How Life Insurance Companies Determine Your Heart Health [2024]
Term life insurance with heart disease is subject to more expensive life insurance rates. How term life insurance companies look at your heart is through a combination of your cholesterol and blood pressure levels, resting heart rate, and may even require that you take a stress test. Refer to our guide to learn more and compare quotes for term life insurance coverage with heart disease.
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Jimmy McMillan
Licensed Life Insurance Agent
Jimmy McMillan is an entrepreneur and the founder of HeartLifeInsurance.com, an independent life insurance brokerage. His company specializes in life insurance for people with heart problems. He knows personally how difficult it is to secure health and life insurance after a heart attack. Jimmy is a licensed insurance agent from coast to coast who has been featured on ValientCEO and the podcast...
Licensed Life Insurance Agent
UPDATED: Feb 22, 2024
It’s all about you. We want to help you make the right life insurance coverage choices.
Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident life insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We are not affiliated with any one life insurance company and cannot guarantee quotes from any single company.
Our life insurance industry partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from many different life insurance companies please enter your ZIP code above to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about life insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything life insurance-related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by life insurance experts.
UPDATED: Feb 22, 2024
It’s all about you. We want to help you make the right life insurance coverage choices.
Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident life insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We are not affiliated with any one life insurance company and cannot guarantee quotes from any single company.
Our life insurance industry partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from many different life insurance companies please enter your ZIP code above to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
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National Wear Red Day is an American Heart Association (AHA) initiative to raise awareness of cardiovascular disease in women. Funds raised by the AHA during this campaign are used to help women through education programs and support research aimed at learning more about heart health.
The first National Wear Red Day was ten years ago, and since that time significant changes have been made in the fight against heart disease in women. According to the AHA, we now see 21% fewer women dying from heart disease and 23% more women understand that heart disease is their top health threat.
When you apply for term life insurance, the life insurance company will be very interested in just how healthy your heart is.
Having a healthy heart is one key to enjoying an active and long life, for women and men alike. When you apply for term life insurance, the life insurance company will be very interested in just how healthy your heart is.
A healthy heart can result in lower rates for your term life insurance policy. While cardiovascular disease or even family history of such, can put you in a higher risk class – meaning, a higher premium for your policy.
This week we will look at how life insurance companies evaluate your heart health when you apply for a term life insurance policy. Today’s post will focus on the items collected during the paramedical exam. All companies start by collecting important heart-related items, which underwriters then apply to a set of company guidelines when evaluating your application.
Typical Requirements
The paramedical exam is one tool life insurance companies use to evaluate your heart health. The paramed examiner records the following measurements for the company to review.
Resting Heart Rate – Your heart beats nearly 100,000 times a day. Over the course of a 75-yr lifespan, that’s more than 2.7 billion heart beats! Life insurance companies view lower heart rates as a sign of good conditioning and heart health.
In general, a healthy heart beats more slowly, with 60 – 100 beats per minute considered ‘normal’ for adults. Anything outside of this range can indicate an underlying medical problem.
Blood Pressure – Blood pressure is the measure of the force of blood pushing against blood vessel walls. Typically, lower blood pressure is a sign of good heart health. Higher blood pressure is considered unhealthy, as it indicates the heart is working harder than it should to pump blood.
The AHA considers blood pressure readings of 120/80 or lower to be normal. Readings higher than this are a sign of hypertension, which is the medical term for high blood pressure.
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Cholesterol, LDL/HDL Levels & Ratios
Ah, the fun part of the paramed exam. Yes, the examiner will collect a blood sample from you and one of the components evaluated will be your lipid profile. More specifically, the life insurance company will look at these items.
Total Cholesterol – Your total cholesterol is a measure of your HDL, LDL, and other components. Total cholesterol of below 200 is considered desirable, and a level this low will earn you the best rating class and lowest premium on your policy.
Cholesterol/HDL Ratio – HDL cholesterol is considered ‘good’ cholesterol, as it functions by helping to remove ‘bad’ cholesterol (LDL) from the blood. A level of 60 and above is considered optimal, with a level of 40 or lower considered a risk for heart disease.
Your Cholesterol/HDL ratio shows how much of your total cholesterol is composed of HDL. The lower total cholesterol is, and the higher the HDL level is, the better (lower) your ratio will be. (For more information, read our “How to Get Life Insurance With High Cholesterol“).
Additional Requirements
Life insurance companies will often require further testing if you are over the age of 60, or if you apply for a significant amount of coverage. The age/amount of coverage requirements vary by company, but the following tests are used by most of them.
Electrocardiogram (EKG) – An EKG is simply a test that checks for electrical problems with your heart. The heart contains an electrical system which causes the heart muscle to contract and pump blood. Life insurance companies are interested in EKG readings because abnormalities could indicate serious medical issues.
Stress Test – A stress test, or treadmill test, is only required if you are over the age of 60 and applying for a large amount of coverage, like $10+ million. However, the test could also be ordered by the company if there are abnormalities in the EKG or if the company has other reason to believe it is necessary.
The test itself is just an EKG, heart rate, and blood pressure all wrapped into one. Oh – and all done while you walk/run on a treadmill or ride a stationary bike. The purpose of the test is to determine how the heart responds to exertion. With regards to heart issues, you may also want to check how to get life insurance with a heart murmur.
So those are the heart-related items life insurance companies test for when evaluating your application for term life insurance. In our next post, we will look at how life insurance companies view each of these factors and the effects on your rating class and the premium you will pay for your policy.
In the meantime, take a look at this great video, provided by the AHA and their Go Red for Women campaign!
Sources: The American Heart Association, WebMD
Case Studies: Evaluating Heart Health for Term Life Insurance
Case Study 1: Resting Heart Rate and Blood Pressure Analysis
In this fictional case study, we examine the impact of resting heart rate and blood pressure levels on term life insurance premiums. The life insurance company conducted a paramedical exam for a 45-year-old individual applying for coverage.
The results showed a resting heart rate of 85 beats per minute, slightly above the normal range. Additionally, the blood pressure reading was 130/90, indicating borderline hypertension.
As a result, the applicant was classified in a higher-risk class, leading to increased premium rates.
Case Study 2: Cholesterol Levels and Ratios Assessment
This case study focuses on the evaluation of cholesterol levels and ratios for term life insurance applicants. A 50-year-old individual underwent a paramedical exam, which included a blood sample analysis.
The results revealed a total cholesterol level of 220, slightly above the desirable range. However, the cholesterol/HDL ratio was favorable, with an optimal level of 70.
Due to the balanced ratio, the applicant received a better rating class, resulting in lower premium rates. (For more information, read our “How To Find a Lower Term Life Insurance Premium“).
Case Study 3: Additional Tests For Heart Health Assessment
In this fictional case study, we explore the impact of additional tests on evaluating heart health for term life insurance. A 62-year-old individual applied for a substantial coverage amount of $15 million. Given the applicant’s age and coverage request, the life insurance company required an electrocardiogram (EKG) and stress test.
The EKG results showed no abnormalities in the heart’s electrical system. Furthermore, the stress test indicated a healthy heart response to exertion. Consequently, the applicant received a favorable rating class and competitive premium rates.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do term life insurance companies evaluate heart health?
Term life insurance companies assess heart health by considering factors such as cholesterol and blood pressure levels, resting heart rate, and may even require a stress test. These factors help determine the risk level and potential premiums for individuals with heart disease.
What is the importance of having a healthy heart when applying for term life insurance?
A healthy heart can result in lower rates for term life insurance policies. Individuals with cardiovascular disease or a family history of such conditions may be considered higher risk, leading to higher premiums. Maintaining a healthy heart is essential for obtaining favorable life insurance rates.
What measurements are collected during a paramedical exam for term life insurance?
The paramedical exam conducted by life insurance companies includes measurements such as resting heart rate, blood pressure, and lipid profile (including total cholesterol and cholesterol/HDL ratio). These measurements help underwriters evaluate heart health and determine risk levels.
Are there additional requirements for assessing heart health during the life insurance application process?
Depending on factors like age and coverage amount, life insurance companies may require additional tests such as an electrocardiogram (EKG) to check for electrical problems in the heart or a stress test to assess the heart’s response to exertion. These tests help provide a more comprehensive evaluation of heart health.
How do cholesterol levels and ratios affect term life insurance premiums?
Life insurance companies evaluate total cholesterol levels and cholesterol/HDL ratios to assess the risk of heart disease. Lower total cholesterol levels and higher HDL levels are typically associated with better heart health, resulting in more favorable premiums. Individuals with higher cholesterol levels and unfavorable ratios may face higher premiums due to increased risk.
Your life insurance quotes are always free.
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
Jimmy McMillan
Licensed Life Insurance Agent
Jimmy McMillan is an entrepreneur and the founder of HeartLifeInsurance.com, an independent life insurance brokerage. His company specializes in life insurance for people with heart problems. He knows personally how difficult it is to secure health and life insurance after a heart attack. Jimmy is a licensed insurance agent from coast to coast who has been featured on ValientCEO and the podcast...
Licensed Life Insurance Agent
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about life insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything life insurance-related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by life insurance experts.