Life Insurance For People With a Heart Condition (2026)

If you're living with a heart condition, you're likely wondering how it'll affect your life insurance options. Insurers review cardiac conditions based on medical records, test results, and treatment history to determine your risk classification. Your rate class depends on several factors, including time since diagnosis, current heart function and medication compliance.

Companies typically delay applications after acute cardiac events to evaluate your recovery and long-term prognosis. This waiting period establishes a clearer picture of your health trajectory.

Insurers check time since diagnosis, condition severity, treatment history and test results during life insurance underwriting. 

• Time since your diagnosis or event ranks among the most critical factors, with longer recovery periods generally improving your rate class.
• Insurance companies want to see how serious your condition is through medical records and test results. A mild case of atrial fibrillation receives more favorable underwriting than severe coronary artery disease with multiple blockages.
• Treatment history matters in the approval process. Insurers review your medication compliance, cardiology appointment attendance and adherence to prescribed lifestyle modifications.
• Your overall health profile beyond heart issues, including blood pressure, cholesterol levels and diabetes management, affects your final rate.
• Family medical history provides context about inherited cardiac risk. Insurers also request recent test results, including EKG readings, stress test outcomes and echocardiogram reports to see current heart function.

Underwriting practices and available rate classes may vary by state due to insurance regulations.

Waiting periods after cardiac events range from 3 to 12 months, depending on the event type.

• Heart attack survivors wait 6 to 12 months before applying for traditional coverage. Insurers use this period to evaluate your recovery, treatment response and risk of recurrence.
• Bypass surgery requires a minimum wait of 3 to 12 months, depending on the number of vessels bypassed and your recovery progress. More extensive procedures usually mean longer waiting periods.
• Stent placement usually requires a three to six-month waiting period. The number of stents, the location of blockages, and follow-up test results all influence when you can apply.

Waiting improves your approval odds and rates because it shows stable recovery and effective treatment. Your medical records during this period show consistent medication use, lifestyle changes and positive health outcomes, which help underwriters assess your risk.

Heart conditions move most applicants from preferred rate classes into standard or substandard categories. These higher-risk rate classes have higher premiums.

Table ratings apply when your cardiac history shows a higher risk than standard classifications allow. Each table rating increases your premium by 25%, with ratings ranging from Table A (25% increase) to Table J (250% increase).

Your life insurance premium depends on factors beyond your heart condition. Age, gender, coverage amount and policy type all affect final costs. A 45-year-old with a well-managed cardiac condition often qualifies for better rates than a 65-year-old with the same diagnosis.

Getting life insurance for heart patients requires patience and preparation, but coverage is available for most people. Your options depend on your specific diagnosis, how long ago it occurred, how well your condition is managed and your overall health profile.

Compare quotes from multiple insurers to find the best life insurance for heart patients that fits your needs and budget. Working with an experienced insurance agent who understands cardiac underwriting can improve your chances of approval at the best possible rate.