Any of you have hard time with getting life insurance?

That's one thing I realized too...while reading some of the posts.  Many of us have had so many tests run that they've found some "things."  Things that all our doctors say are really quite normal in the population, and harmless.  But because I've had them "diagnosed" and they are on my medical record I can't seem to get any decent life insurance!!!!  Here I am 33 years old with 2 kids and trying to be responsible, but I can't get life insurance because my heart likes to be overactive sometimes!!!

I've been told that I have an "atrial wall aneurism (aneurysm)."  Sounds scary as hell, but all it means is that the wall between my atria moves slightly with each pump of the heart.  My cardio and many other sources acknowledge that this means NOTHING.  88% of the population would be found to have this situation if they were tested, but alas most people are normal and don't go hanging out with a cardiologist like many of us seem to do :-)

Anyway, the word aneurism (aneurysm) kicks me out of every system out there.  Yet another way these things have "enriched" my life :-)

[PVC man]

I had a similar experience 9 years ago...my wife and I were only married a year and a half and she was recently pregnant...so I went for my first life insurance policy.

I really hadn't had too many trips to the doctor AT ALL within a period of years before this as it was a point in my life when I was not getting any PVCs (obviously, BEFORE KIDS.)  

Anyway, the thing dragged on for months and my wife was getting bigger and bigger...I started to panic that I would drop dead without coverage and my wife would be left with nada.

Well, I kept calling and calling the agent and after many calls he said my policy was being held up because I had once been tested for something "with my heart."

Well, it didn't seem to matter that all the tests were normal and that it was benign PVCs.  I think it is dispicable that insurance companies would treat us like this.  I finally got the policy but if it were NOW( last few years Ive seen cardiologist annually) they probably would tell me to take a hike.

I think if I were denied coverage for a benign condition I would be very tempted to seek an attorney's advice and try to force someone's hand a little.

We suffer enough with this that we should not tolerate being discriminated against.

Let me know what happens...

[Momto3]

My experience with life insurance "problems" started about 30 years ago.  Like you, I had some "heart tests" and all of a sudden, I am considered a risk!  I was diagnosed with mitral valve prolapse (a relatively benign condition) and pvcs.  The doctor was not at all concerned, just a blip on the chart.  WELL, the insurance company felt differently.  I was about 20 years old (eek!) and I was given "smoker's rates" because of a "heart condition."  I was furious because I did not smoke, had no real heart problem and hated that I was lumped into a higher risk category!  My doctor provided me with a letter to give to the insurance company clearly stating I was at no greater risk.....They didn't flinch...no change!  I still have that policy -- I'm afraid to let go of it!!

About 10 years ago, an insurance agent tells me it will be no problem to write me a policy, blah, blah....WRONG!  Here comes "the questionnaire" and lo and behold lots of questions about doctor visits, tests, suggested tests, etc. This time, I've got mitral regurg. to add to the "conditions" I have.  Long story short, they couldn't help with a better policy...GRRRR.  So, I still have that old policy from 30 years. I guess it's that whole risk stratification thing...probability and statistics!  YUK!

Good luck with getting your policy.

  

[lmthames]

I am 35 and several years ago could not get a policy either.  When I was filling out the questionnaire it asked about heart disease, etc. and of course I put that I had 2 heart ablations, etc.  Obviously, i did not get the policy.  Later I was talking to my doctor about it and he said that PVC's/PAC's and sinus tach was not considered heart disease so when answering that question I can honestly put no.  You might talk your doctor as well.  If these things are not actually a form of heart disease then we are not lying or trying to distort the truth.  I guess for me it just always seemed like heart disease because it was related to my heart.  But, as my doctor pointed out to me it is not actually my heart but rather the wiring around it.  My heart itself is fine.  

[ajrenalli]

yes, the word aneurysm excludes you, even aortic ones that have been surgically repaired.  BTW.note the spelling.since you have this condition, you might as well know how to spell it.

[heartfluttersflyawayplz]

hey i just got life ins from my bank, if your with bank of america they have life ins.no question ask, and i would never put down i have heart disease because my dr told me pvc.pac are nothing ( even thought they fill like a lot) and you can live with them just like a cold so i never put that on any papers. but i do take med for it so i have to put that down. but if you with bank of america try it i got it myself.