1. How do Heart Murmurs Affect Life Insurance?

A heart murmur is a common sound heard between heartbeats. It results from the turbulent flow of blood through the heart and its valves. It is often (but not always) a sign of disease. Murmurs may be harmless (innocent) or abnormal.An innocent heart murmur will not affect your life insurance, income protection or serious illness cover.However, an abnormal heart murmur can be more serious, so the possibility of getting cover will depend on the exact type of valve problem present:Hole in the HeartHoles in the heart are classified according to their severity:Trivial: Normal exercise capacity and normal echocardiogram.Mild: Normal exercise capacity with mild abnormalities on echocardiogram.Moderate: Moderate limitation of exercise capacity with abnormalities on echocardiogram.Severe: Severe limitation of exercise capacity with significant abnormalities on echocardiogram.Life insurance and mortgage protection will be possible for trivial, mild and moderate.Serious illness cover should be possible for trivial and mild with an exclusion for heart surgery.Income protection may also be possible for mild and trivial.

2. Is Arrhythmia a Problem for Mortgage Protection?

Your heart beats too slowly, too quickly or irregularly.Too slow = bradycardiaToo fast = tachycardiaThe most common type of arrhythmia we see is called atrial fibrillation = irregular and fast heartbeat. Atrial flutter is similar.Atrial fibrillation may be either paroxysmal (intermittent) or constant.Paroxysmal atrial fibrillation occurs with no underlying heart disease. Acute alcohol intake or heart disease, e.g. hypertension, atrial septal defect and cardiomyopathy, can cause it, and beta-blockers are the usual treatment.If paroxysmal, fully investigated, with no underlying heart disease, then you can get ALL the insurances.If constant, the insurers will need to know the underlying cause before making a decision.

3. What are Mitral Disorders or Heart Valve Disease?

Mitral Valve Prolapse – Floppy ValveMitral Valve Regurgitation – Leaky ValveMitral Stenosis – Blocked ValveGenerally, mortgage protection cover is possible for mild and moderate mitral valve disorders.However, if you have had mitral valve surgery, you are likely to have suffered significant damage to the valve. Cover will still be possible, but there will likely be a postponement period of 12 months post-surgery.

10. Can You Get Life Cover with a Pacemaker or ICD

Although not a condition, we get many inquiries from people with pacemakers and ICD wondering whether they are insurable.In a normal, healthy heart, the heart’s natural pacemaker is a small mass of specialised tissue. It sets the rhythm of contraction and relaxation by sending out an electrical impulse, leading to an effective heartbeat and pumping of the blood around the body. An artificial pacemaker is a device that uses electrical impulses to reproduce or regulate the normal rhythms of the heart.The insurers will postpone cover for 3 to 6 months from the insertion of the pacemaker.If the pacemaker is related to a heart block, then life cover should be possible.However, for all other issues, the insurers will need to investigate the underlying reason for the pacemaker.Unfortunately, if you have cardiomyopathy and an ICD, the insurers will not be able to offer you cover.

Medical Issues & Life Insurance Archives - Page 3 of 6

Heart Conditions & Life Insurance

Life insurance is crucial in protecting your family in case the worst should happen, but you might have to jump through some hoops in order to get it.

If you have a heart condition, you may be surprised by how difficult obtaining life insurance can be.

The good news is that there are several ways to get life insurance if you have a heart condition that will meet your needs.

Nick McGowan - QFA RPA APA Qualified Life Insurance Advisor

September 29 2021 5 min read Medical Issues & Life Insurance

Life Insurance with Endometriosis

getting mortgage protection with endometriosis

Anxious that your endometriosis will stop you getting life insurance?

Don't worry.

We've arranged countless policies for our clients with endometriosis.

Nick McGowan - QFA RPA APA Qualified Life Insurance Advisor

September 3 2021 3 min read Medical Issues & Life Insurance

Getting Life Insurance with Haemochromatosis

do you pay more for cover with haemochromatosis

Haemochromatosis is an iron overload disorder. It is a genetic condition that causes people to absorb excessive amounts of dietary iron.

If your ferritn and iron levels are in the normal range, you should have no issues getting mortgage protection, life insurance or incoem protection.

Nick McGowan - QFA RPA APA Qualified Life Insurance Advisor

June 17 2021 Medical Issues & Life Insurance

Life Insurance with High Blood Pressure

You don't smoke, you're in good shape, exercise regularly, eat plenty of greens and you still suffer from high blood pressure or hypertension.

It doesn't seem fair.

But if you have been diagnosed with hypertension, you can count yourself lucky in a weird way.

Why?

Because you can do something about it.

Nick McGowan - QFA RPA APA Qualified Life Insurance Advisor

June 16 2021 3 min read Medical Issues & Life Insurance

Do you pay More for Life Insurance if You’re Coeliac?

Getting life insurance as a coeliac is fairly straightforward.

The only issues arise is where there have been complications or if your disgnosis is very recent.

Here's my guide to getting life insurance as a coeliac.

Nick McGowan - QFA RPA APA Qualified Life Insurance Advisor

June 7 2021 3 min read Medical Issues & Life Insurance

Life Insurance after a Brain Tumour

When I first started this job, I thought it was impossible to get cover after a brain tumour.

I was wrong.

Nick McGowan - QFA RPA APA Qualified Life Insurance Advisor

June 5 2021 5 min read Medical Issues & Life Insurance

Can You Get Life Insurance with a Breast Lump / Cyst?

Breast cysts are one of the most common female conditions we encounter.

If the cyst or lump is benign, you have nothing to worry about as long as you apply to the correct insurer.

Nick McGowan - QFA RPA APA Qualified Life Insurance Advisor

June 4 2021 3 min read Medical Issues & Life Insurance

How do You Know if You’re Overweight for Life Insurance or Mortgage Protection?

how BMI affects life insurance text on image of healthy food bowl

Worried you're overweight for life insurance?

You've come to the right place.

We've helped get people cover who had been refused elsewhere.

Nick McGowan - QFA RPA APA Qualified Life Insurance Advisor

June 2 2021 4 min read Medical Issues & Life Insurance

Life Insurance and Sleep Apnoea

Your chances of getting cover if you have sleep apnoea depends on the severity.

If it's mild, you'll get the normal price.

If moderate, you will pay more.

If it's severe, some insurers will decline your application.

Make sure you apply to the most understanding insurer.

Nick McGowan - QFA RPA APA Qualified Life Insurance Advisor

May 31 2021 6 min read Medical Issues & Life Insurance

Life Insurance and Weight Loss Surgery

how weight loss surgery affect life insurance

Bariatric surgery includes a variety of procedures for people who are unable to achieve satisfactory weight loss through diet and exercise alone.

The surgery reduces the stomach size making you feel fuller after small amounts of food.

Generally, the insurers postpone offering cover until 6 months after surgery.

Nick McGowan - QFA RPA APA Qualified Life Insurance Advisor

May 28 2021 Medical Issues & Life Insurance