Insurance companies assess risk when they decide how much policyholders will pay. This process is called underwriting. Weight is an important part of this evaluation, along with other health factors. Being overweight often means higher insurance costs because of the health risks that come with extra weight, such as heart disease and diabetes.

Weight-related concerns affect many applicants seeking life insurance. You may need to seek insurers that specialize in coverage for overweight people and understand their specific weight requirements. Knowing how insurers set maximum BMI limits can help you secure the coverage you need.

When insurance companies refer to health concerns, they mean medical conditions or lifestyle factors that could impact your life expectancy. These can 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.

Understanding these categories and how BMI and life insurance premiums correlate is essential for applicants.

People who are overweight get higher life insurance premiums than those with average health ratings. The tables below show average costs for term, whole and universal policies. Actual rates may vary depending on your profile and the insurer's underwriting guidelines.

Given that each insurer has different criteria for assessments, comparing offers to find the best rates is advisable. The cost calculator below can give you personalized quotes from different insurers in minutes to help you accurately estimate your premiums.

Finding life insurance when you're overweight might feel challenging, but you have more options than you might think. While premiums may be higher, several life insurance types can provide the financial protection your family needs. Here's what's available and what to expect from each policy type.

Successfully losing weight can dramatically reduce 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 recent weight loss. You receive partial credit for lost weight until you maintain your new weight for 12 months.

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 system protects insurers from applicants who might regain weight after approval.

Example calculation:

• Starting weight: 300 lbs
• Current weight: 250 lbs
• Underwriting weight: 275 lbs (50% credit for 50 lbs lost)
• After 12 months of stable weight: Full credit at 250 lbs

Your weight loss timeline determines when you can access better rates:

You have two options for securing better rates after weight loss:

Reapplication involves submitting a completely new application. This process includes a fresh medical exam and updated health questionnaire. Choose reapplication if you've had other health improvements beyond weight loss.

Rate reconsideration requests that your existing insurer review your current policy for better rates. This option works well if you're satisfied with your current coverage amount and company.

Both options require medical documentation showing stable weight maintenance. Your doctor's records must demonstrate consistent weight over the required timeframe.

You're unlikely to be denied coverage due to weight alone, but it can happen, especially when weight is linked with other health risks. If you find yourself in this situation, there are several steps you can take to secure coverage:

• Seek Clarification and Reapply: Sometimes, denial is based on outdated or incomplete health information. Request a detailed explanation from the insurer, including life insurance weight limits. If appropriate, provide updated health data or medical records. Addressing the specific concerns may allow you to reapply successfully.
• Improve Your Health: If weight is a significant factor, a health improvement plan could make a difference. Losing weight, eating better and exercising more can improve both your health and your chances of getting approved for coverage.
• Consult with Independent Agents: Independent agents have access to multiple insurers and might know companies that are more accommodating for overweight applicants. They can help you find insurers who specialize in high-risk profiles or have more flexible rules about weight.
• Explore Alternative Options: If traditional life insurance is not an option, consider guaranteed issue policies or group insurance through work. These options usually don't require a medical exam, but they may cost more or offer fewer benefits.
• Wait and Apply Later: Sometimes, if you wait some time and show that your health is stable or has gotten better, it can change an insurer's decision. Reapplying after a significant time may yield different results if your health metrics improve.

By exploring these avenues, applicants denied life insurance due to weight can increase their chances of obtaining suitable life insurance coverage.

Finding life insurance for overweight people may be challenging. In this guide, we explained how weight impacts life insurance premiums, explored available options and highlighted steps to get coverage.

Below are answers to frequently asked questions to help you understand your life insurance options as an overweight individual and make informed decisions.

Shopping for life insurance when you're overweight often means facing higher premiums or longer application processes with extensive medical exams. We designed our research to show you what rates actually look like and help you understand the range of costs you might encounter when applying for coverage.

We collected quotes from major life insurance companies with broad national coverage that provide online quotes. This ensures our rate data reflects what you'll actually encounter when shopping for coverage, not theoretical rates that aren't available to real customers.

Our Standard Profile for Rate Collection:

We used a baseline profile to collect overweight life insurance quotes:

• 40-year-old man
• Nonsmoker
• 5 feet 9 inches tall
• 220 pounds
• Average health rating

For women's quotes, we adjusted the profile to 5 feet 4 inches and 210 pounds to reflect typical height and weight differences.

Coverage Variations We Tested

We modified our baseline profile across multiple factors to capture the full rate spectrum:

• Age ranges (18–80)
• Various coverage amounts ($50,000 to $3,000,000)
• Different term lengths (term and permanent)
• Health ratings
• Geographic locations
• Tobacco use status

Rate Analysis and Projections

After collecting this comprehensive dataset, we identified pricing patterns specific to overweight applicants. We used these trends to calculate projections and extend our findings beyond the initial quotes collected, giving you a clearer picture of what to expect when you apply for coverage.

This approach shows you real-world rates and pricing patterns, helping you budget accurately and understand what coverage costs look like for your situation.