Which Life Insurance Companies Are Best for People With Heart Disease?
Over the last few decades, heart disease has become the leading cause of death in the U.S., and more than 697,000 people die from heart disease in the United States every year.
For people with heart disease or heart conditions, affordable life insurance may seem out of reach. But, the good news is that some highly-rated companies specialize in providing affordable life insurance coverage to people with heart issues.
Here’s what we'll cover in this post:Quick Article Guide
Best Life Insurance Companies for People With Heart Disease
Health issues like heart disease have an impact on your life insurance premiums and could prevent you from qualifying for coverage with some companies. This is why it is important to work with an insurer that specializes in providing great rates to people with pre-existing conditions.
Thankfully, some insurance companies are more lenient than others when it comes to heart disease, and a handful of insurers specialize with specific heart issues like atrial-fibrillation. Overall, these are some of the best life insurance companies for people with heart disease:
Company | Best For | A.M.Best Rating | Customer Reviews |
Banner Life |
| A+ | 4.5 / 5 |
Lincoln Financial |
| A+ | 4.2 / 5 |
Mutual of Omaha |
| A+ | 4.1 / 5 |
Protective Life |
| A+ | 4.3 / 5 |
AIG |
| A+ | 4.2 / 5 |
To instantly compare life insurance quotes from more than 63 top-rated providers, please use our quote form below. You can also call us directly at 855-247-9555 for free advice from an expert.
How Does Heart Disease Affect Life Insurance Rates?
There are a variety of factors that life insurance providers will consider before offering full coverage to an applicant with health issues. Depending on your specific condition, most companies will base your rates and eligibility for coverage on these major factors:
- When you were diagnosed
- Your overall health
- How often you follow-up with your doctor
- Any medications you are taking
- Your current age
If your condition is not properly managed, or you have other compounding health problems, you may qualify for a substandard rating. These are additional risk classes are usually assigned to applicants in poor health compared to other people in their age group.
For each additional table rating, you can expect to pay about 25% more for your life insurance premiums, which is why its important to work with an experienced agent. Finding the company that is the most favorable with your health profile will save you a considerable amount of money.
The older you are, the higher your rates will be, and fewer options you'll have to compare from. Working with an independent agency will increase the choices that are available to you, and ensure that you get the right policy for your situation.
To instantly compare term life insurance quotes from 63 top-rated insurance providers, please use our free online form below. You can also call us toll-free at 855-247-9555 to speak with an expert.
What Life Insurance Rate Class Am I?
Most life insurance companies offer 12 to 16 different rate classes for their applicants. When you apply for a policy, the company you apply with will review your application and assign you a health class based on the results of your medical exam and your overall "risk."
The top four rate classes are usually reserved for people in average or better health for their age. If you have a heart condition that is considered to be moderate or severe, you probably fall below the requirements for a “Standard” rate, in which case you will be assigned a table rating.
We've broken down the top four life insurance rate classifications and further explained table ratings in the section below.
Class | Cost |
| Preferred Best | Lowest Rates |
| Preferred | 20-25% More than Preferred Best |
| Standard Plus | 20-25% More than Preferred |
| Standard | 20-25% More than Standard Plus |
| Sub-standard | See Table Ratings Below |
As we mentioned above, most life insurance companies will charge a 25% increase in addition to their standard rate class for every table rating an applicant is assigned. Table ratings are usually listed by letters or numbers, here is an example:
Table Rating | Cost |
| Table A or 1 | 25% table rating |
| Table B or 2 | 50% table rating |
| Table C or 3 | 75% table rating |
| Table D or 4 | 100% table rating |
| Table E or 5 | 125% table rating |
| Table F or 6 | 150% table rating |
| Table G or 7 | 175% table rating |
| Table H or 8 | 200% table rating |
Mild to moderate heart conditions will typically place you in the mild or moderate category (Table A or B). More severe heart conditions can cause you to be put in Table D rate class or lower. Most companies stop offering coverage to applicants after table H or 8.
If you have:
- Been recently hospitalized,
- Had more than one heart surgery
- Currently use blood-thinners for your condition
Want to learn more about how each of these factors affects life insurance rates for people with heart disease? These comprehensive resources will provide you with everything you need to know to get the best rates in your position:
Sample Life Insurance Rates for People With Heart Disease
Sample Life Insurance Rates for People With Heart Disease
The two most common forms of life insurance are term and burial insurance. Term life insurance provides a large amount of protection for a limited number or years (usually 10 to 30) making it ideal for anyone with debt or young dependents.
If you need to leave some money behind to your loved ones to help with final expenses or unforeseen medical bills, burial insurance is your best option. We've provided some sample rates for both types of coverage in the section below.
Term Life Insurance Rates
Most term life insurance companies offer 12 different rate classes to their applicants. In our experiences, people with mild heart disease usually qualify for standard rates. If your heart disease is considered to be "moderate" you should expect to pay about 40 to 60% more than the rates displayed.
"Standard" 20-Year Term Rates for a Female
| Current Age | Preferred Best | Preferred | Standard Plus | Standard | Preferred Tobacco | Standard Tobacco |
| 30 | $10.87 | $12.79 | $15.73 | $17.71 | $31.46 | $36.53 |
| 35 | $11.81 | $14.11 | $17.42 | $19.28 | $36.27 | $51.96 |
| 40 | $14.99 | $18.01 | $21.89 | $24.80 | $53.64 | $69.49 |
| 45 | $21.03 | $24.40 | $32.22 | $36.28 | $78.57 | $107.52 |
| 50 | $30.60 | $35.66 | $45.26 | $52.12 | $116.36 | $143.71 |
| 55 | $44.82 | $51.30 | $65.17 | $77.50 | $175.95 | $221.21 |
| 60 | $74.24 | $83.87 | $112.99 | $132.69 | $251.81 | $345.74 |
| 65 | $134.24 | $163.11 | $192.04 | $231.92 | $410.34 | $546.07 |
| 70 | $343.40 | $379.10 | $407.98 | $463.19 | $782.07 | $895.61 |
*Sample monthly rates are accurate as of 03/09/2023 and are provided for illustrative purposes only.
"Standard" 20-Year Term Rates for a Male
| Current Age | Preferred Best | Preferred | Standard Plus | Standard | Preferred Tobacco | Standard Tobacco |
| 30 | $12.61 | $15.28 | $18.87 | $21.58 | $39.13 | $49.02 |
| 35 | $13.38 | $16.01 | $20.48 | $23.71 | $46.01 | $64.60 |
| 40 | $16.56 | $20.93 | $27.37 | $30.65 | $69.06 | $96.68 |
| 45 | $26.20 | $31.03 | $40.67 | $48.35 | $106.46 | $147.00 |
| 50 | $38.91 | $45.42 | $62.56 | $70.21 | $165.06 | $202.96 |
| 55 | $60.56 | $71.57 | $92.52 | $115.27 | $254.53 | $323.75 |
| 60 | $105.76 | $117.05 | $160.01 | $183.93 | $382.29 | $468.77 |
| 65 | $194.38 | $227.63 | $287.93 | $362.65 | $525.19 | $631.19 |
| 70 | $439.05 | $482.75 | $519.84 | $593.69 | $929.73 | $1,072.54 |
*Sample monthly rates are accurate as of 03/09/2023 and are provided for illustrative purposes only.
It is important to note that after age 75, a 10-year term is the longest term available with most companies. After the age of 80, term insurance is no longer an option with any of the 50+ life insurance companies our independent agency represents.
Not sure if term life insurance is best for you? We made these resources to help you find the best type of life insurance with heart disease:
Burial Life Insurance Rates
For older applicants with serious health issues, there is burial insurance. These policies offer guaranteed acceptance and lifetime coverage to cover the cost of one’s funeral and final expenses. Most providers offer up to $25,000 of burial coverage except for Great Western which offers $40,000.
Below is a sample chart for some minimal coverage burial insurance policies:
Burial Life Insurance Rates for a Female
| Age | $5,000 | $10,000 | $15,000 | $20,000 | $25,000 |
| 45 | $14.45 | $27.90 | $41.35 | $54.80 | $68.25 |
| 50 | $15.70 | $30.40 | $45.10 | $59.80 | $74.50 |
| 55 | $19.25 | $37.50 | $55.75 | $74.00 | $92.25 |
| 60 | $21.85 | $42.70 | $63.55 | $84.40 | $105.25 |
| 65 | $25.50 | $50.00 | $74.50 | $99.00 | $123.50 |
| 70 | $32.45 | $63.90 | $95.35 | $126.80 | $158.25 |
| 75 | $44.75 | $88.50 | $132.25 | $176.00 | $219.75 |
| 80 | $63.95 | $126.90 | $189.85 | $252.80 | $315.75 |
| 85 | $79.35 | $157.70 | $236.05 | $314.40 | $392.75 |
*Sample monthly rates are accurate as of 03/09/2023 and are provided for illustrative purposes only.
Burial Life Insurance Rates for a Male
| Age | $5,000 | $10,000 | $15,000 | $20,000 | $25,000 |
| 45 | $18.70 | $36.40 | $54.10 | $71.80 | $89.50 |
| 50 | $20.60 | $40.20 | $59.80 | $79.40 | $99.00 |
| 55 | $23.20 | $45.40 | $67.60 | $89.80 | $112.00 |
| 60 | $28.95 | $56.90 | $84.85 | $112.80 | $140.75 |
| 65 | $34.75 | $68.50 | $102.25 | $136.00 | $169.75 |
| 70 | $43.85 | $86.70 | $129.55 | $172.40 | $215.25 |
| 75 | $57.15 | $113.30 | $169.45 | $225.60 | $281.75 |
| 80 | $79.05 | $157.10 | $235.15 | $313.20 | $391.25 |
| 85 | $96.85 | $192.70 | $288.55 | $384.40 | $480.25 |
*Sample monthly rates are accurate as of 03/09/2023 and are provided for illustrative purposes only.
Want to learn more about burial insurance? These comprehensive guides have all you need to know:
Which Type of Life Insurance Policy is Best for People With Heart Disease?
Now that you know a bit more about what factors affect your life insurance rates, and which companies that offer the most underwriting leniency with heart disease, let’s dive into some of the policy options that are available to you.
Term Life Insurance With Heart Disease
Term life insurance is best defined as life insurance with an expiration date. Most policies are sold in 5-year increments and they typically last for 10 to 30 years. With term coverage, the insured can select the best coverage period for their needs, making these policies ideal for protecting major life events like paying off the mortgage.
If you have multiple life events that you want to insure; like reaching retirement age or seeing your children through college, you can also purchase multiple policies with different term lengths to correspond with each life event. This strategy is known as layering coverage and it can help you save on your coverage cost.
Term life insurance is very versatile, and it offers the lowest cost per thousand dollars of life insurance protection. The downside to term life insurance is that it requires medical underwriting for an approval, and this can prevent applicants with severe heart disease from getting approved.
While most term policies can be converted into permanent coverage, they’re not ideal for anyone that needs lifetime protection. Guaranteed universal life insurance is the best choice for people with heart disease and permanent insurance needs like funding a trust or maximizing a pension.
Would you like to learn more about term life insurance costs, policies, and providers? We’ve these resources to provide you with additional information:
Permanent Life Insurance With Heart Disease
Permanent life insurance policies should last a lifetime or until the maximum policy age, which is usually 90 or later. Some of these policies offer to build a small cash value overtime, and this money can be borrowed against in the future. Like any investment, however, there is some risk.
If the market does not perform well, your policy could become underfunded causing you to lose your coverage. If the market performs well and you decide to borrow from your policy’s cash value, your death benefit will be reduced the amount of the loan until it’s repaid. You’ll also have to pay a cash surrender fee and interest.
Rather than gambling with your life insurance protection, we recommend keeping your family's financial future and your investments separate. Guaranteed universal life insurance provides a fixed death benefit and level premiums until are 90, 95, 100, 105, 110, or 121. Your rates cannot change, regardless of any changes to your health or the market.
Traditional, non-guaranteed universal life insurance forces you to lock up your savings and while annual investment fees reduce your money's earnings. Why pay cash surrender fees and risk a reduced death benefit for accessing your own money?
A guaranteed universal life insurance policy allows for lots of customization, however for people under age 65, a permanent life insurance policy will be more expensive than a comparable term policy, even for those in excellent health.
The only people we recommend permanent life insurance to are those that need to establish a irrevocable life insurance trust for estate protection, maximize a pension, or fund a special needs trust. Otherwise, purchasing lifetime protection is usually unnecessary and expensive.
Want to learn more about permanent life insurance and if it is right for you? Here are some helpful resources:
No Exam Life Insurance with Heart Disease
There are three common types of no exam life insurance policies that most providers offer. These include term life insurance, which is also known as simplified issue insurance, whole life insurance, and guaranteed issue insurance. No exam policies are usually best option for people who:
- Do not want to undergo a medical examination
- Are in poor health and would otherwise be denied coverage
- Need life insurance in a hurry
Depending on your health, this may not be the best option for you. If you are in good health, you may be able to find more affordable rates by taking a medical exam. However, if you are in standard health or lower, this may be the best option for you.
Based on your health, there are also two types of no exam life insurance policies that you can apply for:
- Simplified Issue
- Guaranteed Issue
Simplified Issue
Term life insurance that doesn’t require an exam for approval is also known as simplified issue life insurance. With companies like Penn Mutual, up to $7,500,000 of coverage is available, but most insurance providers will limit your death benefit to $500,000 or less.
While simplified issue insurance coverage doesn’t require a health exam for approval, you will need to answer some health questions on your application. The insurance company will also review your medical records, prescription history, criminal history, and driving records in lieu of an exam.
Most simplified issue policies are approved in as little as 7 to 10 days, but this convenience comes at a cost. These policies usually cost 20% to 30% more than traditional term policies that require an exam, and they generally have stricter underwriting guidelines.
If you have mild heart issues, you may be able to qualify for a standard risk class with some companies, but you should expect your case to be table rated or declined if your heart disease is moderate or severe. If you have questions about your eligibility, our experts can help you determine your best option.
Guaranteed Issue
Guaranteed issue whole life insurance is available to almost anyone between the ages of 45 and 85, regardless of their health, or the severity of their heart conditions. You cannot be denied for coverage and there is no exam needed for an approval.
Often referred to as burial insurance, these policies typically offer up to $25,000 of coverage, and a handful of providers offer as much as $40,000 to people that are willing to answer a few health questions. While each company will limit you to one policy, you can purchase coverage from as many companies as you want.
If you're in extremely poor health, guaranteed issue life insurance may be the only option available to you. These policies offer immediate (but limited) coverage, and they do not require a medical exam, or health questions for an approval.
We do not recommend guaranteed issue coverage to anyone who is in average or better health, even if it's to supplement an existing policy. A traditional whole life insurance policy can provide comparable coverage at a much lower cost.
Want to learn more about No Medical Exam Life Insurance? These resources will help you determine your best option:
You can also call us toll-free at 855-247-9555 to speak with a licensed agent. Our consultative services are completely free, and there is no cost to apply for life insurance.
Frequently Asked Questions About Life Insurance for People With Heart Conditions
JRC Insurance Group has helped thousands of people with their life insurance needs. Our goal is to educate our clients and help them find the best policy for their family. Here are some of the most common questions we get from people with heart conditions:
Can you get life insurance if you have heart disease?
Yes. A heart condition or heart disease does not automatically disqualify you from purchasing coverage. Your condition may result in higher premiums though. Thankfully, there are lots of options available to you depending on the severity of your condition, age, and lifestyle.
Can you get life insurance after a heart attack?
Yes. However, the policies available to you may be more limited based on how recent your heart attack was and your overall health. Insurance providers will evaluate your current age, the severity of the heart attack, and how well your condition is being managed.
If nothing else, there are almost always options for guaranteed acceptance life insurance. These policies provide minimal coverage, but they don't ask any medical questions or require a health screening for approval.
Looking for more information about life insurance for people who have had heart attacks? This guide will help you learn more.
Can you get life insurance with congestive heart failure?
Yes. If you are managing your condition and regularly seeing your doctor, you may qualify for traditional term or permanent life insurance coverage. The severity of your congestive heart failure and your overall health will determine which policies are available to you.
Want to learn more about life insurance with congestive heart failure? Check out this comprehensive guide.
Does high blood pressure disqualify you from life insurance?
No. People with high blood pressure can still qualify for affordable life insurance. Your insurer will evaluate your overall risk before determining your final rates. If elevated blood pressure is the only health issue you have, it shouldn't have much of an impact on your premiums.
Finding More Information About Life Insurance for People With Heart Conditions
Perhaps you do not suffer from any of these common heart conditions, but want to learn more about some other condition you may have.
Here are some resources for people with other common heart conditions who are looking for affordable life insurance coverage:
How to Get Affordable Life Insurance With Heart Problems
Now that you have know a bit more about the best life insurance companies for people with heart conditions, what types of coverage are available to you, and how much you can expect to pay, it is time to get some quotes of your own.
This easy to use life insurance quote tool is all you need to get started. In less than a minute, you'll be able to compare quotes from dozens of top-rated life insurance providers.
At JRC Insurance Group, we work with 63 of the best life insurance companies for heart disease and circulatory issues. Our independent agents offer multiple years of experience and they are help you every step of the way. Most importantly, our comparative shopping services are free.
Give us a call today at 855-247-9555 to speak with one of our licensed agents, or you can send us a message with your detailed questions here, and one of our experts will contact you as soon as possible.
Clifford Pendell
Managing Partner and Co-founder
Cliff is a licensed life insurance agent and one of the owners of JRC Insurance Group. He has helped thousands of families of businesses with their life insurance needs since 2012 and specializes with applicants who are less than perfect health. In his spare time he enjoys spending time with family, traveling, and the great outdoors.
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