Life Insurance for Heart Patients & Heart Disease
If you have ever been diagnosed with any type of heart disease and/or cardiovascular or circulatory issues, life insurance may seem unobtainable.
Don’t worry, finding affordable life insurance with heart disease may be easier than you think. Just like other forms of insurance, some life insurance companies will be able to offer much better rates than others.
Here’s what we'll cover in this post:Quick Article Guide
Can I Get Life Insurance with Heart Disease or Heart Problems?
Yes, you can still get life insurance with heart disease or heart problems. However, it will honestly be a bit more difficult than someone who is in otherwise perfect health.
Even if you had one vessel stent, you can still qualify for term life insurance with standard or regular rates with certain companies. Now, standard rates are not always easy to obtain.
If, for example, you recently had a heart attack, coronary artery disease, or bypass surgery within the last few years, you might be given a standard table rating which increases the cost but does not prohibit you from accessing life insurance.
Just because one company declines your application, or one company give you a standard table rating that increases your cost 150%, doesn't mean that every company will. In many situations, working with an independent agent will show you which companies are more lenient toward heart conditions.
Some extreme conditions may be denied traditional coverage, but options for insurance still exist.
Want to learn more about getting life insurance with heart problems, and how they will affect your rates? We created these resources to help you better understand what to expect:
What Types of Heart Conditions and Circulatory Diseases Does Life Insurance Cover?
Here is a list of just some of the many heart conditions we have found affordable life insurance coverage for:
Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm - Policies will differ based on the severity of the aneurysm and any subsequent damage. Companies will also look for timeline of the incident and any other incidents.
Angioplasty Surgery - Policies will differ based on how recent the surgery was and what the outcome was. Companies look for successful recuperation and whether the patient is following doctor orders for recovery.
Aortic Valve Insufficiency - Life insurance companies will look at how long you've had the insufficiency, and how that disorder has led to other conditions, if applicable.
Aortic Valve Stenosis - With this condition, the policies available to you are based on whether you have other risk factors, what medications you are taking, if you have other symptoms like heart palpitations or heart failure, and how long you've had the disorder.
Arrhythmia, Bradycardia or Tachycardia - Policies change based on the severity and companies will look into whether the patient has just one of these conditions or both, and how severe it is, particularly whether the person will need surgery later or something like a pacemaker.
Atrial Fibrillation (A-Fib) - This is not considered a life-threatening disease but it can lead to conditions like stroke or heart disease. Life insurance companies will review when you were diagnosed, if your condition is chronic or paroxysmal.
Bundle Branch Block - Life insurance companies will review a detailed list of your symptoms, any other cardiac studies you have undergone, your most recent ECG results, how long your bundle branch block has been present, when you were diagnosed, and what type of bundle branch block you were diagnosed with.
Bypass Surgery - Policies offered will fluctuate based on the severity of the surgery, how well the patient is recovering, and if the patient has had more than one surgery. Companies review the frequency of surgery and how effective it has been.
Congestive Heart Failure - Life insurance companies want to know when you were diagnosed with congestive heart failure, whether other health issues contributed to that diagnosis, such as high blood pressure hypertension. They will also review whether you have high cholesterol, whether the condition is a genetic one, if you smoke or not, and if you have been prescribed medication.
Coronary Artery Disease or CAD - Your policy options are based upon how old you are now, what age you were when diagnosed, how severe your disease is, if you have any other symptoms, and what your treatment is.
Deep Vein Thrombosis or DVT - Blood clots can pose a serious risk to your health which is why companies and subsequently policy offered are going to vary based primarily on how severe your condition is, whether you had multiple occurrences, and when your last occurrence was.
Heart Attack or Myocardial Infarction - Companies look at how recent the heart attack was, how severe it was, and in particular how much damage was done to the heart muscle. All of these factors will have an influence on the types of policies offered.
Heart Murmur - With a heart murmur the concern is not the heart murmur itself but your underlying condition. That is why life insurance companies will review when you were diagnosed, what your diagnosis was, what steps you have taken since that time, what medical conditions you have aside from that, and whether you are a tobacco user.
Heart Stents - Here companies review things like how effective the stent was, when it was put in, and if there are any other genetic conditions involving your heart stents.
Heart Valve Repair - With this company will review how successful your surgery was and most importantly how much time has passed since your last surgery.
Heart Valve Replacement - Your age, how effectively the replacement is working, and the strength of your heart muscle are going to play a critical role in what policies are offered to you and what your premiums are.
High Blood Pressure or Hypertension - Companies will review whether you are managing your hypertension, what your lifestyle is like, whether it is a genetic condition or caused by lack of physical activity. If you are taking medication to control the situation and working hard to improve, it bodes well for you.
Mitral Valve Insufficiency - The time that you were diagnosed, how long it's been since the diagnosis, and what you are doing to control the situation by way of medication and regular cardiologist follow-ups is going to play an important role in the available options.
Mitral Valve Prolapse - The options you have at your disposal are going to be based on how old you were when you were first diagnosed, how old you are now, whether you are taking medications or have undergone surgery, and follow up regularly with your cardiologist.
Mitral Valve Stenosis - Companies review whether you take medications to control your condition, whether you have needed surgery as a result, and if you are doing whatever you can you control the situation by going to your doctor and your cardiologist regularly.
Pacemakers or Abnormal Heart Rhythm - Companies look into how frequently the pacemaker works. Patients who have a pacemaker may require surgery down the line to replace the leads or the pacemaker itself. Overall health play a critical role in this and companies have to review how frequently that pacemaker is helping the heart muscle, and how often the heart works just fine on his own.
Pulmonary Embolism - Your options will be based upon how long ago your pulmonary embolism was diagnosed, what treatment you have undergone, what risks you have for reoccurrence, and whether you have otherwise normal pulmonary function. Some clots might be so severe that they put you in a higher risk category than others.
What Types of Life Insurance Are Best for People with Heart Conditions?
Depending on your condition, health, age, and insurance needs, there are a few types of policies that may be available to you.
Term Life
Term life insurance is a type of policy that lasts for a specified amount of time. Typically people purchase term policies between 10 years and 30 years in length to coincide with finite financial needs. If, for example, you have a mortgage with 15 years left on it, a Term Policy for 15 years would provide your family with the money necessary to cover the remainder of the balance.
Best For:
This policy is best for those who have finite financial need with moderate or good heart conditions.
Perks:
- Lower premiums
- Can convert to permanent coverage
- Lots of policy options
- High coverage amounts
Our Recommendation:
For people who are in good health and have a well-managed heart condition, this is without a doubt the most affordable and versatile life insurance policy for you.
Want to learn more about term life insurance for people with heart conditions? Check out these comprehensive guides:
No Exam (Simplified Issue)
No exam simplified issue is one of two types of no exam life insurance policies. The simplified issue policy has you complete a one-page health questionnaire but you don't have to undergo the in-person medical exams. The costs are higher for this type of insurance and the coverage amounts are lower but it is designed for those who don't necessarily have other options.
Best For:
This policy is best for people who have a condition severe enough to deny them term or permanent coverage, or just want limited burial insurance to cover the cost of a funeral.
Perks:
- You don't have to undergo a medical exam
- Can get coverage in less than 24 hours
- Decent coverage amounts
Our Recommendation:
We recommend this type of policy for people who either have a fear of medical exams, or who feel that a medical exam would limit their policy options. We also recommend it to people who need quick coverage. However, we always advise you take a medical exam for life insurance, as it can reduce your rates and get you better policy options.
Want to learn more about No Exam Life Insurance?We have created these guides just for you:
Burial (Guaranteed Issue)
Guaranteed issue, also known as final expense or burial insurance, is a type of life insurance that is guaranteed. You cannot be denied coverage with guaranteed issue.Typically the death benefit can only be applied to your burial cost or your final expenses and the premiums are going to be significantly higher than anywhere else.
Best For:
This is perfect for people who have been denied elsewhere or do not qualify for any other type of Life Insurance.
Perks:
- No medical exam
- No health-related questions
- Instant life insurance coverage
Our Recommendation:
We only recommend burial insurance policies to people who have no other life insurance options, because they are so expensive. These are best for people who are denied traditional coverage due to health concerns or old age. Final expense insurance can be affordable, and we recommend it to some people looking for supplemental life insurance coverage for final expenses.
Want to learn more about Burial Insurance for people with heart conditions?These resources should help:
Permanent Life
Permanent life insurance policies are permanent plans that remain in effect until you pass away or reach maximum policy age (usually 101 or 121). This is better suited for estate planning, or cash value creation, and these policies typically come with the most features.
Best For:
This policy is best for people who have permanent financial needs and minimal heart conditions.
Perks:
- Whole life coverage
- Accumulates cash value
- Many options for customization
Our Recommendation:
We only recommend this type of life insurance policy to people who have a high net worth, and who are looking to create an estate or trust, because it is so expensive. For those who do have a need for life insurance, we often recommend Guaranteed Universal Life insurance instead, which is a permanent policy without the cash value component - making it much cheaper.
Looking to learn more about Permanent Life Insurance for people with heart conditions? Here are some helpful resources we put together for you:
How Much Does Life Insurance Cost With A Heart Condition?
The tables below show sample rates (monthly) for specific life insurance policies for people with certain heart conditions. All rates are for a 50 year old male who is in otherwise good health. Term life insurance rates for females are typically 30-40% less than the rates displayed.
Term Life Insurance Rates With Arrhythmia
| Term Length | $250,000 | $500,000 | $1,000,000 |
| 10-Year | $43.94 | $81.50 | $153.79 |
| 20-Year | $68.41 | $130.02 | $247.32 |
*Displayed monthly rates are accurate as of 06/27/22 and are provided for illustrative purposes only.
Term Life Insurance Rates With A Heart Bypass
| Term Length | $250,000 | $500,000 | $1,000,000 |
| 10-Year | $59.60 | $103.25 | $185.75 |
| 20-Year | $90.31 | $173.82 | $327.24 |
*Displayed monthly rates are accurate as of 06/27/22 and are provided for illustrative purposes only.
Term Life Insurance Rates With Atrial Fibrillation (Treated with a Blood Thinner)
| Term Length | $250,000 | $500,000 | $1,000,000 |
| 10-Year | $59.60 | $103.25 | $185.75 |
| 20-Year | $90.31 | $173.82 | $327.24 |
*Displayed monthly rates are accurate as of 06/27/22 and are provided for illustrative purposes only.
Term Life Insurance Rates With Atrial Fibrillation (Single Episode, Not Taking A Blood Thinner)
| Term Length | $250,000 | $500,000 | $1,000,000 |
| 10-Year | $23.96 | $40.35 | $69.16 |
| 20-Year | $38.78 | $70.34 | $130.70 |
*Displayed monthly rates are accurate as of 06/27/22 and are provided for illustrative purposes only.
Term Life Insurance Rates With Coronary Angiography
| Term Length | $250,000 | $500,000 | $1,000,000 |
| 10-Year | $59.60 | $103.25 | $185.75 |
| 20-Year | $90.31 | $173.82 | $327.24 |
*Displayed monthly rates are accurate as of 06/27/22 and are provided for illustrative purposes only.
Term Life Insurance Rates With Coronary Artery Disease
| Term Length | $250,000 | $500,000 | $1,000,000 |
| 10-Year | $59.60 | $103.25 | $185.75 |
| 20-Year | $90.31 | $173.82 | $327.24 |
Burial Life Insurance Rates After A Heart Attack
| Face Value | Male | Female |
| $10,000 | $43.05 | $43.05 |
| $20,000 | $52.50 | $52.50 |
| $30,000 | $61.95 | $61.95 |
| $40,000 | $71.40 | $71.40 |
| $50,000 | $80.85 | $80.85 |
*Displayed monthly rates are accurate as of 06/27/22 and are provided for illustrative purposes only.
Keep in mind, these rates can vary based on a multitude of factors. If you are looking for affordable life insurance coverage with a heart condition, the best way to save money is to work with an independent agent. Use our free quoting tool below to get started!
What Factors Affect Life Insurance Rates for People with Heart Conditions?
Generally speaking, there are a few factors that largely affect life insurance rates for people with heart problems:
1. Smoking
One factor that will influence the rates you receive is whether or not you are a smoker. Smokers have an increased risk for certain health conditions and if you already have problems with your circulatory system or your heart, continuing to smoke is only going to exacerbate those problems and therefore put you at a higher risk.
2. Obesity
Another factor that can influence your cost is your weight. Those who are overweight force their circulatory system and their heart to work significantly harder. When the heart doesn't deliver enough blood the kidneys might mistake this for something like the hydration and then they hang onto water and salt which causes the blood to pool leaving fluid in the extremities.
3. Surgery
Whether or not you've had surgery recently is going to impact the cost. Someone who just recently underwent surgery could still suffer from immediate complications whereas someone who had surgery 10 years ago without any complications and has recovered nicely is not likely to relapse which lessens the risk.
4. Family History
If you have a family history of heart disease or circulatory issues, this puts you at a higher risk. Even if the heart conditions you have are minor, your family history says that genetically speaking you are likely to suffer more as you age, that puts you at a higher risk.
5. Lifestyle
While your genetics might cause a higher propensity for a certain heart condition, our genes can be turned on or off based on our lifestyle, primarily level of activity. To that end, if you are not an active person, and you are not trying to stay healthy and all other ways, you don't go to the gym or exercise or, you sit around a lot, put you at a higher risk for those genetic conditions to manifest.
6. Level of Heart Damage
With many heart conditions, one key factor in rates is the level of heart damage you have sustained. Those who recently suffered some form of attack will have to verify how their heart is doing after the fact. This is determined with left ventricular ejection fraction levels which indicate how efficiently your heart is pumping blood to the rest of your body.
If your levels of LVEF are at 40% or fewer chances are you only qualify for guaranteed acceptance. If your levels are 45% or higher you may qualify for traditional policies.
Best Life Insurance Companies for People with Heart Conditions
| Company | Benefits |
Protective |
|
AIG |
|
Foresters |
|
Life Insurance With Heart Problems FAQ
At JRC Insurance Group, we have helped thousands of clients to find the best coverage for their situation. Over this time, we have been asked a lot of similar questions about life insurance with a heart condition. So, we wanted to take some time to address the most frequently asked questions.
Q. What can you do if you have been denied life insurance coverage because of a pre-existing health condition?
If you have been denied life insurance coverage because of a pre-existing health condition, you can work with an independent agent to apply for insurance for other carriers such as guaranteed issue.
Q. Can I get life insurance with cancer?
Yes, you can get life insurance if you have cancer.
Q. Can I get life insurance if I am terminally ill?
Yes, burial or guaranteed issue life policies are best for people who are terminally ill.
Q. Can I get life insurance if I have a chronic illness?
Yes, you can get life insurance if you have a chronic illness. There are many types of chronic illnesses out there and for each chronic illness there is life insurance company that offers more favorable underwriting.
Q. Can I be denied life insurance coverage because of a circulatory condition?
Yes, some companies can deny you life insurance coverage because of the circulatory condition, but that doesn't mean they all will. There are plenty of companies that provide favorable life insurance rates for people with heart conditions.
How JRC Helps Clients Find the Best Life Insurance Coverage With Heart Conditions
Last year we worked with a woman named Kathy who had been previously turned down for life insurance TWICE. Kathy was being treated by her doctor for an abdominal aortic aneurysm that she’d had for more than five years and was taking a mild blood pressure medication.
An aortic aneurysm is an enlarged aortic artery and when it becomes enlarged, it can rupture or burst. This condition is viewed as high risk by insurance companies since the aorta carries blood from your heart to your legs. Understandably, she was worried about applying for life insurance and being rejected again.
Kathy had followed the advice of her cardiologist and had continued with her annual check-ups to monitor her condition. Although her aneurysm had remained stable, Kathy’s aorta was dilated to approximately 4.6 centimeters. Based off of underwriting guidelines, the vast majority of life insurance companies will not approve an applicant with an aortic aneurysm of more than 4.0 centimeters in diameter.
Kathy said she would have given up on life insurance, but as a large estate owner, she needed coverage to prevent her children from having to pay large amounts of estate taxes when she passes away. Furthermore, she wanted to make sure her daughter could stay home when she settled down and had a family of her own.
During the application process, Kathy admitted upfront that she had smoked for a few years when she was younger. Even though she was once a smoker, most insurance companies will overlook past tobacco use after a three to five year timeframe.
Since Kathy was in her mid-50’s, in overall good health, and was a non-smoker, by taking her to the right company, we were able to get Kathy approved for a $1,000,000 policy in about eight weeks. The best part is Kathy will never need to buy another life insurance policy again because the policy she decided on is guaranteed not to decrease in coverage or increase in price until the age of 100.
Kathy’s situation is not unique and JRC Insurance Group has helped lots of clients in her situation and our client’s testimonials reflect this.
Find Affordable Life Insurance With Circulatory Issues
Are you tired of looking for great rates on life insurance coverage with heart conditions? We don't blame you. It can be difficult to compare rates on your own and truly know which policy is best for you and your family.
That is why we are here. At JRC Insurance Group, we work with 63 of the Best Life Insurance Companies for people with heart conditions. We have helped thousands of clients compare rates from dozens of companies in order to find the best rates and coverage.
Contact us today to speak with a highly experienced independent agent, who can help you find the right coverage. Give us a call at 855-247-9555, or send us a message on our contact page to get in touch. Or, get started comparing quotes using our free tool:
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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