Author
Bowtie Team
Updated on
2025-06-19
Disclaimer: This article is translated with the assistance of AI.
If you have high cholesterol or triglycerides, can you still get medical insurance? Will you face extra premiums? The Bowtie insurance team explains it all and shares key underwriting factors to consider.
Can People with High Cholesterol or Triglycerides Apply for Insurance?
Everyone’s body is unique, so it could result in various underwriting outcomes.
Successful Application
If the insured’s cholesterol and triglycerides are only slightly elevated, they may still pay the standard premium, meaning the normal level premium.
Successful Application with Increased Premium and/or Exclusions
Although the insurance company accepts the application, they may increase the premium based on the insured’s lipid control status and treatment type (commonly known as Loading ) and/or add exclusions , for example, if high lipid levels are poorly controlled and already require medication.
Direct Rejection
If the insured’s lipid levels are severely elevated, Bowtie may decide to directly reject the application, such as in the following situations:
- Total cholesterol > 8 mmol/L
- triglycerides > 10 mmol/L
- Total cholesterol: high-density lipoprotein ratio > 8.5
If you’ve been rejected before, you can generally reapply after lowering your lipid levels through diet or exercise, usually within 1 year .
Key Considerations for Insurance Companies During Underwriting
High cholesterol or other lipid disorders can increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases, which are major risk factors for conditions like ischemic heart disease and stroke.
Insurance companies evaluate the insured’s health from various angles, including:
Total cholesterol : The total amount of cholesterol in the blood is called “total cholesterol,” which mainly consists of low-density lipoprotein (often called “bad cholesterol”) and high-density lipoprotein (often called “good cholesterol”). Since low-density lipoprotein speeds up fat buildup in the arteries and increases the risk of coronary heart disease, total cholesterol should not be excessively high.
Triglycerides : Elevated triglycerides can clog arteries and hinder the normal function of high-density lipoprotein, thereby increasing the risk of cardiovascular diseases.
Total cholesterol: high-density lipoprotein ratio: High-density lipoprotein helps prevent artery blockages and ruptures, reducing the risk of heart disease. Therefore, a higher ratio of total cholesterol to high-density lipoprotein means total cholesterol exceeds high-density lipoprotein, increasing the risk of cardiovascular diseases, which could affect underwriting and premiums.
Age: Age is a key factor in assessing cardiovascular risk. Insurance companies may consider it, especially if other risk factors like smoking, high blood pressure, or a family history of heart disease are present.
These are just some common factors. In reality, insurance underwriting involves many variables, and health conditions vary from person to person, so readers with non-ideal lipid levels can still try applying with us.
1-Minute Check: Are You Eligible for Bowtie VHIS?
Want to apply for or switch to Bowtie VHIS, but unsure if your current health condition can pass underwriting? Bowtie has compiled the most common 26 disease underwriting results, allowing you to complete a preliminary underwriting test yourself and quickly find out in 1 minute if you can apply!
Press here Bowtie VHIS Preliminary Underwriting Test
Please note:
- This assessment only provides a preliminary reference for a single health condition, and is not the final underwriting result or guarantee .
- If you have more than one health condition and wish to apply for Bowtie VHIS, we recommend you fill out the health questionnaire for a detailed assessment.
- The final underwriting decision will be based on the complete health declaration at the time of application.
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