It’s estimated that around 1 million people in the UK live with bipolar disorder¹. If you’ve been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, you may be wondering how it could affect your chances of getting life insurance cover.
While it’s true that having a mental health condition can make the application process a little more complicated, it doesn’t necessarily mean you can’t get cover. In many cases, people with bipolar disorder are still able to get life insurance.
In this guide, we’ll walk through how insurers assess bipolar, what questions you’re likely to be asked, and what your options are if you've previously been declined.
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Can I apply for life Insurance if I have bipolar disorder?
Yes, you can apply for life insurance if you have bipolar disorder or any other mental health condition. You won’t be disqualified from applying simply because of your diagnosis, but insurers will want to know more about your condition before making a decision.
Bipolar disorder can cause extreme mood swings, from emotional highs (mania or hypomania) to deep lows (manic depression or suicidal thoughts).
It affects people differently, and the severity, frequency, and treatment of your episodes all play a role in how insurer providers assess your application.
What will insurers ask when you apply?
As with any type of health condition, whether that be mental or physical, your insurer will want to know more about your condition. In terms of bipolar disorder, they may ask questions regarding:
The type of bipolar disorder you have (e.g. Bipolar I, Bipolar II, cyclothymia)
When you were diagnosed
How often you experience episodes
Whether your condition is stable or currently being treated
What medication you take
Whether you’ve had any hospitalisations, suicidal thoughts, or self-harm incidents
If you’re currently under the care of a mental health professional
It's crucial to be honest about the information you provide to insurers. Perhaps you may be worried about disclosing your condition due to rejection or higher premiums. But failing to do so could have future consequences.
If something were to happen and your insurer finds out you didn’t provide accurate information, they could deny a claim or even cancel the policy entirely.
Will having bipolar increase the cost of life insurance?
Depending on your individual circumstances, you may face higher premiums than someone without bipolar. In some cases, the amount of cover you can take out may be limited, or the insurer may postpone the application if your condition is recently diagnosed or currently unstable.
Your age and medical history can impact the cost of cover. Typically, those who are young, in generally good health could pay less compared to older individuals or those with health issues.
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What’s the best life insurance for bipolar disorder?
If you have bipolar disorder, you still have access to the same types of life insurance as anyone else, though this depends on your circumstances.
The two main types of life cover are:
Term life insurance, which covers you for a set number of years, often between 5-50 years. It’s available as:
Level term – the payout stays the same throughout the policy
Decreasing term – the payout reduces over time, often used to cover a repayment mortgage
Increasing term – the payout rises over time to keep up with inflation
Term cover is usually more affordable and a popular option for people looking to protect their family or mortgage during certain life stages.
Whole of life insurance (also known as life assurance) lasts for your entire lifetime, and guarantees a payout whenever you pass away. Premiums are typically higher, but it may be worth considering if you’re looking for long-term cover to help with funeral costs or leave a financial legacy.
If you’re finding it difficult to get standard life insurance, you could consider guaranteed life insurance. This is a type of policy that doesn’t require any medical questions, so you’re guaranteed to be accepted regardless of your health. However, it usually has lower payout limits and comes with a waiting period (e.g. the first 12–24 months).
Guaranteed policies can be a helpful safety net if you’ve been declined elsewhere, but it’s worth exploring standard options first.
Is bipolar classed as a critical illness?
You may also be wondering whether bipolar disorder is covered under critical illness insurance, or if you can get this type of cover.
Bipolar is not typically classed as a critical illness. Critical illness cover is usually designed to pay out if you’re diagnosed with a serious physical condition, such as cancer, heart attack, or stroke.
Mental health conditions, including bipolar, aren’t usually included on the list of illnesses that trigger a claim. However, some related complications, like permanent disability due to mental illness, might be covered, depending on the insurer and the wording of the policy.
If you’re applying for critical illness cover and you have bipolar disorder, your insurer could: offer you cover with a mental health exclusion or increase your premiums. They could even decline your application, depending on the severity and history of your condition.
It’s also possible that your application may be accepted if your condition is stable and well-managed. Even more so if you’ve been symptom-free for a long time and haven’t needed hospital treatment or medication recently.
Can I get income protection if I have bipolar?
The same general rules apply when it comes to income protection. While having bipolar disorder doesn’t automatically rule you out, it can make it more challenging to get this type of cover if your condition has caused time off work or hospital admissions.
Insurers will want to know more about how your condition could impact your ability to work in the future and the likelihood of making a claim.
Some insurers may offer income protection but exclude mental health-related claims, while others may charge a higher premium or offer a reduction in cover.
Support when applying for life insurance with bipolar disorder
If you’re unsure where to start or have been declined before, Cavendish Online can help. Our friendly and experienced advisors are here to support you every step of the way.
We know that everyone’s situation is different. Whether you’d prefer to chat over the phone, book in a call at a time that suits you. Our advisers are used to handling sensitive disclosures with kindness, professionalism, and care.
Once we have the information we need, we’ll get to work researching the whole market, including insurers who take a more flexible approach to mental health conditions. We’ll then come back to you with clear, tailored recommendations based on your personal circumstances.
If we can’t find you a medically underwritten policy straight away, we’ll talk you through any alternative options, and check back in with you regularly in case your situation changes.
If you’re ready to explore your options, you can get a quote online in minutes. Or, you can call our expert team on
01392 436193
(Monday to Thursday 9am – 5.30pm, Friday 9am – 5pm).
