A medical electrical lead includes a flexible, insulative body defining a proximal region, an intermediate region, and a distal region. The proximal region is configured to be implanted at a subcutaneous implantation site, and is dimensioned to extend from an implantation location of the pulse generator to a location distal to a cardiovascular system entry site. The intermediate region is configured to extend distally from the proximal region to a location distal to a superior vena cava of a patients heart, and the distal region is configured to extend distally from the intermediate region within the patients heart. The lead further includes an armoring layer disposed on the lead body covering at least the proximal region.
