Can I get life insurance with pre-existing medical conditions?

Yes, Australians with pre-existing medical conditions can still obtain life insurance, though the process is more complex and coverage terms may differ. When you disclose pre-existing conditions during the underwriting process, insurers have several options: accept you at standard rates (for well-managed, minor conditions), apply a premium loading (charging higher premiums, typically 25-200% more, depending on the condition's severity), exclude the specific condition from coverage (the policy covers you for death from other causes but not from the pre-existing condition or its complications), impose special terms or waiting periods, or decline coverage entirely (only for very serious or poorly managed conditions). Conditions that are well-managed and stable for several years typically receive better terms. For example, if you had cancer that's been successfully treated and you're five years in remission, you might get coverage with a moderate loading rather than a decline. The same applies to well-controlled diabetes, managed high blood pressure, or stable mental health conditions. To maximise your chances of getting coverage with pre-existing conditions: be completely honest in your application (non-disclosure can void your policy), provide comprehensive medical records showing good management and compliance with treatment, shop around as different Australian insurers assess conditions differently, consider specialist brokers who work with multiple insurers and know which are more accommodating of specific conditions, and explore life insurance through your super fund, which may offer automatic acceptance for default coverage amounts regardless of pre-existing conditions, though with lower coverage limits.