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A pre-existing medical condition can drive up premiums
Pre-existing medical conditions are not a strange phenomenon in Australia. Especially if you have a critical illness or disability that you have recovered from which gives you more reason to find life cover that protects your loved ones financially. Most policies will cover up to 50 various medical conditions, but they also include cover for top medical conditions such as:
- Strokes
- Cancer
- Heart attacks
If you have a pre-existing medical condition and you are already on the search for a policy that will cover you, you will soon realise how tricky it is to find cover. The chances of you securing a policy can result in higher premiums due to the level of risk an insurer rates you based on your health. Unfortunately, there is a possibility that the more severe your medical condition is the less likely it is for you to find an insurer who will be willing to offer you a quote. Therefore, it is essential to get life cover at a young age whilst you are still healthy, or the illness has not developed to a critical stage.
There is a silver lining
It is not all doom and gloom when it comes to finding a cover that acknowledges your pre-existing medical condition and is willing to cover you. You can try shopping around for covers that are specifically designed to take care of people with your medical condition without compromising your family’s future financial stability. However, it is advisable that you carefully analyse the features of your policy to ensure that there are no surprises down the road. You can speak to your insurer about the clauses that come with a policy to get a better understanding of what might make your policy void or delay the payment when you have passed on.
You could be requested to undergo a medical examination
Insurers work on an individual basis and look at a variety of factors, particularly your health, to determine an adequate cover for you. Due to the nature of your medical condition, there will be a possibility that you would be requested to undergo a medical examination. You could also be requested to provide your own and your family’s medical history to better asses the level of cover that you will need. However, this will only be done with your consent. No insurer can access your medical files without your approval. When providing any information that will be requested from you, it will be to your benefit to be honest. Lying is considered a fraudulent activity and can also make your cover void.
Some policies might come with an exclusion
It is important to know that no insurer is allowed to discriminate against you based on your illness and disability. However, you could get a policy that has exclusions due to the level of risk that an insurer might place you at.
Policies that come with exclusions could include what is known as a ‘loaded’ premium, which basically mean you pay an increased rate to cover the increased risk. This is likely to increase with the severity of the condition. Policies without exclusions means that the more severe your condition is the more likely it will be that you will be able to find a regular cover.
Finding a life insurance policy that covers you is important no matter what condition you have. You can speak to a friendly insurer who will be able to assist you in protecting your loved one’s financial future.
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This guide provides general information and does not consider your individual needs, finances or objectives. We do not make any recommendation or suggestion about which product is best for you based on your specific situation and we do not compare all companies in the market, or all products offered by all companies. It’s always important to consider whether professional financial, legal or taxation advice is appropriate for you before choosing or purchasing a financial product.
The content on our website is produced by experts in the field of finance and reviewed as part of our editorial guidelines. We endeavour to keep all information across our site updated with accurate information.
Savvy is partnered with Compare Club Australia Pty Ltd (AFS representative number 001279036) of Alternative Media Pty Ltd (AFS License number 486326) to provide readers with a variety of life insurance policies to compare. Savvy earns a commission from Compare Club each time a customer buys a life insurance policy via our website. We don’t arrange for products to be purchased from these brands directly, as all purchases are conducted via Compare Club.
Savvy does not compare all life insurance policies or providers currently operating in the market. Any advice presented above or on other pages is general in nature and doesn’t consider your personal or business objectives, needs or finances. It’s always important to consider whether advice is suitable for you before purchasing an insurance policy.
For any further information on the variety of insurers compared by Compare Club or how their business works, you can read their Financial Services Guide.
