Purchasing Life Insurance After an Angioplasty Procedure

What’s An Angioplasty And Why Are They Performed?

An angioplasty is a procedure that is used to repair or widen a blood vessel or artery that has been narrowed, blocked, or damaged. Angioplasty procedures are commonly used as treatments for CAD (Coronary Artery Disease) and CVD (Coronary Vascular Disease). Coronary diseases are known to cause narrowing or blockages in the arteries that pump blood to the heart muscle.

If the heart does not receive enough oxygen, it can cause chest pain or angina. If one or more of the coronary arteries become completely blocked, the blockages will often result in a heart attack. To prevent this from happening, a cardiologist will often recommend a preventive surgery like implanting a stent or even an angioplasty procedure.

According to the National Library of Medicine, “Coronary heart disease is responsible for roughly 610,000 deaths each year in the U.S.” Life insurance carriers are careful when approving applicants with cardiac complications because of these statistics. But don’t be discouraged, finding an affordable life insurance policy may be a lot easier than you think.

Every life insurance company has different underwriting guidelines when approving an applicant who has had an angioplasty performed to control their CAD or CVD. To find your most affordable options, it’s very important to work with an experienced agent that is appointed by a variety of top-rated life insurance companies.

Some life insurance companies will automatically decline an applicant who has had an angioplasty procedure, while others may charge the same applicant more than double. Shopping the market will ensure you receive the most affordable rate available for your life insurance policy.

What Are Some Common Types Of Angioplasty Surgery?

There are many types of angioplasties that are commonly performed. Each type depends on the location of the narrow arteries and the type of plaque (hard or soft). During the application process, if you know which type of angioplasty you have had performed, be sure to tell your agent.

The most common types of angioplasty surgeries are listed below. If you have also had stents placed after your angioplasty, make sure you let your agent know so they can match you up with the right company.

Balloon Angioplasty – In order to compress the plaque against the artery wall so the amount of blood flow to the heart increases, a special catheter with a balloon tip is inserted into the narrowed part of the artery and the balloon is then inflated.

Laser Angioplasty- A laser angioplasty is performed with a laser-tipped catheter. These catheters are similar to a balloon tipped catheter, but instead of pressing the plaque against the artery wall, it is vaporized into a gas. Laser angioplasties first started being used to control CAD and CVD in the early 1990’s and they are often performed in addition to a balloon angioplasty.

Rotablation – In this procedure a diamond-tipped catheter is used and it is guided to the area of the blockage. Once the blockage is reached, the tip spins at a high speed and essentially drills away at the plaque. The plaque is then absorbed into your bloodstream and filtered out through your kidneys and liver.

Atherectomy– In this procedure a catheter with a hollow cylinder on the tip is used. A small blade rotates in the narrowed artery and shaves off plaque during the process.Additionally, the catheter has a small window that captures any excess plaque and once the shavings are caught within the chamber of the catheter, they are then removed.

Cutting Balloon- With a cutting balloon, a balloon tipped catheter used. These catheters are equipped with tiny blades that are activated when the balloon is inflated.The tiny blades are designed to break up the plaque which allows the balloon to compress it against the artery wall preventing further blockages.

What’s A Coronary Stent And Why Are They Used After An Angioplasty Procedure?

After an angioplasty surgery has been performed, your doctor will likely recommend stent placement. Coronary stents are usually made of metal mesh and they are often placed in an artery after an angioplasty procedure has been performed in order to prevent the artery from narrowing, closing, or being blocked again.

An angioplasty procedure is considered less invasive than a bypass surgery. However angioplasties are not without risk, a stent may create scar tissue in the walls of the artery it is inserted into. These scars can cause blood clots, increasing the patient’s risk of a heart attack or stroke.

For this reason, most life insurance companies will postpone your application until six months after your angioplasty has been performed because it allows them to see that the surgery was successful and no major complications have occurred.

Common blood thinning medications include Plavix, Pradaxa, Eliquis, Coumadin, Warfarin and Xarelto. If you had a stent or stents placed after an angioplasty procedure, please refer to our article on coronary artery stents.

This article will provide you with sample rates and insider’s tips to saving money on your life insurance policy. We also included some questions that your agent will ask about your procedure to make sure you are matched with the right company.

Life Insurance Rates After An Angioplasty Procedure Has Been Performed

Below are some sample rates for an applicant who had an angioplasty procedure performed on one or two blood vessels, or arteries, with no serious complications. Please note that if you are under the age of 40 and have had an angioplasty performed, finding term life insurance coverage can be a challenge.

In this situation, we recommend calling us directly to speak with an experienced agent. Toll-free, 855-247-9555. If you need life insurance for an inheritance, or to protect your estate from estate taxes, guaranteed coverage options are also available for applicants until the age of 90, 95, 100, 105, 110, or even 120.

In some situations, you may be able to qualify for a better rate if you have had regular follow-ups with your cardiologist. The insurance companies want to see that an imaging stress test was completed after your angioplasty, preferably with normal results.

In addition, the life insurance companies may be more lenient with applicants that engage in regular exercise or a fitness program, are less than 30 pounds overweight, and manage their blood pressure and cholesterol. If you currently smoke cigarettes, purchasing term life insurance after an angioplasty may be not be possible.

In this situation, we would recommend purchasing a guaranteed issue life insurance policy. These policies offer up to $25,000 of coverage without having to answer health questions a complete a health exam.

How JRC Can Help You Find The Most Affordable Life Insurance After An Angioplasty

At JRC, we’ve helped thousands of clients with their life insurance needs. We are experts at underwriting which allows us to find the company that is the best fit for your health and lifestyle.

We work with more than 50 top-rated life insurance companies and our services are free. All of our agents have at least a decade of experience and our agency is licensed in every state. We’re owner-operated and this allows us to spend the necessary time with each client.

By working with six to eight times the amount of companies our competitors do, not only will we make sure your receive the most affordable options available, but we'll also take our time to make sure you receive outstanding customer service.

If you’d like to get a quote for a different amount of coverage, or a more accurate quote for your exact age, we’d be happy to help you.We can be reached directly at 855-247-9555 or you can request a free quote using the form below. In less than a minute you can compare rates from dozens of providers.