STROKE & LIFE INSURANCE ~ UNDERWRITING ISSUES Stroke and Life Insurance    If you have a medical history of having a Stroke, a broker may still be able to help you obtain life or serious illness insurance - although maybe not on standard terms. There are some critical factors involved that will determine your ability to obtain coverage & your information is always treated with the utmost privacy by the insurer or broker.   What is a Stroke ? A stroke is a serious medical condition that occurs when the blood supply to the brain is disturbed. Like all organs, our brain needs the oxygen and nutrients provided by our blood to function properly. If the supply of blood is restricted or stopped, brain cells begin to die. This can lead to brain damage and possibly death so strokes are a medical emergency needing prompt treatment so the less damage is likely to happen. There are 2 main causes of strokes: Ischaemic Stroke (accounting for most cases according to BUPA): the blood supply is stopped due to a blood clot. Haemorrhagic Stroke: a weakened blood vessel supplying the brain bursts and causes brain damage. There is also a related condition known as a Transient Ischaemic Attack (TIA), where the supply of blood to the brain is temporarily interrupted, causing a sort of 'mini-stroke'. TIAs should be treated very seriously as they are often a warning sign that a full stroke is coming. Who's at risk from stroke & what is the treatment ? With over 100,000 people reportedly having a stroke every year in the UK, they are the 3rd largest cause of death. The brain damage caused by strokes means that they are the largest cause of adult disability in the UK. People who are over 65 years of age are most at risk of having strokes, but they can affect people of any age, including children. Smoking, obesity, poor diet and excessive alcohol consumption are also risk factors for stroke. Also, conditions that affect the circulation of the blood, such as diabetes or hypertension (high blood pressure), increase your risk of having a stroke. So Strokes can usually be successfully treated and they can also be prevented. Following a healthy diet, taking regular exercise, drinking alcohol in moderation and not smoking will dramatically reduce your risk of having a stroke. A stroke is occasionally treated with medication ("clot busters"), but usually with supportive care (speech and language therapy, physiotherapy and occupational therapy) in a "stroke unit" and secondary prevention with drugs, blood pressure control, statins. However, many people will require a long period of rehabilitation after a stroke, and not all will recover fully.   Strokes & Life Insurance Underwriting Each individual will have personal circumstances and Uk life insurance companies will want to gather as much information as possible before making an underwriting decision. In order to check the type of Stroke, Insurers are likely to request a GP or Medical Report if you are requesting additional options over and above just say lifecover. The life insurance rates if you have this will usually depend on a number of factors: While there are different types of Stroke, some will affect your ability to get coverage.  Note non-disclosure of your actual history of Stroke wether actual or suspected, may make any plan claim void & the insurer is not obliged to refund any premiums paid if this was deliberately not disclosed.  What do Uk Life Insurance Companies look for - when Underwriting a History of Strokes ? It would depend on the type of Stroke and its severity as mentioned above. For Life or Critical lllness Cover most Uk insurers would view each case on an individual basis before making a decision. However the likely decision for all types of cover maybe a premium rating or decline in the worst cases. Note that decisions may vary quite dramatically between insurers so please contact us for help & advice. History - What happened in the past? How severe was the stroke & how does this affect you day to day? Medical Records - What do your medical records say about you?  Have you developed medical problems as a result of the stroke ?  If you have already developed associated problems as a result, many companies may probably decline you.   Treatment - Have you been for treatment & if so what type. Family History - Do you parents or brothers or sisters have a similar history of Stroke also? For help with Stroke issues why not visit www.stroke.org.uk or www.nhs.co.uk * ( * Note: You are now leaving the regulated site of Uk Life Insurance Quotes. Neither ourselves, nor Sesame Ltd, is responsible for the accuracy of the information contained within the linked site.)  Had a Stroke  & looking in 2012 to compare Life Insurance products against other Uk Insurers - including Life cover, decreasing (mortgage protection) or level term assurance, Life with Critical Illness and Income Protection.  > Need a Competitive Life or Critical Illness Insurance Quote ? 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