Life insurance with heart conditions

Heart conditions cover a wide range of diagnoses, and insurers treat each one differently. A heart murmur and a heart attack are worlds apart in underwriting terms. This guide covers the major cardiac conditions, what insurers ask about each one, and what you can realistically expect.

Jump to a specific condition:

Heart Attack Angina Atrial Fibrillation Heart Murmur High Blood Pressure Heart Failure Stents / Bypass

The short answer

Most heart conditions are insurable, but terms vary enormously. High blood pressure on medication is usually standard rates. A heart murmur with no treatment needed is often standard. A heart attack or bypass surgery means higher premiums and typically a waiting period. The key factors across all heart conditions are time since the event, current cardiac function, medication, and any ongoing symptoms.

Heart attack (myocardial infarction)

A heart attack is one of the more serious cardiac events for underwriting purposes, but life insurance after a heart attack is absolutely available. The key is timing and recovery.

What insurers ask

When did the heart attack occur?
Was it a STEMI (ST-elevation MI) or NSTEMI? STEMI is viewed as more serious
What treatment was performed? Stents, bypass, or medical management only
What is your current ejection fraction (a measure of how well your heart pumps)?
Are you on standard cardiac medication? (statins, aspirin, beta-blockers, ACE inhibitors)
Any ongoing symptoms such as chest pain or breathlessness?
Have you had cardiac rehabilitation?
Do you smoke? Smoking after a heart attack dramatically affects terms

Typical underwriting

Under 6 months since heart attack

Most insurers will postpone. Too early to assess recovery and long-term outlook.

6-12 months

Some specialist insurers will consider. Significant loadings likely (150-300%+). Good recovery and normal ejection fraction help.

1-3 years

More options available. Loadings of 75-200% typical depending on severity, recovery, and risk factors. Non-smoking, controlled cholesterol and blood pressure all help.

3-5+ years

Good range of options with moderate loadings (50-150%). Single event with good recovery, no further events, and good risk factor control leads to the best terms.

Had a heart attack?

The timing and your recovery details matter. Call us with your event date and current cardiac function for an accurate picture.

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Angina

Angina is chest pain caused by reduced blood flow to the heart. Insurers distinguish between stable angina (predictable, brought on by exertion) and unstable angina (unpredictable, can occur at rest), with significantly different underwriting outcomes.

What insurers ask

Is your angina stable or unstable?
When were you diagnosed?
How frequently do you experience symptoms?
What triggers your angina? Exertion only, or also at rest?
What medication do you take? (GTN spray, beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers, nitrates)
Have you had an angiogram? If so, what were the results?
Have you had any procedures? (angioplasty, stents, bypass)

Typical underwriting

Stable angina with infrequent episodes, well-controlled on medication, and no recent hospital admissions is insurable with a moderate loading, typically 50-150% depending on age and other risk factors.

Unstable angina is viewed much more seriously. It is often treated as equivalent to a heart attack for underwriting purposes. Most insurers will want at least 6-12 months of stability before considering an application.

Atrial fibrillation (AF)

Atrial fibrillation is the most common heart rhythm disturbance, and it is becoming increasingly common as the population ages. The good news is that most people with AF can get life insurance.

What insurers ask

Is your AF paroxysmal (comes and goes), persistent, or permanent?
What medication are you taking? (rate control, rhythm control, anticoagulants)
Are you on blood thinners? (warfarin, apixaban, rivaroxaban, edoxaban)
Have you had an ablation procedure?
Do you have any other heart conditions alongside AF?
What is your CHADS-VASc score? (a stroke risk score used by cardiologists)

Typical underwriting

Lone AF (AF with no other heart conditions, normal heart structure, no stroke history) is usually insurable with a minor to moderate loading, typically 25-75%.

AF with other cardiac conditions is assessed as a combination. AF plus heart failure, for example, is significantly more serious than lone AF.

Successful ablation that has restored normal rhythm for 12+ months is viewed positively and may result in better terms than ongoing AF.

Heart murmur

A heart murmur is an extra or unusual sound during the heartbeat. Many heart murmurs are completely innocent and have no impact whatsoever on life insurance.

What insurers ask

Has the murmur been investigated? (echocardiogram results)
Is it classified as innocent/functional or pathological?
If pathological, what is the underlying cause? (valve disease, septal defect, etc.)
Do you need any treatment or monitoring?

Typical underwriting

Innocent/functional murmur confirmed by echocardiogram - standard rates, no loading. This is very common and causes no concern to underwriters.

Murmur due to mild valve disease (e.g. mild mitral regurgitation, mild aortic stenosis) - usually insurable with minor loading. Regular monitoring but no treatment needed is typical.

Murmur due to significant valve disease requiring treatment or monitoring - loading depends on severity. Valve replacement may be assessed similarly to bypass surgery in terms of the waiting period.

Unsure how your heart condition affects insurance?

Every cardiac condition is different. A quick call with your diagnosis and treatment details gives you a clear answer.

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High blood pressure (hypertension)

High blood pressure is extremely common and, when controlled with medication, usually has minimal impact on life insurance premiums. It is one of the most straightforward cardiac-related conditions to insure.

What insurers ask

What is your current blood pressure reading?
What medication are you taking?
How many medications are you on for blood pressure?
Do you have any end-organ damage? (kidney problems, left ventricular hypertrophy, retinal changes)
Any other cardiovascular risk factors? (diabetes, high cholesterol, smoking, family history)

Typical underwriting

Controlled BP (under 145/90 on medication)

Standard rates or minimal loading. One or two medications is typical and not a concern.

Moderately elevated (145-160/90-100 despite medication)

Minor loading, typically 25-50%. Three or more medications may indicate resistant hypertension.

Poorly controlled (over 160/100 despite medication)

Moderate loading or postponement pending better control. Uncontrolled hypertension increases risk across multiple conditions.

Hypertension combined with diabetes, high cholesterol, and smoking is assessed as a combined cardiovascular risk, and the loading reflects the combination rather than each factor individually.

Heart failure

Heart failure is one of the more serious cardiac diagnoses for insurance purposes. We are honest: it is harder to insure than most other heart conditions, but cover is still possible for many people.

What insurers ask

What is the cause of your heart failure?
What is your ejection fraction? (the percentage of blood pumped out with each beat)
What NYHA class are you? (Class I-IV, measuring functional capacity)
What medication are you on?
Do you have an ICD or CRT device?
How stable are your symptoms?

Typical underwriting

NYHA Class I (no limitation of physical activity) with preserved ejection fraction - insurable with moderate to significant loading. Some specialist insurers are competitive here.

NYHA Class II (slight limitation) - insurable with significant loading from specialist insurers. Mainstream insurers may decline.

NYHA Class III-IV (marked limitation or symptoms at rest) - very difficult on the standard market. Guaranteed acceptance products may be the primary option.

Stents and bypass surgery

Coronary stents (PCI/angioplasty) and coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) are revascularisation procedures to restore blood flow to the heart. Both are insurable, though bypass surgery is typically viewed as indicating more extensive coronary artery disease.

What insurers ask

When was the procedure performed?
How many stents / how many vessels bypassed?
Was it performed electively or as an emergency (e.g. during a heart attack)?
What is your current ejection fraction?
Any ongoing symptoms? Chest pain, breathlessness?
What medication are you on?
Have you had cardiac rehabilitation?
Do you smoke?

Typical underwriting

Elective single stent (planned procedure, no heart attack) with good recovery - often insurable from 3-6 months with moderate loading (75-150%). Terms improve with time.

Emergency stent during heart attack - assessed as a heart attack. Typically postponed for 6-12 months, then insurable with significant loading.

Bypass surgery (CABG) - indicates more extensive disease. Usually postponed for 6-12 months. Loadings of 100-250%+ depending on number of grafts, recovery, and ongoing risk factors. Single bypass (LIMA) viewed more favourably than triple or quadruple bypass.

The honest answer

Heart conditions span a huge range. High blood pressure on a single medication is almost a non-issue for life insurance. Heart failure with reduced ejection fraction is genuinely hard. Most cardiac conditions fall somewhere in between, and the right insurer for your specific condition makes a significant difference to both whether you are accepted and how much you pay. A specialist broker is not optional for cardiac conditions - it is essential.

Critical illness cover with heart conditions

Critical illness cover is harder to obtain with a cardiac history than life insurance. Many insurers will offer critical illness with a heart-related exclusion, meaning the policy would not pay out for a future heart attack or cardiac event. It would still cover cancer, stroke, and other specified conditions.

For some conditions (controlled hypertension, innocent murmur), critical illness may be available without exclusion. For more serious cardiac conditions (previous heart attack, heart failure), a cardiac exclusion is the most likely outcome if cover is offered at all.

Put your policy in trust

Every life insurance policy should be written in trust, regardless of your heart condition. It ensures the payout goes directly to your beneficiaries without probate delays or inheritance tax. Our partner brokers set this up on every policy at no cost.

Read our full guide to trusts and estate planning

Frequently asked questions

Can I get life insurance after a heart attack?

Yes. Most insurers will consider applications from 6-12 months after a heart attack. Premiums will be higher than standard, but cover is available. The key factors are time since the event, your recovery, ejection fraction, whether you had stents or bypass, and your ongoing risk factor management.

Does high blood pressure affect life insurance?

Controlled hypertension on one or two medications typically has minimal impact - standard rates or a very small loading. It is one of the most common conditions and rarely causes significant issues.

I had a stent fitted - when can I apply?

For an elective stent (planned, not during a heart attack), some insurers will consider applications from 3 months. For a stent during a heart attack, 6-12 months is typical. Earlier applications risk a decline on your record, so timing matters.

Is atrial fibrillation serious for insurance purposes?

Lone AF (with no other heart conditions) is generally insurable with a moderate loading. AF combined with other cardiac conditions is assessed as a combination. Successful ablation with restored normal rhythm can improve terms.

Will my premiums go up if I have another cardiac event?

No. Once your policy is in force with guaranteed premiums, the insurer cannot change them. Your premiums are locked in regardless of future health changes. This is a key reason to get cover as soon as your condition is stable enough to apply.

Can I get mortgage life insurance with a heart condition?

Yes. Mortgage life insurance (decreasing term) is available for most heart conditions. The premiums will be higher, but the cover functions identically. Decreasing term is typically cheaper than level term, which helps offset the cardiac loading.

Get advice about insurance with your heart condition

Tell us your diagnosis, treatment history, and current symptoms. Our specialist brokers will match you with the insurer that's best for your specific cardiac condition.

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