Can I Get Life Insurance After a Stroke?

Can I Get Life Insurance After a Stroke

Written by Kim Wilhelm

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Verified!  See our editorial guidelines

Last Updated 28 Mar 2024

Having a stroke is scary and can be life altering.

The longer you live past 55, the more likely you are to have a stroke. For every decade more you live, your chances double.

People living in the southeastern U.S. are more likely to have a stroke, and so are people who live in areas with extreme temperatures.

If you have a past history or a family history of stroke, your chances also increase.

High blood pressure or cholesterol, heart disease, diabetes, and smoking are some of the risk factors for a stroke that can be managed.

If you are at risk of a stroke or have already had one, and you don’t already have life insurance, you might be worried you can’t get approved.

We’re here to tell you that’s probably not the case.

Can I Get Life Insurance After a Stroke?

Yes, you can get life insurance after a stroke. How long ago, the severity, medications you take, and any lasting effects will determine the type of life insurance you qualify for.

If you had a stroke in the last five years, you probably won’t qualify for a standard life insurance policy. If you do, it will be with a substandard rating, which means it will be really expensive.

Traditional life insurance usually comes with a medical exam and health questions. Even if you don’t have to take a medical exam, you still have to supply a detailed health history.

Best Life Insurance Companies if you've had a Stroke


  1. Prosperity Life Insurance - Best if you had a Stroke
  2. Mutual of Omaha - Best if you had TIA's (mini-strokes)
  3. Liberty Bankers - Best if you had an Aneurysm
  4. American Home Life - Best for Blood Clots
  5. Independent American - Best for 24 months after Pulmonary Embolism

* The "best company" depends on other health factors as well as age, state of residency, and coverage desired.  For your best chance to be approved with low rates, speak to one of our experienced insurance professionals.  

To get started, click here for a quote now.

Since life insurance companies consider a stroke a high-risk pre-existing condition, most providers won’t want to take on the risk of insuring you.

While that’s not great news, we do have some good news. There are two types of life insurance you will probably qualify for that might be cheaper than the traditional method. Plus, it’s a lot easier to qualify for.

Simplified Issue Life Insurance After a Stroke

Unlike the traditional method of buying life insurance, you don’t have to complete a medical exam with simplified issue life insurance.

Instead, you have to answer a few questions on the application. The types of questions and how many vary by carrier.

Most companies will ask if a doctor has treated or diagnosed you with any of the following health conditions, including stroke:

If you answer yes, you might also have to answer a question about the activities of daily living. ADLs include bathing, eating, dressing, toileting, feeding, and mobility. You might also have to answer if you require home health care or are confined to a nursing home.

If you need assistance with one or more ADLs, are confined to a nursing home, or require home health care, you might not get approved for simplified issue life insurance.

However, that doesn’t mean you have to die without life insurance if you need it. For high-risk applicants like yourself, there’s another option.

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  • Know what you qualify for before you buy!
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Guaranteed Issue Life Insurance After a Stroke

No matter if you have had a stroke in the last year, have to take medications, require assistance, or have other health issues, you can be approved for guaranteed issue life insurance.

With guaranteed issue, it doesn’t matter how high-risk the insurance company thinks you are. There are no health questions or medical exam to be approved.

You just apply for coverage, pay for your coverage, and you’ve got a life insurance policy in place.

Can I Get Life Insurance After a Stroke

Guaranteed issue has a lot of the same features as other types of permanent final expense life insurance:

  • Fixed monthly payments
  • Premiums never increase
  • Death benefit never decreases
  • The policy doesn’t expire as long as you pay on time
  • Guaranteed death benefit
  • Builds cash value

This policy might be the best option to get life insurance after a stroke, especially if you have other health concerns.

With guaranteed issue, you don’t have to burden your family with your final expenses. If they can’t afford to pay for your funeral, guaranteed issue final expense life insurance for seniors is your best solution.

Does Life Insurance Cover Stroke?

Here’s some more good news. Life insurance does cover stroke.

If you already have life insurance in place and suffer a stroke, your life insurance payout will not be affected. If you survive, your death benefit will be paid to your beneficiary when you die, no matter when that is.

If you die after having a stroke or because of a condition caused by the stroke, then your beneficiary will receive the life insurance payout. 

How much your beneficiary will receive depends on the type of life insurance death benefit you have.

Full Death Benefit

No matter what type of life insurance you have, if you have a full death benefit, your beneficiary gets all the policy face amount when you die.

So, if you have a $50,000 life insurance policy and die from a stroke or for other reason, your beneficiary will receive $50,000. If you have more than one beneficiary on your policy, they will get the percentage amount you chose for them to receive.


Graded or Modified Death Benefit

If you have a graded or modified death benefit — also called a waiting period — on your life insurance policy, your beneficiary might not get the full death benefit when you die.

Policies with a graded or modified death benefit, which usually comes with guaranteed issue life insurance, only give back your premiums paid up until death, plus interest. The interest amount depends on the carrier and state you live in.

Most policies with a graded or modified death benefit restrict the full death benefit for two or three years. This also depends on the carrier and where you live. After that time, the full death benefit becomes available.

However, if you die in an accident, most companies will give your beneficiary the full death benefit, even if it’s less than two years.

Whatever you think final expense costs...

It's probably less.

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Applying for Life Insurance After a Stroke

There are a lot of life insurance companies offering final expense insurance. Carriers also look at high-risk health issues like stroke differently, which means you could get a much better price with one company than another.

To make it even more confusing, there are different types of coverage, and each company sets its own rates. 

This means you could spend hours getting quotes to find the best deal for the right coverage.

Why take all that time when you don’t have to?

How to Get the Best Price on Life Insurance After a Stroke

If you’re looking for the best life insurance policy after a stroke, you should work with an independent agency. Independent companies work with a long list of insurers to help God fearing Americans like yourself get the best price for the coverage you need.

At Final Expense Direct, we work with seniors from all 50 states, including our home state of Texas. We specialize in senior life insurance, so we know the best carriers who will offer you the cheapest rate, no matter how complex your medical history.

Can I Get Life Insurance After a Stroke

When you call Final Expense Direct, you’ll be connected directly with an agent. The agent will ask you a few questions to find out what type of coverage would best fit your needs.

Then, we’ll help you decide on a plan, and get you approved on the same phone call. We make it easy so you don’t have to spend your time hoping you got the right life insurance policy. 

Our mission is to provide you and your family peace of mind so you can focus on what matters in life, knowing you’re covered.

INSTANT FINAL EXPENSE QUOTES

  • Get quotes FAST
  • More affordable than you think
  • Compare quotes from top companies
  • Know what you qualify for before you buy!
By pressing "Get Quotes Now" you agree to our privacy policy and consent to have Final Expense Direct contact you by email, phone call, text/SMS message at the phone number & email you provide. You understand that any calls, texts, SMS messages may be made using automated dialing technology. Consent isn’t a condition to purchase our products.