How Does Weight Affect Your Life Insurance Rate?

Are you worried about how your weight will affect your life insurance rates?

Don’t stress! We’re here to help you find the most affordable life insurance based on your individual health and weight.

This guide will help you find the best policy to meet your needs.

Did you know that each life insurer has height and weight criteria to determine your life insurance rate?

It’s true; this guide gives you the information you need to get your best underwriting outcome.

We know the guidelines and will show you the best life insurance companies based on your build.

Obesity is a major concern in the U.S.; statistics show how much weight affects overall health.

Life insurance companies publish build charts in the underwriting guidelines available to insurance agents.

While many companies still use height/weight charts, more companies have begun switching to BMI charts.

Whether a height/weight chart or BMI chart is used, carriers will indicate preferred best, standard plus, and standard rate limits.

If you apply for 500K life insurance with no medical exam, we’ll ensure you have the correct information, as underwriting rules may vary.

If you apply through niche programs like Costco Life or the AICPA group life insurance plans, check the build criteria, as it is usually more strict than the individual market.

Some life insurers have recently changed from height/weight charts to BMI weight charts.

Some life insurance companies now publish both height/weight guidelines and BMI guidelines.

Other companies stopped publishing guidelines and now use an overall approach to build that generates excellent offers.

We’ll tell you the weight cutoffs before you apply to any company.

Here are a few things you should know about build charts:

• The best rate classes are strict, rarely allowing 1 pound over the cutoff.
• Standard rates are lenient, especially if you have no other health issues.
• Table ratings may apply if your build exceeds the “standard” cut-off.
• Some companies offer more lenient cutoffs for ages 60+.
• There are female, male, and unisex build charts depending on the company.

Company	Type of Build Chart
Banner Life	Unisex
Brighthouse	Male and Female Build Charts
Cincinnati Life	Male and Female Build Charts Unisex Charts for “standard” rates
Corebridge Financial	Unisex BMI Charts
Lincoln Financial	Unisex for ages 18-60 and 61+
Minnesota Life	Unisex for ages 16-64, 65-74 and 75+
Mutual of Omaha	Unisex
Nationwide	Unisex – Separate charts for whole life and juveniles.
North American	Unisex for ages 16-70 and 71+
Pacific Life	Unisex for ages 18-64 and 65+
Penn Mutual	Unisex
Principal	Unisex for 20-44, 45-64 and 65+
Protective Life	Unisex for ages 18-70 and 71+
Prudential	Unisex for ages 18-59 and 60+
Sagicor	Unisex Build Charts
SBLI	Unisex Build Charts
Security Mutual	Unisex Build Charts
Symetra	Male and Female Build charts for term life, unisex for universal life.
Transamerica	Male and Female Build Charts for ages 18-70 and 71+
Zurich	Male and Female Build Charts for ages 18-70 and 70+

We’ll check the guides for you and your spouse to ensure you get the best deal. If you’re a senior, most companies offer more liberal guidelines.

Underwriting may be more aggressive if the type of life insurance you choose is universal or whole life vs. term life insurance.

The paramedical examiner will bring a scale and weigh you (with your clothes on) as part of the paramed.

The following tips will help you find the best companies based on your build.

• Morning Appointments Only – You weigh less first thing in the morning.
• Wear light clothing if you are close to the weight limits.
• Minimize food intake before the exam.
• Look for underwriting credit programs (we’ll help you)

Companies such as Principal offer healthy lifestyle credits that, with your positive factors, may get you a better rate class.

Banner Life rounds 1/2 inches up to the nearest inch, and they may even add 1 inch to your height if it gives you a better rate!

Some underwriting tips that are helpful to know include:

Unisex Build Charts – Some companies use male and female charts, while a few use unisex charts.

A unisex chart usually provides an advantage for female clients who don’t meet the female guidelines.

Older Age Guidelines – Some companies have build charts for under age 65 vs. over age 65 that may be helpful to you.

Crediting Programs – Some companies offer more favorable underwriting if you buy permanent life insurance vs. a term life insurance policy.

Other companies look at all factors and may improve your offer by one rate class if your build is the only issue.

If you’ve lost over 10 pounds in the past 12 months, don’t rush out and apply for life insurance.

Most life insurers average your weight based on your medical records and paramed exam when there is a gain/loss of more than 10 pounds.

This comes into play when trying to get a preferred best-rate class.

For example, if the weight cut-off is 180 pounds, and that’s what you weigh now, but you weighed 200 pounds last year, companies will average your weight to 190 pounds, and you’ll miss the best rate.

Did you change your diet and exercise habits, or have an illness that caused weight loss?

The paramedical examiner will weigh you and ask about your weight history.

If the weight loss/gain is due to improvements in health, it’s not a big deal.

We can push for the best rates based on your current weight.

Underwriters become concerned when there is an unexplained weight loss that was unintentional.

If your weight has improved since you first bought your term policy, converting it may not be the best option. We can ask for reconsideration or apply to a new company for a better rate.

If you are taking Ozempic, Wegovy, or another similar medication to lose weight, here is what you need to know.

If the medication is prescribed strictly for weight loss and not diabetes, underwriting is based on weight loss guidelines.

Companies look at your current weight when you start taking the medication. Companies may average your weight for underwriting if it’s been less than 12 months since you started taking Ozempic.

For example, if you weighed 200 pounds when you started and now weigh 150 pounds, your weight would be 175 pounds for underwriting if it has been less than 12 months. Your actual weight will be used if it has been 12 months or longer.

If you’ve been denied life insurance due to weight, we can help.

The first thing to do is to find out the exact reason for the life insurance company’s denial.

Was it just your build, or were there other factors involved?

A quick way to check is to request a copy of your MIB file, which will indicate what was reported by the company that declined.

You’ll find additional info later on regarding overweight and underweight factors.

We have the underwriting guidelines for many companies, including table rating charts for overweight people.

When you’re overweight, we look for positive factors that we can use to benefit you.

Positive factors that improve underwriting include:

• Recent cardiac workup (past 12 months) with favorable results.
• Controlled blood pressure
• Well-controlled cholesterol levels
• Recent weight loss.
• Consistent exercise regimen
• Routine physicals
• Preventative screenings for cancer and heart disease
• Discontinuing Tobacco – Cigarettes, Cigars, Marijuana, Chewing Tobacco, etc.

We use positive factors to offset any negatives.

If you have high-risk medical conditions, underwriting will factor in those conditions with your build.

Negative factors that affect underwriting:

• Heart problems such as a heart attack, abnormal EKG, etc.
• Endocrine disorders such as diabetes.
• Respiratory problems such as asthma.

Life insurance companies that have higher weight cutoffs include Prudential and John Hancock.

When you’re underweight, it creates underwriting challenges similar to or greater than for people who are overweight.

Underwriters look for indicators of an eating disorder.

Companies are also concerned about conditions such as cancer or hyperthyroid conditions.

Your medical records must show a stable weight and no concerns about the above conditions.

The most crucial factor is getting to the right life insurance company based on height and weight.

Our underwriting service will match you to the best company based on your personal history, ensuring you get the amount of life insurance you need at the best rate.

There’s never any pressure or obligation with our service. If you need to learn how the overall process works, our life insurance 101 guide will help.

Please take a few minutes to submit your quote request today.

Recent Articles