Is afib considered heart disease for life insurance

Is afib considered heart disease for life insurance

Buying life insurance can be difficult if you have a heart or circulatory condition. Insurers may charge you a higher premium than usual, or may refuse to sell you insurance at all.

What is life insurance?

Life insurance is a type of policy that can help your loved ones, such as a partner or family, by providing financial peace of mind for their future. The right life insurance policy can provide financial support to your dependants after your death, helping to cover for the loss of your income. Most people with life insurance have it to help their loved ones with financial worries like mortgage payments, childcare costs and bills.

How does life insurance work?

There are different levels of life insurance cover available for you to buy. The amount of money paid to your dependants and how it is paid to them will depend on your level of cover. Your insurance provider can tell you about your policy options or you can talk to an insurance broker who will provide objective, professional advice.

Do I need life insurance?

Not everyone has a life insurance policy, it will depend on your personal situation. If you have loved ones depending on your income to cover everyday bills and future finances, you may want to think about getting life insurance.

You might want to consider life insurance if you have:

  • dependants, like school age children
  • a partner or spouse who relies on your income
  • a home with a mortgage or monthly rent bills.

Where can I find advice about the right life insurance policy for me?

To find the right life insurance policy and level of cover for you, you can receive advice from independent and objective, professional advice services:

  • Money Advice Service – find out about the different types of policies and levels of cover, and how and when to buy life insurance.
  • Citizens Advice – find out about how insurance policies work, how to make claims, what to do if you have a problem with your policy, how to cancel your policy, and other types of insurance policies such as travel insurance.

You may have some concerns about getting an insurance policy with a pre-existing health condition, it is important to understand you are not alone. There are other options for advice:

  • Money - find out about choosing and buying insurance policies and the different levels of cover when you have a pre-existing health condition.
  • Association of British Insurers – find out about private medical insurance.

We don't work with or endorse any insurance companies. We can't guarantee that an insurance provider will offer insurance to everyone, as insurance policies are determined on an individual basis and insurers will have their own policy requirements.

There are many other insurance advice services out there, so shop around to get the best available insurance for your specific situation.

(The British Heart Foundation cannot be held liable for any loss or damage suffered as a result of a service provided by a third party company).

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I can't find the right insurance. Who can help?

Insurance brokers are professional insurance experts who can answer your questions about finding different types of insurance, and provide quotes for suitable insurance policies.

Some insurance brokers may charge a fee for their service, but many will help you for free. And if they find the right policy for you, their service could help you save money overall, and avoid any complications from taking the wrong type of policy.

If you want to find an insurance broker in your local area, the British Insurance Brokers’ Association (BIBA) offers a ‘Find a broker’ service.  

Who can I contact with a complaint about my insurance?

If you are unhappy with your insurance service or a policy claim, the quickest and simplest option is to try to sort your complaint directly with your insurer.

But if you have tried this and you want further help, or you think you have been treated unfairly as a result of a policy claim, the Financial Ombudsman Service is an unbiased public organisation that helps people sort out problems with financial service providers. You can contact them on 0800 023 4 567 (Freephone) or visit the Financial Ombudsman Service website.

Where can I go for further support?

  • The Money Advice Service, an independent body which promotes awareness of financial matters, has lots of useful information about insurance. This includes information about buying travel insurance with a medical condition, and using insurance brokers.
  • The Association of British Insurers also has extensive information about finding the right insurance for you.
  • Our online community has a helpful discussion covering frequently asked questions about travel and life insurance. 

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Is afib considered heart disease for life insurance

Page last reviewed: August 2021
Next review due: August 2024

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We welcome your feedback about insurance. You can contact us online or write to us:

British Heart Foundation
Heart Helpline
Greater London House
180 Hampstead Road
London
NW1 7AW

Is AFib considered heart disease?

Although A-fib itself usually isn't life-threatening, it's a serious medical condition that requires proper treatment to prevent stroke. Treatment for atrial fibrillation may include medications, therapy to reset the heart rhythm and catheter procedures to block faulty heart signals.

What is considered heart disease for life insurance?

What is considered heart disease for life insurance? The most common conditions are angina and heart attacks but, when applying for life insurance, you'll need to disclose any heart condition that you've received or are receiving medical treatment for. The same applies to anything else in your health history.

Is atrial fibrillation classed as a critical illness?

Atrial fibrillation might come and go (paroxysmal atrial fibrillation), but sometimes it doesn't go away at all. It's not life-threatening, but it's considered serious because it could create blood clots in the heart that may lead to a stroke.

Is atrial fibrillation covered by critical illness insurance?

Does critical illness cover payout for atrial fibrillation? Some critical illness cover policies will pay out for certain things connected to atrial fibrillation and especially for serious conditions caused by this. You should check your policy wording to make sure that you're covered for everything that you need.