Having high blood pressure won’t disqualify you from getting life insurance, but your rates will depend on your blood pressure reading, whether your condition is being treated, and other health factors. The good news is you may be eligible for the lowest possible life insurance rates even if you have high blood pressure.
Can you get life insurance if you have high blood pressure?
You can still get life insurance with high blood pressure, and your chances of getting the most affordable rates will increase if your condition is being treated. Depending on your blood pressure reading, age, and treatment plan, insurers may even offer you the lowest possible premiums for your demographic.
Alternatively, if you have untreated high blood pressure, you may receive more expensive rates, since the insurance company will view this as a higher risk.
What do insurance companies consider high blood pressure?
Life insurance companies typically consider high blood pressure as a systolic reading over 135 and a diastolic reading over 85. Some companies consider high blood pressure a systolic reading over 130 and a diastolic reading over 80 — it will depend on the specific insurer.
If you have high or elevated blood pressure, an independent broker can help direct you to the company that is best for your specific health circumstances. At Policygenius, our experts are licensed in all 50 states and can walk you through the entire life insurance buying process while offering transparent, unbiased advice.
Best companies for life insurance if you have high blood pressure
We used industry data, pricing from Policygenius carrier partners, and third-party ratings like A.M. Best and J.D. Power to pick the best insurers on the market. Our independent recommendations will help you get life insurance coverage with confidence.
Best overall: Banner Life
Cheapest: Protective
Best term life insurance: Corebridge Financial
Best whole life insurance: MassMutual
Best no-medical-exam life insurance: Brighthouse Financial
Methodology: How we chose the best companies for people with high blood pressure
We don't get paid for our company reviews and use an extensive rubric of criteria covering policy details, price, financial confidence, third-party ratings, and customer experience to assign unbiased ratings out of five stars. Any recommendations we make are based on internal and external expert opinions and data from our Policygenius Price Index, which uses real-time rate data from leading life insurance companies to determine pricing trends. Our ratings and reviews can help point you to an insurer you can rely on for your family’s financial protection, but the best life insurance company for you is dependent on multiple factors. A licensed agent at Policygenius can work with you through the application process so you’re getting coverage from the best insurer for your circumstances at the most competitive price.
Best overall life insurance if you have high blood pressure
2023 Policygenius award winner
Banner Life
4.9
30+ year terms
All 50 states
No-medical-exam option
Why we chose it
Banner Life has some of the longest term lengths — up to 40 years — and most competitive life insurance rates available, even for people with a history of medical conditions.
Pros and cons
Pros
Competitive rates for a variety of health conditions
Fast instant-decision option for qualifying applicants
Variety of term lengths up to 40 years
Cons
Application underwriting can take longer than average
Does not have the most competitive rates for older applicants
Banner Life is an A+ A.M. Best-rated company that offers some of the best rates to many people with high blood pressure. If your blood pressure is under 135/85 with or without treatment, you may be eligible for rates usually reserved for people with excellent health. If your blood pressure is under 140/90 with or without treatment, you may be eligible for the next best rates, usually reserved for those in very good health or with minor health conditions.
Banner Life also offers a no-medical-exam application option in case you want to get approved faster and are eligible to skip the medical exam that’s a standard part of the life insurance application process.
Cheapest life insurance if you have high blood pressure
Protective
4.8
30+ year terms
Why we chose it
Protective has some of the most affordable and comprehensive life insurance options available.
Pros and cons
Pros
Competitive rates for all ages and health classifications
Good for people with mental health conditions, kidney conditions, and some cancers, including prostate cancer
Term lengths up to 40 years
Cons
Not available in New York
Not great for people who have had bankruptcy, marijuana users, or visa holders
No no-medical-exam policy options
Similar to Banner Life, Protective offers cheap premiums across many health classifications and has favorable guidelines for blood pressure. You can be eligible for rates usually reserved for people in excellent health if you’re under the age of 60 with a blood pressure reading below 135/85, with treatment.
Best term life insurance if you have high blood pressure
2023 Policygenius award winner
Corebridge Financial
4.6
30+ year terms
All 50 states
Why we chose it
With competitive pricing and a range of flexible term periods for its Select-a-Term product, Corebridge is a solid option for many life insurance shoppers. Note: We are currently using AIG’s financial strength ratings until Corebridge has its own rating..
Pros and cons
Pros
Competitive pricing for all ages
Favorable underwriting for people with heart conditions and diabetes
Good for current and recently pregnant people, including people with gestational diabetes
Cons
Not the best for people with mental health conditions, including anxiety and depression
No no-medical-exam term option
Corebridge Financial (formerly AIG Life & Retirement) has similar blood pressure guidelines as Banner Life — people with blood pressure under 135/85, with or without treatment, can be eligible for the best rates, usually reserved for people in excellent health. Depending on your age, you can get rates usually reserved for people in very good health or with minor health conditions if your blood pressure is between 140/85 and 155/90, with or without treatment.
If you’re older, having higher blood pressure won’t disqualify you from having access to the best rates with Corebridge, as long as you’re managing your condition. The company also has a faster average turnaround time than some of its competitors, which can help get your application approved faster even if you have to take the medical exam.
Best whole life insurance if you have high blood pressure
2023 Policygenius award winner
MassMutual
4.9
All 50 states
Why we chose it
MassMutual’s whole life insurance plan provides a lifetime coverage option that builds cash value with the potential to earn dividends.
Pros and cons
Pros
Strong financial stability ratings
Higher potential for dividends for whole life policyholders than many competitors
Good customer satisfaction ratings
Cons
High term life premiums
Term life not available through Policygenius
MassMutual is a mutually owned company, which means policyholders have the chance to earn dividends. This makes it a solid option for whole life insurance, a type of permanent life insurance that never expires and comes with a cash value component that earns tax-free interest over time.
Whole life is five to 15 times more expensive than term life insurance, which is the most common type of coverage for most people because it’s affordable, straightforward, and lasts only for as long as you need it. Whole is usually best suited for high-net-worth individuals or people with long-term financial obligations.
MassMutual’s guidelines around high blood pressure are similar to other insurers — as long as your condition is well-managed, it generally won’t have a significant impact on your rates.
Best no-medical-exam life insurance if you have high blood pressure
2023 Policygenius award winner
Brighthouse Financial
5.0
No-medical-exam option
Why we chose it
Brighthouse Financial offers competitive rates, comprehensive coverage, and application decisions in as little as 24 hours, making it a great choice for people who want to get life insurance coverage without having to take the medical exam.
Pros and cons
Pros
Extremely affordable
Instant-decision applications
Best-in-class no-exam option
Cons
Traditional term life not available in CA, IL, LA, ME, or NY
Term life applicants limited to ages 25-50
Brighthouse offers a no-medical-exam option for those who can qualify, and a seamless online application process. Even if you have high blood pressure, as long as it’s controlled with up to one medication, you can even apply for instant-approval coverage.
How much does life insurance cost if you have high blood pressure?
Some companies require treatment to offer their lowest prices, but others don’t, as long as your blood pressure reading is within a certain window. Age will also play a part in setting your rates. In general, the older you are, the higher your blood pressure reading can be without prohibiting you from getting the lowest rates.
For instance, if you’re in your 60s, you’re eligible for the lowest rates with some carriers as long as your blood pressure reading is below 140/85.
Each life insurance company has their own guidelines regarding blood pressure readings and age, so it’s best to work with an independent broker to find out exactly where you fall.
20-year term life insurance rates for people with well-managed high blood pressure
If you have moderately high blood pressure but your condition is well-managed, many life insurance companies may offer you their lowest possible rates, like those shown below.
Age | Gender | Non-smoker | Smoker |
25 | Female | $17.64 | $59.74 |
Male | $21.42 | $75.47 | |
35 | Female | $20.84 | $80.33 |
Male | $24.65 | $96.21 | |
45 | Female | $41.35 | $168.87 |
Male | $51.73 | $227.38 | |
55 | Female | $95.52 | $379.88 |
Male | $130.72 | $540.52 | |
65 | Female | $316.89 | $1,018.13 |
Male | $433.37 | $1,416.31 |
Methodology: Sample monthly rates are based on a $500,000, 20-year term life insurance policy for non-smokers in a Preferred Plus health classification and for smokers in a Preferred Smoker health classification; quotes based on data from Policygenius partner insurance companies including Banner Life, Brighthouse Financial, Corebridge Financial, Lincoln Financial, Mutual of Omaha, Pacific Life, Protective, Prudential, and Transamerica, and may vary by carrier, term, coverage amount, health class, and state. Not all policies are available in all states. Rate illustration valid as of 07/01/2023.
20-year term life insurance rates for people with blood pressure higher than 135/85
If your blood pressure reading is higher than 135/85, you may still be eligible for rates usually reserved for people in very good health or with minor health conditions, like those shown below.
Age | Gender | Non-smoker | Smoker |
25 | Female | $20.92 | $59.74 |
Male | $26.98 | $75.47 | |
35 | Female | $25.56 | $80.33 |
Male | $30.52 | $96.21 | |
45 | Female | $48.14 | $168.87 |
Male | $61.19 | $227.38 | |
55 | Female | $110.51 | $379.88 |
Male | $152.65 | $540.52 | |
65 | Female | $369.23 | $1,018.13 |
Male | $504.24 | $1,416.31 |
Methodology: Sample monthly rates are based on a $500,000, 20-year term life insurance policy for non-smokers in a Preferred health classification and for smokers in a Preferred Smoker health classification; quotes based on data from Policygenius partner insurance companies including Banner Life, Brighthouse Financial, Corebridge Financial, Lincoln Financial, Mutual of Omaha, Pacific Life, Protective, Prudential, and Transamerica, and may vary by carrier, term, coverage amount, health class, and state. Not all policies are available in all states. Rate illustration valid as of 07/01/2023.
20-year term life insurance rates for people with a complicated high blood pressure history
If you’ve been recently diagnosed with high blood pressure, if you were diagnosed at a young age, or if you’ve had inconsistent blood pressure readings, you may see rates usually reserved for people with a complicated family health history, like those shown below.
Age | Gender | Non-smoker | Smoker |
25 | Female | $31.92 | $76.80 |
Male | $38.88 | $101.17 | |
35 | Female | $38.19 | $104.96 |
Male | $46.35 | $131.24 | |
45 | Female | $77.40 | $229.33 |
Male | $96.98 | $306.45 | |
55 | Female | $171.51 | $506.05 |
Male | $241.85 | $706.15 | |
65 | Female | $522.68 | $1,362.13 |
Male | $778.94 | $1,675.69 |
Methodology: Sample monthly rates are based on a $500,000, 20-year term life insurance policy for non-smokers in a Standard health classification and for smokers in a Standard Smoker health classification; quotes based on data from Policygenius partner insurance companies including Banner Life, Brighthouse Financial, Corebridge Financial, Lincoln Financial, Mutual of Omaha, Pacific Life, Protective, Prudential, and Transamerica, and may vary by carrier, term, coverage amount, health class, and state. Not all policies are available in all states. Rate illustration valid as of 07/01/2023.
How to buy life insurance if you have high blood pressure
It’s fairly simple to buy life insurance even if you have high blood pressure.
You’ll need to disclose your condition on your health questionnaire and list any medications as well as your recent blood pressure readings.
Next, you may take a medical exam, which is a very common part of the life insurance application process.
Some companies don’t require a medical exam for people in above-average health, including some people with high blood pressure. This means you may answer a few additional health questions over the phone or online instead of taking the exam.
You’ll then wait for the insurer to review your application and extend a final offer, which can take up to a couple of weeks. Once underwriting is complete and you have a final rate, you can accept your offer and pay your first premium to put the policy in force.
Term life insurance
Term life insurance is one of the most popular and affordable types of life insurance available on the market. It lasts as long as you need to cover your financial responsibilities, like raising children or paying down a mortgage — for most people, that’s between 10 and 40 years.
In most cases, if you have high blood pressure, you’ll still be able to get affordable term life insurance rates. The insurance company will just ask you a few questions about your health history, as they would with any other health condition, including medication details and your recent blood pressure reading.
Permanent life insurance
Permanent life insurance lasts your entire life and is best suited for people with more complex estate planning needs or specific financial circumstances such as lifelong dependents. It’s about five to 15 times more expensive than term policies on average.
Similar to term, as long as you disclose it during your application for permanent life insurance, having high blood pressure won’t impact your ability to get coverage in most cases.
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.
Untreated, high blood pressure can lead to complications 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.
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.
Category | Systolic | Diastolic | |
|---|---|---|---|
Normal | Under 120 | and | Under 80 |
Elevated | 120-129 | and | Under 80 |
High (hypertension) Stage 1 | 130-139 | or | 80-89 |
High (hypertension) Stage 2 | 140 or higher | or | 90 or higher |
Crisis | Over 180 | and/or | Over 120 |
Source: American Heart Association.
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 altogether.
Some life insurance companies could request medical records going back up to 10 years to better understand your health history and blood pressure readings.
Treatment plan
Your insurer 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 agent working on your application 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'll likely qualify for 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.
At Policygenius, our experts are specially trained to offer life insurance advice to people with various health considerations, including high blood pressure. They'll help you find the right options for your unique needs.
What happens if my high blood pressure gets worse?
If your blood pressure gets higher after you’ve purchased your policy, your rates won’t change. A benefit to buying life insurance early is that once you put your policy in force, your rates will remain the same until the end of the term, as long as you continue to pay your premiums.
Can your life insurance policy be canceled after you develop high blood pressure?
No, the life insurance company cannot cancel your policy once it’s in force as long as you pay your premiums. However, in rare cases of insurance fraud, the insurance company has the right to withhold the death benefit.
Life insurance options if you’re denied coverage
If you’re denied coverage due to your blood pressure, you can look to other forms of life insurance that usually don’t require you to take a medical exam or answer questions about your health history for approval. Options include guaranteed issue life insurance and burial insurance.
Guaranteed issue is a type of permanent coverage that's best for people between age 45 and 80 and those who can’t qualify for a standard policy due to a serious medical condition or terminal illness. Application acceptance is near-guaranteed.
Burial insurance, also known as final expense insurance, is a type of life insurance designed to pay a small death benefit to your family to help cover end-of-life expenses. It’s best for people over the age of 45 who have trouble qualifying for traditional coverage or have serious health conditions.
Alternatively, you can consult a doctor for a treatment plan that can help you lower your blood pressure. Showing one year’s history of improved blood pressure readings before submitting another application can help you get approved for standard life insurance.
Other health concerns that can affect your life insurance
Certain pre-existing conditions and other health-related concerns can affect your life insurance options or costs. A Policygenius expert can help you find the right policy for your needs.
Mental health issues such as depression or anxiety
Frequently asked questions
Will you be denied life insurance if you have high blood pressure?
Most often, you won’t be denied life insurance if you have high blood pressure. If your blood pressure is very high — for example, over 185/100 — you may be denied coverage or offered a higher rate.
Is life insurance more expensive with high blood pressure?
You might pay more for life insurance if you have blood pressure consistently higher than 140/90, but in many cases, you can still qualify for affordable rates. Speaking with a licensed agent can help determine how much you can expect to pay.
Is high blood pressure considered heart disease for insurance?
No, life insurance companies don’t consider high blood pressure a heart disease, although it can increase your risk for heart disease in the future. However, if your blood pressure is very high or not under treatment, it can affect your life insurance eligibility options and rates.
Can I get life insurance with high blood pressure and diabetes?
In many cases, you can get life insurance with high blood pressure and diabetes. Your approval options and rates will come down to the type of diabetes you have, the age of onset of your conditions, and how each one is managed. An independent broker like Policygenius can help you explore your coverage options — since each insurance company treats each health condition differently, some of them might offer you better rates for the same condition than others.
