Life insurance for high blood pressure is more achievable—and often more affordable—than most people think. While hypertension is a common risk factor that insurers pay close attention to, well-controlled blood pressure with good follow-up care can still qualify for competitive pricing. The key is applying with a carrier that understands your history, medications, and overall health picture instead of judging you on a single high reading.

At Diversified Insurance Brokers, we specialize in life insurance with pre-existing conditions, including elevated blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, and related cardiovascular risks. We help you position your history clearly, avoid companies that over-penalize hypertension, and compare offers from multiple insurers so you’re not stuck with the first rating that shows up.

Can You Get Life Insurance with High Blood Pressure?

In most cases, yes. Hypertension is one of the most common health issues underwriters see. Carriers know that many people manage it successfully with medication, diet, and regular checkups. If your blood pressure is controlled—and you don’t have serious complications such as prior heart attack, stroke, or significant kidney disease—there is a strong chance you can secure coverage at a reasonable rate.

The more stable and well-documented your numbers are, the better. Underwriters are trying to answer three basic questions:

1) How high were your readings at their worst? 2) How well-controlled are they today? 3) Are there any related risk factors, such as smoking, obesity, or diabetes? When those answers look favorable, hypertension often becomes a manageable risk instead of a deal-breaker.

What Counts as “High” Blood Pressure for Life Insurance?

Each company sets its own blood pressure guidelines for preferred, standard, and substandard (table-rated) pricing. Some carriers are more tolerant of elevated readings, especially for older ages. Others are stricter and may downgrade you for readings that another insurer is willing to overlook.

Many underwriters care less about one or two isolated office spikes and more about your overall pattern. Home BP logs, recent readings at your primary care doctor, and consistent medications can all help paint a more accurate picture than a single exam on a stressful day. This is especially important if you’ve ever been told you have “white coat” hypertension.

Because each insurer weighs this risk differently, working with an independent broker who knows which carriers are friendlier toward hypertension is critical. Our team regularly places coverage for clients whose blood pressure has been elevated for years—but well controlled with medication and routine follow-up.

How Underwriters Evaluate High Blood Pressure

When you apply for coverage, underwriters look at several pieces of information together rather than blood pressure alone. This includes your age, build, medications, family history, and any other diagnoses such as elevated cholesterol or type 2 diabetes. They also review medical records from your doctor, and in many cases they will see your readings over several years—not just the day of the exam.

Beyond the numbers, carriers also care about how engaged you are in your own care. Seeing regular checkups, medication adherence, and improvements over time often leads to better outcomes than inconsistent treatment or long gaps in follow-up. If your hypertension is newly diagnosed and you are still experimenting with doses, we may recommend applying with a company that is more flexible during that transition or timing your application when your readings show stable control.

Policy Types to Consider with High Blood Pressure

You have several policy options, even with hypertension. Term life insurance is usually the most affordable way to protect income and family obligations, while permanent coverage can be used for estate planning, business planning, or final expenses. You can also layer different types of policies to match short-term and long-term needs.

Many clients with hypertension start by comparing fully underwritten term life policies with simpler options. Fully underwritten coverage—often paired with a quick paramed exam—usually offers the most competitive pricing if your blood pressure and overall health are controlled. For some situations, especially if there are multiple health conditions, we may also look at simplified-issue or guaranteed-issue coverage for smaller amounts, such as burial insurance for people with high blood pressure.

How Much Does Life Insurance Cost with High Blood Pressure?

Your premium depends on age, coverage amount, term length, underwriting class, and other health factors. A person in their 40s with well-controlled hypertension, a healthy weight, and no serious complications might still qualify for competitive rates that are only slightly higher than someone with perfectly “ideal” blood pressure. Older applicants, or those with added risks such as smoking or diabetes, can expect higher premiums and sometimes table ratings—but coverage is still often available.

The best way to understand your options is to compare real numbers. That’s why we include a quick life insurance quote tool below. Use it to see how different coverage amounts and terms impact cost, then we can fine-tune based on a deeper review of your blood pressure history and medical records.

Estimate Your Life Insurance Cost

Use our online tool to see how affordable coverage can be—even if you’ve been treated for high blood pressure.

Ways to Improve Your Offer Before Applying

There are several smart steps you can take—often in just a few weeks or months—to present a stronger underwriting picture. Consistent home BP readings can help document control, especially when office readings run higher. If your doctor recently adjusted medication doses, allow time for those changes to take effect so your newest readings look stable before you complete an exam.

It also helps to make sure your other risk factors are in good shape. Underwriters look favorably on nonsmokers with improved weight, better cholesterol, and a healthy lifestyle. If you have other conditions such as sleep apnea or elevated liver enzymes, we may recommend addressing those in parallel and structuring your application to emphasize recent improvements. For some clients, we’ll layer in additional planning—such as using advanced life insurance strategies for higher coverage needs when health history is more complex.

What Documentation Will Carriers Request?

Expect carriers to order medical records from your primary care physician and any specialists involved in your care. They will review office visits, medication lists, diagnostic testing, and follow-up recommendations. A typical paramed exam includes blood pressure readings, height and weight, a simple blood draw, and a urine sample. If you already have recent labs, those can sometimes help support the underwriter’s risk assessment.

The more prepared you are, the smoother the process. We often encourage clients to keep a short log of home readings and to make sure their medication list is accurate and up-to-date. If your doctor has recently commented that your blood pressure is well-controlled, that note in your chart can go a long way toward a better underwriting outcome.

When to Consider Burial or Final Expense Coverage

If your health history includes multiple risk factors in addition to high blood pressure—such as prior heart attack, advanced kidney disease, or major complications—traditional underwritten coverage may be difficult or expensive. In those situations, final expense policies and specialized burial plans can still provide meaningful protection for loved ones.

For example, our page on burial insurance for people with high blood pressure covers how smaller coverage amounts can be structured to pay for funeral costs, outstanding bills, and modest debts. While premiums per thousand of coverage are higher than standard term life, these policies can be invaluable when other options are limited.

Coordinating Employer Coverage with Individual Policies

Many people with hypertension already have some coverage through work, especially if they participate in a group plan. Employer life insurance is often easier to qualify for regardless of health but may not follow you if you change jobs. Group coverage also rarely offers enough protection to fully replace income or cover long-term obligations, which is why many of our clients supplement their employer plan with individual policies.

If you’re considering transitioning from employer coverage to an individual policy, or you’re weighing whether to convert group life insurance into permanent coverage, we can help you compare those options against new coverage in today’s market. Our guide on converting term to permanent life insurance explains how conversion features can be used strategically when health has changed.

Why Work with an Independent High-Risk Life Insurance Specialist

When you have high blood pressure, it’s important not to let a single carrier’s decision define your options. One company may decline or heavily rate a case that another insurer is comfortable approving at a much better price. That’s why independent brokerage access to multiple carriers is so valuable—especially for clients with complex histories or multiple conditions.

At Diversified Insurance Brokers, high-risk life insurance is a core focus. We routinely help clients with hypertension, elevated cholesterol, diabetes, and other risk factors get coverage in place. Our team reviews your full situation—including family history, medications, lab results, and existing protection—and then targets the carriers most likely to view your profile favorably. We also coordinate life insurance with other planning tools such as annuities and long-term care, drawing on resources like our term life insurance calculator and our articles on whether life insurance is a good investment for your broader goals.

How to Get Started

The first step is a simple conversation. We’ll ask about your most recent readings, medications, any hospitalizations, and your broader goals for coverage. From there, we’ll recommend either a fully underwritten application, a simplified-issue option, or a mix of both depending on your age, coverage needs, and comfort level. In some cases, we might suggest adjusting the timing of your application to capture better readings or updated labs.

Every case is different, but you don’t have to navigate it alone. By partnering with a team that understands high blood pressure underwriting—and that works with many different carriers—you can turn a potentially intimidating process into a clear, step-by-step plan to protect your family.

Take the Next Step

If you’re living with high blood pressure and want to protect your loved ones, our advisors are here to help you secure the right coverage at a fair price.

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Related Reading

• Burial Insurance for People with High Blood Pressure
• Life Insurance with Pre-Existing Conditions
• Term Life Insurance Calculator
• Group vs. Individual Life Insurance
• Is Life Insurance a Good Investment?