How to Buy Life Insurance With High Blood Pressure

How to Apply for Life Insurance With High Blood Pressure & Secure the Best Rates in [2022]

Applying for the best life insurance with high blood pressure is not complicated. It is a simple process with the right companies and a good agent. Did you know that over 70 million adults in the United States have high blood pressure? This breaks down to around 29% of all adult Americans with this condition.

Even though this is a widespread condition, life insurance companies consider it an additional risk factor they must feel.

Using the most applicable companies for this widespread condition is critical. If your high blood pressure is under control, you may qualify for preferred rates with the right companies. So let’s dive in and learn how to apply for life insurance and receive the best rates step-by-step.

 

 

What Life Insurance Companies Are the Best for High Blood Pressure?

Here are some of the best life insurance companies for high blood pressure, among other medical conditions. Remember that every applicant is different, and the best company for one person may not be the best for another.

We pre-screen our clients to correctly choose the most applicable company that will offer them the lowest rates. Life insurance is not a one size fits all product.

• Prudential
• Liberty Mutual
• AIG American General
• Banner Life
• Protective Life
• Transamerica

We work with over 40 companies and know from experience that these six carriers are applicant-friendly to people with hypertension.

 

Can You Get Life Insurance With High Blood Pressure?

The question of whether you can get life insurance with high blood pressure always comes up, and the answer is usually yes, as long as your pressure readings are stable and within the recommended limits. You can apply and be approved for life insurance with excellent rates even though you use blood pressure medication daily.

The main concept is keeping your blood pressure within limits using the medicine. If you have hypertension and do not use medication, that can be a problem. 

 

Can High Blood Pressure Affect Your Rates?

In a short answer, yes, it does. All life insurance companies pay special attention to high blood pressure, also known as Hypertension. The carriers look for regular blood pressure readings that are stable and do not excessively fluctuate from day to day.

When they find that excellent safe blood pressure readings are not apparent, a red flag goes up in the underwriting department. The higher your blood pressure condition, the higher your rates could become. Conversely, a severe condition can trigger a decline in your application.

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Most applicants do not receive a rate increase due to having hypertension as long as their blood pressure is controllable.

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Best Types of Life Insurance With High Blood Pressure

Term Insurance (temporary):

Two types of life insurance for high blood pressure are temporary and permanent. The first type is the Term Life insurance plan designs which are the quick plan designs. These policies cover the insured for a specific time stated in the policy contract. These term periods usually range from 10 years, 15 years, 20 years, 25 years, and 30 years.

An excellent company from Maryland called Banner Life now offers 35-year and 40-year term policies. This works out great for people looking for long-term periods and younger applicants.

 

Universal Life (permanent):

The second type of life insurance with high blood pressure would be the permanent life insurance plan designs such as universal and whole life. Universal life insurance will last the entire lifetime of the individual covered under the policy. It costs about 3-4 times as much as a term, but it can be bundled with a term to create an excellent life insurance portfolio.

Whole life insurance is not cost-effective, and many companies have dropped it from their product lines. Whole life costs about ten times as much as term plans. The cash build-up feature is what drives up the cost of the premium.

*Here is a list of the four most common types of life insurance for high blood pressure. Click on the links below to learn more:

• Term Life Insurance
• Universal Life Insurance 
• No Medical Exam Life Insurance 
• Return of Premium Life Insurance 

 

Can I Buy Life Insurance Without Taking a Medical Exam? 

Yes, you sure can, and you have a great choice of companies to choose from too. Many people want to buy life insurance but dread taking a medical exam. The blood test is usually the part people dislike, preventing people from applying.

If you are one of those people, you can stop worrying now because there is another way. No Medical Exam life insurance may be just the right plan design for you, and these plans can have approval times in 24-48 hours which is a fraction of the fully underwritten plans.

 

What Are the Risk Factors of High Blood Pressure?

The most critical issue is the excessive blood pressure placed on arterial walls caused by hypertension. These high-pressure readings can and eventually will damage blood vessels and internal organs. The higher the blood pressure and the longer it goes on being untreated is a recipe for life-threatening damage in time.

If high blood pressure is left untreated, it can lead to risk factors such as:

Heart Attacks or Possible Stroke:

High blood pressure can thicken and harden the artery walls, leading to fatal heart attacks or massive strokes.

Dementia:

Narrowed or partially blocked arteries can constrict and significantly limit blood flow to the brain. The result can become a case of dementia leading to a specific type of dementia (vascular dementia). A stroke interrupts blood flow to the brain and can also cause vascular dementia. A stroke can even cause this form of vascular dementia.

Thick, Torn, or Narrow Blood Vessels in the Eyes:

If your eye’s blood vessels are affected, it can cause partial or complete vision loss.

Aneurysms:

High blood pressure can cause your blood vessels to weaken and bulge out of shape, forming what is known as an aneurysm. The main problem is if an aneurysm ruptures, it can be fatal. Unfortunately, a person will often hemorrhage to death before they can get to a hospital.

Kidney Failure:

 Restricted blood flow to the kidneys caused by hypertension can cause kidney damage or complete failure, which is also life-threatening.

Memory and Comprehension Issues:

High blood pressure can also affect one’s ability to think, understand and remember. Many people with high blood pressure also experience a poor memory that worsens over time.

 

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Applying for life insurance with high blood pressure is different from years ago. Hypertension can be easily controlled with modern-day medication, and the carriers can issue preferred rates.

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Can Using High Blood Pressure Medication Affect My Rates?

Using high blood pressure medication is a plus. It shows the insurance companies that care about your health and want to lower your blood pressure. Anytime you apply for life insurance with high blood pressure. The companies will look closely at what prescription medications you are taking.

Also, the daily dosage is essential, even if you take medicine that keeps your readings at perfectly normal levels. One of the big questions they want answers to is how long has your blood pressure been under control.

The last issue they want to see is fluctuating high-pressure readings daily. Taking any form of medication will be taken into consideration by all the life insurance companies.

Here is an essential list of medications used for controlling high blood pressure.

These are the most common drugs they look for on your application.

• Diovan
• Bystolic
• Lisinopril
• Toprol
• Atenolol
• Metoprolol
• Hydrochlorothiazide
• Amlodipine

 

What Do the Insurance Company Underwriters Consider High Blood Pressure?

What is Considered Normal and What is Considered High?

A blood pressure reading is broken down into two different numbers.

• Systolic – This is the upper number which is the maximum pressure your heart exerts while beating.
• Diastolic – The lower number is the pressure in your arteries between beats.

A common question is what number is more important than the other. Much medical research has been done concerning this question, and it has been found that both numbers are equally important in good heart health.

For example, remember that most research has shown that a greater risk of stroke and heart-related disease can be linked to higher systolic pressures compared to increased diastolic pressures.

The Blood Pressure Guidelines Are as Follows:

• Normal – Systolic: 120 / Diastolic: 80
• Prehypertension – Systolic: 120-140 / Diastolic: 80-90
• Stage 1 Hypertension – Systolic: 145-160 / Diastolic: 90-99
• Stage 2 Hypertension – Systolic: 160-180 / Diastolic: 100-110
• Major Hypertension – Systolic: Over 180 / Diastolic: Over 110

The Symptoms of High Blood Pressure

Most people have no signs or symptoms, which is the tricky part. Even if pressure readings reach dangerously high levels, they don’t know it because there is no pain or discomfort. The worst part of this medical condition is you may never know you have it unless you are tested.

That is why it is essential to go to the doctor periodically. You can qualify for excellent rates by keeping your condition in check. Some people complain of headaches, shortness of breath, or even nosebleeds. However, these symptoms usually aren’t reached until a life-threatening stage is present.

This means the high blood pressure has escalated to an advanced stage. This is when the condition is at a dangerous point.

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The most important aspect of high blood pressure is there are no symptoms at all. You may feel perfectly normal, but your blood pressure may be dangerous. This is why annual visits to your doctor’s office are so necessary.

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When Should You See a Doctor?

Your blood pressure check should be the first step in your office visits to your doctor. Then, as the doctors should do, pressure checks on both arms. This is to see if there is any difference in pressure readings. Finally, your doctor will use the correct size cuff to fit your arm size properly.

Too small a cuff size can give a false reading of having this condition. If you’ve already been diagnosed, your doctor recommends more frequent examinations. An electronic pressure tester can be purchased for home use for less than $75.00. They are straightforward to use without any medical training required.

 

The Two Main Types of High Blood Pressure

Primary Hypertension:

For most people, there is no identifiable cause of high blood pressure. This type of condition is called primary hypertension, which usually develops through the years gradually.

Secondary Hypertension:

An underlying medical condition can be the second type of cause hypertension. This type is called secondary hypertension. Secondary hypertension tends to appear suddenly and cause a more advanced degree than primary hypertension. Some medications can cause secondary form hypertension from side effects including:

• Kidney problems
• Adrenal gland tumors
• Thyroid conditions
• Defects in blood vessels that you were born with.
• Medications include birth control pills, cold remedies, decongestants, pain relievers, and even prescription medications.
• Illegal drugs, such as cocaine and amphetamines, can create hypertension. 
• Drinking alcoholic beverages is usually in excess.

What Causes High Blood Pressure?

The following categories are some of the leading causes of high blood pressure. You will find that you have no control over some of these causes and others you can work with to try to improve and lower your blood pressure in the future.

Age:

The risk of this condition increases as you get older. Through early middle age, or about age 40, high blood pressure is more common to develop in men. Women will usually develop hypertension after age 60.

Family History:

High blood pressure tends to be passed along in family genes. Therefore, many people with hypertension also have hypertension in their parent’s health history.

Overweight & Obesity:

The more you weigh, the more blood you need to supply oxygen and nutrients to your tissues. Body fat is also required to be provided with blood flow. As the blood volume circulates through your blood vessels increases, so does the pressure on your artery walls. This pressure on the artery walls is hypertension.

Physical Activity:

People who are sedentary and inactive tend to have higher heart rates. The higher your heart rate, the harder your heart must work. This creates a more potent force on your arteries. Lack of physical activity also causes people to become overweight or obese. Exercising is excellent for your overall health and reduces your hypertension.

Tobacco Products:

Smoking or chewing tobacco immediately raises your blood pressure. The dangerous chemicals in tobacco, such as nicotine and tar, can damage the lining of your artery walls. This causes your arteries to narrow, increasing your pressure levels. Even inhaling secondhand smoke can increase amplify your condition.

Sodium Intake:

Too much sodium in your diet can cause your body to retain fluids. The added fluids magnify your hypertension condition. You may have to work hard to limit the salt in your system. This is because just about everything you eat has salt added to it.

Insufficient Vitamin D:

Too little vitamin D in your diet can lead to high blood pressure. Vitamin D may affect enzymes produced by your kidneys that directly impact your pressure readings.

Alcoholic Abuse:

Heavy drinking can damage your heart as time passes. Having more than two drinks a day may affect your pressure readings. Always drink in moderation.

Mental Stress:

High-stress levels can lead to a temporary increase in pressure. If you try to relax by eating more, using tobacco products, or drinking alcohol, you will only increase your problems.

Chronic Medical Conditions:

Chronic conditions also may increase your risk of high blood pressure, such as cardiovascular conditions, kidney disease, and diabetes.

Children Can Also Be at Risk of Hypertension 

Although this condition is by far most common in adults, children could also be at risk for a growing number of kids, poor lifestyle habits, such as an unhealthy diet, obesity, and lack of exercise. This can also contribute to higher than regular blood pressure readings.

The excessive pressure levels on your arterial walls caused by this condition can damage your blood vessels. This can also damage the vital organs in your body. The higher your pressure readings and the longer it goes uncontrolled, the greater the damage to your health.

Preparing For a Blood Pressure Test

Before your Para-med visit, ensure you do not drink coffee, tea, or any energy drink. Anything containing caffeine will elevate blood pressure test readings if a Para-med takes your blood pressure and finds high readings. Those results will go to the insurance company’s underwriting department to process. So your blood pressure might be expected. But the Para-med’s elevated reading is what they will work from.

This will cause nothing but complications with what should typically be a smooth sailing application process. At this point, you will have to prove that this elevated reading is not your average reading. Remember that life insurance companies adjust their health classifications to your hypertension severity level.

 

Questions the Carriers Will Ask When Applying for Life Insurance With High Blood Pressure

• Do you have a history of elevated pressure readings?
• Do you have a family history of high blood pressure?
• What prescription medications are you currently taking?
• What is your average blood pressure reading when tested?
• When was your last blood pressure test?

*These questions are essential so the medical underwriter knows what health classification to place you in. In addition, this will determine your final rates when your application has been completed.

Carriers Look Closely at Your Height and Weight

Being overweight usually always causes high blood pressure issues.

Height and weight will have a direct reflection on hypertension. Many overweight people have high blood pressure, which usually goes hand in hand. A medical underwriter will closely examine your most recent pressure readings.

As a result, they will also look at your long-term history with the condition. There are blood pressure readings that will decide what your status is as medical risk.

 

The Three Basic Health Classifications:

Standard Rate Class:

This generally requires a steady reading that does not exceed 150/90 controlled by medications. Readings may be higher for older age groups of those over 50 and 60 years of age.

Preferred Rate Class:

You may be considered a preferred risk if your readings are under 140/90 controlled by medication. Also, a reading of 150/90 without a prescription depends on the insurance carrier. This would entitle you to lower premiums than those in the Standard rate classification.

Preferred Best Rate Class:

If your blood pressure readings are under 140/90 and you are not on any medications. If you are not considered hypertension, you would be eligible for the lowest possible premium rate class.

 

What Are the Benefits of Working With an Independent Agent?

An independent insurance agent is also referred to as a broker. These agents, such as ourselves, work with all the top-rated insurance companies in the country. The independent agents, especially those specializing in life insurance, will know what company will be your best fit and offer you the lowest rates.

They do not work for insurance companies, so they always have your best interest in mind and not carriers like a captive agent such as a State Farm agent. When finding the lowest rates for people with health conditions, these brokers give you the best advantage of being approved with the lowest premiums possible.

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Time-consuming paper applications are now obsolete. You can now apply over the phone within 15 minutes and be approved within 24-48 hours without taking a medical exam!

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What Does Life Insurance Cost?

The cost of life insurance will depend on several categories to consider. For example, if you are interested in comparing life insurance quotes for high blood pressure, the severity of your condition needs to be known first. In addition, how well it is controlled by medication is a crucial factor the insurer’s underwriters will be looking at.

You can use our instant quoting system to compare life insurance quotes for high blood pressure from about 40 carriers. Use the preferred or standard plus rates in the health class drop-down menu if you have a mild condition or hypertension. If your case is more severe, you can use the standard rates in the drop-down menu. If you want to get your quotes easy, call us, and we will be happy to quote you right over the telephone.

Just keep in mind this is just speculation because an experienced agent needs to be consulted to know for sure. Here is a simple list of the underwriting categories I referred to above, depending on what type of policy and company you are applying with.

• Current Age
• Tobacco Use
• Medical Conditions
• Para-Med Exam
• Driving Record
• Parents Longevity
• Medical Records
• Height & Weight
• M.I.B. Report

*If this looks complicated, don’t worry because it’s not. Your agent does about 90% of the work in applying for life insurance. All you have to do is just answer a few questions using a simple telephone application.

 

What Is a Medical Pre-Screen?

When we oversee applicants applying for life insurance, we don’t want them to run into surprises. However, we also want them to receive the best rates during the application process. So we created a straightforward 5-minute medical pre-screen form that asks a few questions to understand their health history better and make sure we have them apply with the correct insurer.

The result is a smooth application process and securing the lowest premium possible.

In Conclusion

If you are planning on applying for life insurance with high blood pressure, call us for a free quote right over the phone. We can quickly point you in the right direction. You can also activate our website’s quote engine and instantly compare life insurance quotes from over 40 top companies.

You will then get an idea of the approximate cost for the plan design you are interested in. If you have any medical conditions, we can go over all your options with you before you apply. Many thanks for reading this blog post!

All the best,
Jack Venturi
708-334-6226

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If you have any questions about purchasing life insurance with high blood pressure, contact us today and let us help you with no cost or obligation. Remember that we are independent brokers and work for our clients, not insurance companies. Our job is to help you get the best policy and the lowest rates. You can also set up a time at your convenience to speak with us and get all your questions answered.

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