Life insurance for overweight

Yes. The good news is, even if you’re classified as being obese it’s still possible to secure life insurance.

Generally speaking, if your BMI is under 39 and you're in good health your application will be accepted.

If your BMI is in excess of 45 you’ll most likely be declined, (unless on an over 50s plan). However, an insurer will also factor in your age alongside your BMI reading.

For example, if you have a BMI of 46 and are aged under 30 you’ll probably be declined. However, if you’re aged over 40 you may be accepted.

It's important to emphasise that even if you can secure cover; the higher your BMI, the more expensive the premium.

As with many aspects of life insurance, things are rarely cut and dry and there are many considerations.

Read on to learn about how best to secure life insurance for overweight individuals...

You're unlikely to be declined cover due to being overweight unless your BMI is over 45.

If your BMI is over 45 the main insurers are likely to decline your application, (although this depends on your age).

If declined, you may be able to secure cover through a specialist insurer, however, your premiums will be high.

UK guidelines state that anyone with a BMI of 25 or over are considered overweight.

Unfortunately, this isn’t always the most accurate measurement as those with high muscle density, such as bodybuilders, have a particularly high BMI.

As a result, this demographic would be considered overweight, even though their fat percentage is extremely low.

However, BMI is currently still the measurement used to determine whether or not you're a healthy weight.

In the instance of a high muscle mass distorting your BMI reading, insurers may reward you with standard rates.

It depends on your BMI reading and the individual insurer.

You're classified as being morbidly obese if you have a BMI of over 40.

Some insurers have an upper BMI threshold of 45, (or 46 depending on your age); for others, it's just 40.

Other insurers will cover you if you're BMI is between 42 - 45, but request that you undergo a medical exam.

However, the major insurers are unlikely to offer you cover if your BMI is over 46.

Whole of life insurance provides a lump sum pay out after you pass away.

It remains in place for the rest of your life and as a result, a pay out is guaranteed.

Because of this, it tends to be the most expensive form of life insurance.

If overweight, whole of life cover will be exactly the same as your healthy weight counterparts, but you'll likely pay inflated premiums.

Depending on your age, whole of life may not be the most cost-effective option as it's possible to pay more into the policy than the sum assured.

As previously mentioned, you may not have your life insurance application declined purely based on your weight alone.

However, if additional health complications exist, whether this be as a result of your weight or not, you may find it more difficult to get accepted.

That doesn’t mean there aren’t still options available to you though.

At Reassured we've a dedicated impaired life insurance team who specialise in finding cover for those who have been declined elsewhere.

Our team have helped find cover for 45% of people who have previously been declined due to a pre-existing condition.

Get in touch with our specialists today and find out what options are available to you.

At Reassured, we provide the opportunity to add critical illness cover to your life insurance policy.

This means that if you're diagnosed with a serious, yet non-life-threatening illness you could make a claim.

The pay out could then be used to pay for necessary adaptations to your home, replace a lost income or simply to enjoy with family.

The cost of adding critical illness to your life insurance if you're obese is likely to be much higher than if you're a healthy weight, due to the increased risk of health implications.

It's also possible that exclusions will be written into your cover, stating that if an illness occurs as a result of your weight, you won't be able to claim.

Again, the cover and cost will vary between providers making it essential to compare quotes.

When making the decision to lose weight, it can be daunting to know where to start.

It's important to lose weight the correct way to ensure you remain healthy and safe.

As you'll now know losing weight can help you secure cheaper life insurance premiums.

*Whilst we will try to secure you life insurance we can not guarantee you will be accepted.

[1] https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/statistics-on-obesity-physical-activity-and-diet/statistics-on-obesity-physical-activity-and-diet-england-2018/