Final expense insurance with heart disease
Yes, though the type and timing matter. Mutual of Omaha offers its graded plan for a heart attack, bypass or angioplasty 12 to 24 months ago. It excludes congestive heart failure at any time. Foresters also excludes heart failure but offers a level benefit once a heart attack is more than 12 months past.
Updated · Editorial standards
- Heart attack over 2 years ago
- Often level (day one)
- Heart attack or stent within 2 years
- Graded or level, by carrier
- Congestive heart failure
- Usually guaranteed issue only
- Guaranteed issue wait
- 2 years for the full benefit
Level-benefit monthly estimates (best case). A recent heart event may move you to graded pricing.
| Age | $5K | $10K | $15K | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Men | Women | Men | Women | Men | Women | |
| 60 | $21.96 | $18.36 | $39.91 | $32.73 | $57.87 | $47.09 |
| 65 | $25.95 | $21.56 | $47.90 | $39.12 | $69.86 | $56.68 |
| 70 | $31.13 | $25.71 | $58.27 | $47.41 | $85.40 | $69.12 |
| 75 | $37.85 | $31.08 | $71.71 | $58.17 | $105.56 | $85.25 |
| 80 | $46.57 | $38.06 | $89.14 | $72.11 | $131.71 | $106.17 |
How underwriters sort heart conditions
Final expense carriers split heart conditions into two groups. Heart failure is treated as a lasting condition, while heart attacks and procedures are judged by how long ago they happened.
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the US, according to the CDC. About 805,000 Americans have a heart attack each year. Carriers ask detailed heart questions because of that risk.
Insurers also review your prescriptions. Mutual of Omaha, for example, runs a prescription drug check before it approves its graded plan.
Royal Neighbors uses one 10-year question covering heart failure, heart attacks, heart surgery, pacemakers and defibrillators. Its form says a yes answer does not rule out every offer.
Heart attacks, stents and bypass surgery
Timing is the key factor after a heart attack or procedure. Mutual of Omaha excludes anyone diagnosed with heart disease or who had heart surgery in the past 12 months. A heart attack, bypass or angioplasty 12 to 24 months ago points to its graded plan.
Stents are placed during angioplasty, so answer the angioplasty or heart-procedure questions if you have one. Foresters places a heart attack, angina or a heart procedure in the past 12 months in its graded Basic tier.
From 12 to 24 months, Foresters moves you to its Standard tier, which pays a level benefit from day one. After 2 years, these events are no longer asked on its form. Read our waiting periods guide for how graded plans pay.
Congestive heart failure and cardiomyopathy
Congestive heart failure (CHF) is the hardest heart condition to insure. Mutual of Omaha excludes anyone ever diagnosed with CHF from Living Promise. Foresters excludes CHF, cardiomyopathy, pulmonary hypertension and any other heart failure ever.
Mutual of Omaha treats cardiomyopathy more mildly than CHF: diagnosis or treatment in the past 2 years points to its graded plan.
If you have CHF, guaranteed issue plans from carriers such as Corebridge and Gerber Life are usually the option. They ask no health questions and pay a return of premiums plus interest if death from illness occurs in the first 2 years.
Irregular rhythm, pacemakers and defibrillators
Rhythm problems are asked about separately. Mutual of Omaha places an irregular heart rhythm or a pacemaker in the past 2 years in its graded plan. It excludes anyone who currently requires a defibrillator.
Foresters asks whether you had a pacemaker, defibrillator or cardioversion in the past 12 or 24 months. The more recent the procedure, the more likely a graded tier.
Diabetes can add weight to heart questions. Mutual of Omaha places diabetes with coronary artery disease in its graded plan. See final expense with diabetes.
Angina and chest pain
Some forms ask about angina by date. Foresters places angina, or angina medicine, in the past 12 months in its graded tier. Angina 12 to 24 months ago goes to its level Standard tier.
Mutual of Omaha does not name angina, but it asks about coronary artery disease in the past 2 years. The CDC calls coronary artery disease the most common type of heart disease.
If you take nitroglycerin or other heart medicines, expect them to appear in prescription checks.
What to have ready
List each heart event and procedure with its date: heart attacks, stents, bypass, pacemaker or defibrillator implants, and cardioversions. Add any diagnosis of heart failure or cardiomyopathy.
Bring your medicine list too. Carriers can compare your answers with your prescription history.
How to apply with heart disease
Answer each question exactly as written. Policies are usually contestable for their first two years. In New York, for example, the law lets an insurer contest a claim in that window if it proves a material misrepresentation.
A heart attack 15 months ago is graded at Mutual of Omaha but can qualify for a level tier at Foresters. You can compare quotes or see our guides for people over 65 and over 75. Availability varies by state and carrier.
How carriers treat heart disease
Based on each carrier's application questions or product page, linked below. Forms change and vary by state, and the current application always controls. Final approval rests with the insurer.
| Carrier | Plan | Likely outcome | Key question / lookback |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mutual of Omaha | Living Promise | Ineligible if heart disease diagnosed or heart surgery in past 12 months, or CHF ever; graded at 12 to 24 months; level after 2 years if nothing else applies | Heart attack, bypass, angioplasty, coronary artery disease, cardiomyopathy, irregular rhythm or pacemaker in past 2 years |
| Foresters | PlanRight | Basic (graded) within 12 months; Standard (level) at 12 to 24 months; ineligible with heart failure or cardiomyopathy ever | Heart attack, angina or a heart procedure (pacemaker, defibrillator, cardioversion) in past 12 and 24 months |
| Royal Neighbors of America | Whole life (level, graded or guaranteed issue) | Form says a yes answer does not rule out all offers; plan depends on all answers | CHF, heart attack, coronary artery disease, cardiomyopathy, heart surgery, pacemaker, defibrillator or aneurysm in the last 10 years |
| Corebridge Financial | Guaranteed Issue Whole Life | Accepted at ages 50 to 80; 110% of premiums paid if death occurs in the first 2 years | No health questions |
| Gerber Life | Guaranteed Life | Accepted at ages 50 to 80 (50 to 75 in NY); 110% of earned premiums for non-accidental death in the first 2 years | No health questions |
Questions people ask
Can I get final expense insurance with heart disease?
Yes. Depending on the condition and how recent it is, you may qualify for a level, graded or guaranteed issue plan.
How long after a heart attack can I get coverage?
Foresters offers a graded tier within 12 months and a level tier after 12 months. Mutual of Omaha offers graded coverage from 12 to 24 months and may offer a level plan after 2 years.
Can I get final expense insurance with congestive heart failure?
Usually only guaranteed issue. Mutual of Omaha and Foresters both exclude CHF from their underwritten plans.
Does a stent count as heart surgery?
Stents are placed during angioplasty, which carriers ask about directly. Answer the angioplasty or heart-procedure question with the date of your stent.
Does high blood pressure affect final expense approval?
High blood pressure is not a separate question on the Mutual of Omaha, Foresters or Royal Neighbors forms we reviewed. Related heart conditions may still be asked.
What if I have atrial fibrillation?
Mutual of Omaha places an irregular heart rhythm diagnosed or treated in the past 2 years in its graded plan. Other carriers may treat it differently, so compare.
Can I get final expense coverage with a pacemaker?
Often, depending on timing. Mutual of Omaha places a pacemaker in the past 2 years in its graded plan, and Foresters asks about implants in the past 12 and 24 months.
Does an aneurysm count as heart disease?
Foresters places an aneurysm in the past 2 years, or one not yet repaired, in its graded tier. Royal Neighbors includes aneurysm in its heart question.
Sources
- CDC: Heart Disease Facts
- Mutual of Omaha Living Promise health question guide (OCI, October 2024)
- Foresters PlanRight sample application, form ICC19 770697 US 07/19 (via Choice Mutual)
- Royal Neighbors of America sample application, form ICC231115 Rev. 4-2023 (via Choice Mutual)
- Corebridge Direct: Guaranteed Issue Whole Life Insurance
- Gerber Life: Guaranteed Life Insurance questions
- New York DFS Circular Letter No. 1 (2017): life insurance contestability period
This page is for education and is not financial, tax or legal advice. Products, features and availability vary by carrier and state.
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