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Divorce is one of the most stressful experiences a person can go through, and it takes a real toll not just emotionally but physically too. Research consistently links separation to increased rates of anxiety, depression, and related health conditions, with one UK survey by Slater and Gordon finding that 53% of divorcees reported more stress and anxiety during the divorce process. For many people, by the time they reach the other side of it and turn their attention to their financial affairs, their health is simply not what it was when they first took out their life insurance.
If that describes your situation, you may be wondering whether you can still get cover, what it might cost, and whether your changed circumstances mean you have to start from scratch. The answer is more encouraging than many people expect — but the steps you take, and the order in which you take them, make a significant difference.
When you apply for a new life insurance policy, an insurer assesses the risk of covering you based on factors including your age, lifestyle, and health history. If your health has changed since your original policy was arranged whether that is a new diagnosis, medication, mental health treatment, or a significant change in circumstances a new application will be assessed on the basis of your current health, not your health at the time you originally took out cover.
This is not necessarily a barrier to getting cover. The ABI reported that 97.9% of individual protection claims were paid in 2024. Insurers are in the business of paying valid claims, and the vast majority of people with health conditions can still access some form of life insurance. However, a changed health profile can affect the terms on which cover is offered a higher premium, a specific exclusion relating to a particular condition, or in some cases a referral to a specialist insurer rather than a mainstream one.
The most important thing to understand is that no two insurers assess the same condition in exactly the same way. Their underwriting criteria, experience with specific conditions, and appetite for risk differ considerably. Being declined by one insurer does not mean you will be declined by all of them, and working with a whole-of-market broker significantly increases your chances of finding the most appropriate cover at the most competitive terms.
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