An individiual who has accumulated so much body fat that it might have a negative effect on their long term health. The underwriters use a system for determining your height and weight calculations to determine acceptable ranges. The correlation of the two defines a number called the BMI or “ body mass index” and gives the underwriters an estimate of body fat. According to the department of human health services a BMI of 30 is considered obese and 25 to 29.9 is overweight. Statistics show that many overweight inactive individuals are at higher risk to eventually experience insulin resistance, high blood pressure, cholesterol and other related health problems Underwriters have certain risk criteria they use when combining your BMI with other risk factors such as smoking, and the health issues previously mentioned that might be exacerbated when combined together. Certain combinations of these will result in the insured being rated for their build and other factors.

 What is considered Underweight?

For an adult individual who has a “body mass index” that is lower than 20.7 for a male or 19.1 for a female would be considered underweight. A BMI below 18 would indicate a very underweight person who may suffer from some underlying eating disorder, which would affect health, growth and could have lasting affects on the immune system ability to resist infections and life threatening diseases.

Underwriters can determine from MIB records, physician’s reports and paramedic exams how a person build and health history may affect the outcome; typically they are most concerned with anyone on the way below or above the guidelines for the particular carrier. Insurance companies usually have pre-defined “build “ height –weight charts to determine your classification and your classification determines your premium rate.

 

 Here are some Questions that Underwriters use to determine Your Build And Underwriting Outcome

 

 

 

Many Life agents are experts in researching what carrier’s concentrate on writing clients who have a concern about their weight and what questions and support materials will be needed prior to submitting the application. They can assist you by directing you to those carriers and carrier guidelines that will give careful consideration to your specific criterion and measure it against the companies build charts to determine the best ratings in order to get you approved at a favorable rate. All carriers have their own build charts for their own underwriters to follow and some can be much more forgiving than others when it come to a “fat tax” I would definitely recommend working with an agent who can help guide you to the right company for your situation. 

How you Can Assist In Obtaining a Favorable Life Insurance Underwriting Outcome

As mentioned seek guidance for a quote consultation and don’t withhold any details, the more detail you are the more accurate we will be in guiding you.
Many times you may be right at one pound over for say a select or preferred rating if this occurs your agent could postpone the Para-med exam out and give you a few weeks to drop a few pounds so that you are within the guidelines to move up to a lower cost class.

This really come down to if you have other health issues or not if you are simply a little overweight you can still qualify for select and preferred rate classes in most cases. As I mentioned before since all companies have their own “Build Charts” you may only qualify for “Standard” with one company and qualify for “Select” with another. This is why it is imperative to use a agent. if you were to fall outside of the max of 176 for Company "E" you would be rated in the next class as Standard which of course would result in higher premiums.