Life insurance for bipolar [Quick summary]

  • Bipolar life insurance isn’t a specific life cover product. It simply refers to a life insurance policy that’s taken out by someone with bipolar disorder
  • 1.3 million people (1 in 50 people) in the UK are living with bipolar[1]
  • The symptoms and experiences of bipolar can vary from person to person, therefore insurers will take your personal circumstances into consideration to determine the outcome of your application
  • The details of your condition (such as the type of bipolar you have and how frequent/severe your symptoms are) can impact your eligibility and the price you pay
  • If you’ve been declined in the past, you could still secure some form of cover through a specialist insurer or with an over 50s plan

Can you get life insurance with bipolar?

Yes, you could secure life insurance as someone with bipolar disorder.

Your eligibility and the price you’ll pay for cover will depend on the personal circumstances of your condition.

Bipolar is one of the UK’s most common long-term conditions, with almost as many people living with bipolar as cancer (2.4%). It’s twice as common as dementia, epilepsy and rheumatoid arthritis[1].

Reassured can help you through the process of securing life insurance with a mental health condition.

Our team of friendly and professional experts can provide support throughout, while finding you our most suitable options.

Simply get in touch to use our fee-free service.

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Is bipolar considered a pre-existing medical condition?

Yes, if you’re living with bipolar at the point of application, it will be considered as a pre-existing medical condition.

Any condition (whether it’s physical or mental) that’s present during or before the application process for life insurance is considered as pre-existing in the eyes of insurers.

This means you’ll need to declare it and provide any required information.

Do you have to declare bipolar on life insurance?

Yes, if bipolar is pre-existing, you’ll need to declare it on your application.

This is so insurers can ask you a few more questions about your personal circumstances so your application can be assessed accurately.

If you’re offered a policy, the information you provide will also allow insurers to accurately underwrite your policy - ensuring you secure the right cover.

While it can be hard to talk about your experience with mental health, it’s essential that you provide all the right information.

If false details are provided or you withhold any information, this will invalidate your policy (known as non-disclosure).

At Reassured we can support you throughout the entire application process.

Life Insurance Calculator

Calculate how much life insurance you may need by filling in the costs you’d like your policy to cover.

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£137,934 is the estimated mortgage debt per household in the UK.

The purchase of a home is likely to be the largest financial commitment any of us will make in our lifetime. Your life insurance should cover your remaining mortgage balance to allow your loved ones to stay in the family home should anything happen to you.

Source: Moneynerd.co.uk
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The average monthly household budget in the UK is £2,548 (that’s £30,576 per year), which is spent on transport, food & drink, utilities (gas, electricity, water etc), clothing, council tax and leisure activities.

With energy prices hitting a record high and the cost of living rising sharply in the UK, you may wish to factor in utility bills and family living expenses into your cover.

Source: Nimblefins.co.uk
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The average personal debt of UK adults has risen to £34,566 (not including mortgage debt), with credit cards, personal loans and overdrafts being the most common forms of debt.

Factoring in any debts into your life insurance cover means that, if they need to be paid back from your estate after your passing, your loved ones won’t miss out financially.

Source: Money.co.uk
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According to SunLife, the average cost of a funeral in the UK is £3,953 (with the overall cost of dying at £9,200).

Funeral costs have increased by 116% since 2004 and are a significant cost which should be factored into the amount of life insurance you secure.

Source: SunLife.co.uk
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When factoring in cover for your children, you may wish to calculate the amount based on how long it is until they reach financial independence.

This could include childcare (£7,000 per year for part-time care), school expenses (£1,519 per school year for uniforms, lunches, stationary etc), as well as an additional sum for further education (this could be a contribution of up to £5,000 per year).

Sources: Daynurseries.co.uk, Primarytimes.co.uk & Savethestudent.org
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2 in 5 adults say they are relying on an inheritance to fund their retirement.

Factoring in an inheritance to your sum assured could allow loved ones to live a more financially comfortable life. Alternatively, you could leave a cash gift to a charity of your choosing.

Source: Moneyage.co.uk
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If you’re lucky enough to have your own savings or are part of the 30% of UK residents who already have a life insurance policy in place, this can provide financial protection for loved ones.

By entering your current cover, savings or death in service amount you can reduce the sum assured you require.

Source: Scottishbusinessnews.net
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Bipolar disorder life insurance underwriting

In order for insurers to accurately underwrite your policy, you’ll need to provide some personal details, as well as information about your condition.

Bipolar is a mental health condition, with symptoms such as mood swings (manic highs and depressive lows) and insomnia. Symptoms can vary from person to person.

For this reason, insurers will ask additional questions to get a better understanding of your personal circumstances.

It’s likely you’ll be asked about:

  • Date of diagnosis
  • What type of bipolar do you have (type 1 bipolar disorder, type 2 bipolar disorder, mixed state bipolar disorder, rapid cycle bipolar disorder, cyclothymia bipolar disorder, psychosis)?
  • Are you taking any medication or receiving any treatment (if so, what)?
  • Have you been admitted to hospital in the past due to your condition?
  • Have you experienced any suicidal thoughts or attempts?
  • What symptoms do you experience?

While it can be hard to talk about your experience with bipolar, insurers aren’t here to judge. They simply need to know this information in order to accurately assess your application.

You may also be asked for a medical report from your GP to allow them to get a better understanding of your condition.

Insurers can’t obtain this without your permission, but if you decline your application won’t be able to go any further.

What’s the best life insurance for bipolar disorder?

There’s no specific policy that’s best for those diagnosed with bipolar disorder.

The best policy for you will be down to your personal circumstances, such as what you want to cover and your budget.

The most common life insurance options include:

Level term life insurance

  • Provides cover for a set period (often up to 40 years)
  • Fixed lump sum pay out
  • Could help loved ones to cover mortgage costs and/or family living expenses
  • Medical information is required during the application process

Decreasing term life insurance

  • Provides cover for a set period (often up to 40 years)
  • Lump sum pay out decreases over the term
  • Could help loved ones to cover mortgage costs (sum assured can reduce in line with outstanding mortgage)
  • Medical information is required during the application process

Whole of life insurance

  • Provides cover for the rest of your life
  • Fixed lump sum pay out
  • Could help to pay off funeral expenses or cover inheritance tax bills
  • Medical information is required during the application
  • Premiums are required for the rest of your life

Over 50 life insurance

  • Provides cover for the rest of your life
  • Fixed lump sum pay out
  • Could help to pay off funeral expenses or provide a small inheritance
  • No medical information is required during the application (guaranteed acceptance for those aged 50 - 85 through Reassured)
  • Smaller sum assured than with other forms of cover

All the policies listed above are available through Reassured. Why not use our fee free service to find our most suitable option?

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Bipolar life insurance cost

Bipolar life insurance rates will depend on your personal circumstances.

You’ll need to complete a standard application questionnaire, which requires information on:

As well as providing details about bipolar and your personal experience (such as when you were diagnosed and what your symptoms are like).

It’s likely that you’ll pay more for cover than a standard applicant (those with no pre-existing conditions or high-risk factors) due to the increased risk of a claim.

However, the extent to which your premiums are increased will depend on your personal circumstances.

If your bipolar is well managed and has a minimal effect on your daily life, you may experience just a small increase to your premiums.

Whereas if your bipolar results in extreme symptoms and an impact on your daily life, there could be a greater increase to your premiums or your application may be declined.

Comparing quotes from multiple insurers can allow you to find a policy at a suitable price.

At Reassured we work with a panel of UK insurers, allowing us to find you the right policy for your individual needs.

Can you claim on life insurance for mental health?

Yes, if you pass away as a result of a mental health condition then your loved ones could make a claim on your policy.

It’s important to be aware that most policies include a suicide clause, this refers to the first 12 months of the policy where a death by suicide won’t be covered.

This clause is included to protect insurers and to prevent suicide occurring for the purpose of a life insurance pay out.

However, once this period has passed, you'll be covered for all manners of death.

What if I’ve been denied life insurance due to bipolar?

If you’ve been declined life insurance in the past, it doesn’t mean there aren’t options available to you.

You may have been declined due to your diagnosis being too recent or you simply may have applied to the wrong insurer.

It could still be possible to secure cover through:

  • An alternative provider - Each insurer has a different underwriting process, just because one has declined you doesn’t mean they all will. This is why comparing multiple quotes is essential.
  • A specialist insurer - Specialist insurers specialise in offering cover to non-standard applicants (such as those with pre-existing conditions) so if you’re struggling to secure cover through a mainstream insurer, a specialist could provide you with the cover you need.
  • An over 50s plan - If you’re a UK resident aged 50 - 85 an over 50s plan offers guaranteed acceptance without the need to provide any medical information. Note that over 50s plans typically include a 12 - 24 month waiting period before a full claim can be made.

At Reassured, we have a specialist impaired life insurance team who have an excellent track record of finding some form of cover for those who have previously been declined.

Simply get in touch to find out about your options.

Can I get critical illness cover with bipolar?

Yes, it can be possible to secure critical illness cover with bipolar.

Critical illness cover can be added to a term life insurance policy (for an additional cost) to allow you to make an early claim on your policy if you’re diagnosed with a specific serious illness.

This can include common conditions such as heart attack, cancer and stroke.

When applying for critical illness cover with a pre-existing medical condition, such as bipolar, there may be some exclusions added to your policy (such as any claim relating to your pre-existing mental health condition).

Can I get income protection with bipolar?

It can be possible to secure income protection with bipolar, however it will depend on your personal circumstances.

Income protection can pay out a percentage of your income (often between 50 - 70%) if you’re unable to work due to illness or injury.

If your condition is well managed it can be more straightforward to secure cover than for those who experience extreme symptoms.

If you’re offered a policy it’s likely that you’ll pay inflated premiums and will have mental health exclusions added to your policy.

This means you won’t be able to claim if you’re unable to work due to a mental health condition.

We have a complete income protection mental health guide if you require more information »

Bipolar facts and figures [UK]

  • Bipolar is a mental health condition where individuals experience episodes of depression and mania
  • Around 1 in every 100 people will be diagnosed with bipolar at some point in their life[2]
  • The cause of bipolar disorder is unknown, although it’s believed a number of factors could trigger an episode. Such as stress, life-changing events and genetic and chemical factors[2]
  • Many celebrities have been diagnosed with the condition including Russell Brand, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Winston Churchill[3]

If you need support with a bipolar diagnosis there are a range of resources at your fingertips:

  • Samaritans - You can call on 116 123, lines are open 24 hours, 7 days a week
  • Mind - Offering support over the phone/email, face-to-face services as well as an online community
  • Bipolar UK - A charity providing support groups and other services

Compare life insurance for people with bipolar disorder

Applying for life insurance with a mental health condition, like bipolar, doesn’t need to be a daunting endeavour.

At Reassured we can compare different policy types from a range of insurers to present you with our most suitable options for your personal circumstances.

A friendly member of our team can also support you throughout every step of the application and answer any questions you might have along the way.

Our award-winning quote service is completely fee-free for you to use and there’s no-obligation to secure a policy through us, so why not get in touch?

Compare Life Insurance Quotes »

Sources:

[1] https://www.bipolaruk.org/faqs

[2] https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/conditions/bipolar-disorder/overview/

[3] https://www.healthline.com/health/celebrities-with-bipolar-disorder

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