It’s true that your life insurance policy might be more expensive if you’re classified as overweight or obese. According to the Centers for Disease Control, an adult with a body mass index (BMI) between 25-29.9 is classified as overweight. Many adults fall into this range, and if you do, it’s important to understand how it may affect your life insurance coverage. Read on to learn more about life insurance eligibility and how factors like weight affect your life insurance rates.
Most Insurance Companies Use BMI During Underwriting
Most life insurance companies will take your body mass index (BMI) into consideration during the insurance underwriting process. This measurement is typically collected during your medical exam and is just one factor that helps the life insurance carrier determine how much of an insurance risk you are. Each carrier has its own life insurance BMI chart that they refer to when considering an applicant for coverage. Being overweight may lead to health complications that can affect your eligibility, such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, heart problems, and sleep apnea, but every individual is different, and being overweight alone is likely not enough for you to be denied coverage.
Can I be denied life insurance because of my weight?
In most cases, an insurance carrier will not deny an applicant coverage based only on their weight. They will also consider factors like your age, gender, medical history, and whether you have any other health conditions. If you are concerned about your weight affecting your eligibility for life insurance and would prefer to bypass the medical exam process, consider a simplified issue life insurance policy. This policy type is best suited for people aged 45-85 and allows you to skip the medical exam process in favor of a simple questionnaire. You can also talk to your doctor about weight management or other healthy changes you can make to try and qualify for lower life insurance rates.
Be Prepared: Weight Can Impact Your Life Insurance Rates
While the likelihood of you being denied life insurance coverage solely because of your weight is low, being overweight will likely result in you being quoted for higher life insurance rates. While paying more for life insurance is not a preferred outcome, it’s still best to be honest about your weight and any health conditions during the application process, as you’ll want to get the most accurate life insurance quote possible leading into your medical exam.
SelectQuote Can Help You Find the Right Life Insurance for You
If you have questions about navigating the life insurance application and medical exam process, SelectQuote can help. Our licensed insurance agents will listen to your concerns and help guide you through your options along the way. And, in just minutes, we can gather a variety of quotes from trusted carriers, making sure you find the plan that’s right for you.
