Yes — in most cases. Mental health conditions are among the most common disclosures on UK life insurance applications, and insurers are required to assess them by the same process as physical conditions. Mild-to-moderate depression or anxiety that is stable and well-managed is frequently accepted at standard rates with no exclusions. More complex histories may mean a higher premium, a specific exclusion, or referral to a specialist insurer — but a mental health history very rarely means no cover is available at all.

Often it won’t. Mild-to-moderate depression or anxiety that is stable — typically meaning no hospital admissions and no significant time off work in around the last two years — is commonly offered at standard rates. Insurers actually view ongoing medication positively, because it shows the condition is being managed. Premiums are more likely to be loaded where there have been recent severe episodes, hospital admission, or several conditions together. Importantly, the same applicant can be quoted premiums varying by 30–40% across different insurers, which is why comparing matters more with a mental health history, not less.

Yes — the application questions must be answered honestly, as the answers form part of the insurance contract. Insurers can request GP records at the point of claim, and non-disclosure is one of the few reasons a life insurance claim is ever refused. The other side of the same fact: disclosure very rarely means refusal, insurers cannot access medical records without the applicant’s consent, and a fully disclosed policy is one the insurer has priced on complete information.

Legal & General, Aviva, Royal London and Vitality are consistently among the most competitive mainstream insurers for applicants with anxiety or depression, with Vitality confirming it applies no automatic mental health exclusion and assesses each application individually. Scottish Widows and Zurich also underwrite mental health disclosures case by case. For more complex histories, specialist insurers such as The Exeter may offer terms where mainstream insurers decline. Because pricing philosophy differs so much between insurers, the best choice depends on your specific history — which is exactly what whole-of-market comparison is for.

Yes, provided the application was answered honestly. A valid UK life insurance policy pays out regardless of whether a mental health condition contributed to the death. The one standard limitation is that most UK policies include a suicide exclusion covering the first 12 months of the policy (24 months with some insurers); after that period, policies generally do pay out. UK insurers’ own claims statistics bear this out — around 98–99% of life insurance claims are paid, with the small number of declines mainly relating to non-disclosure.

Often yes, though underwriting is more individual. Bipolar disorder, PTSD, OCD and eating disorders are all insurable conditions; insurers will look at severity, stability, treatment, hospital admissions and time since the last significant episode. PTSD applications from veterans and emergency services personnel are well understood by several insurers. Outcomes range from standard rates through premium loadings to, in some cases, declined applications with mainstream insurers — at which point some applicants approach specialist insurers, or brokers who work with these histories, where terms may still be available.

Typically: what condition you’ve been diagnosed with; when it was diagnosed and when you last had symptoms; what treatment you receive, including medication and therapy; whether you’ve ever been admitted to hospital for it; whether you’ve had time off work because of it; and whether you have ever self-harmed or attempted suicide. For larger sums or more complex histories the insurer may ask your permission for a GP report. The questions exist to price the policy accurately, not to judge — answering them fully is what makes the policy dependable.

It helps but rarely replaces it. Death-in-service typically pays 2–4× salary, requires no medical underwriting at all — which makes it valuable if you have a significant mental health history — but it ends when you leave the job, and the amount is usually well below what a mortgage and family need. Some people hold death-in-service as a foundation with a personal policy alongside it; others rely on employer cover alone. Which arrangement suits an individual depends on their circumstances — an FCA-regulated adviser can make a personal recommendation, which this guide does not.