Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm - Life Insurance Tips to Get Your Best Rate

This article shows you how to get affordable life insurance if you have the heart condition – abdominal aortic aneurysm.

Aneurysm Overview

Life insurance for abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) is based on whether you’ve had surgery or are currently being medically monitored.

Aneurysm Surgery – What to expect
Medical Monitoring of your Aneurysm
Underwriting Questions for AAA

According to the Mayo Clinic, a number of factors may be responsible for the AAA, including:

High blood pressure history
Tobacco use
Coronary artery disease
Infections
Vasculitis – vascular inflammation
Familial history
Trauma-related

Aneurysm Surgery – What to Expect

Life insurance prices depend on whether you’ve had open abdominal surgery or endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR).

With open abdominal surgery, the damaged section of the aorta is removed and replaced with a synthetic tube called a graft that is sewn into place.

Endovascular repair involves inserting a graft with a metal mesh through an artery in your leg and is used to reinforce the area of the aneurysm.

With either option, life insurance companies make you wait 6-12 months after surgery, with rates in the following range when available.

Open Abdominal Surgery – Standard rates plus 50-150% rating.

Endovascular Surgery – Standard rates plus 75-150% table rating

Factors affecting life insurance prices include the size of the aneurysm, any complications from surgery, and factors previously mentioned above.

Endovascular rates are more expensive rates (initially) due to the potential for leakage associated with EVAR procedures, and the increased monitoring requirements.

Standard life insurance rates may be possible in 3-5 years after surgery, assuming full recovery, no complications, and updated abdominal ultrasound test results.

Other heart conditions such as atrial fibrillation or an abnormal EKG history may require longer postpones.

Medical Monitoring of Your Aneurysm

Life insurance companies want to see the initial abdominal ultrasound, MRI or CT Scan, plus at least one follow-up test before they’ll underwrite your life insurance application.

Underwriting guidelines for monitoring of a bulging aneurysm is based on the size of the aneurysm, the rate of expansion and the time since diagnosis.

Each life insurance company has its own abdominal aortic aneurysm guidelines such as:

AIG – Waiting period is 12-months after diagnosis. If the aneurysm is less than 4 cm in size, the most likely offer is a table 2 (50% added to standard rates) rating.

If the aneurysm is 4 – 5 cm in size, it needs to be stable for 3 years before AIG will offer you life insurance. The most likely offer is a table 4 (100% added to standard rates) rating.

John Hancock – If the aneurysm is considered to be small (less than 5.5 cm), it needs to be stable for 2 years before Hancock will offer coverage to you. The most likely offer is a table 2 – 4 range (50 – 100% added to standard rates)

Aneurysms greater than 5 cm are declined by John Hancock until surgically treated.

Prudential – Standard rates are available if the aneurysm is 3 cm or less in size. Aneurysms that are stable for at least 12 months, and are 3 – 4.5 cm in size are rated with a standard table 4 (113% added to standard rates).

Aneurysms greater than 4.5 cm are postponed until surgically treated.

Likelihood of your Aneurysm Rupturing

According to a leading reinsurer, most aneurysms are not likely to rupture as most AAA increase in size slowly and are treated once they reach a certain size.

Diameter of Aorta

Less than 4.0 cm

4.0 – 4.9 cm

5.0 – 5.9 cm

6.0 – 6.9 cm

7.0 – 7.9 cm

8.0 cm or greater

Risk of Rupture

0 – 5%

3 – 15%

10 – 20%

20 – 40%

30 – 50%

Source – GenRe – Risk Insights – November 2013

When you are being treated in a medical monitoring regimen, underwriters want to know about your initial symptoms.

If life insurance isn’t available yet, other types such as guaranteed issue life insurance and/or accidental death benefit insurance may be worth consideration in the interim.

Underwriting Questions for AAA

We need to know the following to provide accurate quotes.

When were you diagnosed with AAA?
What caused the abdominal aortic aneurysm?
Did you have surgery to correct this?
If yes, did you have open abdominal surgery or an endovascular surgery?
Have you had any complications from surgery?
What was the size of the aneurysm?
If being medically monitored, have there been changes to the size?
How often is the aneurysm checked?
When was your last ultrasound, MRI or CT scan performed?
Do you have a history of smoking?

Underwriting will also want to know about any high blood pressure history, heart murmurs or other health issues such as diabetes or other medical conditions.