Heart conditions insurers ask about
Heart condition is a broad term. It covers anything from a harmless murmur or occasional palpitations to angina, a heart attack, heart failure, an irregular rhythm such as atrial fibrillation, valve problems or a condition you were born with. Insurers assess each one differently.
Start by giving the exact name of your diagnosis, as your cardiologist or GP described it. If you are not sure, your clinic letters will have it. A vague answer can lead to more questions and a slower decision.
The details underwriters look for
After the diagnosis, insurers want to know what has been done about it. They ask about procedures such as angioplasty, stents, bypass surgery, valve repair or a pacemaker, and the dates. They ask about tests you have had, such as an ECG, echocardiogram or exercise test, and the results.
They also look at your current health. Do you still get chest pain or breathlessness? What medication do you take? Are you under regular follow-up? Your blood pressure, cholesterol, weight, smoking and any diabetes all feed into the same decision.
If you have been through cardiac rehabilitation, mention it, along with how active you are now. Getting back to regular exercise after a heart problem gives the insurer a useful sign of recovery.
- Exact diagnosis and date
- Procedures or surgery and when
- Recent test results
- Current symptoms and medication
- Risk factors such as smoking and cholesterol
What you might be offered
Some minor conditions, such as an innocent murmur or palpitations that tests showed were harmless, often get standard terms. More significant conditions usually lead to a premium loading, which depends on how well your heart works now and how long you have been stable.
After a heart attack or heart surgery, most insurers want some time to pass before offering terms, so you may get a postponement at first. More serious or unstable conditions can lead to a decline. Critical illness cover is often the hardest part, and insurers may exclude heart conditions or decline it while still offering life cover.
Tell the insurer everything
Heart conditions show up clearly in medical records, and insurers check those records when a claim comes in. If a diagnosis or procedure is missing from your application, the insurer may reduce or refuse the claim. That is the outcome you want to avoid.
Mention investigations too, even if they found nothing wrong, if the question asks about them. Tests that came back clear can help your case, so there is no reason to leave them out.
Heart conditions found early in life
Some heart conditions show up in childhood or early adulthood, such as a hole in the heart or a rhythm problem picked up at a sports medical. Insurers ask about these too. A condition that was fully repaired and has needed no treatment since may have little effect, while ongoing problems get a closer look.
If a heart condition runs in your family and you have had screening, the insurer will want the results. Clear screening can help your application, and a diagnosis from screening becomes part of your own medical history.
Rheumatic fever in the past and heart inflammation after an infection both belong on the form if the question covers them. Give the dates and say whether you have needed any treatment since.
How Hi Tomorrow helps
Insurers take different views of the same heart condition. One might postpone where another offers terms, or one might add a large loading where another adds a smaller one. We know which insurers on our panel tend to be more open about particular conditions and we approach them first.
We help you pull together the dates, procedures and results the insurer will ask for. If you are told to wait, we can tell you roughly when to try again and get in touch at the right time.