Brain Aneurysm Life Insurance Rates in 2026

Yes, life insurance is available after a brain aneurysm, but your rates depend heavily on whether it was repaired, how long ago and your current health. A repaired aneurysm, clipped or coiled, can still qualify, while an unrepaired one keeps most carriers from offering standard coverage. This guide covers what underwriters evaluate, how table ratings work and ways to lower your cost. If you’re arranging an SBA loan for your business, see how Life insurance for an SBA loan can protect that debt.

How a Brain Aneurysm Affects Your Life Insurance Rates

Underwriters view brain aneurysms through a risk lens, and their main concern is rupture. An unruptured, unrepaired aneurysm carries ongoing risk that makes most traditional carriers unwilling to offer standard coverage. A repaired aneurysm (whether clipped or coiled) tells a very different story. Once the repair is done and you’ve had time to recover, carriers start looking at you much more favorably.
The same risk lens shapes life insurance with aortic aneurysm, where repair status also drives underwriting outcomes.

The distinction between “repaired” and “unrepaired” is everything here. An unrepaired brain aneurysm typically results in a guaranteed issue policy only, which means limited coverage and higher premiums. But if your aneurysm has been successfully treated, you move into a much better category where real underwriting happens and competitive rates become possible.
For readers hoping to skip the medical exam, our guide to Brain Aneurysm no-exam life insurance explains the simplified and guaranteed issue routes.

What Underwriters Actually Evaluate

When you apply with a brain aneurysm history, underwriters pull out a specific checklist. Knowing what’s on it gives you an advantage.

Time since repair or diagnosis. This is the big one. Under one year post repair, most carriers will decline or postpone. Between one and two years, you’ll likely get approved but with a significant table rating. At two to five years with documented stability, options improve dramatically. And at five plus years with no complications, some carriers may offer rates close to standard.

Type of treatment. Surgical clipping and endovascular coiling are both well understood procedures. Underwriters want to see that the repair was successful with no residual issues.

Residual effects. Any lingering neurological deficits matter. Weakness, vision changes, cognitive problems, or balance issues all push ratings higher. A clean recovery with no lasting effects is what underwriters want to see.

Current neurology follow up. Recent MRI or CT imaging showing stability is extremely helpful. Missing imaging is a red flag for underwriters because it suggests the condition isn’t being monitored.

Overall health picture. Other risk factors like uncontrolled high blood pressure or diabetes compound the concern. A brain aneurysm plus well managed blood pressure tells a much better story than an aneurysm plus untreated hypertension.

How Table Ratings Work (and What They Cost)

If you’re approved with a brain aneurysm history, you’ll likely receive what’s called a table rating. This is the industry’s way of adjusting premiums for higher risk applicants. Each table adds 25% to the standard premium.

Here’s what that looks like in real dollars. For a 40 year old applying for a $500,000 twenty year term policy, standard rates might run around $45 per month. At Table 2 (50% above standard), that becomes roughly $65 per month. Table 4 (100% above standard) pushes it to about $90 per month. Table 6 would be around $115 per month.

The difference between Table 2 and Table 6 is about $50 per month, or $600 per year. That gap adds up over a twenty year term. And here’s the thing that most people don’t realize. The same person with the same brain aneurysm history can be rated at Table 2 by one carrier and Table 4 or higher by another. That’s not a hypothetical. It happens constantly because every insurance company has its own underwriting guidelines for neurological conditions.

Why an Independent Agency Makes a Real Difference

This is where understanding how the insurance industry works can save you serious money. Most people don’t know there are two types of insurance agents.

A captive agent works for one company. Think of the big names you see advertised everywhere. That agent can only offer you that one company’s products and pricing. If their underwriting team decides your brain aneurysm history warrants a Table 6 rating, that’s your only option. The agent can’t shop around for you because they don’t have access to other carriers.

An independent agency works with dozens of carriers. Every one of those carriers has different underwriting guidelines, different risk appetites, and different pricing models. One carrier might specialize in neurological conditions and rate you at Table 2, while another might put you at Table 4 or even decline you. The variation is often 50% or more for the exact same health profile. An independent agent submits your information to multiple carriers and finds whichever one prices your specific situation most favorably. You get the benefit of comparison shopping without doing any of the legwork yourself.

Insurance By Heroes was founded by a former first responder and military spouse, and our team comes from backgrounds in military service, law enforcement, fire, EMS, healthcare, and education. We serve everyone. Our public service background shapes how we work (with integrity, thoroughness, and a genuine commitment to helping people) not who we work with. As an independent agency, we have access to dozens of carriers and we use that access to find you the best possible rate for your situation.

Positioning Yourself for the Best Outcome

There are concrete steps you can take before applying that improve your chances of a better rating.

Get your records together. Underwriters will want your most recent neurology evaluation, imaging results (MRI or CT), current medication list with dosages, and hospital discharge summaries from your procedure. Having these ready speeds up the process and prevents delays that can lead to higher rates.

Make sure your follow up is current. A recent neurology appointment showing stability is one of the strongest pieces of evidence in your favor. If you haven’t seen your neurologist in over a year, schedule an appointment before applying.

Manage related risk factors aggressively. Blood pressure control is particularly important with a brain aneurysm history. Get those numbers in a good range before your application.

Don’t apply too soon after treatment. If your repair was within the last year, waiting a few more months can make a dramatic difference. The jump from “under one year post repair” to “over one year” opens doors that are otherwise closed.

Some people think they should wait until they’re in perfect health to apply. That strategy almost always backfires. Every birthday increases your base premium regardless of health. And waiting creates the risk of developing new complications that could worsen your rating or even lead to a decline. Locking in a rate now, even with a table rating, is usually smarter than gambling on better health later. This isn’t a scare tactic. It’s just how premium calculations work.

Mistakes That Cost You Money

Not specifying repair status. Simply writing “brain aneurysm” on an application without noting it was repaired, the method used, and when leaves underwriters assuming the worst. Be detailed and specific.

Applying to just one carrier. This is the most expensive mistake. If a captive agent’s company rates you at Table 6 and you accept it, you could be overpaying by hundreds of dollars per year compared to what another carrier would offer. Every carrier weighs these factors differently, which is why comparing quotes is so valuable.

Skipping neurology follow ups. Gaps in your medical records create uncertainty, and underwriters price uncertainty with higher ratings. Consistent monitoring shows responsible management.

Relying on employer coverage alone. Group life insurance through work is usually just one or two times your annual salary with no portability. If you leave that job, you lose the coverage. And you’ll be older and potentially harder to insure when you try to replace it. A personal policy stays with you regardless of employment changes.

Forgetting about blood pressure and other risk factors. A brain aneurysm with well controlled blood pressure is a completely different risk profile than one with unmanaged hypertension. Underwriters look at the whole picture.

Getting quotes is free and gives you real numbers instead of guesswork. A short form, a real person (not a call center) reviewing your situation, and then actual options with actual pricing. No obligation involved.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much more does life insurance cost with a brain aneurysm?

It depends on whether the aneurysm is repaired and how long ago. A successfully repaired aneurysm with two plus years of stability might add 50% to 100% to standard rates (Table 2 to Table 4). On a $500,000 twenty year term for a 40 year old, that’s roughly $65 to $90 per month instead of $45. Unrepaired aneurysms are typically limited to guaranteed issue policies with higher costs and lower coverage amounts.

Can I get approved for life insurance with a brain aneurysm?

Yes, especially if the aneurysm has been repaired. Carriers evaluate your time since treatment, recovery quality, current neurological status, and overall health. Most people with a clipped or coiled aneurysm and two or more years of stable follow up can qualify for traditionally underwritten coverage. The best way to know your actual rate is to get personalized quotes based on your specific situation.

How long should I wait after brain aneurysm surgery to apply?

Most carriers want to see at least one to two years post repair before offering coverage, and your options improve significantly at the two to five year mark. Applying too soon usually results in a decline or a very high table rating. That said, don’t wait indefinitely. Once you’re past that initial recovery window, applying sooner locks in a lower age based rate.
When an aneurysm sits in the chest, Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm instant-approval life insurance looks at how simplified issue coverage can work without an exam.

What documents do I need for my application?

Gather your surgical and hospital discharge records, most recent neurology evaluation, brain imaging results (MRI or CT), current medication list, and any rehabilitation records. Having recent imaging showing a stable repair is particularly valuable. Your agent should be able to tell you exactly what each carrier requires before you apply.

Related health conditions

The same table-rating and recovery-timeline questions follow other diagnoses into underwriting, and our guides to life insurance after a hysterectomy: rates and Dupuytren's Contracture life insurance work through those situations in detail.