Life insurance companies do provide coverage to overweight people. But you may face certain challenges, such as higher insurance premiums.
Find out if you're overpaying for life insurance below.
Updated: December 4, 2025
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Overweight people wanting life insurance sometimes qualify for standard policies. Alternatives include no-exam policies, annual renewable term plans and group life insurance.
Insurance companies view overweight individuals as high-risk due to the potential associated health conditions, and this can mean higher premiums.
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle and having regular health screenings lowers life insurance rates even if you're overweight.
Insurance companies use underwriting to assess your health risks and set your premiums. Your weight and other health factors, like blood pressure and medical history, are taken into account.
Insurers link higher BMI to health conditions like heart disease and diabetes. If you're overweight, shop with insurers that specialize in higher-risk applicants.
Body mass index (BMI) measures whether you have a healthy body weight by comparing your weight to your height. Life insurance companies place applicants into different risk categories based on BMI and other health factors.
This is the best rating category. It’s usually for people with a low BMI and no major health problems.
This is for generally healthy applicants with a slightly higher BMI.
Applicants with a moderate BMI and minor health issues.
This includes applicants with a higher BMI and some health concerns.
Applicants with a significantly high BMI or serious health issues.
Insurance companies look at medical conditions or lifestyle factors. These range from minor health issues (such as elevated cholesterol levels, controlled high blood pressure, mild asthma and being slightly overweight) to severe conditions like cancer, heart disease, diabetes and obesity.
Some states regulate weight-based rating factors. Contact a licensed agent to understand regulations in your state.
People who are overweight pay higher life insurance premiums than those with average health ratings. The tables below show average costs for term, whole and universal policies. Actual rates vary depending on your profile and the insurer's underwriting guidelines.
| 10 years | $8 | $102 |
| 15 years | $10 | $126 |
| 20 years | $13 | $157 |
| 25 years | $18 | $223 |
| 30 years | $21 | $257 |
| 35 years | $31 | $372 |
| $50,000 | $6 | $71 |
| $100,000 | $12 | $142 |
| $150,000 | $18 | $214 |
| $200,000 | $24 | $285 |
| $250,000 | $30 | $356 |
| $300,000 | $36 | $427 |
| $350,000 | $42 | $499 |
| $400,000 | $48 | $570 |
| $450,000 | $54 | $641 |
| $500,000 | $60 | $712 |
| $550,000 | $65 | $784 |
| $600,000 | $71 | $855 |
| $650,000 | $77 | $926 |
| $700,000 | $83 | $997 |
| $750,000 | $89 | $1,069 |
| $800,000 | $95 | $1,140 |
| $850,000 | $101 | $1,211 |
| $900,000 | $107 | $1,282 |
| $950,000 | $113 | $1,354 |
| $1,000,000 | $119 | $1,425 |
| $1,500,000 | $179 | $2,137 |
| $2,500,000 | $298 | $3,562 |
| $50,000 | $3 | $37 |
| $100,000 | $6 | $75 |
| $150,000 | $9 | $112 |
| $200,000 | $13 | $150 |
| $250,000 | $16 | $187 |
| $300,000 | $19 | $225 |
| $350,000 | $22 | $262 |
| $400,000 | $25 | $300 |
| $450,000 | $28 | $337 |
| $500,000 | $31 | $375 |
| $550,000 | $34 | $412 |
| $600,000 | $38 | $450 |
| $650,000 | $41 | $487 |
| $700,000 | $44 | $525 |
| $750,000 | $47 | $562 |
| $800,000 | $50 | $600 |
| $850,000 | $53 | $637 |
| $900,000 | $56 | $675 |
| $950,000 | $60 | $712 |
| $1,000,000 | $63 | $750 |
| $1,500,000 | $94 | $1,125 |
| $2,500,000 | $157 | $1,875 |
Each insurer has different criteria for assessments, so compare offers to find the best rates. The cost calculator below gives you quotes from different insurers in minutes to help you estimate your premiums.
We’ll give you a suggested amount of cover to buy in just 3 easy steps. — it's free, no personal information required, no spam.
Rates updated:
Dec 06, 2025
BMI plays an important role in determining life insurance premiums, but it's not the only factor insurers consider. Weight-related health conditions, lifestyle habits and family medical history also contribute to overall life insurance rates.
Beyond BMI, insurance companies consider weight-related health conditions when determining life insurance premiums. Conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure and sleep apnea, associated with being overweight, lead to higher premiums.
Lifestyle habits influence life insurance costs. Habits such as smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, drug use and engaging in high-risk activities like extreme sports or dangerous occupations result in higher premiums. Staying active and eating well lowers what you pay.
Your family medical history is another factor insurance companies consider. If your family has a history of certain genetic diseases like cancer, heart disease or diabetes, you'll pay higher premiums.
Finding life insurance when you're overweight creates challenges, but multiple life insurance types provide the financial protection your family needs. Premiums will be higher, but you can secure quality coverage by understanding what each policy type offers.
Types of Policies | Description |
|---|---|
Standard Life Insurance Policies | Standard life insurance policies usually require a medical exam, including weight and BMI measurements. These policies can be further categorized into:
|
Guaranteed Issue Life Insurance | These policies skip the medical exam and health questionnaire entirely. You're guaranteed acceptance regardless of your health status, including weight concerns. The trade-off is higher premiums than traditional policies. |
Simplified Issue Life Insurance | This type of policy doesn't require a full medical exam but does involve a health questionnaire. The questionnaire typically includes questions about your weight, lifestyle habits and medical history. While it's easier to qualify for simplified issue life insurance than standard life insurance, premiums may be higher, especially for overweight applicants. It can be a good option for those who want to avoid a medical exam but are in relatively good health. |
Annual Renewable Life Insurance | This term policy lets you renew each year without another medical exam. The premium starts low and increases each year as you age. While overweight individuals can benefit from the no-exam feature, the increasing premiums can become costly over time. |
Group Life Insurance | Many employers include group life insurance in their benefits package. No medical exam is required, which works well if you're overweight. You'll get less coverage than with individual plans, plus it ends when you change employers. |
Finding the best life insurance when you're overweight requires smart shopping. Multiple insurers offer coverage for higher BMI applicants, each with different underwriting standards and pricing.
Determine your coverage amount by evaluating your financial obligations, dependents and income replacement needs. Your weight doesn't change how much life insurance your family requires.
Know your current weight, BMI and weight-related health conditions before applying. Your health profile helps you target insurers with favorable underwriting for your situation.
Compare standard life insurance, guaranteed issue, simplified issue, and group life insurance policies. Each insurer sets different BMI limits and weight requirements during underwriting.
Shop with insurers known for competitive rates on higher-risk applicants. Premium differences between companies can exceed 50% for the same coverage amount.
Provide accurate health information on your application. Honest disclosure prevents policy cancellation and claim denials later.
There are ways for overweight people to get better life insurance rates:
Getting healthier is one of the best ways to bring down your life insurance costs. Regular exercise, eating well and keeping your BMI in check helps you manage your weight and feel better overall. A healthy lifestyle helps manage or prevent weight-related health conditions, improving your insurability.
Regular checkups catch health issues early and help you manage them. This shows insurers you're serious about staying healthy, which lowers your rates. Having medical records proves you're on top of any health conditions.
Consulting with an insurance professional helps you find better life insurance rates. They'll walk you through the process, explain how different policies work and help you find one that fits your needs and budget. An insurance professional provides advice on how to improve your insurability and lower your rates.
Successfully losing weight reduces your life insurance premiums, but insurers don't immediately reward your progress. Understanding how the weight loss credit system works helps you time your application for maximum savings.
Many life insurance companies use a "50% credit" system for individuals who have recently lost weight. You receive partial credit for lost weight until you maintain your new weight for 12 months.
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Here's how it works: if you weighed 300 pounds and lost 50 pounds, insurers rate you at 275 pounds (halfway between your starting and current weight) during the waiting period. This protects insurers from applicants who might regain weight after approval.
Example calculation:
Your weight loss timeline determines when you can access better rates:
Timeline | Description |
|---|---|
0–6 months after weight loss | No rate improvements available Most insurers require at least six months of documented weight stability before considering applications. |
6–12 months | Partial credit through the 50% system You'll get some premium reduction, but not the full benefit of your weight loss. |
12+ months | Full rate improvement possible Once you maintain your new weight for a full year, insurers rate you at your current weight without penalties. |
There are two ways you can get better rates after weight loss:
Reapplication involves submitting a new application. This process includes a fresh medical exam and an updated health questionnaire.
Rate reconsideration requests that your existing insurer review your current policy for better rates.
Both options require medical documentation showing stable weight maintenance.
Profile: Applicant, 35-year-old female, 5'6", $250,000 term life policy
Before weight loss (180 lbs, BMI 29):
After 18 months of weight loss (155 lbs, BMI 25):
Annual savings: $108 (28% reduction)
The applicant maintained her new weight for 14 months before reapplying, qualifying for full credit at her current weight.
Profile: Applicant, 42-year-old male, 5'10", $500,000 term life policy
Before weight loss (250 lbs, BMI 36):
After 24 months of weight loss (190 lbs, BMI 27):
Annual savings: $444 (42% reduction)
This person's weight loss allowed him to transition from substandard pricing to standard rates.
You're unlikely to be denied coverage due to weight alone, but it happens when this is linked with other health risks. There are still steps you can take to get coverage:
Finding life insurance for overweight people is challenging. In this guide, we explained how weight impacts life insurance premiums, explored available options and highlighted steps to get coverage.
Ensure you are getting the best rate for your insurance. Compare quotes from the top insurance companies.
We answered common questions about life insurance options for overweight people.
Don't delay getting life insurance to lose weight first. Insurance companies require stable weight loss maintained for at least one year before considering rate reductions. Secure coverage now, then request a policy review after achieving significant, sustained weight loss to lower your life insurance premiums.
There's no minimum body mass index (BMI) requirement for life insurance qualification. Each insurer sets its own maximum BMI thresholds and evaluation criteria. You'll get better rates with a lower BMI, but high-BMI applicants still have coverage options through specialized insurers or alternative policy types.
Insurance companies rarely deny life insurance due to weight alone. Most insurers accommodate various body types through different rate classes. If one company declines coverage, shop with other insurers or consider guaranteed issue policies, simplified issue coverage or group life insurance through your employer.
Insurers use BMI charts to set rates, with a higher BMI resulting in higher premiums.
Shopping for life insurance when you're overweight means higher premiums and longer application processes because insurers view elevated BMI as increased health risk. Higher BMI applicants often struggle to compare accurate rates because quotes vary between insurers: some companies specialize in higher-risk applicants, while others price you out entirely. We built this research to show what you'll actually pay across different insurers, coverage amounts, and health profiles.
We collected quotes from major life insurance companies with national coverage that provide online quotes, ensuring our data reflects real rates available to customers rather than theoretical pricing that doesn't match what you'll encounter during actual applications.
We used a 40-year-old nonsmoking man, 5 feet 9 inches tall, 220 pounds, with an average health rating as our baseline. For women's quotes, we adjusted to 5 feet 4 inches and 210 pounds to reflect typical height and weight differences. These weights represent overweight but not obese BMI ranges, the sweet spot where rate shopping matters most because you're not yet facing automatic substandard ratings, but still pay significantly more than standard rates.
A 40-year-old at 220 pounds (BMI 32.5) sits just above the "overweight" threshold where insurers start applying rate increases. This BMI level shows meaningful premium differences between companies without triggering automatic substandard ratings that severely limit your options. Younger applicants might offset weight concerns with age advantages, while older applicants face compounded pricing factors where both age and weight increase premiums.
We modified our baseline across ages 18-80, coverage amounts from $50,000 to $3,000,000, term lengths (term and permanent policies), health ratings, geographic locations, and tobacco use status. This range captures how weight impacts pricing across different life stages and coverage needs, from young adults buying first policies to parents protecting growing families to older applicants planning estate transfers.
After collecting this data, we identified pricing patterns for overweight applicants. Higher BMI applicants see steeper rate increases with age compared to average-weight applicants because insurers view the combination as compounded risk. We used these trends to calculate projections beyond initial quotes, showing you realistic cost expectations when you apply for coverage so you can budget accurately and avoid surprise premium quotes that exceed initial estimates.
This research helps overweight applicants budget accurately and identify which insurers offer competitive rates for their specific BMI range, rather than wasting time with companies that will automatically decline or severely uprate their applications.
About Mark Fitzpatrick
Mark Fitzpatrick, a Licensed Property and Casualty Insurance Producer, is MoneyGeek's resident Personal Finance Expert. With over five years of experience analyzing the insurance market, he conducts original research and creates tailored content for all types of buyers. His insights have been featured in publications like CNBC, NBC News and Mashable.
Fitzpatrick holds a master’s degree in economics and international relations from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree from Boston College. He's also a five-time Jeopardy champion!
He writes about economics and insurance, breaking down complex topics so people know what they're buying.
