Printer FriendlyArrhythmia
I Have Arrhythmia. Now What?
Any problems relating to the heart are of concern to life insurance companies. You should be prepared for a longer than usual wait during the application process as the insurance company gathers all your medical records and notes from physicians, hospitals, and so on. Also be prepared to pay higher rates depending on a number of factors, including the type/severity of your arrhythmia, what sort of treatment you have used, the number of episodes you have experienced, and whether you have any other cardiac conditions. Simple arrhythmia can often be rated as standard, though the ratings become worse as the severity increases, with the presence of other cardiac conditions, and so on.
Arrhythmia's Effect on Insurance Rates
Here is a simple outline of expected rates
|
Condition |
Rating |
|
Simple Arrhythmia, no other heart disease, normal Echocardiogram, etc |
Standard |
|
Simple Arrhythmia, varying cardiac test results |
Table 2 |
|
Arrhythmia, varying cardiac test results, frequent episodes of attack |
Table 4 - Decline |
|
Arrhythmia, history of heart attack, previous bypass surgery, angioplasty, and/or other heart conditions |
Decline |
More Information on Arrhythmia
Arrhythmia is a change in the rhythm of the heart beat. This change can be a fast beat, a slow beat, or an irregular beat. There are many different conditions. Some of the more common ones are:
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Tachycardia: a fast heart rate of more than 100 beats per minute (bpm).
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Bradycardia: a slow heart rate of less than 60 bpm.
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Paroxysmal Tachycardia: an episodic rapid beat that begins and ends suddenly.
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Premature Atrial Contractions: a premature heart beat which originates in the upper two chambers of the heart.
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Premature Ventricular Contraction: a premature heart beat that begins in lower two chambers of the heart.
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Atrial Fibrillation: the upper chambers of the heart beat irregularly which can result in blood clotting and possibly in a stroke.
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Ventricular Fibrillation: the lower chamber beat irregularly, resulting in a failure to adequately pump blood. This will cause death if not treated immediately.
Important Things to Know for Those with Arrhythmia
What are some of the issues that interest underwriters?
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What type of arrhythmia have you been diagnosed with?
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What type of medications are you currently taking? Generally the more medications one is taking the more severe the condition.
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Have you had a pacemaker installed?
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Do you have any other types of heart disease?
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Have you done any diagnostic testing recently, such as EKG, Echocardiogram, or holter monitor?
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When was your first attack and when was your most recent attack?
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How many attacks do you have per year, on average?
What can I do to help the underwriting process?
Please disclose all information about your arrhythmia, including contact information for your physicians, information about where you have been treated, as well as any other information you feel is relevant.
Complete the following form, or call us toll-free at 888-854-7526 if you would like to speak with someone or get more information.