Yes — and for most people, the answer comes faster and easier than they expect.
High blood pressure is the most common chronic health condition in American adults. Nearly half of us have it. Insurance carriers know that, and their underwriting reflects it. If yours is well-managed, you can often qualify for standard rates — and sometimes even preferred.
Here’s what to know before you apply.
How underwriters look at high blood pressure
The diagnosis itself isn’t what carriers focus on. What matters is whether your blood pressure is under control today.
Underwriters look at three things: your current readings, whether you’re on medication, and any related conditions that might compound the risk. A 55-year-old taking one medication with consistent readings of 128/82 is in a much better position than someone the same age with untreated readings of 156/98.
The encouraging news is that millions of people fall into the first group. If your numbers are stable and your overall health picture is solid, high blood pressure rarely stands in the way of affordable coverage.
The numbers that matter most
Most carriers use these general ranges, though specific thresholds vary by company and age:
Preferred Plus rates typically require readings under 135/85, no medication or very minimal use, and no other significant health issues.
Preferred rates are commonly available for readings under 140/85, including applicants on one medication with consistent control.
Standard rates apply for readings up to about 145/90, often with one or two medications managing things well.
Substandard rates generally come into play when readings climb higher or when blood pressure is paired with another condition like diabetes or a cardiac history.
These aren’t hard cutoffs — they’re general patterns. One carrier may offer preferred at 138/88 while another holds the line at 135/85 for the same applicant. That’s exactly the kind of variation an independent broker can navigate to put you in front of the most favorable carrier for your numbers.
What helps your application
A few practical things make a real difference:
Consistent readings. If your last few doctor visits show readings of 142/90, 138/86, and 132/82, that downward trend tells a positive story. Erratic readings raise more questions than a stable elevated number.
Medication compliance. Being on blood pressure medication isn’t a negative — it’s a sign you’re managing the condition. Underwriters want to see that you’re taking what was prescribed and that it’s working.
Clean labs. Normal cholesterol, blood sugar, and kidney function alongside controlled blood pressure paint a complete picture of someone whose health is stable.
No tobacco use. Smoking compounds cardiovascular risk significantly. If you’ve quit, most carriers want to see 12 months nicotine-free before reclassifying you as a non-smoker.
How co-existing conditions change things
High blood pressure rarely shows up alone. The combination matters more than the individual diagnoses.
If you also have Type 2 diabetes, carriers will look at how well both conditions are controlled together. If there’s a heart attack in your history, blood pressure becomes part of a broader cardiac review. If your BMI is elevated, the combined picture affects which carriers will offer their best rates.
This is where an independent broker matters most. Different carriers weigh combinations differently, and the right match can mean the difference between standard and table-rated premiums.
What rates look like
For a non-smoker with well-controlled blood pressure on one medication, $250,000 of 10-year term coverage at a preferred risk class typically starts at:
Age 50: around $25-30 per month Age 60: around $50-60 per month
Add a second medication, readings closer to 145/90, or co-existing conditions like elevated cholesterol or BMI, and those numbers move up — sometimes meaningfully. A 60-year-old whose health profile pushes them out of preferred and into standard rates might see starting premiums closer to $70-80 per month for the same coverage.
A real placement: 64-year-old applicant, hypertension and a few extras
A recent client came to us at 64 looking for a $250,000 15-year term policy to cover a mortgage. The gentleman was 6 ft. 0 in., 250 pounds and he had been on blood pressure and cholesterol medications for about 8 years. He’d already tried applying directly through one of the major online-only carriers. He got approved at a table 2 risk class with the first company he applied through which came back at $326 per month.
When he came to us, we shopped his case and got him approved at standard with Pacific Life with a monthly premium of $217 per month saving him over $1,300 per year for the same coverage amount and term period and he was thrilled!
That kind of outcome isn’t unusual in our book.
What to do before you apply
Get a recent reading on record. If it’s been a while since your last physical, schedule one. Underwriters work from documented numbers, not how you feel.
Don’t try to time the market. Some people delay applying hoping their next reading will be lower. More often, age catches up faster than blood pressure improves. Applying now with managed readings is almost always better than waiting.
Work with an independent broker. Captive agents can only offer one company’s product. An independent broker shops your case across carriers and matches you to the one most favorable for your specific numbers and health profile. That’s especially important when blood pressure is combined with anything else.
For help calculating how much coverage you actually need, our life insurance needs calculator walks through the same framework we use with clients.
Get your free quote today
At Term Insurance Brokers, we work with applicants managing high blood pressure every week. We represent more than 30 top-rated carriers and know which ones take the most favorable view of controlled hypertension — alone or combined with other conditions.
There’s no cost for a quote and no pressure to buy. Just an honest conversation about your numbers and what fits.
Call us at 888-972-0024 or visit terminsurancebrokers.com for your free, no-obligation quote today.
Term Insurance Brokers is an independent brokerage licensed in 35+ states, based in Las Vegas, Nevada. We are not affiliated with any single insurance company.