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Yes, in many cases you can.
Getting life insurance after a heart attack isn’t automatic, and it isn’t simple either.
What matters most is how recent the event was, your age, how severe it was, your recovery, and which insurer assesses your application.
After a heart attack, insurers assess risk very differently.
The order you apply in matters.
A decline from the wrong insurer must be disclosed on future applications, which can make the next insurer pause for thought.
If your heart attack was within the last three months, you’ll almost always be postponed.
Most Irish insurers want to see at least three to six months of stability, completion of follow-up investigations, and no ongoing symptoms before considering cover.
The more recent the event, the harder it is to secure terms, because insurers are assessing long-term risk rather than the immediate recovery alone.
Yes, significantly.
If you’re under 40 and have suffered a heart attack, new life insurance is extremely difficult to obtain.
Applicants over 40 with stable recovery and good cardiology follow-up have a much better chance of being considered.
Underwriters will review:
Two people with a heart attack can receive very different outcomes depending on the overall picture.
Two or more heart attacks will usually result in a decline for life insurance in Ireland, although rare exceptions can exist depending on time elapsed and overall cardiac function.
This is where choosing the right insurer at the outset becomes critical.
If accepted, you’re typically looking at a loading between 100% and 300%.
If someone in perfect health pays €50 per month, you might pay €100 to €200 for the same level of cover although severe cases can be even higher.
Remember, being accepted doesn’t mean you’re getting the best outcome because different insurers can assess the same case differently.
Income protection is almost always declined after a heart attack.
Standard serious illness cover is also generally unavailable once a heart attack has occurred but sometimes, you can get cover with a heart related exclusion.
However, alternatives such as Multi Claim Protection Cover or Cancer Only Cover may still be possible depending on your overall health.
Applying without understanding how their case will be viewed.
If you receive a formal decline, that decision follows you. Every future insurer will ask whether you’ve ever been declined or postponed.
After a heart attack, applying incorrectly can narrow your options permanently, which is why getting the order right matters.
If you’ve had a heart attack and are considering life insurance or mortgage protection, the safest approach is to understand your likely outcome before submitting a formal application.
Complete the questionnaire below and I’ll discuss your case confidentially with my panel of underwriters before you apply.
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Written by Nick McGowan, QFA RPA APA
Nick is a qualified financial advisor and founder of Lion.ie, a multi-agency Irish life insurance and income protection brokerage based in Tullamore.
He’s been helping people secure fair, transparent cover for over 15 years and was named Protection Broker of the Year 2022.
If you’d like straight answers without the sales pitch, learn more about Nick here.
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