Life insurance after a stroke
Having a stroke can often be a life-changing event that has a major impact on you and your family. It makes sense an event like this could make you more determined to protect your loved ones than ever before.
Life insurance, critical illness cover, and income protection can all provide vital financial stability to your loved ones if you suffer a stroke or after a stroke. It can be harder to find the right life cover after a stroke though, which can make it even more important to speak to an expert.
Stroke statistics UK
According to Stroke Association, there are over 100,000 strokes every year in the UK which is 1 every five minutes.
- There are 1,300,000 stroke survivors in the UK
- Every 5 minutes, someone in the UK suffers a stroke
- Strokes account for around 75% of all deaths from cerebrovascular diseases
Find out more – Stroke facts and figures UK
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Does life insurance cover stroke?
YES – Stroke is one of the most common medical conditions in the UK. There are also thousands of people in the UK applying for life insurance after a stroke. You can get cover in most cases where the symptoms are fairly mild to moderate and not much long-lasting damage.
This can depend on how quickly your stroke was detected and how quickly you received treatment. Also, it can depend on how severe the stroke was in terms of the level of the attack.
The questions you will generally be asked about a stroke on a life insurance application will include:
- Was your stroke caused by any of these? Blood disorder, high blood pressure, head injury, hole in the heart, migraines, or other
- How many times have you suffered from a stroke?
- Have you been diagnosed with heart attack, atrial fibrillation, heart valve problems, diabetes, peripheral vascular disease, or chronic kidney disease?
- When did you have a stroke?
There are some products available that will offer cover if you have been declined by the standard insurers. If you’ve been declined life insurance before, it’s worth speaking to an insurance expert to find out your best options.
More about NEUROLOGICAL CONDITIONS LIFE INSURANCE
Does life insurance payout for stroke?
YES – your life insurance policy should pay out a cash lump sum to your loved ones if you were to pass away following a stroke. This can be used to support them financially at an extremely difficult time, covering important expenses such as:
- Funeral costs
- Mortgage or rent payments
- Utilities
- School fees
- Cost of living
Before choosing your life insurance, you should think about:
- Mortgage amount (£s)
- Outstanding debt (e.g. Loans, second charge, credit cards, and other)
- Dependents
- Spouse or Partner
- Income (after Tax)
- If you have assets to protect (e.g. car, house, business, etc.)
All these factors will affect how much life insurance cover (£s) you may need to protect your family and home. A life insurance expert can help you work out which policy offers you the right level of cover at the fairest price.
Will critical illness cover payout for stroke?
YES – in fact, strokes are one of the most common reasons for critical illness claims in the UK.
If you already have critical illness insurance and have a stroke, you can claim on your policy and receive a tax-free cash lump sum. This money can be used to help you cover costs including:
- Paying mortgage or rent payments
- Cost of living for a period of time
- Adjustments to the home
- Treatment to help your condition
Even if you have previously had a stroke, it can still be worth putting critical illness cover in place in case you are diagnosed with other serious medical issues. Other common reasons to claim include conditions such as cancer or heart attacks, which can happen to anyone.
More about CRITICAL ILLNESS COVER
How does life insurance work for stroke survivors?
In most cases where someone is applying for life insurance after a stroke, insurers will want to view medical information or a medical report. This report will be taken from your GP and is requested and paid for by the insurance company, not you.
Additional questions shouldn’t be anything to be overly worried about. Insurers simply want to be sure they have a clear picture of your health before deciding whether to offer cover and which policy will be most appropriate.
Life insurance is the #1 way to provide financial security and support for your family. Health conditions can make you even more determined to make sure the right protection is in place, so your family will always be looked after.
Can I get life insurance after a stroke?
YES – There can still be some great options available for life insurance after a stroke. Most people should still be able to find the life cover they need following a stroke.
Our experts will support you in finding the most suitable and affordable stroke life insurance policies from the UK’s top providers. There are various types of life insurance to choose from including:
- Level term life insurance (family protection)
- Decreasing term life insurance (mortgage protection)
- Whole life insurance
- Guaranteed life insurance
- Over 50s life insurance
- Family income benefit
- Business life insurance
Whether you are fully recovered back to your pre-stroke self, or continue to experience symptoms, we are here to help you find the right policy at the BEST price.
Can you get life insurance with a family history of strokes?
YES – Having a known history of strokes in your family shouldn’t automatically stop you getting life cover, but it is something insurers may ask about.
Insurers will often ask if any close relatives have experienced common medical conditions, such as stroke, cancer or heart attack. This isn’t something to worry about and just helps insurers get an overall idea of risk when assessing your application.
You should be as honest as you can when asked these questions. If you fail to mention something relevant in yours or your families medical history, you risk your cover being invalid.
Can you get life insurance after mini stroke?
YES – It is still possible in most cases to get life insurance following a mini stroke or ‘TIA’.
A mini stroke (also known as a transient ischemic attack or TIA) causes a brief interruption of blood supply to the brain, which usually only lasts a few minutes at most.
While the symptoms may not be as long lasting as a full stroke, insurers will assess the impact on your health as part of your application. You should still be able to get cover in most cases, and an insurance specialist can advise you on which providers will work best for you.
More about LIFE INSURANCE AFTER A TIA
How much is life insurance for stroke victims UK?
If you have experienced a stroke in the past, then you might think that life cover isn’t available. The reality is that you might be able to get cover and the life insurance rates can be very affordable.
You might also have been declined cover in the past because you’ve suffered from a stroke. This is fairly common and unfortunately, there are companies who haven’t got the experience to be able to deal with your application.
Don’t worry, speak to one of our team of experts to find the right provider for your needs and medical history.
More information – Average cost of life insurance
More about LIFE INSURANCE AFTER BEING DECLINED
Cheaper life insurance after stroke
Life insurance after a stroke doesn’t need to be overly expensive. If you apply to the right providers, you may be able to get cover for far less than you might think.
Our team of insurance specialists has access to a carefully chosen panel of excellent insurance partners. We can compare hundreds of life insurance quotes for stroke survivors quickly and easily, to make sure you never pay more than you need to for your cover.
Best life insurance for stroke survivors
You may worry it will be overly difficult to find life insurance with a stroke on your medical records. It is still possible to find excellent life insurance after a stroke, with the help of an advisor that has the right experience and background with stroke survivor life insurance.
There are lots of different types of stroke with varying severity of symptoms, damage, and treatments. Each insurance company has its own strengths when it comes to underwriting so the right option for you can vary.
It is important to know that if you’ve been declined by one or several insurance companies in the past, then that isn’t the end of the road. There are lots of companies and policies to choose from as well as some more specialist providers for certain circumstances.
More information – Best Life Insurance Companies UK
Medical conditions linked to stroke
There are several medical conditions and lifestyle factors known to increase your risk of having a stroke. These include:
- Obesity
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- Diabetes
- Smoking
- Alcohol abuse
- Poor diet (high levels of fats or sodium)
Celebrities who have had strokes
Strokes are a very commonly occurring medical condition and many people will go on to make a full recovery. It is also possible to live a full and happy life while dealing with the after effects of a stroke.
There are several well-known figures who have experienced strokes such as:
- Emilia Clarke (Actress)
- Sharon Stone (Actress)
- Kadeena Cox (Paralympic Athlete)
- Michael Johnson (Olympic runner)
- Larry King (U.S. News Anchor)
Stroke support groups UK
If you have had a stroke, there are many organisations and charities able to offer you and your family much needed support. This can be via access to support groups, online resources and more.
These services and charities include:
Frequently asked questions about strokes
What is a stroke? | A stroke is a serious life threatening condition that happens when the supply of blood to part of the brain is cut off. |
What are the warning signs of a stroke? | The NHS recommends using the word ‘FAST’ as a way recognise the signs of a stroke. Face – Is their face, mouth or eye drooping on one side? Arms – Can they lift both arms and hold them there? Speech – Is their speech slurred? Can they understand what you are saying? Time – Get medical help immediately. |
What is stroke caused by? | Strokes are caused by a blockage in blood flow to the brain or sudden brain bleeding (haemorrhage). |
What are the different types of stroke? | There are 3 main types of stroke: Ischaemic stroke – the most common type of stroke which cuts off blood supply to the brain Transient Ischaemic Attack (TIA) – also known as ‘mini stroke’ and causes temporary symptoms Haemorrhagic stroke – caused by bleeding in the brain |
Our team of friendly, skilled experts have helped many people across the UK find the best available life insurance after a stroke.
We know which providers and policies work best in this situation and can ensure you put the right cover in place – without having to pay ridiculous prices.
Call 0800 009 6559 to speak to a life insurance expert about your life cover.
Related pages:
Useful resources
British Heart Foundation (BHF) – Stroke – causes, signs and symptoms