There are certain elements of your lifestyle that could affect whether insurers deem you to be high risk.
Smoking
Smoking can cause health complications and have a negative impact on your lifespan. For this reason a smoker will pay more for life insurance than a non-smoker.
This also includes vaping and using e-cigarettes.
Quitting smoking can help to reduce your level of risk, but most insurers will need you to have stopped smoking for a specific period of time before offering you non-smokers rates (this is typically 12 months).
Read our comprehensive life insurance for smokers article »
Alcohol consumption
Having the odd drink at the weekend or as a celebration won’t have a negative effect on your life insurance application.
Government guidelines state that 14 units a week is a healthy limit for both men and women[7].
If you’re regularly exceeding this amount, you could be considered high risk by insurers.
If you are or have been dependent on alcohol we have this in-depth life insurance for alcoholics guide »
Weight (BMI)
Being overweight can be a gateway to a range of health problems, such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
Generally, insurers will ask about your weight and height during the application process to calculate your BMI and assess your level of risk. They will look at your BMI in correlation to your age and determine your monthly premium.
In any case, having a BMI of over 30 (being classified as obese) may place you in the high risk category.
Maintaining a healthy weight will reduce your risk and could help you to secure a lower premium.
If you have a high BMI you may benefit from reading our life insurance for overweight article »
Drug use
Taking recreational drugs can have a detrimental effect on both your physical and mental health, could put you at risk of HIV and hepatitis and, in a worst case scenario, could result in an overdose.
Therefore, those actively using drugs are likely to be considered too high risk by insurers and will be declined.
It can be possible to secure life insurance after you’ve stopped using drugs, but insurers will often need to you have been clean for a set period of time and it’s likely you may still pay inflated prices.
For more information read our life insurance for drug users article »
Travel
Frequently being on the move, whether for work or leisure can be flagged as a high risk factor during a life insurance application.
Particularly if you’re frequenting countries with disease outbreak, political unrest or in the midst of war.