PFwise.com
Search
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Tools
  • Know-how
    • Insurance 101
    • Annuity 101
    • College Planning
    • Real Estate
    • Retirement Planning
    • Smart Investment
    • Stock Ideas
    • Tax Planning
  • About Us
  • 中文
  • Resources
    • Personal Finance Reading List
    • Financial Aid Resources
    • Personal Finance Calendar
    • Retirement Planning Calendar
    • ETF list
    • Financial Glossary
  • Newsletters Archive

Life Insurance Underwriting for People With Heart Disease and Heart Attack

2/26/2017

0 Comments

 
February is American Heart Month!

One of the most common impairments life insurance applicants run into with underwriting is heart disease. It comes in many shapes and forms, as well as degrees of severity.

The broad category of heart disease can include mild issues such as an abnormal EKG, palpitations, mitral valve prolapse, or chest pain (angina). More commonly seen (moderate concerns) are issues like cardiomyopathy, arrhythmias, and atrial fibrillation. Additionally, there is a high frequency of the more severe cases of heart disease, such as congestive heart failure, those needing valve replacements and/or pacemakers, and those with histories of myocardial infarctions (heart attacks) with bypass, angioplasty, and/or stenting.

The underwriting of heart disease looks very closely at the cardiac testing results of the EKGs and echocardiograms, as well as stress and treadmill test results. Key factors they’ll be looking at, depending on the impairment or issue at hand, will be ejection fractions, wall thickness, condition and performance of the valves, and basic overall performance of the heart and circulatory system. Obviously, those who are diagnosed with heart disease at an earlier age are going to be more of a concern for possible progression than those that have onset later in life.

If a case presents with a heart attack history (myocardial infarction aka MI), obviously we know that’s a significant concern; heart attacks are the leading cause of death in America. Typically, after such an event, there’s going to be some kind of treatment to address the stenosis (narrowing of the blood vessels). Usually that will come in the form of coronary artery bypass graft (CABG), angioplasty (ANGP), and/or stenting (also known as percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty, or PTCA). After such an event, we’re typically going to be looking at a six-month postponement, and then a Table 4 (minimum) depending on the condition of the heart and coronary arteries after the event. Also considered is the age of the patient and if there are good cardiac follow-ups and cardiac testing results afterward.

The primary questions to be asked of a proposed insured that presents with this history are:

  • Age of onset or diagnosis? How long has it been/time since diagnosis?
  • What is the specific cardiac issue(s)?
  • How is it being treated? Are there good cardiac follow-ups?
  • If they’ve had an MI, did they have CABG or PTCA? If so, how many vessels?
  • Has recent cardiac testing been favorable? When was last Echo and/or EKG?
  • Any family history of CAD?
  • Any other significant health issues or impairments?

The underwriting of an applicant with heart disease is very dependent on the individual case, as well as what’s in the doctor's and cardiologist’s notes. Time passed since the event will also be a major factor.

Please contact us if you need help with your life insurance needs.

0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    PFwise's goal is to help ordinary people make wise personal finance decisions.

    Archives

    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013

    Categories

    All
    Annuity
    Book Reviews
    College Finance
    Finance In Formula
    Financial Scams
    For Entrepreneurs
    Healthcare
    Insurance
    Investment
    Miscellaneous
    Real Estate
    Retirement
    Savings
    Savings Ideas
    Stock Ideas
    Tax
    Tax Related

    RSS Feed

Copyright © 2013 - 2018 PFWise.com, All Rights Reserved. 
IMPORTANT DISCLOSURES
PFwise.com does not provide investment, tax, or legal advice. The information presented here is not specific to any individual's personal circumstances.

To the extent that any material concerns tax matters, it is not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, by a taxpayer for the purpose of avoiding penalties that may be imposed by law. Each taxpayer should seek independent advice from a tax professional based on his or her individual circumstances.

These materials are provided for general information and educational purposes based upon publicly available information from sources believed to be reliable—we cannot assure the accuracy or completeness of these materials. The information in these materials may change at any time and without notice.
About Us | Contact Us 
中文