness Cover →

12,000+ families protected • Rated 4.9★ online • Specialist broker access