Do Heart Attack Deaths Get Covered by Life Insurance?

While buying a life insurance policy, everyone aims to ensure financial security for their loved ones in case of an unforeseen illness or accident. In Indian households, heart attacks are unfortunately too common. According to a report, heart attack deaths increased by 12% in 2022 (1). 

But have you ever wondered if your life insurance policy covers heart attacks? Or if your insurance provider will offer the death benefit in the event of your sudden demise due to a heart attack? 

In this blog, we will discuss in detail if heart attack deaths get covered by life insurance. 

Understanding Life Insurance Policies

A life insurance policy is a contract between the insured and the life insurance company where the insured pays a premium in exchange for financial protection.

In the event of the insured's sudden death, the insurer offers a payout to support the insured's beneficiaries.

Now, life insurance policies are of different types, such as term life insurance, whole life insurance, ULIPs, and more. All of these have their own set of terms and conditions. 

For instance, term life insurance provides coverage for a specific period, while whole life insurance covers you for your entire life as long as premiums are paid. 

Talking about heart attack deaths, both types generally cover death by natural causes, but the specifics can vary depending on the policy. 

So, how will you ensure heart attack coverage in your policy because not every health insurance policy offers the same coverage?  

To determine this, follow the below tips. 

• Check the terms and conditions of the policy carefully. You’ll find the coverage details, including what types of death are covered, outlined in the policy documents.
• Still, if the above option doesn't work, you can ask your insurance advisor if your policy covers heart attack deaths. It’s safe to ask for the proof as well. 
• Some health insurance policies do not offer heart attack death coverage in their base term plan, but you can opt for riders, like critical illness benefit riders, to enhance the policy coverage. 

What Constitutes a Heart Attack in Medical Terms?

In medical terms, a heart attack occurs when the flow of blood to the heart is blocked due to many reasons such as fat buildup, cholesterol and other materials in the heart arteries. These substances form plaques in the heart's arteries and block the arteries to send blood and oxygen to the heart. This build-up process is known as atherosclerosis.

The plaques that build up in the arteries cause the blood to clot. This blood clot blocks the arteries, reduces the blood flow, and harms the tissue in the heart muscle, which ultimately causes the heart attack. In scientific terms, the heart attack is known as myocardial infarction.

Heart attacks are medical emergencies and are very scary. If the healthcare provider doesn’t restore the blood flow to the heart quickly, then the heart attack can cause permanent heart damage or, in extreme cases, death.

Insurance companies rely on medical definitions and documentation when determining whether a death was caused by a heart attack. 

Factors Influencing Coverage for Heart Attack Deaths

Heart attack deaths are covered in life insurance plans in India. However, this coverage is subjective. Various terms and conditions of the insurance company will be applied based on your heart health history before giving you the coverage.

Let's discuss a few scenarios.

• The Policyholder Doesn't Have a History of Heart Attack

If you never had any pre-existing illnesses or heart-related ailments and you are either a young or a middle-aged person, then death due to a heart attack is not predictable. 

In this type of scenario, the life insurance claim will be approved and settled for your family under normal terms and conditions. However, the insurer will verify if your claim is genuine and if there were any heart-related ailments previously or not.

• The Policyholder Has a History of Heart Attack

When applying for life insurance, it's crucial to disclose any pre-existing conditions, including a history of heart attacks. As you age, conditions like high blood pressure or diabetes can increase the risk of heart-related issues, and these illnesses can cause a heart attack that may lead to your untimely demise. In a scenario where you experienced a heart attack in the past, you must inform the life insurance aggregator at the time of purchasing the policy.

But if you don't inform the insurer about your pre-existing illnesses at the time of policy inception, then the company might reject the nominee's claim on your death due to a heart attack, as the situation will be considered a fraud claim request. 

So, it's very important to disclose the health conditions in detail with the correct reports. No doubt, life insurance premiums will increase due to the increased risk, but you’ll have peace of mind that your nominee will receive the life insurance death benefit without any hassle. 

Conclusion

Heart diseases are becoming increasingly common these days because of lifestyle changes. So, buying a health insurance policy that covers heart disease will be a good investment because it will help you manage medical expenses during any emergencies. 

Even if the heart attack leads to your unexpected death, the insurer will provide financial support to your family. But to get all the insurance benefits timely, provide the insurer with all the correct details about your health condition during policy inception.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) 

Ques 1. Do life insurance policies cover death by a heart attack?

Ans. Yes. Most life insurance policies cover death by heart attack. But for that, you need an active policy, and the heart attack must be included in pre-existing conditions.

Ques 2. Are there any exclusions for heart attack coverage in life insurance?

Ans. Some policies might not offer coverage for a heart attack if the insured person doesn't tell the insurance provider about the heart attack history during policy inception. 

Ques 3. Will my beneficiaries receive the payout if I die from a heart attack?

Ans. Yes! Your beneficiaries will receive the payout if you die from a heart attack. To receive this benefit, the heart attack should be either unpredictable or included in pre-existing conditions.

Ques 4. What if I do not reveal the history of heart attack? 

Ans. If you don't reveal the history of your heart attack, the insurer might reject the claim and charge you a fine as well. 

Ques 5. What to do if I have a heart attack history? 

Ans. Nothing to worry about if you have a heart attack history. Just inform the insurance provider about the same at the time of policy inception. Here’s how! 

Before buying the insurance, the insurer will provide you with a detailed questionnaire where you can fill in the details of your previous heart attack history. Then, submit the form with the medical reports and hospital discharge summaries. It is very important to keep transparency with your insurance provider to avoid any unfortunate events like your claim getting rejected.