February is National Heart Month. Find out more about the heart conditions we are able to help with.
The British Heart Foundation has designated February National Heart Month. Over the year, the BHF has not only raised significant sums of money in relation to heart disease, but also increased awareness in the general public concerning heart and circulatory problems.
In the past, the Life Insurance industry has been reluctant to offer cover to individuals with a history of heart disease. We are pleased to be able to arrange life insurance involving an increasingly wide range of heart problems:
STABLE ANGINA - Cover is available provided there are no complications. Where there are other problems such as diabetes, moderate height/weight issues, cover may still be available albeit at a significantly increased premium.
HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE - Cover available especially where the condition is well controlled and there are no complications. Combinations of problems make cover more difficult to achieve and more expensive.
HEART ARRHYTHMIA (irregular heart beat) – cover should be available at close to normal rates provided there are no complications. It is possible to obtain cover where there are co-existing conditions e.g diabetes, although this will increase the premium.
HEART ATTACKS: We can arrange life insurance if the attack has taken place six or more months ago and there are no complications. If the applicant is a smoker we should still be able to arrange cover but the premium may well be at least double that of a non-smoker.
If the applicant has had more than one heart attack and/or has other conditions such as diabetes, terms are available at an increased premium, although in some cases it will not be possible to insure.
We are also able to insure those who have undergone HEART SURGERY – as follows:
ANGIOPLASTY (opening of partially blocked arteries in the heart using a balloon) and STENTING - cover should be available if an application is made six months after a successful procedure.
BYPASS SURGERY – Cover is available if an application is made one year after successful surgery, providing there have been no complications.
HEART VALVE REPLACEMENT – Cover is available if an application is made one year after a successful operation, providing there have been no complications.
AORTA GRAFT SURGERY FOR SWELLING OF THE AORTA (aneurysm) – Cover is available if an application is made six months after a successful operation, providing there have been no complications.
STROKES – Cover is available if an application is made one year after the stroke. Smoking and/or other medical conditions will increase the cost and may affect availability of cover.
The above are general guidelines. If you have a client who has been declined life insurance or who you believe will experience difficulty in obtaining cover, please do contact us. We can tell you quickly if we think we can help. Because our premiums are usually more expensive than in standard cases we give indications of cost first, so that individuals can decided whether or not to complete a full application.

