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Life insurance after cancer, what insurers ask

Life insurance after cancer is not ruled out: MoneyHelper says a medical condition shouldn't prevent you getting life cover (MoneyHelper ↗).

It can be harder to find, and Macmillan says it might become easier in the future if you no longer have cancer (Macmillan ↗).

This page sets out what insurers ask, what the charities advise and how to apply.

Every claim here is our summary of a named external source, linked beside it. Sources change: check the wording at the link before you rely on it.

What the sources say ↓If you have cancer now →
01 · Key facts

Life insurance after cancer, the key facts

The points that matter most, each linked to the guide or law it comes from.

At a glance

  • A medical condition shouldn't prevent you getting life cover, though it may cost more (MoneyHelper ↗)
  • Whether you can get cover might depend on the type of cancer or its stage and grade (Macmillan ↗)
  • Many providers won't offer cover until at least a year after your last treatment (Aviva ↗)
  • It might get easier with time, as the chance of some cancers coming back gets lower (Macmillan ↗)
  • A policy you already hold doesn't need to hear about a new diagnosis unless it asks (MoneyHelper ↗)
New individual protection claims UK insurers paid, 202497.9%The ABI names non-disclosure of existing conditions as a common reason for declined claims.

ABI figure, all individual protection; check at the link: (ABI ↗)

Individual critical illness claims paid, 2024£1.3bnCancer was the most common reason for a payout, at 62% of claims paid.

ABI figure; check at the link: (ABI ↗)

02 · Can you get it?

Can you get life insurance after cancer?

Yes, it may be possible: MoneyHelper says a medical condition shouldn't prevent you getting life cover, though in many cases it'll cost more and might be harder to find (MoneyHelper ↗).

Pick a source to read what it says.

What each source says

Likely to cost more, may get easier

Macmillan says you might find it difficult to get life insurance if you have or have had cancer, and that you are likely to pay more than the average monthly premium if you can (Macmillan ↗).

It adds that it might become easier in the future if you no longer have cancer (Macmillan ↗).

Summaries of each source. Check the wording at the links.

03 · Cancer type

Life insurance after cancer, by cancer type

The type of cancer matters, along with its stage and grade (Macmillan ↗).

We do not publish waiting times or prices by cancer type, because no charity or insurer page we checked gives them.

What Macmillan suggests writing down

What the insurer may ask for

04 · Applying

How to apply for life insurance after cancer

If you find applying difficult, Macmillan suggests asking an insurance broker or financial adviser to look for policies for you (Macmillan ↗).

Insurers often ask your GP for a report.

They need your consent first, and Legal & General says you will be told and have 21 days to arrange to see it (Legal & General ↗).

That right to see a report before it is sent comes from the Access to Medical Reports Act 1988 (legislation.gov.uk ↗).

01

Prepare

Gather the details

Type, stage and grade, dates, test and scan results, and your treatment plan.

02

Timing

Ask about timing first

Time since your last treatment can matter. A broker or insurer can tell you before you apply.

03

Help

Consider a specialist broker

Someone who can look across insurers for you.

04

Answer

Answer every question fully

Including past cancer, whenever the form asks.

05

Report

Agree to the GP report

You can ask to see it before it is sent.

05 · Cancer now

Can you get life insurance if you currently have cancer?

New cover is harder while you are having treatment.

Aviva says criteria can depend on whether you are still undergoing treatment, and many providers wait at least a year after your last treatment (Aviva ↗).

Look first at cover you already have.

Some life policies include terminal illness benefit, which Macmillan says pays the full amount straight away if you are expected to live for less than 12 months (Macmillan ↗).

Over 50s plans ask no health questions, but read MoneyHelper's drawbacks first (MoneyHelper ↗).

Over 50s life insurance →Pre-existing conditions →

Bought before diagnosis

A policy you hold

With health questions

A new policy

Guaranteed acceptance

Over 50s plan

Health questions
Answered when you bought it
Yes, in full
None, and no medical check (MoneyHelper ↗)
Cancer
Pays out for many causes, including cancer (Aviva ↗)
Criteria depend on type and treatment (Aviva ↗)
Acceptance is guaranteed (MoneyHelper ↗)
Timing
Terminal illness benefit, if included, pays early (Macmillan ↗)
Often at least a year after treatment (Aviva ↗)
Fully covered after one year (MoneyHelper ↗)
Watch for
Don't cancel it (MoneyHelper ↗)
Non-disclosure can mean a declined claim (ABI ↗)
You might pay in more than your family gets back (MoneyHelper ↗)
Swipe to compare

Each cell is our summary of the linked source. Policies differ; check the terms of any plan you hold or consider.

06 · Disclosure

Declaring past cancer protects your claim

MoneyHelper says an insurer can't reject your claim if you took reasonable care to answer its questions honestly (MoneyHelper ↗).

Macmillan says you usually have to tell insurance companies about pre-existing conditions such as cancer (Macmillan ↗).

If your health changes between applying and being accepted, Vitality says to let the insurer know straight away (Vitality ↗).

If an answer turns out to be wrong

No remedy against a careful answer

The law asks you to take reasonable care not to make a misrepresentation to the insurer (legislation.gov.uk ↗). The insurer's remedies apply where the consumer breached that duty (legislation.gov.uk ↗).

Our summary of the Consumer Insurance (Disclosure and Representations) Act 2012, section 2 and Schedule 1. Read the Act at the links; it is the authority.

07 · Help

Specialist brokers and charity help

If you are struggling to find cover, Macmillan says an insurance broker might be able to help, and names the British Insurance Brokers' Association as a way to find one (Macmillan ↗).

MoneyHelper says it is important to shop around, because criteria and approaches can vary significantly between insurers, and that a specialist broker can research the market for you (MoneyHelper ↗).

If you think an insurer's risk assessment isn't based on a reliable or relevant source of information, MoneyHelper says you can challenge it under the Equality Act (MoneyHelper ↗).

Complain to the insurer first.

We do not recommend brokers or insurers.

Before you buy, the FCA tells consumers to check the firm on its Firm Checker (FCA ↗).

08 · Business owners

Run a business? Key person cover asks too

If your company insures you as a key person, the company applies, owns the plan and pays for it, and any payout goes to the business (Royal London ↗) (Legal & General ↗).

You are the person insured, so your cancer history is part of the application: Legal & General's adviser guide says the key person gives their own personal and medical details (Legal & General ↗).

If Aviva can't decide on a case straight away, it gives free life cover while it looks into it (Aviva ↗).

The business must also be able to show it would lose profits in your absence (Legal & General ↗).

What is key person insurance? →Key person risk →Business protection insurance →Key person vs relevant life →Executive income protection →
01

Applicant

The company applies

The business owns the policy and pays for it. You are the person insured.

02

Your answers

You answer the health questions

The same care applies as for a personal policy: answer every question fully.

03

Underwriting

The insurer assesses the case

It may ask for more evidence before it decides, as with any application.

04

Sizing

The cover is sized on the business

How much cover the business can take is based on what it would lose.

09 · Related

Related life insurance guides

Guides to other health conditions and to the cover itself.

10 · Trusted sources & further reading

Check it for yourself

Every claim on this page is our summary of one of the documents listed here.

We last checked them against the live sources on 28 September 2026.

The documents are the authority, not this page.

Insurers and HMRC update them, so validate any figure or condition at its link before you rely on it.

Questions

Life insurance after cancer, answered

It can be harder.

Macmillan says you might find it difficult to get life insurance if you have or have had cancer, and that it might depend on the type of cancer or its stage and grade.

If you can get cover, it says you are likely to pay more than the average monthly premium. Macmillan guide ↗

There is no single answer, because insurers set their own criteria.

Aviva says many providers won’t offer cover until at least a year has passed since your last treatment, and that criteria can depend on the type of cancer and whether you are still having treatment. Aviva guide ↗

Probably.

Macmillan says that if you can get life insurance, you are likely to pay more than the average monthly premium.

We do not publish loadings: insurers decide them case by case. Macmillan guide ↗

Macmillan says an insurance broker might be able to help if you are struggling to find cover, and names the British Insurance Brokers’ Association as a way to find one.

MoneyHelper adds that criteria vary between insurers, so it is worth shopping around. Macmillan guide ↗

Yes, when the application asks.

The ABI names failing to disclose existing medical conditions when the policy was taken out as a common reason for declined claims.

Macmillan says you usually have to tell insurers about pre-existing conditions such as cancer. ABI claims figures ↗

Aviva says most life policies pay out for many causes, including cancer, and that usually the only exceptions are suicide or self-inflicted injury during the first 12 months.

A claim still depends on the application having been answered fully. Aviva guide ↗

Check any policy you already hold first.

Macmillan says some life policies include terminal illness benefit: if you are expected to live for less than 12 months, the insurer pays the full amount straight away.

For new cover, MoneyHelper describes over 50s plans that ask no health questions but cover you fully only after one year. Macmillan guide ↗

Macmillan’s guidance covers all cancers: whether you can get cover might depend on the type of cancer and its stage and grade, and it might become easier over time because the chance of some cancers coming back gets lower.

We do not publish waiting times by cancer type, because no charity or insurer source we checked gives them. Macmillan guide ↗

Generally not.

MoneyHelper says that if you develop a health condition after taking out a life policy, you don’t have to tell the insurer unless the policy asks you to, and not to cancel the policy.

Aviva says the same about a cancer diagnosis. MoneyHelper guide ↗

Beta · information only

Run a business? Size the key person cover.

If a business depends on you, the calculator works through the earnings, profit and loan methods UK insurers publish.

01Earnings, profit and loan methods

02Insurers’ published multiples, with sources

03No email, no quote, no sales call

Information, not advice

We are not an insurer, broker or regulated adviser, and we do not give quotes or recommend a policy. For regulated advice, use an adviser authorised by the FCA.

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Not financial advice. This page is general information. Before buying insurance, the FCA tells consumers to check the firm on its Firm Checker (FCA ↗). For free guidance, see MoneyHelper.