If you’re thinking about purchasing disability insurance but don’t think you’ll be eligible due to a pre-existing illness or injury, you’re not alone. Many people believe they can’t qualify, but in many cases, one can get coverage with a pre-existing condition — more specifically, a health issue, illness, or injury that existed before obtaining insurance coverage. However, the process of getting a policy may be a little more difficult or costly.
Key takeaways
Having a pre-existing condition does not automatically disqualify you from disability insurance, especially if the condition has been well-managed for several years.
Insurers typically evaluate the severity, diagnosis date, treatment, and stability of a condition, and may be more concerned about recently diagnosed or poorly controlled illnesses.
If you are approved, your policy may come with higher premiums, exclusions for the pre-existing condition, longer waiting periods, or shorter coverage terms.
Even if a specific condition is excluded, disability insurance can still protect your income if you become unable to work because of a different illness or injury.
People with pre-existing conditions may improve their chances of getting coverage by comparing multiple insurers, using employer group plans, or seeking guaranteed-issue or association-sponsored policies.
It could be worth the extra effort
Disability can happen to anyone, so it makes sense to be concerned about how a disability that keeps you from earning income might could impact your life. The Social Security Administration (SSA) estimates that one in four 20-year-olds will experience a disability for 90 days or more before they reach age 67.1 However, you may not want to rely on Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) to protect your income. The fact is, only 36% of initial applications for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) are approved.2 Yet even if approved, the average SSDI benefit for 2026 is just $1,630 per month.3 The reality is, if you rely on your income to pay living expenses — and have dependents who also rely on you — a private long-term disability insurance policy could be key to maintaining your lifestyle if illness or injury keeps you from working for an extended time.
Which illnesses and injuries are considered pre-existing conditions?
While specific underwriting guidelines regarding pre-existing conditions differ from insurer to insurer, there are certain basic guidelines that are common to most disability insurance companies. Generally speaking, they define a pre-existing condition as any permanent medical condition that existed before you applied for disability insurance.
However, it needn’t keep you from applying. Insurers may approve your policy as applied, or offer modifications, such as an exclusion for a specific condition. But some exclusions are not permanent, and you can request a reconsideration after 1-3 years if you remain symptom-free or treatment-free for that condition.
Of course, in some cases the application is declined entirely based on the severity and history of a condition. Will your specific pre-existing condition prevent you from getting coverage? That will typically depend on several factors, including:
Your exact diagnosis
How serious the condition is
When you were diagnosed or became symptomatic
What kind of medical treatment you’re receiving
The medication or treatment is required to control it
Perhaps surprisingly, a recently diagnosed condition is often more of an issue than a longstanding condition. Why? If a condition has been well managed for many years, there may be less uncertainty and risk in insuring a person. That said, some of the more common pre-existing conditions that are likely to prevent a person from securing coverage include4:
arthritis
asthma
diabetes
emphysema
heart disease
high cholesterol
high blood pressure (hypertension)
certain cancers
Because they can affect your ability to work, insurers may also hesitate to issue coverage if you have certain high-risk factors, such as chronic back pain, anxiety or depression, previous surgeries or injuries, or sleep apnea.5 It’s also important to note that there are other conditions that may make it difficult for you to secure disability insurance, but they tend to vary by insurance company, because underwriting guidelines differ from one insurer to the next.
If you get coverage, a pre-existing condition could affect the terms of your policy
How do disability insurance policies issued to those with pre-existing conditions differ from policies issued to those with no pre-existing conditions? Specifics differ from insurer to insurer, but in general, here are some issues to be aware of:
Most insurers will view a pre-existing condition as an added risk factor, which often translates to somewhat higher rates.
An insurance company will typically (but not always) impose an exclusion for a pre-existing condition, meaning they will not pay benefits for disabilities caused or contributed to by a pre-existing condition. However, you will still get benefits for any other covered condition.
Rather than excluding a pre-existing condition, an insurance company may impose a longer waiting period on claims related to that condition. So, for example, instead of a typical 6-month waiting period for long-term disability benefits to start, you may be required to wait 12 months for benefit payments.
Depending on the nature and severity of your pre-existing condition, an insurance company may limit the term (length) of your policy. If you want to purchase new coverage at the end of the term, you will probably have to go through a new underwriting process.
While many exclusions or limits will be permanent, others may be eligible for review at some point. If the insurer feels that the condition is no longer a high risk, they may remove the exclusion.
Despite these potential limitations, it is important to remember that disability insurance will cover you should you be unable to work due to any illnesses or injuries unrelated to your specific condition. So a policy can still be an important way to help protect your financial well-being. Just be sure to carefully review all policy terms and conditions, paying close attention to the policy language regarding exclusions, lookback periods, and any additional limitations that may affect your coverage. Consulting with your agent or financial advisor is recommended,, as coverage limitations and exclusions related to specific conditions can be somewhat complicated and vary among insurance providers.
How can someone with a pre-existing condition get coverage?
If you’re willing to do some extra shopping around, it may not be as difficult as you imagine. Here are some options and tips that you might want to consider:
Contact or research several insurance companies: While some insurance companies may deny you coverage due to your pre-existing condition, others may offer you a policy. Remember, underwriting guidelines differ from insurer to insurer.
Find out if your employer offers group coverage: Many employers offer group disability insurance benefits as part of their employee benefits package, at least for short-term disability insurance. Group plans can be more lenient regarding pre-existing conditions, as some may not require a medical exam or ask you to submit medical records.
Look for specialized coverage: Specialized products such as guaranteed issue disability insurance may be an option for those with pre-existing conditions, although they often feature higher premiums and limited benefits.
Go through your professional or trade association: Some offer group disability insurance plans to their members. For example, many doctors in private practice get physician disability insurance. These group plans may also be more lenient regarding certain pre-existing conditions.
In many ways, getting disability insurance with a pre-existing condition is like getting life insurance. While your premiums may be somewhat higher and there may be coverage limitations, in many cases, you will be able to get a substantial level of coverage at an affordable cost. But it's important to work with an insurance professional who can explain all the options available and carefully review the terms and conditions of the policy with you before purchasing.
Why so many people choose Guardian for individual disability insurance
The fact is, we have more experience than most: Guardian has been helping families protect their financial well-being for over 160 years. With high scores for financial soundness from independent rating agencies, our 12 million customers can trust us to be there when they need us most. And importantly, Forbes named Guardian the best overall disability insurance company for 2026 because of our expert guidance and simple online enrollment, while CNBC named Guardian the best disability insurance company for customer satisfaction in 2026.6,7,8
If you are interested in getting disability coverage, a Guardian financial advisor can help you explore the options and guide you to coverage that fits your situation. Here’s how to find someone near you:
Frequently asked questions about disability insurance and pre-existing conditions
Disability insurance for pre-existing conditions doesn't really exist — policies will typically cover every condition covered by the definition of disability or exclude pre-existing conditions, which means that you won’t be covered or receive benefits if your inability to work is due to a pre-existing condition. However, in some cases benefits could eventually be paid, for example, after a longer waiting period. Also, it’s important to note that a pre-existing condition will not prevent you from receiving benefits for the much wider number of covered medical conditions and diagnoses that could keep you from working and earning income.
It is possible to obtain a disability insurance policy even if you have a pre-existing condition when you apply for coverage. However, there will likely be an exclusion for that condition. That means that if at some point you are unable to work due to the pre-existing condition excluded from the policy, you will most likely be denied insurance benefits. In other words, you will only be covered if your disability claim (and inability to work) is due to an illness or injury that you didn’t have when you got the policy.
The answer is yes, depending on the insurer and the policy. Many insurance companies will approve applicants with pre-existing conditions such as diabetes, lupus, colitis, and even certain types of cancer if the conditions are being well managed and/or in remission. But the insurance carrier may charge a higher premium for the coverage.