Old Mutual Wealth, part of Quilter, will now be able to consider customers looking for life cover who have both heart disease, or cerebrovascular disease such as stroke and diabetes, a combination it says the industry “typically flatly declines.”

Previously, any customer who had a combination of heart disease and diabetes or cerebrovascular disease and diabetes, would have been denied at application, Old Mutual said.

A customer with either condition and diabetes can now enter into Old Mutual Wealth’s underwriting process and may be able to get life cover on either its guaranteed whole of life, rolling term or fixed term plans.

According to Diabetes UK, if current trends do not change, more than five million people will have diabetes in the UK by 2025.

People who suffer with diabetes are much more likely to have heart disease because high blood glucose can damage blood vessels and the nerves that control the heart and blood vessels.

Therefore having both diabetes and heart disease can be a common combination.

Old Mutual Wealth ssays that advisers looking to cover clients with one of these combinations of illnesses should contact it’s new pre-sales underwriting service, where advisers can email or phone an underwriter directly to discuss a particular case ahead of making an application. 

Paul Roberts, head of protection at Old Mutual Wealth, said: “Making sure your loved ones are looked after when you pass away is high on everyone’s wish list, which is why more should be done to help people who face restrictions to securing that peace of mind.

“We are delighted that we are now able to offer life cover to people who have both diabetes and heart disease who previously might have struggled to get it.

"These two problems often come hand in hand and will ordinarily immediately preclude you from getting life cover.”