View INSTANT Quotes

Keys To Getting Life Insurance After Heart Surgery

Keys to getting life insurance after heart bypass surgery
Insurance Quotes 2 Day Team

Written By Doug Mitchell

Doug Mitchell, CLU holds a BA degree in Finance from Auburn University as well as having obtained a Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) designation from The American College in Bryn Mahr, PA.  Doug has spent close to 30 years in the insurance and financial planning industry and has held licenses to sell securities, long-term care insurance, health.  Doug is also a financial blogger addressing the topics of life insurance, annuities and retirement income planning.

Holly Mitchell  &

Holly Mitchell’s background in life insurance insurance goes back to 1985 when she worked for her father who was a New York Life agent. Holly has a marketing degree from Auburn University and has had a life insurance license since 2008. In addition to advising life insurance for customers all around the country, Holly is our website fact checker.

Rob Pinner   &

Rob Pinner is the founder and CEO of Pinner Financial Services servicing all 50 states. Rob started his insurance career in 2002.

Louis LaBash

Results-driven and innovative life insurance professional with 30 plus years of life insurance industry sales and marketing experience. Recognized as a pioneer in the field, leveraging phone and internet channels to exceed personal sales of over $100 million during the first decade of the 21st century. Creator of a highly effective intuitive IUL life insurance sales software that facilitated the sale of millions of dollars of indexed universal policies by numerous life insurance agents. Proven track record as a Managing General Agent (MGA), Life Agent, IUL Life Insurance Sales Software developer, and leading-edge creator of insurance marketing tools, educational content, and delivery systems.

 6 minute read

When you apply for life insurance, the company is going to look at dozens of different factors to determine how much they are going to charge you or if they will accept you for coverage in the first place. There are going to look at everything from your health to your job.

Getting life insurance after heart surgery is easier than most people think. According to Healthline, as “with any ‘open heart’ surgery, heart bypass surgery does carry significant risks. However, recent technology advancements have helped improve the procedure, making the likelihood of success much higher.” Whether you have had heart bypass surgery or suffer from some other form of high-risk complication such as depression or sleep apnea, do not allow them to keep you from obtaining the life insurance coverage that you and your family deserve. We are here to help you!

Coronary bypass surgery comes with some serious risks, but according to WebMD once “you’ve recovered, your symptoms of angina (chest pain) will be gone or much better. You’ll be able to be more active, and you’ll have a lower risk of getting a heart attack. Best of all, the surgery can add years to your life.” And yes, there is life after bypass surgery and you can get affordable life insurance after heart surgery!

Life insurance companies take heart disease very seriously and will be cautious regarding the factors that have led to your bypass surgery, such as:

  • smoking history
  • high cholesterol and/or blood pressure
  • over weight
  • diabetes
  • history of heart disease in your family
  • a sedentary life

The presence of these factors will affect the success of your surgery. Often in combination, they can indicate an unhealthy lifestyle. Changes you have made to your lifestyle to correct or mitigate these factors will also affect the success of your surgery.

Life insurance companies are trying to determine the risk of insuring your life. Anything you are doing to extend your life will reduce your risk. Your efforts to improve your health can lower your life insurance premium and save you thousands of dollars.

Your attention to your overall health and strict adherence to your doctor’s recommendations after your bypass surgery will absolutely have an impact on the premium that you pay. Your physician will prescribe a regimen of exercise, diet and medication, which will be your path to better health.

Life insurance after heart bypass surgery

life insurance after heart surgery

Medicine Net has this to say about your heart bypass post-surgery behavior. “Exercise stress testing is routinely done four to six weeks after CABG surgery and signals the beginning of a cardiac rehabilitation program. Rehabilitation consists of a 12 week program of gradually increasing monitored exercise lasting one hour three times a week. Patients are also counseled about the importance of lifestyle changes to lower their chance of developing further CAD. These include stopping smoking, reducing weight and dietary fat, controlling blood pressure and diabetes, and lowering blood cholesterol levels.”

Following this type of regimen is mandatory. If you do, life insurance approval will be much easier and your premiums will be much lower, you’ll get the best life insurance after heart attack, and you will experience an enjoyable life after bypass surgery.

In “Thirty-three years after bypass surgery: a heart patient’s perspective” from the US National Library of Medicine, the person in the article listed the following keys to a long life after heart bypass surgery:

don’t smoke
manage stress
exercise effectively
eat healthy food, but not too much of it
eat breakfast
have a positive attitude

Fine advice from a 33-year heart bypass survivor.

Waiting periods

As in the case of most surgeries, life insurance immediately after bypass surgery can be difficult and expensive. Many insurers require a six month waiting period before they will approve your policy.

If you are in this situation and must have life insurance immediately, Ogletree Financial Services can help. We will work to get a policy in place now with a plan to renegotiate your insurance after the waiting period has passed.

The more time that has passed after your bypass surgery the more likely it is that you will be approved. Of course, your attention to your recovery will also weigh heavily on your likelihood of qualifying for an affordable life insurance policy.

Overall health Keys to getting life insurance after heart bypass surgery

When considering your overall health, life insurance companies will not be interested only in your heart bypass surgery. You can expect life insurance companies to have a few key concerns:

  • Your age. Generally, the later in life you decide to get life insurance, the more expensive it will be. Life insurance is a priority and getting a policy in place now is important.
  • How much time has passed since you had bypass surgery? This is always a primary consideration following any serious surgical procedure.
  • The number of blood vessels that were bypassed. If more vessels need to be bypassed then a more serious condition exists and a more complicated surgery is required.
  • The measured success of the surgery. This is super important. To receive the lowest premium possible, a carrier will want to be sure you are on the road to recovery. A record of doctor visits and positive results from lab tests and stress tests will weigh heavily in favor of the success of your life insurance application.
  • Other health risks. If you have any other health conditions in addition to your heart problem, your risk rating could be affected.

At Ogletree Financial Services we get affordable life insurance for clients who have had heart bypass surgery every day. We know how to present a detailed analysis of your medical condition to the right insurers and get the best life insurance after heart attack that you and your family need at the lowest premium available. You can rely on our expertise and experience.

How much Life Insurance Do You Need?

Before you purchase a life insurance plan, it’s important that you calculate how much life insurance that your family will need if something tragic were to happen to you. Not having life insurance is one of the worst mistakes that you could ever make for your loved ones. There are a couple of key factors that you should calculate to ensure that your loved ones will have the money that they need.

The first number that you should look at is your debt and major expenses. The first goal of your life insurance is to give your loved ones the money that they need to pay off bills and expenses. Without life insurance, your family is going to be in a hole of debt with no way to get out of it. For most people, mortgage loans, student loans, and business loans are the biggest portion of debts. Make sure that your loved ones have the money that they need to pay those off.

Keys to getting life insurance after heart bypass surgery

The next number that you need to add in the equation is your annual income and salary. If you’re the main income earner in your home, then your loved ones would struggle without that paycheck. That’s where your life insurance plan comes in. Your insurance coverage will give your family the money that they need to replace your paycheck without having to sacrifice their standard of living.

The last number that you should consider when you’re shopping for life insurance after heart surgery is your final expenses. One thing that a lot of people don’t account for is their burial fees and funeral expenses. The average funeral can cost around $10,000, which can be difficult for a grieving family to cover.

Getting Life Insurance After Heart Bypass Surgery

When you get life insurance after heart bypass surgery, you might be worried about getting rejected for coverage, maybe you’ve been declined in the past, but don’t assume that you can’t get quality and affordable insurance. The best way to ensure that you’re getting the lowest insurance rates and to give yourself the best chance of getting accepted, work with an independent insurance broker.

Unlike a traditional insurance agent, independent insurance brokers work with dozens and dozens of highly rated companies across the nation. Every company on the market is going to give you different rates based on their medical underwriting. Some companies are going to give you cheaper coverage while others are going to reject you for protection. Instead of wasting hours and hours calling different companies, let one of our independent agents do all of that dirty work for you.

We have years of experience working with all types of clients and companies across the nation. Our agents can help you find the perfect insurance plan for you and your family. You never know what’s going to happen tomorrow, which means that you shouldn’t wait any longer to get the coverage that they need. We do everything we can to help you insure your life after bypass surgery.

Getting started is easy! Call the professionals at Ogletree Financial Services at 1-800-712-8519 or complete the short form on the left of the page.

Frequently asked Questions

Can I get life insurance with a pacemaker?

heart image

In most cases, having a pacemaker will not preclude an applicant from getting life insurance. The primary consideration would be the underlying condition that created the need for a pacemaker. We have seen, however, cases where having a pacemaker actually helped the applicant get approved for life insurance.

Should I go ahead with guaranteed isssue life insurance?

blood pressure measure

You should consider guaranteed issue or guaranteed accpetance life insurance only as a last resort. First, apply with one of our “heart friendly” insurance carriers to see if we can get your qualified for more coverage at an affordable rate.

Will being diagnosed with AFIB prevent me from getting coverage?

AFIB is not a fatal condition on its own. It is, however, a serious enough issue that insurance underwriters will be concerned about other serious heart issues or even stroke.

Can I get a good policy after bypass surgery?

man with questions icon

Getting life insurance after heart bypass surgery is easier than most people think even though in years past it would generally preclude an applicant from getting approved. Your efforts to improve your health can lower your life insurance premium and save you thousands of dollars.

author avatar
Doug Mitchell, CLU Independant Advisor
Doug Mitchell, CLU holds a BA degree in Finance from Auburn University as well as having obtained a Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) designation from The American College in Bryn Mahr, PA. Doug has spent almost 30 years in the life insurance industry and has also held licenses to sell securities, long-term care insurance and home and auto insurance. Doug is a Top of the Table Million Dollar Round Table member (MDRT).  MDRT is a global, independent association of the world's leading life insurance advisors.  For two years, Doug served as President of the Auburn Opelika Association of Financial Advisors and has been a member of the Million Dollar Round Table. He obtained Life Millionaire status at Horace Mann Insurance Company and was awarded the Life Agent of the Year Award. Later in his career with New York Life he was an Executive Council Member. Doug currently serves as President of Ogletree Financial, a managing general agency serving life insurance agents and clients in all parts of the United States. Today, Doug’s main focus is servicing 1000s of policyholders and growing the agency through the reach of  insurancequotes2day.com.

Leave a Reply