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Pre-existing conditions - How an insurer might treat your health issue

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Angina

Chest pain caused by reduced blood flow to the heart
Additional premium or exclusion
Likely to result in a cardiac exclusion for medical cover and could result in a premium adjustment for life/funeral cover if severe. Income cover may have a premium adjustment or not be available. Trauma cover may have a premium adjustment or be excluded.
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Ankylosing Spondylitis

Inflammatory arthritis affecting the spine
Standard to excluded or loaded
Likely to result in an exclusion for medical cover and could result in a premium adjustment for life/funeral cover if severe. Income cover may have an exclusion or not be available. Trauma cover would have an exclusion.
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Arthritis

Osteoarthritis, rheumatoid, psoriatic etc
Standard to excluded or loaded
If localised could have exclusions related to affected areas only for medical cover. Could result in a general exclusion, including hips, if more widespread. Arthritis usually doesn't affect life cover applications but serious rheumatoid or psoriatic arthritis can result in extra premiums being charged (for life cover). Income & trauma cover would receive an exclusion. Go here for more information about less invasive treatments.
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Asthma

A common lung condition that affects the breathing tubes that carry air in and out of your lungs.
Likely standard
Unlikely to be an issue with any cover type if well controlled. If severe and resulting in hospitalisation covers may not be available.
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Benign tumour

including benign skin lesions
Standard to extra premium

Would likely have an exclusion on medical, income or trauma cover unless it was resolved more than 5 years ago. Life cover may have an extra premium charged if the tumour affected a vital organ.

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Bone disorder/injury

Healed normally with no metalware
Likely to be standard
Not likely to be an issue for any kind of cover application.
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Bone disorder/injury 

Metalware used to repair or still having residual issues
Standard for life cover- excluded for others
Likely to be excluded for a medical, income or trauma cover application. Unlikely to have any impact on a life cover or funeral cover application. If joint replacement is being considered go here​ for more information about less invasive treatments.
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Bowel disorder

e.g. colitis, Crohn's disease etc
Extra premium or excluded
Would likely have an exclusion for medical, income or trauma cover. An additional premium may be charged for life cover if more serious.
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BMI

Obesity or extremely underweight
Standard to extra premium to declined

A BMI (body mass indicator) of over 35 or under 18


Could result in an extra premium being charged for life, income, trauma or medical cover if BMI exceeds 32. To calculate your BMI take your height in metres and multiply this by itself. So if you're 1.83m tall multiply 1.83 x 1.83 to get an answer (in this case 3.349). Then divide your weight in kilograms by this answer. So a person who is 1.83m tall and weighing 100kg would have a BMI of 100/3.349 = 29.86. Perfectly fine for medical, income, trauma or life cover.

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Breast disorder

Including lumps, cysts, discharge or abnormal mammograms or ultrasound scans
Standard to extra premium to declined

Could have an exclusion on medical, income or trauma cover if recent, recurring and/or serious. One-off cysts that were treated more than 5 years ago are unlikely to result in an exclusion. Life cover would only be affected if the lump was cancerous.

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Cancer or tumour

Excluding benign tumours
Standard to extra premium to declined

In many cases medical, income or trauma cover would be offered with an exclusion for the specific cancer or cancer generally. Life cover may not be available if the cancer/tumour has not been clear for more than 5 years. There is likely to be an additional premium charged for life cover after 5 years

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Cholesterol 

Abnormal or high
Standard to extra premium to declined

Unlikely to affect life, income, trauma or medical cover if cholesterol has been well managed and under medication. If untreated and continually higher than normal (5.5+ or above) could have cover denied, an increase in premiums or a cardiac exclusion for medical.

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Chronic fatigue, or chronic pain syndrome

Fibromyalgia, polymyalgia, ME
Standard to extra premium

Medical, income & trauma cover would likely have an exclusion. Life cover could be standard premium rates in many cases but may have an additional premium charged if still being treated with prednisone.

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Depression or mental health

Anxiety, stress, phobias, suicide attempts
Standard to extra premium to declined

Medical would be unaffected as many policies exclude mental health issues anyway. Income & trauma cover may be unaffected or result in an extra premium or exclusion (if serious). Life cover could be unaffected but could have an additional premium charged or be declined in very severe cases.

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Diabetes

Abnormal blood sugar test or impaired glucose tolerance
Standard to extra premium to declined

Medical cover would have an exclusion. Income & trauma cover would have an extra premium charged or not be available. Life cover would usually have an additional premium charged for type I diabetes. Type II diabetes could be standard for life cover in older clients if well managed and there aren't too many other health issues like high BMI.

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Ear or eye disorders

Excluding long or short sightedness
Standard to extra premium to declined

Would likely have an exclusion for medical, income & trauma cover. Life cover would be unaffected or could have an extra premium charged for severe degeneration.

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Epilepsy or seizures

Abnormal movements or behavior due to unusual electrical activity in the brain
Extra premium or exclusion

Would likely have an exclusion for income, trauma & medical cover. Life cover may have an additional premium charged.

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Fibromyalgia

Chronic pain syndrome
Extra premium or exclusion

Medical, income & trauma cover would likely have an exclusion. Life cover could be standard premium rates in many cases but may have an additional premium charged if still being treated with prednisone.

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Gastrointestinal tract disorder

e.g. GORD,  acid from the stomach leaks up into the oesophagus (gullet)
Standard to excluded

Medical, income & trauma cover could have an exclusion or not be available. Life cover could be unaffected or may have an extra premium charged.

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Gout

A form of arthritis (inflammation of the joints) that can cause sudden, severe attacks of pain in the joints
Standard or exclusion

Medical would have an exclusion. Income & Trauma may have an additional premium charged. Life cover could range from standard premium rates to loaded by a small amount depending on severity.

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Gynaecological disorders

Including abnormal PAP/cervical smears, fibroids etc
Standard to excluded

May not affect medical, income, trauma or life cover if more than two years ago and normal smear tests achieved since. Hysterectomy would not affect cover unless there was cancer involvement.

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Haemorrhoids

(also known as piles) Swollen and inflamed veins in the rectum or anus.
Standard to excluded

Would not affect medical, trauma or income cover if treated more than 2 years ago. Recent or untreated haemorrhoids would be excluded. Life cover would not be affected.

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Heart disorder

e.g. heart attack, heart valve disorders, cardiomyopathy, endocarditis, chest pain etc.)
Extra premium or exclusion

Medical is likely to have a cardiac exclusion. Life, income or trauma cover would likely have an extra premium charged or be declined if more serious.

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Hernia

e.g. Inguinal, hiatal, umbilical
Likely standard or excluded

Medical, trauma & income cover may have an exclusion but could be standard if not causing any discomfort. Life cover would be standard.

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Hepatitis

Hepatitis is an infectious liver disease caused by the hepatitis virus
Standard to extra premium 

Would not affect medical, income, trauma or life cover if more than 5 years ago and A. Hepatitis B or C could result in an extra premium being charged for life cover and be excluded for other covers.

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High blood pressure

(hypertension) Common condition - the force of your blood against your artery walls is too high, too often.
Standard to declined

Unlikely to affect life, income, trauma or medical cover if blood pressure has been well managed and under medication. If untreated and continually higher than normal could have cover denied, an increase in premiums or a cardiac exclusion on medical cover, income & trauma.

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HIV

AIDS or antibodies to HIV, or potential exposure to HIV
Declined

Would likely be uninsurable for medical, income, trauma or life cover.

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Kidney disease or disorder

e.g. kidney stones, infections or abnormal renal function tests etc.
Extra premium or excluded

May have an exclusion for medical cover if within 5 years. Abnormal renal function may result in a higher premium for life cover. Trauma & income cover may exclude this condition.

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Liver disease or disorder

e.g. hepatitis, fatty liver or abnormal liver function tests etc.
Exclusion or extra premium

Likely to have an exclusion for medical, income & trauma cover. Life cover could have an extra premium charged or may be deferred until liver function tests return to normal.

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Menieres disease

including vertigo
Standard to excluded

Medical, trauma & income cover would likely include an exclusion. Life cover would be unaffected.

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Mental or nervous disorders

e.g. depression, anxiety, stress, phobias, suicide attempts
Standard to extra premium to declined

Medical would be unaffected as many policies exclude mental health issues anyway. Life & trauma cover could be unaffected but could have an additional premium charged or be declined in very severe cases. Income cover would likely exclude this condition.

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Migraines

Severe headaches, usually on one side of your head, & can also make you sensitive to light & noise.
Standard to exclusion

Medical, trauma & income cover would likely have an exclusion. Life cover would be unaffected if the migraines have been occurring for more than 2 years. An application may be deferred (the insurer won't consider cover) for 12 months if symptoms are relatively new.


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Muscle injury

No bone involvement
Standard

Would be unlikely to affect income, trauma, medical or life cover.

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Neurological disorder

e.g. MS, paralysis or motor neurone disease
Exclusion to declined

Could result in an exclusion for trauma, income or medical cover or may be declined in extreme cases. Life cover would either be offered with an extra premium or be declined.

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Nose disorders

e.g. Polyps - soft, painless, noncancerous growths on the lining of nasal passages or sinuses
Standard to exclusion

May have an exclusion for income, trauma or medical cover. Life cover would be unaffected.

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Obesity

A BMI of over 32
Extra premium

Could result in an extra premium being charged for life, income, trauma or medical cover if BMI greater than 32. To calculate your BMI take your height in metres and multiply this by itself. So if you're 1.83m tall multiply 1.83 x 1.83 to get an answer (in this case 3.349). Then divide your weight in kilograms by this answer. So a person who is 1.83m tall and weighing 100kg would have a BMI of 100/3.349 = 29.86. Perfectly fine.

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Pap smears - abnormal

Abnormal or unusual cells on your cervix
Standard to declined

May not affect medical, income, trauma or life cover if more than two years ago and normal smear tests achieved since. Recent and/or more serious grade could result in an exclusion, loading or decline of the application.

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Polymyalgia

An inflammatory disease of muscle.
Standard or excluded

Medical, income & trauma cover would likely have an exclusion. Life cover could be standard in many cases but may have an additional premium charged if still being treated with prednisone.

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Prostate disorders

Including abnormal PSA tests
Standard to excluded

Medical, income & trauma cover would have an exclusion. Life cover may not be affected if benign.

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Renal function - abnormal tests

Abnormal amounts of protein in urine, high creatinine levels in blood. 
Exclusion to declined

Medical cover would likely have an exclusion. Life cover, income & trauma could have an extra premium charged or be declined if more severe. 

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Respiratory or breathing disorder

e.g. asthma, lung disorder, bronchitis, emphysema, TB etc.
Standard to extra premium

Mild asthma or bronchitis would not affect medical, income, trauma or life cover. More severe or recurrent lung disorders would be excluded for medical cover and would result in an extra premium for life , income or trauma cover. In extreme cases the life, income or trauma cover would be declined.

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Rheumatism

A type of autoimmune disease (where the body attacks its own cells).
Extra premium to excluded

Would be excluded for medical, income or trauma cover and application could be declined if more severe. Life cover could have an extra premium charged if their is malformation of fingers or joints. Go here​ for more information about whether alternative treatments to joint replacement exist.

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Skin disorders

e.g. dermatitis, psoriasis, eczema, cysts, suspicious moles, lesions etc.
Standard to extra premium

Medical, income & trauma cover could have a benign and/or malignant skin lesion exclusion. Minor skin disorders would be excluded for medical cover. Life cover would only be affected if malignant. If the policy has a 'benign skin lesion' exclusions you are still covered for malignant skin lesions (and vice versa).

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Sleep disorders

e.g. chronic insomnia or obstructive sleep apnoea etc.
Extra premium to excluded

Medical could have an exclusion or be unavailable. Life cover would likely have an additional premium charged or be unavailable until a sleep study shows the disorder is well managed.

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Spinal injury or recurrent pain

Spinal cord injury causing chronic pain or paralysis.
Standard to exclusion

Medical, income or trauma would have an exclusion. Unlikely to affect life cover unless the insured is suffering moderate to severe paralysis.

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Stomach disorders

e.g. ulcers
Standard to excluded

Would likely have an exclusion for medical, income or trauma cover. Life cover would usually be unaffected unless severe.

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Stroke

e.g. TIA
Extra premium or declined

Medical, income or trauma cover would have an exclusion or be unavailable. Life cover could have an extra premium charged or be unavailable.

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Tendon injury

Usually a tear near joints, such as the shoulder, elbow, knee, and ankle.
Standard to an exclusion

Medical, income or trauma cover could have an exclusion if less than 2 years ago or poorly healed. Otherwise standard terms would apply. Life cover would be unaffected.

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Throat disorders

Includes goiter
Standard to exclusion

May have an exclusion for medical, income or trauma cover. Life cover could be unaffected or have an extra premium charged or be declined in severe cases.

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Thyroid disorder

Underactive, overactive, thyroidectomy
Standard to exclusion

Medical, income & trauma cover would have an exclusion. Life cover could be unaffected if well managed. Poorly managed would result in an extra premium being charged.

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Tumour

Cancer, benign tumour
Exclusion or extra premium

In many cases medical, income or trauma cover would be offered with an exclusion for cancer or benign tumour. Life cover may not be available if the cancer/tumour has not been clear for more than 5 years. An additional premium may still be charged after 5 years. Benign tumour would likely be standard for life cover.

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Urinary tract or bladder disorder

Infection in any part of urinary system — kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra.
Standard to exclusion

Medical, income & trauma cover would have an exclusion. Life cover would be unaffected unless severe or cancer related.

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Varicose veins

Enlarged and swollen veins that are most commonly found in your legs and feet
Standard to excluded

Wouldn't be excluded from medical, income or trauma cover if treated more than 2 years ago. Would be excluded from these covers if still present. Life cover wouldn't be affected. 

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Vertigo

Sensation of spinning dizziness
Standard to excluded

Medical, income & life cover would likely include an exclusion. Life cover would be unaffected unless very severe.

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