Life insurance can give you peace of mind, knowing that your loved ones will have financial support after you’re gone. When you apply for most life insurance policies, your health affects your ability to get life insurance and your policy cost. Life insurance for overweight people exists, but it’s important to understand how your weight and health will factor into your insurance options.
Since being overweight can lead to health issues, it does affect your eligibility for life insurance. However, life insurance companies approach weight differently, and there’s no single rule or guideline about how weight affects eligibility or costs. Some life insurance providers rely on the Body Mass Index (BMI) chart to categorize your weight. Others may create their own charts and guidelines.
Your weight isn’t the only factor that insurance providers are considering. If you’re overweight but are active and otherwise healthy, you might be approved for life insurance with only a slight premium increase. But if you’re overweight or obese and have other health issues, like high blood pressure or diabetes, you might pay significantly higher premiums because of the increased health risks those conditions cause.
Yes, you can get life insurance if you are obese, but you might need to shop around for a policy and you should be prepared to pay higher premiums.
During the underwriting process, you will need to have a thorough medical examination. The insurance provider will review your medical history, including any health conditions. Additionally, the provider will evaluate your lifestyle habits, like smoking and alcohol and drug use.
Using that information, the insurance provider will determine the level of risk they’ll assume by offering you a policy. If you’re a higher risk, your premiums will be higher to make up for that risk. The insurance provider will then offer you a policy if you’ve passed their assessments.
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Many overweight individuals can qualify for a traditional life insurance policy. A guaranteed issue policy is another option for overweight life insurance, since there are no medical questions required. A guaranteed issue policy has a small death benefit and low premiums, as well as a waiting period before the coverage is fully active. It’s an option for life insurance for obese adults who have been denied other policies.
You’ll usually pay a higher premium if you’re overweight or obese, but there are several ways to save on your life insurance. To start, focus on eating a healthy diet and getting regular exercise. These efforts show that you’re invested in and capable of managing your weight, and they may help prevent other health issues.
Take time to shop around for life insurance and consider various policy types, too. Since insurance providers have their own evaluation criteria, you could qualify for a policy with one provider while another provider might deny you that same coverage. Rates can vary from provider to provider, too. You can get free life insurance quotes online today to start exploring your options and to find the policy that’s right for you.
Paige Cerulli Paige Cerulli is a freelance content writer and journalist who specializes in personal finance topics. She graduated from Westfield State University and brings more than a decade of professional writing experience to the ConsumerCoverage team. Paige’s work has appeared in outlets including USA Today, Business Insider, and more.
