Life Insurance for High-Risk Individuals: The Complete Guide

What Makes You High-Risk?

In life insurance underwriting, “high-risk” simply means you have factors that increase your statistical likelihood of filing a claim. This doesn’t mean you’re uninsurable — it means you need to find the right carrier.

Common high-risk factors include:

• Health conditions: Diabetes, heart disease, cancer history, sleep apnea, depression, bipolar disorder, Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis
• Lifestyle choices: Smoking (cigarettes or cigars), heavy drinking, marijuana use
• Dangerous hobbies: Scuba diving, skydiving, rock climbing, private aviation, motorcycle racing
• Driving record: DUI/DWI, multiple accidents, suspended license
• Occupation: Pilots, miners, offshore workers, military personnel and veterans
• Legal history: A felony conviction or criminal record — insurable in nearly every scenario once you’re past probation
• Age and weight: Being over 50 or significantly overweight

The good news? For virtually every risk factor, there are carriers willing to offer coverage. The challenge is finding them.

Not sure where you’d land? Our free high-risk life insurance eligibility quiz asks five quick questions about your health, driving record, and tobacco use and estimates the rate-class band most carriers would likely start you in — no signup, nothing stored.

Types of High-Risk Coverage

Fully Underwritten (Table-Rated)

This is standard life insurance with a risk surcharge. You go through the full application process including a medical exam, and the carrier assigns a “table rating” that increases your premium.

Best for: People whose risk factor allows for competitive underwriting (DUI 3+ years ago, controlled diabetes, occasional cigar smoking).

Simplified Issue

No medical exam required. You answer health questions on the application, and coverage is issued based on your answers. Premiums are higher, but approval is faster and easier.

Best for: People who need coverage quickly or have conditions that would complicate a medical exam.

Guaranteed Issue

No medical exam and no health questions. Everyone who applies is accepted. The trade-off: highest premiums and usually lower coverage limits ($25,000-$50,000).

Best for: People who have been declined everywhere else and need some coverage.

Health Conditions

Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes that’s well-controlled (A1C under 7.5) is insurable at many carriers. Type 1 is harder but not impossible. Key factors: A1C levels, complications, and how long you’ve been diagnosed. Our diabetes A1C rate estimator shows the likely rate class and monthly premium for your A1C and type, and our Type 2 diabetes guide covers the underwriting in depth.

Heart Disease

History of heart attack, bypass surgery, or stent placement makes you high-risk. Carriers want to see 2+ years of stability, good follow-up care, and controlled risk factors.

Cancer History

Most carriers require 5-10 years cancer-free, depending on the type and stage. Some early-stage cancers (like basal cell skin cancer) have minimal impact on rates.

Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is very common and generally insurable. Carriers want to see that you’re using a CPAP machine and compliant with treatment.

Depression & Mental Health

Controlled depression with stable medication is insurable at competitive rates. Carriers look at hospitalization history, medication changes, and functional ability. More complex diagnoses are also routinely insurable when stable — see our guide to life insurance with bipolar disorder for how underwriters handle Bipolar I and II.

Crohn’s Disease & Ulcerative Colitis

Inflammatory bowel disease is more insurable than most people expect. Well-controlled Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis in remission is frequently issued at Standard rates, and even biologic use can help your case by showing the disease is being actively managed. Underwriters focus on flare frequency, surgical history, and recent inflammation markers rather than the diagnosis itself.

Dangerous Hobbies & Occupations

Scuba Diving

Most carriers cover recreational scuba divers without surcharge if you’re certified and dive less than 100 feet. Deep diving, cave diving, or commercial diving may trigger higher rates.

Skydiving

Occasional tandem jumps (1-2 per year) often have no impact. Regular skydivers or instructors will see a surcharge or exclusion rider.

Private Aviation

Pilots are rated based on experience, hours flown, aircraft type, and whether flying is recreational or professional.

Motorcycle Riding

Most carriers cover motorcycle riders at standard rates for ordinary recreational street riding — it’s treated as a lifestyle, not a hazardous avocation. Competitive racing is the main exception and typically draws a flat extra charge.

Veterans & Military

Separating service members and veterans face a specific high-risk timing problem: SGLI ends 120 days after separation, and converting to VGLI without health questions is only guaranteed inside a 240-day window. For veterans with service-connected conditions — PTSD, musculoskeletal injuries, or a recent diagnosis — that window can be the single best coverage opportunity they’ll ever get, while healthy veterans usually save 30-60% shopping private term instead. Our life insurance for veterans guide breaks down VGLI vs. private, VALife for disabled veterans, and how PTSD is actually underwritten.

Driving Record Issues

DUI/DWI

A DUI conviction is one of the most common high-risk factors. Most carriers want 3-5 years of clean history before offering competitive rates. Our DUI life insurance rate estimator shows how much a DUI is likely costing you now — and how the surcharge fades with each clean year.

Multiple Violations

Several speeding tickets or at-fault accidents signal risk to carriers. Generally, carriers look back 3-5 years.

How to Get the Best Rate

1. Work with an independent broker — this is the single most important step. A broker who specializes in high-risk cases knows which carriers to approach.

2. Be completely transparent — hiding information leads to claim denial. Honesty gives your broker the best chance of finding the right carrier.

3. Improve what you can — lose weight, get your blood sugar under control, maintain a clean driving record. Carriers look at the whole picture.

4. Shop multiple carriers — underwriting standards vary enormously. A decline from one carrier may be a standard approval at another.

5. Consider the timing — if your risk factor is temporary (recent DUI, recent diagnosis), waiting 1-2 years can dramatically improve your rates.

6. Don’t settle for guaranteed issue — unless you’ve truly exhausted all options. The premiums are 5-10x higher for minimal coverage. An experienced broker can usually do better.

Everyone deserves coverage. No matter what your situation, options exist. The key is finding the right carrier with the right broker. Don’t let a decline letter stop you from protecting your family.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can high-risk individuals get life insurance?

Yes. While standard carriers may decline you, many companies specialize in high-risk coverage. Options include table-rated policies, simplified issue, and guaranteed issue policies. An independent broker can match you with the right carrier.

How much more does high-risk life insurance cost?

Costs vary widely based on the specific risk factor. A DUI from 5 years ago might add 25-50% to your premium, while a serious health condition could double or triple it. Some factors (like occasional cigar smoking) may not affect your rate at all with the right carrier.

What if I've been declined for life insurance?

A decline from one carrier doesn't mean you can't get coverage. Different carriers have different underwriting standards. An independent broker who specializes in high-risk cases can often find coverage even after multiple declines.