Life Insurance with Heart Issues

If you have heart issues, you may be wondering how that will affect your ability to get life insurance. The good news is that many life insurance companies will still offer coverage to those with heart problems. However, getting life insurance for heart issues can be a bit more complicated. This guide will discuss getting life insurance for heart problems and what you can expect from the application process.

Can Someone With Heart Problems Get Life Insurance?

Many life insurance companies do not want to accept applications from people with congestive heart failure or heart disease because they are considered severe medical conditions.

Usually, insurers will want you to wait for at least one year after your diagnosis and treatment before they approve your application. However, this will give them a better idea of how your condition is currently progressing.

Underwriting Expectations

The insurance underwriters will typically request more information about your heart condition when reviewing your application for coverage. This may include:

• Why were you diagnosed with the condition you have?
• What were the date of your diagnosis for congestive heart failure and heart disease?
• Do you or any of your family members have a history of heart disease?
• Did anyone in your immediate family die from heart disease?
• What medications are you currently taking, and what is the dosage for each?

It is very important to give the underwriters all the information they need. They may choose not to accept your application or give you a high premium rate if you do not. If you do not give them all the information, it may also cause them to cancel your coverage later.

After reviewing all the information, the underwriters can determine if you qualify for coverage. If you do, they will then determine what class of underwriting you need and how much your policy will cost.

Type of Policy You can Qualify For

There are different types of life insurance, and each company has their own way of deciding who can get it. But most companies use similar classifications to determine who is eligible for their policy. The categories are based on someone’s health and other factors.

• Preferred – People who are in good health may be ranked as preferred. These policyholders generally pay a lower premium rate than people who are not as good of health. It is very unlikely that an insured person who suffers from heart failure will qualify for the preferred underwriting class.
• Standard – Generally, people in good health will be placed in the standard rate class. However, if someone is diagnosed with congestive heart failure or another heart disease at age 60 or older and is otherwise healthy, they may be placed in the standard underwriting category. This is especially true if they did not apply for coverage for at least one year after their diagnosis and/or treatment.
• Table Rated / Sub-standard — Your rating will be based on the seriousness of your condition, your age when diagnosed, and your overall health. You will likely be placed in a table or class with a higher premium than the standard rate for the same coverage. You are a higher risk to the insurer because of your heart condition.

How to Increase Your Odds of Getting Approved

In order to increase your chances of getting approved, it is important that you work with an independent life insurance agent who is successful in getting insurance for high-risk cases. This way, you can be confident that the agent knows what requirements are necessary for the application process.

We are experts in life insurance for high-risk applicants. We know which life insurance companies are more likely to accept and approve your application. We can also help you improve your chances of getting your application approved by writing a letter of recommendation highlighting the positive changes you have made to your health habits and lifestyle.

If your Application is Declined

The truth is that many high-risk life insurance cases are declined. But don’t worry, an independent agent can help. Independent agents work with many different insurance companies, so they can find a policy for you even if your application is declined. If your application is declined, your independent agent might be able to find you a “guaranteed issue” policy. This policy costs more than standard life insurance, but it’s better than having no life insurance at all.

What is Guaranteed Issue Life Insurance?

A guaranteed issue insurance policy is a Whole Life insurance policy that doesn’t ask any questions about your health. In fact, you don’t even need to take a medical exam or give blood or urine samples. However, before applying for the policy, you need to be aware of three things:

• Lower Death Benefit – This type of insurance typically has a limit of $25,000 for the death benefit, depending on the age of the applicant.
• Full Death Benefit Waiting Period – Usually, the insurance company requires a waiting period of two or three years before they will give you the full death benefit if the person died from natural causes. But if the person died from an accident, the company would give you the full death benefit from day one.
• Higher Rates – Since the insurance company has agreed to provide coverage for an unknown health risk, they can charge more for premiums.

Heart Conditions Include

• Atrial Fibrillation
• Mitral Heart Valve Disorders
• Heart Attack
• Coronary Artery Disease
• Congestive Heart Failure
• Cardiomyopathy
• Pacemakers

Life Insurance Companies For Heart Conditions (We Recommend)

Life insurance is an essential tool for financial planning, but it can be difficult to obtain coverage if you have a pre-existing medical condition.

• American General is one of the most favorable life insurance companies for applicants with heart conditions, as they have some of the strongest underwriting guidelines in the industry.
• While every situation is different, we recommend policies such as term, universal, index universal, and guaranteed issued life insurance for those with heart conditions.
• AIG is a well-established and highly-rated company that has been serving policyholders since 1919.

Disclaimer: We are licensed life insurance agents for AIG. If you need a quote or want to apply, contact us below. There is no charge for the service. We strongly discourage applying without the assistance of an agent because if you apply on your own and get declined coverage, for whatever reason, no other life insurance company will consider you for coverage for approximately two years.

Need Help Getting Life Insurance Coverage?

If you have a pre-existing medical condition and want to buy life insurance, you will need help from an expert. This person can help ensure you get coverage, so you don’t get declined.

Warning: Applying for life insurance without a medical exam can be risky. If you are declined coverage, it could be at least two years before you are able to get any life insurance.