10-second summary: Most heart conditions do not prevent you from getting life insurance in Ireland. Many people are accepted at normal rates. The real risk is applying to the wrong insurer first, which can trigger unnecessary medical reports or higher premiums that could have been avoided.
Editor’s note: First published September 2021 | Fully rebuilt in 2026 to reflect current Irish underwriting practice and how heart conditions are actually assessed for life insurance.
If you have a heart condition and you’re thinking about life insurance, mortgage protection, or income protection, you’re probably wondering how complicated this is going to get.
The good news is that most heart conditions are insurable. In many cases, people are accepted on standard terms. Where things go wrong, it’s rarely because of the condition itself. It’s usually because the application is made in the wrong place, in the wrong order.
Irish insurers don’t take a one-size-fits-all approach to heart issues. Two people with the same diagnosis can receive very different outcomes depending on stability, treatment history, and which insurer sees the application first.
How insurers actually assess heart conditions
Insurers don’t underwrite “heart disease” as a single category. They look at a small number of practical factors that tell them how stable the condition is and how likely it is to affect life expectancy.
They’ll usually want to know what the underlying diagnosis is, when it was diagnosed, whether there has been surgery or hospitalisation, how it’s being managed now, and whether there has been any deterioration over time.
A mild, well-controlled condition that hasn’t changed in years is viewed very differently from a recent cardiac event or an evolving condition that still needs investigation.
The mistake that causes most problems
The biggest mistake people make is applying directly to the first insurer that comes to mind.
Some insurers ask much broader cardiac and general health questions than others. A “yes” in the wrong place can trigger GP reports, cardiology letters, or long postponements that would never have been required with a different insurer.
Once that information exists, it can’t be undone. Even if another insurer would have treated the case as routine, the underwriting trail is already there.
This is why order matters so much with heart conditions.
Common heart conditions and how they’re usually viewed
Below are some of the heart-related issues we see most often. Each is linked to a more detailed explanation where relevant.
Heart murmurs and structural defects
Innocent or functional murmurs are very common and rarely cause any difficulty. Abnormal murmurs are assessed based on the underlying valve or structural issue and its severity.
Mild and moderate findings are often insurable. More detail is covered in our guide to heart murmurs and life insurance.
Arrhythmias and atrial fibrillation
Irregular heart rhythms are assessed differently depending on whether they are intermittent or constant, and whether there is underlying heart disease.
Paroxysmal atrial fibrillation with no structural disease is often accepted on standard terms. Persistent arrhythmias usually require more detail. We cover this in life insurance with atrial fibrillation.
Heart valve disease
Mitral and aortic valve disorders are assessed based on severity and whether surgery has been required. Mild and moderate cases are often insurable. Recent valve surgery usually results in a temporary postponement.
Cardiomyopathy
Cardiomyopathy is treated more cautiously by insurers and outcomes vary widely depending on type and stability.
This is covered in detail here: Getting life insurance in Ireland with cardiomyopathy.
Myocarditis
If myocarditis has resolved fully with no lasting damage, some insurers will offer normal terms after a suitable recovery period.
Heart attacks
Life insurance after a heart attack is often possible, but timing and recovery are critical. Most insurers require a waiting period.
We’ve covered this separately here: Life assurance after a heart attack.
Stents
Stents are assessed based on the underlying coronary disease and time since insertion.
More detail here: Life insurance with a stent fitted.
Pacemakers and ICDs
Pacemakers often result in a short postponement following insertion. ICDs are assessed much more strictly, particularly where cardiomyopathy is involved.
Conditions that are generally not insurable
A small number of serious congenital or electrical conditions are usually declined for cover.
These include certain forms of Long QT syndrome, Transposition of the Great Arteries (TGA), Ebstein’s anomaly, Tetralogy of Fallots and complex repaired congenital defects with ongoing complications.
These cases are rare, but they are the exception rather than the rule.
What about mortgage protection and income protection?
Mortgage protection follows the same underwriting logic as life insurance, but some insurers are more flexible depending on the condition.
Income protection is assessed more strictly, as it relates to the ability to work rather than life expectancy. Some heart conditions that are fine for life cover may not be suitable for income protection.
So what should you do next?
If you have a heart condition, the safest approach is to get the order right before submitting an application.
You can complete our medical conditions questionnaire, which allows us to assess things quietly with our panel of underwriters and approach the most suitable insurer first.
That way, we minimise unnecessary underwriting, avoid delays, and give you the best chance of securing cover on fair terms.
Talk soon,
Nick
Written by Nick McGowan, QFA RPA APA
Nick is a qualified financial advisor and founder of Lion.ie, an Irish life insurance and income protection brokerage based in Tullamore.
He specialises in helping people with medical conditions secure fair cover — and was named Protection Broker of the Year 2022.
If you want straight answers (without the sales pitch), learn more about Nick here.