Heart Bypass – Life Insurance Approvals After Coronary Bypass
last updated on May 17, 2021After heart bypass surgery life insurance becomes top of mind. Can you even get a heart bypass life insurance application approved? Thankfully the answer is yes!
QUESTIONS ANSWERED!
Yes! You can get life insurance after coronary bypass surgery.
The key is working with an independent underwriting expert who understands bypass surgery procedures and what it means to life insurance. Otherwise, you might as well throw your application in the trash because it will be denied.
Gather your information about recent cardiologist visits and tests and then fill out the quote form on the right to get started.
Here is a handy guide to this article, feel free to head directly to the section you need.
- Coronary Bypass Surgery
- Life Insurance And Heart Bypass Surgery
- Heart Bypass Life Insurance Approvals And Rates
- Actual Life Insurance After Heart Bypass Surgery – A Case Study
- Life Insurance With A Bypass – The Real Deal
If you are reading this because you have been denied life insurance due to having a heart bypass surgery in the past, we can help. The fact is, you may have simply been applying with the wrong company.
Although the process will be more difficult than for a person in perfect health, it is possible for someone with heart problems in the past — including a heart attack — to get great life insurance.
There there are some life insurance companies that specialize in these types of high-risk cases. For the lowest rates, you need to know these companies and apply with them.
That is why it is important to work with independent underwriting experts – like us at Heart Life Insurance. We know which companies are most likely to approve someone after heart bypass surgery at the best rates.
Using our Rapid Quote system, we will submit the case to multiple companies to determine the best fit. Multiple companies give us multiple options for approval, and you win with the best policy in the business for your coronary bypass.
CORONARY BYPASS SURGERY
Coronary bypass surgery (sometimes called “cardiac bypass surgery,” “coronary artery bypass grafting,” “CABG,” or just “bypass surgery”) is a procedure in which the flow of blood is diverted around an artery or section of an artery in your heart that is blocked or partially blocked.
This essentially creates a new pathway to the heart, and coronary bypass surgery improves the blood flow to the most important muscle in your body.
This new pathway is created by taking a healthy blood vessel– usually from your leg, arm or chest– and connecting it to the other arteries in your heart so that the artery that is blocked or diseased is bypassed, hence the name.
Coronary bypass surgery is often used as a last resort to treat individuals with severe heart disease, many of whom have already had a heart attack.
In fact, angioplasty (with or without stents) is a preferred course and coronary artery bypass graft surgeries have been declining recently in popularity.
After the surgery has been performed and the patient begins to recover, symptoms such as chest pain, shortness of breath caused by poor blood flow to the heart should improve.
The results of a bypass usually are excellent. Although symptoms can recur, many people remain symptom-free for as long as 10 to 15 years.
National Institute of Health
LIFE INSURANCE AND HEART BYPASS SURGERY
According to the Texas Heart Institute, there are 500,000 coronary bypass procedures are performed in the United States each year. With so many people having the procedure, life insurance companies do not want to miss out on such a large portion of the American population.
However, the process will not be as easy as someone in perfect health, and you should not expect to get the same rates as someone who has never had heart surgery.
Since the surgery has already happened and is in the past, many factors are going to be outside your control. However, there are some steps you can take to improve your chances when you go to apply.
It is important to know what factors go into the decision process for insurers and provide as much information as possible on each aspect.
While specific qualifications will vary from company to company, these determining questions will play the largest role in your approval, rating class, and premium prices.
How long ago did you have the heart bypass?
Life insurers want to see at least six months from the bypass procedure and usually a year. Less than six months from the procedure and only the more expensive guaranteed issue policies are available.
What’s your age at the time of bypass surgery?
Like many other heart procedures, it helps to be older when you have your bypass. Having a coronary bypass at age 60 is more “normal” than having a bypass at age 40.
Check out the actual rates from a large life insurance company below:
BEST RATE TIP!
As you can see, having a bypass later in life (after age 60) can mean dramatically lower life insurance rates.
Underwriters are wary of having a bypass at a younger age because may point to future heart problems down the road.
How many bypasses were performed?
One bypass it certainly looks better to an insurance underwriter then four or five blockages.
Was the surgery due to a heart attack? If no, what was the cause of the procedure?
Basically here we are looking to see if the procedure was elective or not. A bypass as a result of a heart attack will have a lower health class and higher life insurance rates.
Elective surgeries, like the one on former president George W. Bush, will have a better health class and lower life insurance rates.
Are you currently having any chest pain or other symptoms?
Any current symptoms may be a sign that the procedure was not enough and will need repeating.
Has your condition improved since the surgery, and is the condition now being successfully controlled with medication and other treatments?
Did you change your lifestyle? Quit smoking? Lose a little weight? All of these factors will benefit your life insurance application approval.
Do you have any additional health problems that could affect your heart?
Diabetes, high blood pressure, cholesterol problems, and other heart issues will make life insurance approval more complicated. Not impossible, but complicated.
Do you have any recent stress tests?
Life insurance underwriters always want to see recent stress tests within the last year or two years. If your cardiologist does not recommend them, try to get one annually anyway.
These annual stress tests will help you qualify for lifestyle credits which will lower your life insurance rates, can help you live longer, and are a positive sign of maintaining your health.
HEART BYPASS LIFE INSURANCE APPROVALS AND RATES
So what kind of health class can you expect for life insurance after a heart bypass?
Preferred / Preferred Plus
Generally, these top health classes are not available for someone after a heart bypass surgery. If a life insurance agent quotes these rates for you they are doing you a disservice.
Be very careful if you are working with someone quoting preferred rates after a coronary bypass.
Standard Plus / Standard
Standard rates are possible if the bypass procedure was elective and only affecting one artery. This is rare though since doctors usually elect CABG when there are multiple arteries blocked. Multiple arteries with coronary artery disease will not rate standard.
Subsequent tests need to show a blockage of 50% or less with a recent exercise stress test, thallium stress test or coronary angiogram.
In most cases, these are the best rates you can expect after a heart bypass surgery.
Substandard / Table Ratings
Substandard or table ratings are most often granted for heart bypass survivors. This is great news because these policies are still affordable and you can get the protection you need for your family.
Rates will be slightly higher than standard however there are still many options for coverage.
ACTUAL LIFE INSURANCE AFTER HEART BYPASS SURGERY – A CASE STUDY
CASE STUDY!
Keith H. Male. 68 years old. Smoker 10 years ago. Needed a coronary bypass due to a small blockage when he was 63.
Only one affected artery successfully treated with an internal mammary artery graft.
He had one recent life insurance denial from the same insurance company that handled his home and auto insurance. He is on medication to control cholesterol.
Results:
Keith did not have a recent stress test in his profile, even though his cardiologist recommended it. We pushed him to do it as well. With the results in hand, the blockages in his artery were estimated at 35%, his heart was in good health otherwise.
With the combination of high cholesterol and the heart bypass, our original offer was for significant substandard rates.
However, with the recent stress test, we were able to secure Keith coverage at slightly substandard rates due to lifestyle credits.
A-rated company for Keith H., 10-year term quoted Feb 2017
| Term Life Insurance | $100,000 | $250,000 | $500,000 |
| Monthly Rate | $142.73 | $271.25 | $522.59 |
LIFE INSURANCE WITH A BYPASS – THE REAL DEAL
Live a healthy lifestyle. This is the most important thing anyone can do to improve his or her chances at approval for life insurance. This is especially the case for life insurance for heart bypass patients.
Aside from healthy living, the next best thing you can do is use our independent underwriting experts. We specialize in heart bypasses and other heart conditions, and we know the life insurance companies that will give you the best health class . . . and the lowest rates!
The quotes are updated constantly. The expertise is free and your privacy is protected by law.
Best of all your satisfaction is guaranteed!
What are you waiting for? You will never be any younger than you are today.
Hit the quote button below or use the form on the right and let’s get started on your approval.
10 Comments
Bruce Douglas
Had a double bypass in Jan of 2012. Came through with no problems. Took another stress test two months after and was allowed to travel overseas. I did not have a heart attack and my surgeon stated I have a very strong heart. I take my meds regularly and have lost 21 lbs. I also watch what I eat and try to get exercise. What life insurance can I get?
Jimmy McMillan
Hello Bruce, thanks for checking out the article. Depending on your age and other health conditions, most forms of life insurance will be open to you, term, permanent, as well as funeral coverage. Call one of our advisors and we will put some options together for you.
Ron
I had a for bypass 8 years ago regular medication baby aspirin high blood pressure Statin pill once in awhile no other issues so far no chest pain things are looking okay
Jimmy McMillan
Thanks for stopping by. I'd like to take a look at your most recent echocardiogram or stress test to be sure, but you should have some options for coverage. We have a great success rate for clients 5+ years away from a bypass, especially if those clients are watching their diet and exercise. Give us a call at the office and we can put those options together for you.
https://heartlifeinsurance.com/contact/
Ron Robl**
4x bypass 8 years ago everthing good so far taking meds baby asprin , metropolo . rusuvastatin. Will be getting echogram and stress test in June 2022 . little aches here and there maybe statin pill. What do u guys think
Jimmy McMillan
I think you have a great shot, and the fact that you are staying on top of your followup is a good thing.
Underwriters may postpone our case until after that stress test, then again, maybe not. It depends on when you had your last stress test.
Give us a call in the office and we can sort your options out.
Thomas Sousa
Im a 70 yo male i had triple bypass and mitral valve replacement surgery in april of 2014. I still work and workout everyday. Is there a way i can get life insurance. Thanks
Jimmy McMillan
Thanks for reaching out. For a case like this we would have to give you a custom quote, and it's going to depend on your most recent echo or stress test. We have approved cases like this before though, so give us a call. The office number is at the top of the page, ask for me personally.
Lucas Matthews
An emergency bypass surgery was performed when I had a hear attack at the age of 50, how likely will I be approved for a life insurance?
Jimmy McMillan
Great question Lucas, and we should probably move to email to talk about your specific case.
In general, after CABG your approval will depend on how many vessels were affected, where those vessels were and what your prognosis looks like now. We just had a case approved yesterday with a 54 y/o male, so not too far away from you in age who had a bypass.
His affected two arteries and it was a few years ago. However his health is great, and recent cardiac testing showed a really high ejection fraction (55%+) and great stress test results (14 METS). The great test results allowed us to get moderate substandard rates, however it was approved and his family is protected.