Can You Get FIFO Insurance With a Pre-Existing Condition?

What is a Pre-Existing Condition in Insurance Terms?

A pre-existing condition is any medical condition, illness, or injury that you had before applying for insurance. This can include things you're actively being treated for, conditions that are well-managed and stable, past injuries that have fully healed, and mental health conditions including historical episodes.

The way insurers deal with pre-existing conditions varies enormously — from full coverage with no changes, to exclusions for that specific condition, to premium loadings, to outright declining. The outcome depends on the condition, its current status, your occupation, and the specific insurer.

Common Pre-Existing Conditions for FIFO Workers

Back and Musculoskeletal Injuries

By far the most common issue for FIFO workers. A history of back problems, disc injuries, shoulder or knee surgeries is extremely common in people who've done years of physical site work.

An exclusion for a pre-existing back condition on an IP or TPD policy doesn't mean you can't get covered — it means claims directly related to that back condition won't be paid. But everything else — cancer, heart attack, unrelated injuries — is still covered. For many FIFO workers, some cover with an exclusion is far better than no cover at all.

Mental Health History

Depression, anxiety, and stress-related conditions are increasingly common disclosures. FIFO life — long stints away from family, shift work, isolation — creates genuine mental health pressures. Insurers take varying approaches, from no exclusion for a single historical episode to exclusions or loadings for ongoing or recurrent conditions.

This is an area where working with an experienced adviser is particularly valuable — they know which insurers have the most reasonable approach to mental health history for FIFO occupations.

Diabetes and Metabolic Conditions

Type 2 diabetes is increasingly common and doesn't automatically exclude you from cover. Well-controlled Type 2 diabetes may attract a premium loading rather than an exclusion. Type 1 diabetes is treated more conservatively by most insurers but cover may still be available.

Sleep Apnoea

Very common in the mining and construction sector. Treated and managed sleep apnoea (CPAP compliance) is generally viewed more favourably than untreated sleep apnoea. Being proactive about treatment before applying for insurance typically leads to better outcomes.

How the Underwriting Process Works

When you apply for insurance with a pre-existing condition, the insurer's underwriters will review your medical history and may:

• Accept the application with no changes (standard terms)
• Accept with a specific exclusion for the pre-existing condition
• Accept with a premium loading (higher premium to reflect higher risk)
• Request further information — GP reports, specialist notes, test results
• Decline the application entirely (rare except for very serious active conditions)

Why Comparison Matters More With Pre-Existing Conditions

Underwriting decisions vary significantly between insurers. One insurer might apply a premium loading of 100% for a previous knee surgery; another might accept standard terms. One might exclude all mental health conditions; another might only exclude the specific diagnosed condition with a 2-year waiting period.

This is why having an adviser who can approach multiple insurers on your behalf and compare their responses is so important when you have health history to disclose. Getting it wrong — going direct to one insurer and accepting their terms without comparison — can cost you thousands over the life of a policy.

What if You've Been Declined Before?

Being declined by one insurer doesn't mean all insurers will decline you. Different insurers use different underwriting guidelines, and new products and more flexible underwriting approaches emerge regularly. Always get a second opinion through an adviser who has access to multiple markets.