Best life insurance companies for people with high blood pressure in 2022

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If you have high blood pressure, it’s easier than you might think to get the life insurance you need at a price that fits your budget. 

Life insurance companies take a holistic view of your health and lifestyle to set your policy premiums. With the proper diet and medication, having high blood pressure won’t prevent you from getting affordable life insurance — many insurers will consider you for their best rates even if you have hypertension. Learn how providers evaluate your high blood pressure and which details impact your rates. 

The best life insurance companies for people with high blood pressure

Most Policygenius partner life insurance companies offer their most affordable rates to people under age 50 with blood pressure readings consistently at or below 135/85 (considered stage 1 hypertension).

AIG, Banner, and Protective each offer their lowest rates to people with moderately high blood pressure up to age 60, with or without treatment.

Brighthouse may offer competitive rates to people taking up to one medication with a blood pressure reading below 180/100.

Other factors, such as your treatment plan, age, exact blood pressure reading, and health history will impact your rates. You’ll find the best policy by working with an independent broker or agent to compare quotes from multiple insurance companies.

What factors impact life insurance for people with high blood pressure?

During life insurance underwriting, you’re assigned a health classification based on your health and lifestyle. The riskier your health, the higher your premiums.

High blood pressure can cause health issues like heart disease, stroke, and kidney disease. [1] If you have 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 how key factors like your age of diagnosis, symptoms, and treatment are evaluated:

Age of diagnosis

Generally, the younger you are the lower your rates will be. But how old you were when you were first diagnosed with high blood pressure also affects your premiums. 

If you have had high blood pressure your entire life, you may be evaluated differently than if you’ve developed this condition in the last year due to stressful circumstances.

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. [2]

Someone with numbers in the Elevated or High - Stage 1 range is more likely to qualify for lower rates than someone in the High - Stage 2 range. Someone in the Crisis range may be declined coverage. 

Some life insurance companies could request medical records up to 10 years in the past to do a more thorough evaluation.

Treatment plan

Your provider 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. 

In addition to questions about medication, you might be asked:

• 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 underwriter a more complete understanding of how well you’re managing your blood pressure.

Don’t be too concerned if you’re shopping for life insurance with a high blood pressure diagnosis. Some people will pay higher life insurance rates, but you may qualify for competitive premiums if your blood pressure is well-managed. Shop around with multiple providers with a licensed broker to ensure you’re getting the best policy.