Life Insurance for Overweight People


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Key Takeaways

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Overweight people looking for life insurance may qualify for standard policies. Alternatives include no-exam policies, annual renewable term plans and group life insurance.

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Insurance companies tend to perceive overweight people as high risk due to possible associated health conditions. This can increase your monthly costs significantly or leave you without coverage altogether.

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Maintaining a healthy lifestyle and having regular health screenings can help lower life insurance rates even if you're overweight.

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Life Insurance Options for Overweight People

Overweight individuals can choose from several life insurance options, though premiums may be higher. Here's what's available and what to expect from each policy type.

Types of Policies
Description

Standard Life Insurance Policies

Standard life insurance policies typically require a medical exam, including weight and BMI measurements. These policies can be further categorized into:

  • Term Life Insurance: Covers you for a set period, usually 10–30 years. While generally the cheapest choice, your rates might increase if you're overweight.
  • Whole Life Insurance: Provides coverage for life and builds cash value over time. Expect to pay more than term insurance, with potentially steeper costs if you're overweight.
  • Universal Life Insurance: Gives you lifetime financial protection with cash value, plus flexible premium payments and adjustable death benefits. Overweight individuals getting universal life insurance may face higher premiums than the average policyholder.

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.

How to Find the Best Life Insurance for Overweight People

The best life insurance policy varies by person. You can find good coverage even if you're overweight — it just takes some planning. Follow these steps to land a policy that fits your needs and budget:

  1. 1

    Understand Your Needs

    Before you start shopping for life insurance for overweight people, take the time to understand your coverage needs. Consider factors like your financial obligations, dependents and future plans. This will help you determine how much coverage you need and for how long.

  2. 2

    Evaluate Your Health

    Get a clear picture of your health status. This includes your weight, BMI and any weight-related health conditions. This information helps you prepare for hurdles during the application process.

  3. 3

    Research Your Options

    Learn about the different life insurance policies you can get as an overweight person. This includes standard life insurance, guaranteed issue life insurance, annual renewable life insurance, group life insurance and simplified issue life insurance. Understanding how insurers use BMI charts in their underwriting process is also important.

  4. 4

    Compare Quotes

    Once you understand your needs and the available options, start comparing quotes from different insurance companies. Each company has its own rules about how much to charge for insurance, so costs can be very different. Some insurance companies may also have a maximum BMI for life insurance.

  5. 5

    Apply for Coverage

    Once you've found a policy that fits your needs, it's time to apply. Be honest and thorough when filling out your application to avoid any issues down the line.

What to Do if You're Denied Life Insurance Due to Weight

While you're unlikely to be denied coverage due to weight alone, 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:

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. Consult with Independent Agents: Independent agents have access to multiple insurers and might know companies more accommodating for overweight applicants. They can help you find insurers who specialize in high-risk profiles or have more flexible rules about weight.
  4. 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.
  5. 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, individuals denied life insurance due to weight can increase their chances of obtaining suitable life insurance coverage.

How Does Weight Affect Life Insurance Rates?

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.

BMI and Life Insurance

Body Mass Index (BMI) is a common way to see if a person has a healthy body weight. It's a ratio of your weight to your height. Life insurance companies often use BMI to decide how much people will pay for their insurance. A higher BMI may show possible health risks, which can lead to higher insurance costs.

Life insurance companies usually put applicants into different categories based on their BMI and other health information. These categories often include:

  1. 1

    Preferred Plus

    This is the best rating category. It is usually for people with a low BMI and no major health problems.

  2. 2

    Preferred

    This category is for generally healthy individuals with a slightly higher BMI.

  3. 3

    Standard Plus

    Individuals with a moderate BMI and minor health issues often fall into this category.

  4. 4

    Standard

    This category typically includes individuals with a higher BMI and some health concerns.

  5. 5

    Substandard or Table Rating

    Individuals with a significantly high BMI or serious health issues may fall into this category, which leads to higher insurance costs.

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.

Other Factors Impacting Life Insurance Cost

While BMI plays a significant role in determining life insurance premiums, 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.

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    Weight-Related Conditions

    Beyond BMI, insurance companies also consider weight-related health conditions when determining life insurance premiums. Conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure and sleep apnea, often associated with being overweight, can lead to higher premiums.

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    Lifestyle Habits

    Lifestyle habits significantly 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 can result in higher premiums. On the flip side, staying active and eating well could lower what you pay.

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    Family Medical History

    Your family medical history is another factor that insurance companies consider. If your family has a history of certain genetic diseases like cancer, heart disease or diabetes, you may face higher premiums.

Tips to Secure Better Life Insurance Rates if Overweight

Despite the challenges, there are ways for overweight people to get better life insurance rates:

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    Maintain a Healthy Lifestyle

    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 can help you manage your weight and feel better overall. Additionally, a healthy lifestyle can help manage or prevent weight-related health conditions, improving your insurability.

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    Regular Medical Check-Ups

    Regular checkups catch health issues early and help you manage them. This shows insurers you're serious about staying healthy, which can lower your rates. Plus, having medical records proves you're on top of any health conditions.

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    Consult With an Insurance Professional

    Consulting with an insurance professional may help 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 can also provide advice on how to improve your insurability and potentially lower your rates.

Life Insurance Quotes for Overweight People

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.

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Life Insurance for Overweight Applicants: Bottom Line

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. Understanding these can help you find the right policy and secure better rates.

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Life Insurance for High BMI: FAQ

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

Should I lose weight before getting life insurance?

What BMI do you need for life insurance?

Can you be denied life insurance due to your weight?

How much does BMI affect life insurance?

Best Life Insurance for Overweight People: Our Review Methodology

Why Trust MoneyGeek?

We analyzed 1,488 life insurance quotes alongside customer satisfaction ratings, financial stability reports, product offerings and more to determine the best life insurance companies for a variety of needs. 

Recency

Coverage costs and company information for life insurance providers were updated in 2025.

Methodology

MoneyGeek created a scoring system to compare life insurance companies across five categories and ranked them based on their scores. We chose to review these companies based on their broad national coverage and ability to provide an online quote.

MoneyGeek’s Scoring System

In our unique scoring system, companies can earn up to five points in each category. We then use these category scores to calculate an overall MoneyGeek score out of 100. We applied the following weightings to score insurers:

  • Affordability: 30%
  • Financial Stability: 25%
  • Buying Process: 20%
  • Customer Satisfaction: 15%
  • Product Diversity: 10%

Each company’s score incorporates the following:

  • Cost data obtained through online quotes
  • Financial strength ratings from AM Best and number of years in business
  • Customer satisfaction data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) customer complaint index (we reviewed annual complaint data from 2020 to 2022, the most recent year available)
  • Availability of tools to aid in the buying process, such as online product materials and multiple payment options
  • Diversity of life insurance products offered

Sample Customer Profile

MoneyGeek used a standard profile to obtain life insurance quotes:

  • 40-year-old male
  • Nonsmoker
  • 5 feet 11 inches tall and 175 pounds
  • Excellent health rating

Premiums are based on the standard profile unless otherwise noted.

We modified the profile by age, gender, height, weight, tobacco use, health rating and geographic location to collect a variety of quotes and determine the best life insurance company for several types of customers. We also collected quotes for term life insurance with varying term lengths and coverage amounts.

We identified trends in the data set and used those patterns to calculate projections and extend the data beyond what was initially collected.

Overweight Life Insurance: Related Pages

About Mark Fitzpatrick


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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!

Passionate about economics and insurance, he aims to promote transparency in financial topics and empower others to make confident money decisions.


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