We work with some of the UK’s leading insurers:

We work with some of the UK’s leading insurers:
Yes, it’s still possible to secure life insurance after a heart attack, even if you’ve been declined cover in the past.
The options available to you will depend on your personal circumstances, such as your age and smoking status, and the length of time since your heart attack.
Some insurers may accept your application after a recovery period of at least 6 months, but they’ll also consider other factors to determine your eligibility and the cost of your cover.
Alternatively, if you’re aged 50 - 85, you could take out an over 50s plan. This policy allows you to leave a cash lump sum to your family without requiring any medical information, and acceptance is guaranteed.
Continue reading this life insurance after heart attack UK guide to learn more about your options and what to expect when applying for life insurance after a heart attack.
For further assistance and free quotes, get in touch with Reassured. We’re an award-winning life insurance broker.
Yes, life insurance does cover heart attacks, and will pay out if you pass away due to a heart attack.
Insurers always pay out if you pass away during the policy term, as long as:
When applying for life insurance after a heart attack you’ll need to provide information about your health, lifestyle and family medical history to the insurer (unless applying for an over 50s plan).
Further information will also be required in regards to your heart attack. For example:
Insurers will consider these key factors when assessing your application and decide the outcome based on the level of risk you pose (either accept or decline you cover).
Depending on the severity of your condition, further investigation may be required before your application can be accepted.
In this instance, the insurer may request access to your medical records (from your GP) or that you attend a physical exam with a health professional. These are at no cost to you and will ensure that your application is assessed accurately.
Heart attack survivors may be offered standard life insurance with an increased monthly premium or may be declined cover.
If you’ve been declined previously or are worried about being declined life insurance, Reassured have a dedicated team on hand to help.
We take the time to understand your circumstances and help to find suitable solutions from a panel of leading insurers.
Contact our specialist impaired risk team for expert support and free life insurance quotes.
In the tables below, we’ve provided some real-life examples of customers with a history of heart attack who’ve secured protection for their loved ones through our award-winning broker service.
Case study 1
This customer was a 59 year old non-smoker. They secured £100,000 of term life insurance with a standard insurer for £40.82 a month:
Details of applicant | Mr S. Reaves (Born in 1965 / Non-smoker) |
---|---|
Heart attack details | Had a heart attack aged 54 and a stent fitted (angioplasty), currently taking aspirin, bistapol, onlaprazole, and atorvastatin for heart condition. Applicant also suffers with anxiety |
Reason for cover | Mortgage and family |
Policy details | Sum assured: £100,000 Policy type: Level term Term length: 10 years Provider: AIG |
Monthly premium | £40.82 a month |
Case study 2
This customer was a 60 year old ex-smoker. They secured £150,000 of term life insurance with a standard insurer for £153.70 a month:
Details of applicant | Mr T. Berkley (Born in 1964 / Ex-smoker) |
---|---|
Heart attack details | Had a heart attack aged 53. Applicant also disclosed previous mental health condition |
Reason for cover | Mortgage and funeral |
Policy details | Sum assured: £150,000 Policy type: Level term Term length: 25 years Provider: AIG |
Monthly premium | £153.70 a month |
Please note, customer names have been changed
The best life insurance for heart attack victims will vary from person to person as everyone has different needs and circumstances.
However, we’ve outlined some policy options below that could be available to applicants with a history of heart conditions:
This policy could be the best choice for you if you’re aged 50 - 85 and living with a pre-existing condition, such as heart disease.
You’re guaranteed to be accepted if you’re within this age range and you don’t have to answer any questions about your health or medical history.
Over 50s life insurance could be ideal if you want to leave a cash lump sum behind to help cover your funeral costs, as an inheritance, or anything your family need.
The maximum payout is £20,000 depending on your age, smoking status and budget.
Quotes could start from just £5 a month through Reassured + .
Term life insurance may be available and could be an affordable option depending on your health and the severity of your heart condition (as your medical information is required during the application process).
You may consider this type of policy if you want to help protect large expenses during a set term, like a repayment mortgage. The amount of cover you may be able to secure will depend on your individual circumstances and health.
At Reassured, we can help you compare over 50s and term life insurance policies from leading insurers, including specialists, to help you choose the best solution for you.
The cost of life insurance after a heart attack is influenced by a range of factors, including:
The severity of your heart attack, ongoing symptoms and how long it’s been since your heart attack will also weigh heavily on the cost of your life insurance.
With the exception of an over 50s plan, which doesn’t require your medical information and offers guaranteed acceptance if you’re a UK resident aged 50 - 85.
No matter your circumstances, it’s always important to compare policies and quotes from different insurers to help you find a good price.
According to the British Heart Foundation, in the UK:
A heart attack is a medical emergency that occurs when there’s a sudden loss of blood flow to the heart[2].
Symptoms can include:
If you think that you’re having a heart attack, it’s essential that you call 999 for an ambulance immediately.
Heart attacks are usually caused by coronary heart disease (CHD), a condition that causes your coronary arteries to become narrowed by a build-up of fatty material.
This fatty material can cause blood clots, leading to a lack of blood flow and oxygen to your heart muscle, resulting in a heart attack.
Less common causes of heart attack include hypoxia and spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD).
The treatment you’ll need after a heart attack will depend on the severity of the heart attack, but the two main treatments are:
Taking your prescribed medication and living a healthy lifestyle can help to reduce your risk of another heart attack.
For example:
See the British Heart Foundation healthy living guide for more information on how you can improve your health and help reduce your risk of a heart attack.
Fortunately, many people who’ve survived a heart attack have secured life insurance to protect their loved ones should the worst happen.
One of the quickest and easiest ways to find suitable insurers and policy options is to use a fee-free life insurance broker, like Reassured.
Our UK-based experts know the criteria for each of the insurers we work with, so we can identify those who are most likely to accept your application.
We work hard to find you affordable rates for a policy that suits your needs. Make the most of our fee-free comparison service today.
Do you need life insurance after a heart attack?
You may need life insurance after a heart attack if you have a partner or other dependents who rely on you financially.
A policy can help to cover a range of financial commitments and other expenses that may fall to your loved ones in the event of your passing.
For example, a payout could help towards:
Taking out life insurance after surviving a heart attack can offer peace of mind for you and your family.
Will I need to have a medical for life insurance after heart attack?
You may need to have a medical for life insurance after a heart attack depending on your specific circumstances (and the policy you apply for).
In many cases, a medical exam isn’t required, and the insurer may request access to your medical records (from your GP) to confirm the details you’ve provided on your application.
This will help them to make a fully informed decision as to whether they can offer you a policy. However, an insurer will require your permission to access your records. Without this, they won’t be able to continue with your application.
We have written a life insurance medical exam article if you’d like to learn more about how this process works.
Can you get critical illness after a heart attack?
Yes, it could still be possible to secure critical illness cover (CIC) after a heart attack, depending on your personal circumstance and the severity of your condition.
Critical illness cover will pay out a cash lump sum if you’re diagnosed with a critical, but non-life-threatening illness, for example:
It can also cover heart conditions, but if a heart condition is pre-existing, then insurers may exclude this condition, and any related conditions, from your cover.
However, critical illness cover can still help protect you against the financial impact of other serious conditions listed in your policy.
[1] https://www.bhf.org.uk/-/media/files/for-professionals/research/heart-statistics/bhf-cvd-statistics-uk-factsheet.pdf
[2] https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/heart-attack/
Securing life insurance doesn’t have to be confusing. Read…
8 min