Do You Have to Disclose Elevated Blood Pressure on a Life Insurance Application?

Applying for life insurance can be stressful, especially when it comes to health disclosures.

Here’s a common scenario:
At your annual checkup, your doctor mentions that your blood pressure is a little high. No medication is prescribed. Instead, you’re advised to make some lifestyle changes, eat healthier, exercise more, maybe reduce stress.

So, do you have to disclose that elevated blood pressure on your life insurance application?

Let’s break it down.

Understanding the Application Questions

Life insurance applications typically ask about your medical history in broad terms. Questions often include: 

• Have you ever been diagnosed with or treated for high blood pressure?
• Have you ever been advised to take medication for a health condition?

In your case, your doctor didn’t diagnose high blood pressure or prescribe medication, but they did mention that your blood pressure was elevated and suggested lifestyle changes. Whether you need to disclose this depends on the exact wording of the application questions.

Full Disclosure vs. Omitting Information

While you might not technically have high blood pressure, insurance companies expect applicants to answer honestly.

If the application asks whether a doctor has ever recommended lifestyle changes for a medical reason, you may need to disclose your situation.

However, if it asks specifically whether you’ve been diagnosed with or treated for high blood pressure, the answer would be no.

If you fail to disclose relevant information, the insurer could reject your application—or cancel your policy later if they discover it during a medical exam or while reviewing your records.

The Role of Medical Exams and Records

Many life insurance policies require a medical exam and access to your medical records. If your doctor noted your elevated blood pressure in your records, the insurer may see it. Even if you didn’t mention it in your application, they could ask follow-up questions or request additional tests. 

If you apply for a policy that does not require a medical exam, the insurer may still request records from your doctor. If they see a history of elevated blood pressure but no disclosure, they could decline coverage or adjust your rates. 

Will it Affect Your Premiums?

If your blood pressure is only slightly elevated and your doctor hasn’t formally diagnosed hypertension, it may not significantly impact your premiums. However, if your readings were consistently high, insurers might classify you as a higher-risk applicant.

Final Thoughts

Honesty is key when applying for life insurance. If your doctor advised you to manage your blood pressure through lifestyle changes, consider disclosing it if the application asks about medical advice or recommendations. Although a life insurance agent may encourage you to leave information off of your application, you should consider whether the information you are omitting is directly responsive to the application question. 

At the end of the day, once the insurer issues a policy, they still have one last opportunity to review it—if the insured passes away within two years of the issue date. This window is known as the contestability period.

If the application includes omissions or misstatements about relevant medical history, the insurer may revoke the policy and declare it void—leaving the beneficiary with nothing.

If you or a loved one have been affected by the two-year contestability period, Life Legal is here to help you fight back. Give us a call for a free case evaluation today!