🎯 Bottom Line Up Front
Can you get life insurance with hypertrophic subaortic stenosis (IHSS)? It depends—outcomes vary dramatically based on disease severity and symptoms. The reality is nuanced—while IHSS does present significant underwriting challenges due to its unpredictable nature and potential for serious complications, some individuals with mild, well-managed disease successfully obtain coverage, though typically at elevated rates reflecting genuine medical risks.
This comprehensive guide explains exactly how insurance companies evaluate IHSS cases, what medical factors determine your eligibility and premium rates, when to apply for optimal outcomes, and what alternative coverage options exist when traditional insurance proves challenging.
1 in 500People affected by hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
50-70%Of IHSS cases have outflow tract obstruction
12-24Months of stability preferred before application
EF + GradientCritical measurements for underwriting decisions
Table of Contents
- Understanding IHSS and Insurance Implications
- How Insurance Companies Evaluate IHSS
- Coverage Outlook by Disease Severity
- Key Underwriting Factors
- Optimal Timing for Applications
- Required Medical Documentation
- Strategies to Improve Your Application
- Alternative Coverage Options
- Frequently Asked Questions
Understanding IHSS and Insurance Implications
Key insight: IHSS insurability depends far more on demonstrating minimal symptoms, preserved heart function, and absent sudden death risk factors than on the diagnosis itself.
Hypertrophic subaortic stenosis (IHSS) occurs when the heart muscle, particularly the interventricular septum, becomes abnormally thickened. This thickening can obstruct blood flow from the left ventricle through the aortic valve during heart contraction, creating a pressure gradient. The condition is genetic, caused by mutations in genes encoding heart muscle proteins, and can range from asymptomatic with minimal obstruction to severely symptomatic with significant outflow obstruction and life-threatening arrhythmias.
For life insurance purposes, IHSS represents one of the more challenging cardiac conditions underwriters evaluate because it carries risk of sudden cardiac death—even in relatively young, apparently healthy individuals with minimal symptoms. Insurance companies recognize that IHSS follows highly variable courses: some patients remain asymptomatic throughout normal lifespans with only mild disease requiring monitoring, while others develop progressive symptoms, heart failure, or experience sudden cardiac arrest despite treatment. Underwriters must distinguish between applicants whose disease poses minimal mortality risk and those with features predicting serious complications. The evaluation centers on critical questions: how thick is your heart muscle, how much obstruction exists in the outflow tract, is your heart pumping function preserved, do you experience symptoms like chest pain or fainting, have you had dangerous arrhythmias, does your family have a history of sudden cardiac death from this condition, and what interventions have been required including medications, procedures, or implantable defibrillators. The presence of IHSS automatically places applicants in a high-risk category because the condition can cause sudden death without warning, but well-documented cases showing mild non-obstructive disease without symptoms or high-risk features can sometimes achieve table-rated coverage, while more severe or symptomatic cases typically face decline for traditional insurance.
Professional Insight“We work with IHSS clients occasionally, and we’re always completely transparent about expectations—this is one of the most challenging cardiac conditions for life insurance approval. We’ve successfully secured Table 8 coverage for a client with mild non-obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, minimal septal thickness, normal ejection fraction, no symptoms, negative genetic testing for high-risk mutations, and no family history of sudden death. That represents about the best-case scenario possible. Most IHSS cases face decline from traditional carriers, particularly when obstruction is significant, symptoms exist, or family history includes sudden cardiac death. We never promise unrealistic outcomes, but we explore every possibility with carriers that have the most sophisticated cardiac underwriting and can appreciate the distinction between truly mild cases and severe disease. When traditional coverage isn’t feasible, we help clients secure guaranteed issue or group coverage so they have some financial protection rather than remaining completely uninsured.”
– InsuranceBrokers USA – Management Team
Types and Severity of IHSS
Understanding the spectrum of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy helps predict both prognosis and insurance prospects:
Non-obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy involves heart muscle thickening without significant outflow tract obstruction (gradient below 30 mmHg at rest and with provocation). This variant carries lower risk than obstructive forms but still requires monitoring. Insurance prospects are relatively better for this type when symptoms are absent and other risk factors don’t exist.
Obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HOCM/IHSS) includes significant left ventricular outflow tract obstruction with resting or provocable gradients above 30 mmHg. The obstruction impedes blood flow and typically causes symptoms including shortness of breath, chest pain, and exercise intolerance. This form creates more substantial underwriting concerns.
Apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy predominantly affects the heart’s apex rather than the septum. This variant is less common and typically doesn’t cause outflow obstruction, often carrying better prognosis than septal forms.
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy with systolic dysfunction represents advanced disease where the heart’s pumping function becomes impaired. This “end-stage” variant carries poor prognosis and essentially precludes traditional life insurance.
How Insurance Companies Evaluate IHSS
Insurance underwriters employ an exceptionally rigorous approach when assessing IHSS cases, recognizing the condition’s potential for sudden cardiac death and need to identify high-risk versus lower-risk presentations.
Primary Underwriting Considerations
Left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) gradient quantifies the degree of obstruction. Gradients are measured in millimeters of mercury (mmHg) at rest and with provocation (Valsalva maneuver or exercise). No or minimal obstruction (gradient below 30 mmHg) receives the most favorable consideration, mild obstruction (30-50 mmHg) raises moderate concerns, significant obstruction (50-100 mmHg) creates substantial underwriting challenges, and severe obstruction (above 100 mmHg) typically results in decline. The presence of any significant resting gradient indicates more severe disease than gradients only appearing with provocation.
Septal thickness measurements indicate disease severity. The interventricular septum is measured via echocardiography. Mild hypertrophy (13-15 mm) represents the least severe form, moderate hypertrophy (15-20 mm) indicates more significant disease, severe hypertrophy (20-30 mm) creates major concerns, and massive hypertrophy (above 30 mm) substantially worsens prospects and increases sudden death risk.
Left ventricular ejection fraction (EF) measures pumping function. Normal EF (55-70%) demonstrates the heart compensates effectively despite thickening, mildly reduced EF (45-54%) raises concerns about early dysfunction, and significantly reduced EF (below 45%) indicates advanced disease that typically precludes coverage.
Symptoms and functional capacity reveal how the condition affects daily life. Asymptomatic patients with normal exercise tolerance receive more favorable consideration than those experiencing chest pain, shortness of breath, palpitations, or dizziness. History of syncope (fainting) particularly concerns underwriters as it suggests dangerous arrhythmias or severe obstruction and dramatically worsens outcomes.
Arrhythmia history profoundly impacts decisions. Documentation of ventricular tachycardia, ventricular fibrillation, or other dangerous arrhythmias on Holter monitoring or during electrophysiology studies indicates high sudden death risk that typically results in decline. Atrial fibrillation, while concerning, is viewed less severely than ventricular arrhythmias but still worsens prospects.
Family history of sudden cardiac death represents a critical risk factor. IHSS in multiple family members, particularly sudden cardiac death before age 50 in first-degree relatives, substantially increases your sudden death risk and dramatically worsens insurance prospects. Conversely, family history showing relatives with IHSS living normal lifespans provides some reassurance.
Genetic testing results when available, provide prognostic information. Certain genetic mutations carry higher sudden death risk than others. Identification of high-risk mutations worsens underwriting outcomes, while negative genetic testing (when family members test positive) can occasionally help prospects.
Treatment requirements signal disease severity. Maintenance on beta-blockers or calcium channel blockers alone suggests relatively mild symptomatic disease, requirements for multiple medications indicate more significant symptoms, and need for septal reduction procedures (surgical myectomy or alcohol septal ablation) demonstrates severe disease requiring intervention. Most concerning is implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) placement, which indicates high sudden death risk and typically precludes traditional coverage.
Professional Insight“We always request complete echocardiogram reports, Holter monitor results, and genetic testing information if available before even preliminary discussions with carriers about IHSS cases. The details matter enormously—a septal thickness of 14 mm with no gradient and normal EF tells a completely different story than 22 mm with 60 mmHg gradient and history of non-sustained ventricular tachycardia. We had one inquiry about a client with IHSS who wanted to know if coverage was possible. Initial information suggested she might be a candidate for at least exploring options. However, when complete records arrived showing she had an ICD implanted for primary prevention due to multiple risk factors, we had to honestly explain that traditional coverage wasn’t realistic and help her pursue guaranteed issue options instead. That conversation was difficult but necessary—raising false hope serves no one, while honest assessment allows clients to pursue appropriate alternatives immediately rather than wasting time and accumulating decline records.”
– InsuranceBrokers USA – Management Team
Coverage Outlook by Disease Severity
Life insurance prospects for IHSS vary dramatically based on obstruction severity, symptoms, arrhythmia history, family history, and treatment requirements. Understanding where your situation falls helps establish realistic expectations.
⚠ Mild Non-Obstructive IHSS – Table 4 to Table 10 Ratings
Most Favorable Scenario (Still Challenging):
- Minimal septal hypertrophy (13-16 mm)
- No or minimal LVOT gradient (below 30 mmHg at rest and provocation)
- Normal ejection fraction (55%+)
- Completely asymptomatic with normal exercise tolerance
- No history of syncope, chest pain, or palpitations
- No arrhythmias on Holter monitoring
- No family history of sudden cardiac death
- Requires no medications or only low-dose beta-blocker
- Diagnosed 12+ months ago with documented stability
- Normal blood pressure without hypertension
Coverage Outlook: Even the mildest IHSS cases face significant underwriting challenges due to the condition’s association with sudden cardiac death. Applicants meeting all these favorable criteria represent the absolute best-case scenarios and may achieve table ratings ranging from Table 4 to Table 10 with specialty carriers experienced in complex cardiac cases. Most carriers decline IHSS automatically regardless of severity, so identifying the few companies with more nuanced underwriting becomes critical. Extended stability documentation (24+ months) showing no progression in septal thickness, no development of obstruction, and continued absence of symptoms strengthens applications. Younger applicants face additional scrutiny due to longer lifetime risk exposure. Even in favorable cases, expect premiums substantially higher than standard rates, reflecting genuine sudden death risk that exists even with mild disease.
✗ Moderate to Severe IHSS – Individual Assessment Required
Challenging Scenario Characteristics:
- Moderate to severe septal hypertrophy (above 16 mm)
- Significant LVOT gradient (above 30 mmHg, especially if resting)
- Any symptoms: chest pain, dyspnea, syncope, palpitations
- History of arrhythmias including non-sustained VT
- Family history of sudden cardiac death or malignant arrhythmias
- Requires multiple medications for symptom control
- History of septal reduction procedure (myectomy or alcohol ablation)
- Implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) present
- Reduced ejection fraction (below 55%)
- Atrial fibrillation or other sustained arrhythmias
Coverage Outlook: Moderate to severe IHSS faces substantial underwriting challenges, with traditional fully underwritten coverage typically unavailable. Any significant outflow obstruction (gradient above 50 mmHg) usually results in decline regardless of other factors. History of syncope raises enormous concerns about sudden death risk and typically leads to decline. Documented arrhythmias, particularly ventricular tachycardia, essentially preclude traditional coverage. ICD placement indicates physicians identified you as high sudden death risk, which underwriters cannot ignore—this almost always results in decline for traditional policies. Family history of sudden cardiac death compounds concerns significantly and typically results in decline even when your personal disease is mild. Septal reduction procedures demonstrate severe disease requiring intervention, substantially worsening prospects. For applicants in these categories, alternative coverage including guaranteed issue, simplified issue, and group policies provide the most realistic paths to securing financial protection. Some may benefit from postponing traditional applications indefinitely while maximizing group coverage through employment.
For more insights on how various medical conditions affect coverage decisions, see our comprehensive guide on Life Insurance Approvals with Pre-Existing Medical Conditions.
Key Underwriting Factors
Beyond basic disease measurements, specific factors critically influence whether you receive any coverage offer and what premium rates apply for IHSS cases.
Sudden Death Risk Stratification
Underwriters focus intensely on features that predict sudden cardiac death risk. Major risk factors include history of cardiac arrest or sustained ventricular tachycardia, family history of sudden cardiac death, unexplained syncope, non-sustained ventricular tachycardia on monitoring, abnormal blood pressure response during exercise, and massive left ventricular hypertrophy (above 30 mm). The presence of even one major risk factor dramatically worsens insurance prospects, while multiple risk factors typically result in immediate decline.
Additional concerning features include left ventricular outflow gradients above 30 mmHg, extensive late gadolinium enhancement on cardiac MRI (indicating scar tissue), left atrial enlargement, and young age at diagnosis. The absence of all major risk factors provides the only foundation for considering any traditional coverage.
Functional Status and Symptoms
How IHSS affects your daily life profoundly impacts underwriting decisions. New York Heart Association (NYHA) classification matters enormously: Class I (no symptoms, no limitation) receives the most favorable consideration, Class II (mild symptoms, slight limitation) raises moderate concerns, Class III (marked limitation, symptoms with minimal activity) creates major challenges, and Class IV (symptoms at rest) precludes coverage.
Specific symptoms carry different implications. Chest pain (angina) from microvascular dysfunction is concerning but not immediately disqualifying when mild. Syncope or near-syncope is viewed extremely seriously as it suggests dangerous arrhythmias or severe obstruction. Palpitations from arrhythmias raise concerns requiring investigation. Progressive worsening of exercise tolerance indicates disease progression that substantially worsens prospects.
Treatment Intensity and Response
The treatments required to manage your IHSS signal disease severity to underwriters:
Minimal or no treatment for truly asymptomatic mild disease receives the most favorable consideration, though even asymptomatic IHSS typically requires at least monitoring and activity restrictions.
Medical therapy with beta-blockers or calcium channel blockers indicates symptomatic disease requiring medication management. Single-drug therapy at low doses suggests relatively mild symptoms, while multiple medications or high doses indicate more significant disease.
Septal reduction procedures including surgical myectomy or alcohol septal ablation demonstrate severe obstruction requiring invasive intervention. While these procedures can improve symptoms and potentially outcomes, their necessity indicates severe baseline disease that substantially impacts insurability.
ICD implantation represents the most serious intervention, indicating high sudden death risk identified by your physicians. Whether for primary prevention (no prior cardiac arrest but multiple risk factors) or secondary prevention (history of cardiac arrest or sustained VT), ICD presence almost universally results in traditional insurance decline.
Family History Patterns
Because IHSS is genetic, family history provides critical prognostic information. Underwriters carefully evaluate whether other family members have IHSS, whether anyone experienced sudden cardiac death (particularly before age 50), and what outcomes relatives with the condition have experienced.
Favorable family history—multiple relatives with IHSS living normal lifespans without sudden death—provides some reassurance about your prognosis. Unfavorable family history—multiple sudden cardiac deaths in young relatives with IHSS—dramatically worsens your prospects as it suggests an aggressive genetic variant with high mortality risk. Genetic counseling and testing results, when available, help clarify whether you carry particularly high-risk mutations.
Age at Diagnosis and Disease Duration
Age when IHSS was diagnosed influences underwriting in complex ways. Very young diagnosis (childhood or adolescence) raises concerns about lifetime risk exposure and potentially more severe genetic variants. Middle-age diagnosis (30s-50s) is most common and viewed relatively neutrally. Late diagnosis (60+) sometimes suggests milder disease that remained asymptomatic for decades, though age-related hypertension can complicate the picture.
Disease duration with documented stability helps in rare cases—someone diagnosed 15 years ago who remains asymptomatic with unchanged echocardiograms demonstrates stable mild disease, which marginally improves prospects compared to recent diagnosis with unknown trajectory.
Optimal Timing for Applications
Strategic application timing matters for IHSS cases, though even optimal timing may not overcome the diagnosis’s inherent severity in many situations.
Before Applying
After 12-24 Months of Documented Stability (Best Timing for Mild Cases)For the rare mild non-obstructive cases without symptoms or risk factors, waiting 12-24 months after diagnosis to demonstrate stable disease before applying provides the best foundation. This timeframe allows accumulation of serial echocardiograms showing no progression in hypertrophy or development of obstruction, multiple Holter monitors confirming absence of arrhythmias, stress testing demonstrating normal exercise capacity and blood pressure response, and documentation that you remain completely asymptomatic with normal functional status. Even with this preparation, expect challenging underwriting and high ratings.
Ideal preparation: Multiple echocardiograms showing stable measurements, at least two Holter monitors showing no arrhythmias, normal stress test, cardiology notes confirming asymptomatic status and favorable prognosis, genetic testing if available showing absence of high-risk mutations, and comprehensive family history documentation showing absence of sudden cardiac deaths.
After Treatment Stabilization for Symptomatic CasesIf you required medications or procedures for symptomatic IHSS, waiting until symptoms are fully controlled and you’ve demonstrated stability on treatment for 12+ months marginally improves prospects, though symptomatic disease faces substantial challenges regardless of timing. Recent medication changes or procedures typically result in postponement until stability can be demonstrated.
When to Avoid Applying
Certain circumstances make traditional applications futile, warranting immediate focus on alternative coverage:
Within 12 months of diagnosis: Newly diagnosed IHSS requires time to assess severity, risk factors, and stability. Applying shortly after diagnosis almost always results in decline or postponement.
Following ICD implantation: ICD placement indicates high sudden death risk that makes traditional coverage essentially impossible. Focus immediately on guaranteed issue and group coverage rather than wasting time on declined traditional applications.
After syncope episodes: Recent fainting spells suggest dangerous arrhythmias or severe obstruction that typically results in decline. Wait until the cause is fully investigated and addressed, though even then prospects remain challenging.
With progressive symptoms or measurements: Worsening symptoms, increasing septal thickness, or developing obstruction where none existed indicates progressive disease that typically results in decline. Postpone application until progression is halted if possible.
Following septal reduction procedures: Recent myectomy or alcohol ablation requires substantial recovery time and demonstration of improved function before any carriers will consider applications. Wait at least 12-24 months post-procedure.
Required Medical Documentation
IHSS cases require exceptionally comprehensive cardiac documentation to provide underwriters with complete information about sudden death risk.
Essential Medical Records
- Complete echocardiogram reports (at least 2-3 over time) showing septal thickness measurements, LVOT gradient at rest and with provocation, ejection fraction, left atrial size, and any other abnormalities
- Cardiac MRI report if performed, including late gadolinium enhancement patterns indicating scar tissue and detailed hypertrophy distribution
- Holter monitor results (24-hour or longer) documenting any arrhythmias including ventricular ectopy, non-sustained VT, or atrial fibrillation
- Exercise stress test results showing functional capacity, blood pressure response, symptoms provoked, and any arrhythmias induced
- Electrophysiology study results if performed to assess arrhythmia risk
- Genetic testing results if available, documenting specific mutations identified and associated risk profiles
- Complete cardiology consultation notes from all visits including risk stratification, treatment recommendations, and prognosis discussions
- Family history documentation including pedigree showing relatives with IHSS, sudden cardiac deaths, and causes of death where known
- Current medication list with all cardiac medications, doses, and duration of use
- Surgical or procedure reports if you’ve had septal myectomy, alcohol ablation, or ICD implantation
- Most recent cardiologist assessment including explicit risk stratification and long-term prognosis
For IHSS, obtaining complete records before even preliminary broker consultation allows realistic assessment of whether traditional coverage is worth pursuing or whether immediate focus on alternatives makes more sense.
Critical Details Underwriters Scrutinize
Within medical records, underwriters focus on specific data determining sudden death risk:
Maximum septal thickness measurement from echocardiogram or MRI, with values above 30 mm dramatically worsening prospects.
LVOT gradient at rest and with provocation, with resting gradients particularly concerning and values above 50 mmHg substantially impacting decisions.
Arrhythmia documentation from Holter monitors or electrophysiology studies, with any ventricular tachycardia essentially precluding coverage.
Exercise test results showing blood pressure response, with abnormal responses (failure to increase or paradoxical decrease) raising major sudden death concerns.
Family history specifics including number of relatives affected, ages at sudden death, and whether deaths were confirmed IHSS-related.
Strategies to Improve Your Application
While IHSS presents exceptional challenges, certain strategic actions can help in rare favorable cases or maximize alternative coverage for typical cases.
Accumulate Maximum Documentation of Favorable Features
For mild cases, compile comprehensive evidence supporting low sudden death risk: multiple echocardiograms showing stable mild hypertrophy without progression, several normal Holter monitors, normal stress tests with appropriate blood pressure response, genetic testing showing absence of high-risk mutations if available, and detailed family history documentation showing relatives with IHSS living normal lifespans.
Request explicit risk stratification from your cardiologist addressing sudden death risk based on established criteria. Documentation stating “low sudden death risk, no high-risk features identified” carries more weight than vague prognostic statements.
Maximize Group Life Insurance Coverage
Because most IHSS cases cannot qualify for individual traditional coverage, maximizing employer group life insurance becomes critically important. Take full advantage of guaranteed issue amounts and consider purchasing available voluntary supplemental coverage even at higher rates, as group policies typically don’t decline participation for health reasons.
If changing employment, carefully evaluate group life insurance offerings as a significant job benefit. Some employers offer more generous group coverage than others.
Secure Guaranteed Issue Coverage Immediately
Don’t delay obtaining guaranteed issue life insurance while exploring traditional options. Secure guaranteed issue coverage now to provide immediate protection, then continue investigating whether traditional coverage might be possible. Having some coverage immediately provides peace of mind while pursuing additional options.
Work with Specialized High-Risk Cardiac Brokers
IHSS represents one of the most difficult cardiac conditions for insurance placement. Standard brokers typically cannot help and may waste your time with declined applications. Specialized brokers with experience in high-risk cardiac cases know the handful of carriers that might—in rare favorable circumstances—consider IHSS cases.
Our Top 10 Best Life Insurance Companies in the U.S. (2025): Expert Broker Rankings can help identify carriers with the most sophisticated cardiac underwriting capable of appreciating distinctions between mild and severe disease.
We pre-screen IHSS cases with underwriters before formal submission to determine whether any carrier will even consider the case, avoiding wasted declined applications on your record. For most IHSS cases, we honestly advise that traditional coverage isn’t realistic and help maximize alternative coverage instead.
Alternative Coverage Options
For most IHSS cases, alternative products provide the only realistic path to life insurance coverage.
Guaranteed Issue Life Insurance
Guaranteed issue policies accept all applicants without medical questions or exams, making them the most accessible option for IHSS. These policies eliminate health-based underwriting entirely and cannot decline you based on cardiac disease.
The limitations include significantly higher premiums relative to coverage amounts, limited face amounts (typically $5,000-$25,000), and graded death benefits during the first 2-3 years. Despite constraints, guaranteed issue provides certainty of coverage and immediate protection when traditional insurance isn’t available.
Group Life Insurance Through Employers
Employer-sponsored group life insurance offers guaranteed issue coverage up to certain amounts without medical underwriting. This represents often the best coverage source for IHSS patients. Maximize basic coverage and purchase maximum voluntary supplemental coverage offered.
Consider group coverage portability features and conversion options if employment ends. Some policies allow conversion to individual coverage (usually expensive) or portability to take coverage with you when leaving employment.
Association and Organizational Group Coverage
Professional associations, alumni groups, and other organizations sometimes offer group life insurance to members with guaranteed issue amounts. Explore all membership organizations you qualify for to identify additional group coverage opportunities.
Simplified Issue Life Insurance (Limited Applicability)
Simplified issue policies use abbreviated health questionnaires without medical exams. For IHSS, these products typically don’t help as they specifically ask about heart conditions and cardiomyopathy. However, very mild cases many years ago might occasionally qualify if questions are worded favorably. This represents a long-shot option worth exploring only in highly specific circumstances.
For those seeking alternatives to traditional underwriting, our guide on Top 10 Best No-Exam Life Insurance Companies (2025 Update) provides comprehensive information, though options remain limited for IHSS.
Ready to Explore Life Insurance Options with IHSS?
IHSS creates exceptional insurance challenges that require honest, expert guidance rather than false hope. Our specialized team has experience with complex cardiac conditions and can realistically assess whether any traditional coverage possibilities exist for your specific situation or whether guaranteed issue and group coverage provide your best options. We never promise unrealistic outcomes but work diligently to identify every available coverage source and maximize the financial protection you can secure given the medical realities of this serious condition.
📞 Call Now: 888-211-6171
Free Confidential Consultation
Free confidential consultation – All consultations are HIPAA compliant
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get life insurance with IHSS (hypertrophic cardiomyopathy)?
Traditional life insurance for IHSS is extremely difficult but not impossible in rare mild cases. Most carriers decline IHSS automatically due to sudden death risk. The very best scenarios—minimal hypertrophy, no obstruction, asymptomatic, no arrhythmias, no family history of sudden death—might achieve Table 6-10 ratings with specialty carriers. Any significant obstruction, symptoms, arrhythmias, family history of sudden death, or ICD placement typically results in decline. Most IHSS patients must rely on guaranteed issue and group coverage.
How long after IHSS diagnosis should I wait to apply for life insurance?
Wait at least 12-24 months after diagnosis to accumulate stability documentation before applying for traditional coverage in mild cases. This allows multiple echocardiograms showing no progression, Holter monitors confirming no arrhythmias, and documentation of continued asymptomatic status. However, for most IHSS cases, waiting won’t overcome the diagnosis’s severity—traditional coverage often isn’t realistic regardless of timing. Secure guaranteed issue and group coverage immediately rather than remaining uninsured while exploring traditional options that may prove impossible.
Will I automatically be declined for life insurance if I have an ICD for IHSS?
Yes, ICD implantation almost universally results in decline for traditional life insurance. The ICD indicates your physicians identified high sudden death risk based on multiple risk factors or previous cardiac arrest, which underwriters cannot overlook. Focus on guaranteed issue policies and maximizing group coverage through employment rather than pursuing traditional applications that will likely be declined, creating negative records without achieving coverage.
Does family history of sudden death from IHSS affect my life insurance application?
Yes, dramatically. Family history of sudden cardiac death from IHSS, particularly in young relatives or multiple family members, substantially increases your sudden death risk and typically results in traditional insurance decline even when your personal disease is mild. Underwriters view family history as one of the strongest sudden death predictors. Conversely, family members with IHSS living normal lifespans provides some reassurance but doesn’t guarantee approval.
Can I get life insurance if my IHSS is asymptomatic?
Asymptomatic IHSS improves prospects but doesn’t guarantee approval. Even asymptomatic cases face significant challenges due to sudden death risk. Completely asymptomatic with minimal hypertrophy, no obstruction, no arrhythmias, and no family history represents the only scenario with any traditional coverage possibility—and even then, expect high table ratings and many declines. Asymptomatic status helps distinguish you from symptomatic cases but doesn’t eliminate the underlying concern about unpredictable sudden cardiac events.
What happens if my IHSS worsens after I get life insurance?
Once issued, your life insurance remains in force with premiums unchanged regardless of disease progression, provided you answered all application questions truthfully initially. Coverage cannot be cancelled or repriced due to worsening symptoms, increasing obstruction, arrhythmia development, or even ICD implantation after policy issue. This makes securing coverage while disease is relatively stable extremely valuable—future progression cannot affect existing coverage.
Should I try traditional life insurance first or go straight to guaranteed issue with IHSS?
For most IHSS cases, securing guaranteed issue coverage immediately makes sense rather than wasting time on likely-declined traditional applications. Consider traditional options only if you have genuinely mild disease: minimal hypertrophy (under 16mm), no obstruction (gradient under 30), asymptomatic, no arrhythmias, and no concerning family history. Even then, consult with a specialized broker who can pre-screen your case before formal applications. For moderate-to-severe IHSS, any obstruction, symptoms, or concerning features, skip traditional applications and maximize guaranteed issue plus group coverage immediately.
Requesting potential insurance for someone with HCM. Diagnosed as a child prior to “30”
Shaina,
We’d be happy to try and help, just give us a call.
Thanks,
InsuranceBrokersUSA
I was diagnosed with HCM when I was 14. Now (with a lot of luck and improved medical science) I’m 50. I remember one of the first general conversations my parents and I had with the cardiologist was about life insurance. The Doctor said in no uncertain terms that I would NEVER get life insurance. He was right on the money with that. I think that instead of giving these people false hope that they might actually have a chance to get insurance, you should be giving them alternatives so they can prepare while they still can.
Dear Dominic,
Thank you for your comment. We greatly appreciate receiving feedback from individuals who have been diagnosed with the condition we are discussing in our articles. Your input is invaluable to us.
Regarding the concerns you raised about our article, we would like to provide a detailed response:
1. In our article, we clearly state that “If you were originally diagnosed before age 40 or you are suffering from symptoms, chances are you will not be able to qualify for coverage, and you will need to seek out some kind of ‘alternative’ product like a guaranteed issue life insurance policy or an accidental death policy.” We use this language to emphasize that it is highly unlikely to qualify for traditional coverage if you have been diagnosed prior to age 40 or are experiencing symptoms. However, we acknowledge that there are numerous insurance companies in the United States, each with its own unique underwriting guidelines. Technically, it is possible that there may be a carrier with more lenient guidelines that we are not aware of.
2. Additionally, we believe it is important and accurate to state that if you were diagnosed with HCM over the age of 40 and do not experience any symptoms related to the condition, you may be able to qualify for a traditional policy at a substandard rate. This information is based on the AIG Underwriting Guidelines, which can be accessed online at http://www.cassaniinsurance.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/AIG-Underwriting-Guidelines.pdf, as well as other reliable sources.
We appreciate your feedback and apologize for any confusion or lack of clarity in our article. It is our goal to provide accurate and informative content to our readers. Your input helps us in our continuous efforts to improve the quality of our articles.
Thank you,
InsuranceBrokersUSA
I was diagnosed with Obstructive HCM in July 2020 at 53 years old. Septal Myectomy was performed in August 2021. I function and feel brand new. What are my chances of getting life insurance for my children?
Suzanne,
Qualifying for a traditional term life insurance policy after being diagnosed with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy is always going to be tough. However, it sounds like you may have a chance. We just wouldn’t be able to tell for certain without learning more about your situation. When you have a chance, please give us a call. We’d be happy to explore what options may be available to you.
Thanks,
InsuranceBrokersUSA