Underwriting

Blood pressure is the force of blood pushing against the walls of arteries as the heart pumps it around the body, but what happens when it is higher than it should be? Paula Reeves reports

It has been one year since the Association of British Insurers' new definitions on critical illness came into force, yet advisers and consumers are still missing out on what is seen as a difficult product, argues Iain Mallon.

The digestive system breaks down solid food to provide the body with important nutrients - so what happens when it fails to work as effectively as it should? Clare Guy reports.

Often misunderstood by the public, schizophrenia is a life-long mental disorder that can affect a sufferer's career opportunities and personal relationships. Scott Power outlines the symptoms.

A much misunderstood area, phobias can make sufferers' lives unbearable. Rachel Hanslope outlines the various forms phobias can take and details the implications for underwriters.

With so many potential causes and a high probability of the loss of sufferers' livelihood, renal disease is one condition insurers are seemingly not keen on covering, as Wendy Hickman writes.

With numerous types of epilepsy and a variety of different kinds of epileptic seizure, underwriting for customers living with the condition can be troublesome. Vanessa Leyland fills in the gaps.

With the variance in survival rates so dependent on type, insurers underwriting clients with brain tumours must stay informed on all the relevant statistics. Angela Kidd provides the details.

Depending on the variation of cerebral palsy a person suffers from, insurers can range from offering cover at standard rates to declining the application altogether, writes Lea Taylor

Edward is 32 years old and has just moved in with his girlfriend Jo who is also 32. He works as a lecturer at the local university and has, until the recent smoking ban, indulged in a 20-a-day smoking habit. Much to the delight of Jo, he has now stopped...