Life insurance after a heart attack, stent or bypass

At a glance

Time since event

Most carriers want 12 to 24 months before considering an offer

What helps

Follow-up visits, normal stress test or echo, non-smoker, controlled BP and lipids

Likely outcomes

Rated term or whole life; simplified issue final expense; guaranteed issue

Age matters

An event at 65 is viewed differently from the same event at 40

Life insurance after a heart event

A heart attack, stent or bypass does not end your options. Most carriers want to see time since the event (often one to two years), current cardiology follow-up, and control of blood pressure and cholesterol. Offers range from mildly rated term to simplified issue whole life. A licensed professional who works with several carriers can tell you which ones have taken similar histories.

Before you choose guaranteed issue

Many people who assume they cannot qualify for anything else are accepted by a simplified issue policy with a full benefit from day one. Conditions that were declines a decade ago are often insurable now. It is worth answering the health questions with a licensed professional before defaulting to guaranteed issue; the difference can be a lower premium and no waiting period.

• Recent cancer treatment, dialysis, oxygen use or memory-care diagnoses are the situations where guaranteed issue most often becomes the practical choice
• Controlled diabetes, high blood pressure, past heart events and many other conditions are frequently insurable with health questions

“No exam” does not mean “no health questions”

Most no-exam policies still ask health questions and check your prescription history and, with your permission, records such as a motor-vehicle report. Answers must be accurate; a misstatement discovered within the contestability period (usually two years) can void the policy. Only guaranteed issue policies skip the questions, at a higher price and with a graded period.