I’m a 37 year old woman who had a heart attack following a minor procedure a couple of weeks ago. I had a stent fitted and will need to take medication, likely forever! I’m still trying to come to terms with things.
Im waiting on critical illness application to see how ‘severe’ my heart attack was- my troponin levels were 428. Does anyone have any experience of this?
Hi,
In the same boat here. I am 43 and had a heart attack 3 weeks ago. Stent fitted and now on medication, tidying up my diet etc.
Ive submitted a claim against my criticall illness cover. To qualify against the policy my bloods will have to have shown a specific level ( >1 ng/ml i think) of troponin. I dont know what it actually was so i am waiting on the outcome of a discussion between the insurance company and my consultant.
I am assuming worst case and i wont get anything but i am interested in others experiences.
Let me know how you get on.
Thanks
So the fact that mine was over 400 may verify the severity? Thanks so much for the info. I’m also changing my lifestyle but they said mine was more bad luck following the procedure, as women don’t have them at this age.
Will ask the cardio team why my troponin levels were so high, pretty scary when I looked it up!
Thanks Relfmj.
Hi,
If i understand it right level of troponin is an indication of the severity of the heart attack but its also something that rises over time. So bloods taken very early after the heart attack started will show lower troponin levels than bloods taken say 12 hours later. You can read up what troponin does via a google search.
Reason i mention this is that depending on outcome it is probably worth asking how many bloods were taken and sampled and what sample the insurance company used for results.
I have a statement about troponin and an associated number on my discharge sheet but it doesnt state the level to be able to compare it against my insurancy policy criteria. Hence the need for the consultant to be contacted by the company.
Hope that helps.
Cheers.
Ps i got the same bad luck story from consultsant. Not over weight, cholesterol is fine, exercise often, all other arteries were fine. Thing is i am not sure i believe in bad luck - wont be leaving things to chance from here on in, so main thing is to tidy my diet and reduce the alcohol.
Yeah I am definitely making changes. I’m bigger than I should have been but it’s amazing what a heart attack does weight loss wise! I’ve not really drank since it and will always be careful from now on. It’s good to be healthy, but awful how things change totally overnight.
I started with pain at 6.30pm, troponin levels measured at 10pm we’re 428 and they have been included on my discharge paperwork. I guess it’s just a waiting game, I’m sure I can return to work but it is a stressful role, the insurance money would give me more options.
Thanks so much for the info, never thought I’d end up in this position! Guessing you didn’t either.
How have you got on with your claim ? I am still chasing paperwork here...
I haven’t heard anything for a while, they were going to request my paperwork for ECG’s (it took them two weeks to call to say they were doing that, which is frustrating). I’m hoping we will know within a month, which is six weeks from my original call. How long has it been for you?
About the same time. I’ve got copies of notes from consultant but I can’t make sense of them in terms of the criteria set. Pretty frustrating.
My friend is a financial advisor and she said she hadn’t come across anyone not being eligible so far, but I don’t think the criteria is clear at all?! We are tied into the policy too, but I’m not keen to keep paying it if it doesn’t pay out, as what’s the point in having it?! I will post on here once we get a response.
Hello. As it happens contacted them today. Claim accepted after they got a full copy of my discharge notes. Just waiting on paperwork to confirm now. Cant quite believe it but now starting to dream a little of changing my career in the medium term so i avoid a stressful environment. Hope you get good news.
That’s great news!! Did they say how long you’d have to wait till the money comes through?
Legal and general seem happy to wait long periods and not chase stuff up, I’m just hoping I get the same outcome.
Hi
I had my heart attack 21/04/18; tropronin levels were over 1250. I went for an angioplasty a few days later. Unfortunately, this failed as the artery was completely blocked so a stent could not be fitted. I have critical illness cover with legal and general and have started sending all the paperwork off. Do you think I’ll be eligible for a payout? I now have to live with a blocked artery for the rest of my life.
They are currently researching the ‘severity’ of my heart attack but I have no idea of the criteria, and I don’t think they do! Ultimately I don’t think it’s the outcome (ie the stent or inability to fit a stent) but the severity of the heart attack. They are looking at my troponin levels, ecg’s, echocardiogram, they have requested my notes from both hospitals and are currently waiting for my specialist to write back. I applied over six weeks ago and have no idea when it will conclude...
It’s so frustrating but I think you’d certainly meet the criteria. If I don’t, I can’t see why i’d want to continue to pay premiums every month! Will post when I hear anything.
Still no decision but will let you know, my doctor had wrongly guessed my height to work out my BMI and they need to check I gave them the correct height- like I’d added three inches to my height on my application for fun!! It’s such a slow process because of silly things like that. I’ve also put on weight since I applied three years ago... just hoping for a positive outcome. Hope your application is going ok?
They are still processing the paperwork and contacting medical professionals. Will keep you updated
12 to 15 days they said.
Thanks Jo 😀
Only took it out three years ago and never thought I’d need it...
If work is too much/ too stressful this gives me options now, so it’s a massive relief xx
Finally heard back from them and have been issued a full payout!
Need some advice & reassurance please!! 
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