Heart Disease Life Insurance
Looking for Life Insurance shouldn’t have to be difficult if you have a pre-existing medical condition. At The Insurance Surgery, we can take that stress away and leave you with a policy that you and your family deserve. No matter what your personal circumstances are, your best solution may be to apply through a specialist broker such as The Insurance Surgery. If you are trying to look for Life Insurance and you have a history of Heart Disease, we are highly experienced in obtaining cover for people with pre-existing medical conditions. We have everything you need to know for when you apply for life insurance with a heart condition and can tell you how the application process works and what may be available to you.
How Life Insurance for patients with Heart Disease Works
If you do have a heart condition, this will need to be disclosed on your life insurance application, as well as if you were looking to take out critical illness cover or income protection.
When you make an application for Life Insurance the underwriters will need to obtain an accurate medical history to be able to arrive at a decision and a price for your policy.
Some of the typical questions that you will need to answer about your heart condition include:
- When you were diagnosed
- What symptoms you experience, how often and how severe
- How you manage the symptoms
- Any treatment you have had, or are due to receive
- Any hospitalisation
- Any related conditions
Here at The Insurance Surgery we specialise in obtaining Life Insurance for people with pre-existing medical conditions. Heart Disease is just one of the many conditions that our customers live with.
Since 1999, we have helped thousands of individuals, families and businesses to find the insurance they need to protect themselves and their families, regardless of their medical history.
Most Common Questions
We answer your most frequently asked questions.
Pricing for cover is decided on an individual basis and is reflective of how heart disease affects you, and the associated risks of your condition. When underwriters assess your application they start from a base price according to the amount of term you want, considering your age, smoker status and assuming good health, they then add a premium to this according to the detail of your heart disease. The Insurance Surgery will strive to find you the policy you need at a price you are happy with.
If you took out your existing policy prior to being diagnosed with Heart Disease then it may make sense to keep this policy and top up with a new policy to take you to the level of cover you are looking for. We give free advice so we can certainly look at what you already have, what you currently pay and what you need now to help you decide how best to achieve what you need to.
Case Studies
Our customers love us.
Would recommend using this service
Tom has been incredibly helpful throughout the whole process of getting my life insurance set up. Very knowledgeable and absolutely ‘on it’ to get me the best product out there.
Mat Wise
First Class Experience
Service was first class, Simon kept me informed at every step in the process.I would have no hesitation in dealing with him again.
Duncan Fordyce
Great, Quick Service
Dealt with Karl who could not have been more helpful. Made the whole process of getting life insurance far easier than other providers I had approached.
Shelley Jenkins
Fantastic!
Approved immediately. Process was so fast and a lot cheaper than I thought. Highly recommended.
Nicola Storr
Life Insurance with Heart Disease
Life Insurance with a history of Heart Disease requires a few questions to be answered by you and your doctor. Having a heart condition can be worrying and can affect your life insurance policy as providers deem you as a “risk”. This risk means your premiums will be slightly higher than those who do not have a pre-existing medical condition.
The cost for cover is given by underwriters based on the severity of your condition and how well it has been managed. The Insurance Surgery has access to the whole of the market so we would look around for the provider that looks most favourably at your heart condition to get you the right price.
Critical Illness Cover For People With Heart Disease:
Critical Illness is not widely available for people with a heart condition. If your condition is mild and well managed we can put an application forward for consideration, but it is not guaranteed.
Critical illness cover pays out a cash lump sum of money if you are diagnosed with a medical condition. It is difficult to get critical illness cover with a heart condition due to policies covering the diagnosis of heart attacks and some other serious heart conditions.
With you already having a heart condition, the insurer will want to assess if it makes you more likely to develop one of the claimable conditions.
Our experienced advisers are here to help you every step of the way. Your dedicated adviser will go through all the terms and conditions with you, so that you know exactly what you are and are not covered for.
Heart Conditions & Income Protection
Income protection pays you a replacement of your monthly income, if you are unable to work due to ill health. It can sometimes be available to people that have heart conditions and is most likely to be offered if you have a mild heart condition, that does not affect your ability to work, or your regular day to day activities.
For people that have a more moderate to higher risk heart condition, insurers may offer the option for an exclusion on the policy. This will mean that the policy will not cover claims relating to your heart. Income protection might also come at an increased premium.
This isn’t always the case though as no two people are the same and it is important to make sure you fully understand the exclusions.
Most Common Questions
We answer your most frequently asked questions.
How Much Will Life Insurance For Heart Disease Cost?
Pricing for cover is decided on an individual basis depending on your circumstances. It is reflective of how heart disease affects you, and the associated risks of your condition.
When underwriters assess your application they start from a base price according to the amount of term you want, considering your age, smoker status and assuming good health, they then add a loading to this according to the details of your heart disease.
The Insurance Surgery will strive to find you the policy you need at a price you are happy with, giving you and your family the protection you need.
I Already Have Life Insurance So Is It Worth Looking At A New Policy?
If you took out your existing policy prior to being diagnosed with Heart Disease then it may make sense to keep this policy and top up with a new policy to take you to the level of cover you are looking for.
We give free advice so we can certainly look at what you already have, what you currently pay and what you need now to help you decide how best to achieve what you need to.
If you do want to review your current life insurance policy, we can help you by looking at your options. Changes in your lifestyle can impact the amount of life insurance you might need, so if you have recently taken out a mortgage or started a family, we can look at your options.
Facts About Heart Disease
Heart Disease occurs when the arteries to the heart become narrowed and obstructed by the build-up of fatty deposits. This prevents sufficient flow of oxygen-rich blood reaching the heart.
Heart Disease Statistics (UK)
- Heart Disease causes around 26% of deaths in the UK
- Around 42,000 people under the age of 75 will die from Heart Disease each year
- There are around 7 million people in the UK living with heart disease
- Healthcare costs from Heart Disease each year across the country come to around £11 Billion.
What are Heart Conditions?
Different heart problems affect people in different ways and come in a range of severities, from mild heart arrhythmia to severe heart attacks. Heart conditions are classified by an event or illness that causes the heart to stop functioning at what should be a normal state.
This can be for a short time or over a long period.
Heart conditions can be hereditary or they can develop through lifestyle choices. For the most part, they are lifelong conditions.
Risk factors for developing heart disease include:
- Age
Growing older will increase your risk of damaged or narrowed arteries, or a weakened and thickened heart muscle. - Sex
Men are generally at greater risk of heart disease, however the risk for women increases after menopause. - Family history
A family history of heart disease increases your risk of coronary artery disease, especially if a parent developed it at an early age. An early age is classed as before 55 for a male relative and before 65 for a female relative. - Smoking
The nicotine in cigarettes tightens blood vessels and the carbon monoxide damages the inner linings. This makes the arteries more susceptible to atherosclerosis. Heart attacks are more common in smokers than non-smokers. - Poor diet
If your diet is high in fat, salt, sugar or cholesterol then this can contribute to heart disease. - High blood pressure
If you have uncontrolled high blood pressure, this can result in the hardening and thickening of your arteries, which narrows the vessels where blood flows. - Diabetes
Having diabetes increases your risk of heart disease and both conditions share similar risk factors, such as obesity and high blood pressure. - Obesity
Excess weight typically worsens the risk of heart disease, alongside a bad diet and physical inactivity. Lack of exercise is also associated with many forms of heart disease. - Stress
Stress can damage your arteries and worsen other risk factors for heart disease. Relieving stress through lifestyle choices can help to decrease the risk. - Poor dental health
It’s important to brush and floss your teeth and gums properly and have regular dental check-ups. Germs can enter the bloodstream when your teeth or gums are unhealthy and travel to your heart, causing endocarditis.
Heart conditions include:
- Angina
- Arrhythmia (Abnormal Heart Rhythm)
- Atrial Fibrillation
- Bradycardia
- Cardiac Arrest
- Cardiomyopathy
- Cardiovascular Disease
- Congenital Heart Disease
- Coronary Heart Disease
- Heart Attack
- Heart Failure
- Heart Valve Disease
- High Blood Pressure (Hypertension)
- High Cholesterol
- Left Bundle Branch Block
- Quadruple Heart Bypass
- Stroke
- Tachycardia
- Tetralogy of Fallot
Complications of Heart Disease
Some of the complications of having a heart condition include:
- Heart failure
One of the most common complications of heart disease is heart failure. This occurs when your heart cannot pump enough blood to meet your body’s needs. Heart failure can result from many forms of heart disease, including heart defects, cardiovascular disease, valvular heart disease, heart infections or cardiomyopathy. - Heart attack
A blood clot can block the blood flow through a blood vessel that feeds the heart, which can cause a heart attack. - Stroke
The risk factors that lead to cardiovascular disease can also lead to an ischemic stroke, which happens when the arteries to your brain are narrowed or blocked so that too little blood reaches your brain. A stroke is a medical emergency as brain tissue begins to die within just a few minutes of a stroke. - Aneurysm
An aneurysm is a serious complication that can occur anywhere in your body as it is a bulge in the wall of your artery. If an aneurysm bursts, you may face life-threatening internal bleeding. - Sudden cardiac arrest
Sudden cardiac arrest is the sudden, unexpected loss of heart function, breathing and consciousness, often caused by an arrhythmia. Sudden cardiac arrest is a medical emergency. If not treated immediately, it can result in death.
Preventing Heart Disease
Certain types of heart disease, such as heart defects, can’t be prevented. However, the same lifestyle changes that can improve your heart disease can help you prevent it. These include the following:
- Don’t smoke or vape
- Control other health conditions, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes
- Exercise at least 30 minutes a day
- Ensure your diet is low in salt and saturated fats
- Get to, and maintain, a healthy weight
- Manage stress well and reduce it in areas where possible
- Have good dental hygiene
Although there is no cure for heart disease the symptoms can be managed. Following the above lifestyle changes can help to reduce your symptoms.
Diagnosis and Treatment of Heart Disease
In order to diagnose a heart condition, the doctor will first need to look at your blood pressure and check the amount of cholesterol in your blood. Once an increased level of risk has been established, there are various blood and imaging tests that can be carried out. This can help to achieve a clear diagnosis and an understanding of the severity of the condition.
Often regular medication is prescribed and there are several possible options. This could be blood thinners to help prevent clotting, statins to lower cholesterol, beta blockers to lower blood pressure or nitrates to relax and widen the arteries. There is also the option of surgical procedures if symptoms cannot be managed by simple lifestyle changes and medication.
Causes Of Heart Disease
There are key factors that put you at a higher risk of Heart Disease
- High Blood Pressure
- Raised Cholesterol
- Diabetes
- Being a smoker
- Lack of exercise
- Being overweight
- Family history of heart disease
Diagnosis And Treatment Of Heart Disease
In order to diagnose the condition, the doctor will first need to look at your blood pressure and check the amount of cholesterol in your blood. Once an increased level of risk has been established there are various blood and imaging tests that can be carried out to achieve a clear diagnosis and an understanding of the severity of the condition.
Although there is no cure for heart disease the symptoms can be managed. One of the key actions is to make lifestyle changes such as stopping smoking, taking up regular exercise and developing healthy eating habits. Often regular medication is prescribed, this could be blood thinners to help prevent clotting, statins to lower cholesterol, beta blockers to lower blood pressure or nitrates to relax and widen the arteries, there are several possible options. There is also the option of surgical procedures if symptoms cannot be managed by simple lifestyle changes and medication.
Useful Links
Here at The Insurance Surgery, we have many years’ experience working with people with Heart Disease. We will do our best to help you find what you need to protect you, your family or your business at the most competitive price we can.
Click the links below to find out more: