Last Updated: November 16th, 2025
Yes, you can get life insurance with heart disease. Most people with heart conditions qualify for coverage; however, your options and rates depend on your specific diagnosis, the effectiveness of its management, and your overall health. Term life, whole life, and guaranteed issue policies are all available, with approval timelines ranging from 24 hours to several weeks.
If you’ve been diagnosed with heart disease, you’re probably wondering whether life insurance is still possible. The short answer: yes, it is. While a heart condition does complicate the process, most people with heart disease can still get coverage.
Insurance companies evaluate your specific situation, including the type of heart condition, how well you manage it, your treatment history, and your overall health. Someone with well-controlled high blood pressure will have different options than someone who recently had a heart attack. Understanding these factors helps you find the right coverage at a price you can afford.
Let’s take a look at your options, what insurers think, and how to increase your chances of approval. If you have a more complex health profile, exploring high-risk life insurance options can help you understand the full range of available policies.
Why Heart Disease Matters to Insurance Companies
Heart disease remains the leading cause of death in America, contributing to approximately 1 in 5 deaths. That statistical reality is why insurers pay close attention to cardiac conditions.
But here’s what many people don’t realize: insurers don’t automatically decline everyone with heart disease. They’re looking at risk levels, and risk varies dramatically based on your specific condition and how you manage it. Someone with a single stent placed five years ago who takes their medications and sees their cardiologist regularly presents a very different risk profile than someone with uncontrolled atrial fibrillation.
Modern medical advances have improved survival rates significantly. Many people with heart disease live long, active lives. Insurance companies know this, which is why coverage is still available. You’ll just need to work with carriers who specialize in these cases.
Your Life Insurance Options with Heart Disease
Term Life Insurance
Term life covers you for a specific period, typically 10 to 30 years, and offers the lowest premiums. If your heart condition is well-managed and you’re otherwise healthy, you might qualify for standard or slightly elevated rates. The application requires a medical exam, and underwriters will request records from your cardiologist.
Approval typically takes 4-6 weeks as the insurer reviews your medical history, test results, and treatment compliance. If you had a cardiac event, most carriers want to see at least 12 months of recovery and stability before offering their best rates.
Whole Life Insurance
Whole life provides lifetime coverage and builds cash value over time. Premiums are higher than term life, but they never increase. This can be a good option if you need permanent coverage and can afford the higher cost.
The underwriting process is similar to term life. Your rates depend on your heart condition’s severity and how long you’ve managed it successfully.
Guaranteed Issue Life Insurance
If you can’t qualify for traditional coverage due to severe heart disease or multiple health conditions, guaranteed issue policies don’t require medical exams or health questions. You’re automatically approved regardless of your health.
The tradeoff: significantly higher premiums and coverage limits, usually capping at $25,000. Most policies also include a graded death benefit, meaning if you die within the first 2-3 years (except by accident), your beneficiaries only receive the premiums paid plus interest.
Simplified Issue Policies
These policies skip the medical exam but ask health questions. If your heart condition is stable and you can answer the questions favorably, you might get approved within 48 hours. Coverage amounts typically max out at $350,000.
What Underwriters Look At
Insurance companies don’t just see “heart disease” on your application. They dig into the specifics:
The type and severity of your condition matters most. Controlled high blood pressure is very different from congestive heart failure. They’ll review your ejection fraction numbers, any cardiac procedures you’ve had, and your New York Heart Association (NYHA) classification if applicable.
Your treatment compliance is crucial. Do you take prescribed medications consistently? Do you keep regular cardiology appointments? Do you follow lifestyle recommendations? Insurers view this as a predictor of future health.
Time since diagnosis or cardiac event plays a major role in underwriting decisions. Many carriers won’t offer their best rates until you’ve been stable for at least 12 months post-event. Some wait 24 months after major procedures like bypass surgery.
Other health factors get considered too. Your BMI, whether you smoke, whether you have diabetes or high blood pressure, your cholesterol levels, and your blood pressure readings all factor into the final decision.
How to Improve Your Approval Chances
Work with your cardiologist
Keep all scheduled appointments and follow treatment plans exactly as prescribed. Insurers request attending physician statements, and a positive report from your cardiologist carries significant weight.
Maintain detailed records
Keep copies of all cardiac test results, medications lists, and procedure reports. Having this information ready speeds up the underwriting process and shows you’re actively managing your health.
Focus on controllable health factors
Even if you can’t change your heart diagnosis, you can improve other risk factors. Quit smoking if you haven’t already. Smokers pay 2-3 times more for life insurance than non-smokers, regardless of other health issues.
Reach a healthier weight if needed. A BMI under 25 is ideal, but even moving from obese to overweight categories can improve your rate class. Regular exercise, even just walking 30 minutes daily, demonstrates heart health commitment.
Time your application strategically
If you recently had a cardiac event or procedure, waiting 12-24 months before applying often results in better rates. Use this time to establish a strong track record of treatment compliance and stability.
Work with an independent agent
Not all insurance companies underwrite heart conditions the same way. Some carriers specialize in certain cardiac conditions and offer better rates than others. An independent agent who works with multiple carriers can shop your case to find the best match.
When Guaranteed Issue Makes Sense
Guaranteed issue policies serve an important purpose despite their higher cost. Consider this option if you need coverage immediately, have multiple severe health conditions beyond heart disease, or have been declined by traditional carriers.
These policies work well for final expense planning when you need $10,000-$25,000 to cover funeral costs and small debts. Just understand the graded death benefit period and factor that into your planning.
Key Takeaways
Most people with heart disease can get life insurance. Your specific condition, how well you manage it, and your overall health determine your options and rates.
Term life and whole life policies require medical underwriting but offer the best value if you qualify. Guaranteed issue policies provide automatic approval but cost significantly more and include coverage limitations.
Improving controllable health factors, maintaining treatment compliance, and working with your cardiologist strengthens your application. An independent agent who specializes in high-risk cases can match you with carriers most likely to approve your specific situation.
Timing matters. Waiting 12-24 months after a cardiac event or major procedure typically results in better rate classifications than applying immediately.
Need help finding the right coverage for your heart condition? Our independent agents specialize in high-risk life insurance and work with multiple carriers to find your best options. Call 800-712-8519 for a free consultation, or request a personalized quote online. We’ll match you with carriers who understand your specific situation and offer competitive rates.
FAQs
Can you get life insurance if you have heart disease?
Yes. Most people with heart disease can get some form of life insurance. Your specific condition, treatment history, and overall health determine which policies you’ll qualify for and at what cost.
What’s the best type of life insurance for someone with heart disease?
It depends on your specific situation. If your condition is well-managed and you’re otherwise healthy, term life offers the best value. If you’ve been declined for traditional coverage, guaranteed issue policies provide an alternative, though at higher cost.
Will a heart attack affect my life insurance rates?
Yes. A heart attack history increases premiums because it elevates statistical risk. However, rates improve significantly if you demonstrate 12-24 months of stability, treatment compliance, and good recovery. The longer you maintain good health post-heart attack, the better your rates become.
How do life insurance companies assess risk for people with heart disease?
Insurers evaluate your specific diagnosis, ejection fraction, NYHA classification (if applicable), medications, treatment compliance, time since diagnosis or cardiac event, and other health factors like BMI and smoking status. They request records from your cardiologist and may require an exam with EKG.
What can I do to get more affordable coverage with heart disease?
Maintain regular cardiology appointments, take medications as prescribed, quit smoking if you haven’t already, reach a healthier weight, manage other conditions like diabetes or high blood pressure, and wait 12-24 months after major cardiac events before applying. Working with an independent agent who knows which carriers offer the best rates for your specific condition also helps.
Do I need life insurance if I have savings?
If you have substantial savings and no financial dependents, you might self-insure. However, if your death would create financial hardship for anyone, or if you want to leave a legacy, life insurance provides efficient wealth transfer. It’s especially valuable if your savings are modest or if you have young children, a mortgage, or other ongoing financial obligations.
