Angioplasty Life Insurance

Or otherwise know as Percutaneous Transluminal Angioplasty or PCTA.

This procedure is more common than you probably think, it involves placing a flexible tube or catheter through an incision in the skin.  It goes into an artery commonly the femoral artery then moving the catheter to the coronary artery. 

An elongated balloon-like apparatus is attached to the end of the catheter. The catheter is advanced through the area of obstruction and filled and emptied a number of times—each time with increased pressure expanding the area of obstruction thus enabling an increased flow of blood to move through that area. The procedure actually results in little compression of the plaque—rather it tends to stretch (dilate) the wall of the vessel. During the first six months or so after such a procedure, the healing process can result in restenosis in 30-50% of patients.

The rating for those who have undergone PTCA depends primarily upon the age of the applicant and severity of underlying coronary artery disease (CAD). Other factors include: the success of the procedure as determined by follow-up studies, recurrent angina, left ventricular function, use of blood thinners (such as aspirin), history of myocardial infarction, and the presence of cardiac risk factors.

Information you should provide to your life insurance broker or agent so they can shop or quick quote the life insurance carriers underwriters. This process will give you a good idea of what your premiums could possibly cost without having to go through the complete underwriting process.

• Date of Angioplasty (PTCA)
• How many vessels required the procedure?
• Have you have any of the following:
•  Heart Attack - date
   Bypass Surgery - date
• Are you on any medications:  please include if you are taking aspirin
• Have you had a follow up Stress ECG since the Angioplasty:
• Have you had any chest discomfort since the Angioplasty:
• Have you had any of the following:
  abnormal lipid levels
  diabetes
  overweight
  elevated homocysteine
  high blood pressure HBP
  peripheral vascular disease
• Are you currently using any tobacco products:

• Any other major health issues

The more information you can provide up front the more accurate quote you will recieve back from the carrier and broker.