Yes, you can still get life insurance after a heart attack. Rates will be higher, but with the right company and strategy, affordable coverage is still within reach.
This guide walks you through how life insurers evaluate heart attack survivors, what to expect during underwriting, and where to get the best life insurance policy.
We explain how heart conditions affect life insurance rates, and share customer success stories.
What Is a Heart Attack?
A heart attack, also called a myocardial infarction (MI), occurs when blood flow to part of the heart muscle is blocked. Without immediate treatment, heart tissue begins to die. Causes include coronary artery disease, plaque rupture, and blood clots.
According to the CDC, about 805,000 people in the U.S. experience a heart attack each year, most for the first time. Survivors often face challenges getting life insurance, but it’s far from impossible.
How a Heart Attack Affects Life Insurance Underwriting
Life insurance companies treat heart attacks as a serious red flag, but they also recognize that outcomes vary. Underwriters will evaluate:
- Your age at the time of the heart attack
- Number of heart attacks (single vs. multiple)
- Treatment received (e.g., stents, bypass surgery)
- Time since the heart attack
- Follow-up care (cardiac rehab, current testing)
- Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF)
- Coexisting conditions (e.g., high blood pressure, diabetes, cancer history, GI conditions)
Expect a 6–12 month postponement period after treatment, depending on your recovery and current health status.
Most offers will include table ratings, but some long-term survivors may qualify for Standard or even Regular Plus rates after a couple of years.
Underwriting Questions for Heart Attacks
As part of our process, we’ll ask you many questions to get you accurate quotes:
- How old were you when you had a heart attack?
- Did you have more than one heart attack?
- What caused the heart attack?
- Did you have heart bypass surgery?
- If yes, how many arteries and which ones were bypassed?
- Did you have angioplasty (stents) completed?
- If yes, how many and which arteries?
- Have you completed cardiac rehab and follow-up testing?
- What tests were performed? (stress test, echocardiogram, cardiac catheter)
- What was your left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) if known?
- Were the results from the follow-up stress test normal or abnormal?
- Were any other heart issues discovered? Angina, arrhythmias, atrial fibrillation.
- Do you have high blood pressure?
- Do you have other health issues? asthma, breast cancer history, MS, etc.
- What medications do you take?
The more details you can provide, the better we can position your application.
Best Life Insurance Companies for Heart Attack Survivors
Not all companies handle heart attacks in the same way. These are some of the most competitive:
- AIG – Corebridge Financial
- Banner Life
- John Hancock
- Lincoln National
- Nationwide
- Minnesota
- Pacific Life
- Penn Mutual
- Protective
- Prudential
- SBLI
- Symetra
- United of Omaha
Each carrier has its underwriting playbook. That’s why it’s critical to shop the market.
Real-Life Case Studies
Case # 1
Male, Age 60 – $1,000,000
Two heart attacks in 10 years
Four stents
Favorable Cardiac Workups
BP & Cholesterol Meds
Shopped our companies
Lincoln – Table 4
Principal – Table 4
Prudential – Table 6
Minnesota – Table 6
Nationwide – Table 6
Eight Declines
Lincoln National at Table 4
Case # 2
Male, Age 54 – $250,000
Heart attack at 51
Three stents
Favorable cardiac workups
BP & Cholesterol Meds
Positive lifestyle changes
Shopped our companies
AIG Corebridge – Table 4
Prudential – Table 4
Protective – Table 4
John Hancock – Table 4
AIG-Corebridge at Table 4
Case # 3
Male, Age 67 – $250,000
Heart attack at 48
Quadruple Bypass
No recent cardiac workups
Shopped our companies
AIG Corebridge – Table 6
John Hancock – Table 5
All others declined
AIG at Table 6 was best offer
We take the time to understand your medical history and match you with the best life insurance companies.
Tips for Getting Approved
Follow these strategies to improve your chances:
- Wait until you complete cardiac rehab and follow-up testing before applying.
- Request records from your cardiologist, especially stress test and LVEF results.
- Use an independent agent experienced with high-risk cases (hint, hint) who can shop multiple carriers.
- Disclose all medications and other medical conditions upfront.
- Be patient. Most applicants must wait at least 6 to 12 months after treatment.
A heart attack is a major medical event that requires high-risk underwriting expertise to help you obtain coverage.
Life insurers look at your age at the time of the heart attack, severity, recovery, and other health factors.
Underwriting is complicated if you were under age 40 at the time of your cardiac event.
Some of the other heart conditions we help:
- Aortic Aneurysm
- Aortic Stenosis
- Heart Blocks
- Pacemaker History
- Cardiomyopathy
- Mitral Valve Disorders
- Pulmonary Embolism
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Yes, you can obtain life insurance, although you may need to wait a while (postponement period) before term life insurance or universal life insurance becomes available. For some individuals, a small, guaranteed-issue policy may be available immediately.
A standard postponement period is six months, although some individuals may be insurable in as little as three months, while more severe cases may require 12 months.
Heart attacks negatively affect life insurance rates by adding a 50-200% expense, referred to as a life insurance table rating. Life insurance rates tend to improve as more time passes since the heart attack.
Final Words
A heart attack doesn’t disqualify you from life insurance, but it changes the playbook. Your success depends on choosing the right company and applying at the right time.
At RiskQuoter, we specialize in high-risk cases like yours. We’ll guide you through the process, shop multiple carriers, and help you make an informed, wise choice.
Request your custom quote today. No pressure, just honest guidance.
