Purchasing Life Insurance With a Stent

What Is A Stent And Why Are They Used After An Angioplasty?

Angioplasties are usually recommended for people who have blocked or narrowed arteries. If an artery or vessel is blocked by plaque, the odds of having a heart attack are greatly increased. To prevent this, an angioplasty will remove or push the plaque out of the way allowing blood to flow freely through the artery.

After an angioplasty procedure has been performed, stents are often needed to prevent the artery from closing up or being blocked again. Most stents are small metal mesh tubes, but in recent years, some companies have begun testing new materials that are designed to dissolve on their own after a few months.

A stent is often implanted in the narrowed arteries by a procedure called a percutaneous coronary intervention or a PCI. Instead of having bypass surgery, stents are often implanted because they are considered to be less invasive.

Although there aren’t any major incisions made during stent placement, there may still be some complications, however. The most common complication that doctors see with metal stents is that scar tissue can form within the device which can cause restenosis (narrowing of the artery).

Some stents will actually elude or dispense drugs within the treated artery to prevent the formation of scar tissue, or your doctor may prescribe a blood thinning medication like Pradaxa, Coumadin, Warfarin, Plavix, or Xarelto. These medications are designed to prevent blood clots from forming at the site of the stent, which could result in a stroke or heart attack.

The resorbable stent also releases the drug, everolimus, which helps limit the growth of scar tissue and reduce the chances of renarrowing. This development may positively affect life insurance rates after the device has been evaluated by the companies and their underwriters.

Sample Life Insurance Rates For An Applicant That Has Had A Stent Surgery

Below is a list of actual rates for an applicant that is in overall good health and has had one or two stents placed.

*It’s important to note, that the vast majority of life insurance companies will postpone your application for six months after a stent surgery has been performed. Carriers will hold off on approving your policy until they have had a chance to see that you have recovered successfully from the surgery and that you are not experiencing any complications.

In some situations, life insurance companies may be able to offer lower rates by assigning underwriting credits. These credits are usually awarded to applicants who are otherwise healthy and are actively managing their health. Underwriting credits are often assigned to applicants who regularly exercise, have routine follow-ups with their doctor, and manage their weight, cholesterol, and blood pressure.

Additional Questions Your Life Insurance Agent May Ask About Your Stent Procedure

Below are some questions that your agent will need to ask you when shopping for the best rates. Providing your agent with this information upfront will allow them to compare your health against each company’s guidelines to make sure you apply with the right company. Every life insurance company will evaluate each applicant differently, and some carriers are more lenient than others.

How many stents do you currently have?

The more stents you have placed, the larger “risk” you are to the insurance carrier you apply with. On the other hand, if you have only had one stent implanted and it was not needed due to an emergency illness, you may still qualify for “standard” rates with a couple of insurance carriers.

Do you have a history of heart attack or stroke?

If an angioplasty was performed or if stents were placed as a result of a heart attack or stroke, you will likely qualify for a “substandard rating” with some companies. In this situation there are many factors that will need to be considered, so it’s best to call us directly so that we can provide you with an accurate quote.

How long have you had the stents?

It is normal for people who have just had a major health scare to want to immediately purchase life insurance to provide financial protection to their families, but we urge our clients to wait at least six months after having stents placed before applying for life insurance. This is because the carriers will want to see that your condition is stable and that you haven’t experienced any complications.

Have you recently had a stress test or echocardiogram? If so, what were the results?

Many insurance carriers will want to see post-surgery EKG results in order to see the condition of the heart. Patients who have not completed an echocardiogram after their surgery can expect moderate-substandard rates.

What is your current ejection fraction (EF)?

An ejection fraction is the amount of blood that is released during each contraction of the heart’s ventricle (lower chamber) compared the total amount of blood that is released by both ventricles.

As far as purchasing life insurance (and your overall health), the higher your percentage is, the better. While a measurement of 55 or higher is considered normal, most life insurance carriers will like to see at least 45 or greater and consider anything below 40 a red flag. If you are not sure of your EF percentage no need to worry, most people don’t, and we can still help.

Have you experienced any chest pains post-surgery?

This is one of the biggest red flags for life insurance companies. If you have experienced chest pains after your stent surgery, of if you are taking a medication like nitroglycerin, your application will likely be declined.

Have you made any lifestyle changes to help improve your condition?

Life insurance underwriters want to see that you are taking your condition seriously.It’s important to exercise regularly, eat healthy foods, and most importantly, quit smoking! Regular checkups with your physician and cardiologist also show that you’re putting in the effort to lead a healthy life and this may help lower your cost of insurance.

Do you have any other serious health conditions?

Compounding health issues can complicate the approval process for your life insurance policy. Some serious health conditions (like uncontrolled diabetes, a history of strokes, or smoking), combined with cardiac issues can lead to a severe-substandard rating or even a denial of your application.

If you have any serious health issues in addition to CAD or CVD, it’s best to give us a call to speak with an expert directly. In a few minutes we’ll be able to assess your best options and make a recommendation.

Our agents are experts at underwriting and we have access to each insurance company’s guidelines. With a few health questions, we’ll be able to provide you with accurate quotes for the least expensive insurance options available.

Why JRC Is Different Than Other Agencies

At JRC Insurance Group, we understand the importance of protecting your family. Our agents are here to help you find the best policy available available, without the high-pressure sales tactics.We provide a consultative approach to life insurance and specialize with applicants in less than perfect health.

Our independent agency is owner-operated, and we arelicensed in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. JRC's licensed agents offer at least 10 years of experience, and are here to help find the best rates available, while also providing excellent customer service.

If you have had a stent or stents implanted to treat the narrowing of your arteries, we can’t stress enough that the best way to ensure that you obtain an affordable life insurance policy is by working with an agent that works with multiple life insurance carriers.

We’re experts at finding the best rates for anyone with a history of heart disease or a heart surgery. We can also offer policies that extend guaranteed rates and coverage for 15, 20, 25, or 30 years, or until the age of 90, 95, 100, 105, 110, or even 120. These permanent policies are the most affordable policies on the market because they do not charge extra to build a “cash value.”

Permanent policies are often recommended to people who want to spend their retirement freely but leave money behind, or people who have large estate and need to reduce the estate taxes for their heirs. If you don’t see the amount of coverage you need, or if you would like a more accurate quote based on your actual age, please feel free to give us a call.

Our shopping services are free and there is no cost to apply for coverage. Give us a call toll-free today at 855-247-9555 or you can request a free quote online using the form below. In just a few seconds you'll be able to view rates from dozens of top-rated companies.