The best life insurance for overweight people includes policies from Protective, Legal & General, Pacific Life, Lincoln Financial and Ethos. We analyzed major insurers to determine the best across different categories.
Best Life Insurance for Overweight People (2026)
Protective, Legal & General, Pacific Life, Lincoln Financial and Ethos offer some of the best life insurance for overweight people.
Find out if you're overpaying for life insurance below.
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Updated: November 3, 2026
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Key Takeaways
Protective earns the highest overall MoneyGeek score for whole and universal life insurance. Legal & General ranks first for term policies, and Pacific Life ranks first for no-exam policies.
Lincoln Financial offers the cheapest average rates, while Ethos provides the best customer experience.
Overweight people wanting life insurance sometimes qualify for standard policies. Alternatives include no-exam policies, annual renewable term plans and group life insurance.
Insurers link higher body mass index (BMI) to conditions like heart disease and type 2 diabetes, which raise the probability of an early claim and a higher premium.
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle and having regular health screenings lowers life insurance rates even if you're overweight.
Best Life Insurance Companies for Overweight
Whole and Universal | Protective Insurance | 5 | Whole: $615 (Women) $687 (Men) Universal $258 (Women) $302 (Men) | |
Term | Legal & General | 4.7 | $55 (Women) $75 (Men) | $666 (Women) |
No-Exam | Pacific Life | 4.5 | $57 (Women) $75 (Men) | $676 (Women) $908 (Men) |
Affordability | Lincoln Financial | 4.5 | $45 (Women) $61 (Men) | $548 (Women) $725 (Men) |
Customer Experience | Ethos | 4.4 | $79 (Women) $115 (Men) | $945 (Women) $1,382 (Men) |
Rates above are based on average quotes for $500,000 coverage for 40-year-olds. For term life insurance, we used a 20-year term length. Actual rates vary depending on your coverage needs, age, gender, health and lifestyle.
Best Whole and Universal Life: Protective
Protective
MoneyGeek Rating
5/ 5
5/5Affordability
5/5Customer Experience
5/5Coverage Points
Average Monthly Cost
Whole: $615 (Women); $687 (Men) Universal: $258 (Women); $302 (Men)Based on a $500,000 policy for overweight nonsmokers with average health ratings.Average Annual Cost
Whole: $7,381 (Women); $8,238 (Men) Universal: $3,101 (Women); $3,629(Men)Based on a $500,000 policy for overweight nonsmokers with average health ratings.
Best Term: Legal & General
Legal & General
MoneyGeek Rating
4.7/ 5
4.7/5Affordability
4.7/5Customer Experience
4.7/5Coverage Points
Average Monthly Cost
$55 (Women); $75 (Men)Based on a 20-year term policy with $500,000 coverage amount for overweight nonsmokers with average health ratings.Average Annual Cost
$666(Women); $908 (Men)Based on a 20-year term policy with $500,000 coverage amount for overweight nonsmokers with average health ratings.
Best No-Exam: Pacific Life
Pacific Life
MoneyGeek Rating
4.5/ 5
4.4/5Affordability
4.5/5Customer Experience
4.7/5Coverage Points
Average Monthly Cost
$57 (Women); $75 (Men)Based on a 20-year term policy with $500,000 coverage amount for overweight nonsmokers.Average Annual Cost
$676 (Women); $908 (Men)Based on a 20-year term policy with $500,000 coverage amount for overweight nonsmokers.
Best Cheap: Lincoln Financial
Lincoln Financial
MoneyGeek Rating
4.5/ 5
5/5Affordability
3.6/5Customer Experience
4.5/5Coverage Points
Average Monthly Cost
$45 (Women); $61 (Men)Based on a 20-year term policy with $500,000 coverage amount for overweight nonsmokers.Average Annual Cost
$548 (Women); $725 (Men)Based on a 20-year term policy with $500,000 coverage amount for overweight nonsmokers.
Best for Customer Experience: Ethos
Ethos
MoneyGeek Rating
4.4/ 5
3.9/5Affordability
5/5Customer Experience
5/5Coverage Points
Average Monthly Cost
$79 (Women); $115 (Men)Based on a 20-year term policy with $500,000 coverage amount for overweight nonsmokers.Average Annual Cost
$945 (Women) $1,382 (Men)Based on a 20-year term policy with $500,000 coverage amount for overweight nonsmokers.
How Does Weight Affect Life Insurance Rates?
Insurance companies use BMI alongside blood pressure, medical history, and weight-related conditions to set your rate class. A higher BMI signals a greater statistical risk of conditions like heart disease and type 2 diabetes, which raises your premium. If you're overweight, shop with insurers that specialize in higher-risk applicants.
BMI and Life Insurance
Body mass index (BMI) compares your weight to your height to measure if you have a healthy body weight. Life insurance companies put applicants into risk categories based on BMI and other health factors.
- 1Preferred Plus
The best rating category. Usually for people with a low BMI and no major health problems.
- 2Preferred
For generally healthy applicants with a slightly higher BMI.
- 3Standard Plus
For applicants with a moderate BMI and minor health issues.
- 4Standard
For applicants with a higher BMI and some health concerns.
- 5Substandard or Table Rating
For applicants with a very 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.
Average Cost of Life Insurance for Overweight People
People who are overweight pay higher life insurance premiums than those with average health ratings. The table below show average costs of term policies for overweight people who don't smoke. Actual rates vary depending on your profile and the insurer's underwriting guidelines.
Average Cost of Term Life Insurance for Overweight People
Data filtered by:
10 years
Select
Female
| $100,000 | $9 | $114 |
| $250,000 | $16 | $189 |
| $500,000 | $27 | $322 |
| $750,000 | $40 | $483 |
| $1,000,000 | $51 | $615 |
| $1,500,000 | $75 | $908 |
| $2,000,000 | $97 | $1,174 |
| $2,500,000 | $123 | $1,483 |
| $3,000,000 | $143 | $1,737 |
Rates shown are estimates based on sample profiles. Your actual rates will vary based on your specific health, lifestyle, and underwriting factors.
Life Insurance Quotes for Overweight People
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.
Life Insurance Rates by Age, Gender and Coverage
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Other Factors Impacting Life Insurance Cost
Your BMI matters, but insurers look at more than that. Health conditions linked to weight, your habits and your family’s medical history each play a separate part in your life insurance rates.
Weight-Related ConditionsYour BMI isn’t the only number that matters. If being overweight has led to diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure or sleep apnea, insurers will likely charge you more for life insurance.
Lifestyle HabitsInsurers care about how you live. If you smoke, drink a lot, use drugs, take on extreme sports or work a risky job, expect to pay more. If you exercise and eat well, you may pay less.
Family Medical HistoryYour family’s health history counts too. A pattern of cancer, heart disease or diabetes among your relatives can push your premium up.
How to Find the Best Life Insurance for Overweight People
Overweight applicants see bigger rate differences between insurers. These steps help narrow the field to find the best life insurance. Multiple insurers offer coverage for higher BMI applicants, each with different underwriting standards and pricing.
- 1Understand Your Needs
Start with what your family would need if you died: debts to pay off, dependents to support and income to replace. That sets your coverage amount, and your weight has no say in it.
- 2Evaluate Your Health
Get your numbers straight first: your weight, your BMI and any conditions tied to it. They tell you which insurers are likely to underwrite someone like you on better terms.
- 3Research Your Options
Look at standard, guaranteed issue, simplified issue and group life policies side by side. BMI limits and weight rules differ from one insurer to the next, so the same applicant can land in a different rate class at each company.
- 4Compare Quotes
Look for insurers that price higher-risk applicants fairly. The gap between companies can top 50% for identical coverage, so it pays to compare.
- 5Apply for Coverage
Answer every health question on the application honestly and completely. That protects you from a canceled policy or a denied claim down the road.
Tips to Secure Better Rates for Life Insurance if Overweight
There are ways for overweight people to get better life insurance rates:
Maintain a Healthy LifestyleGetting 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 Medical Check-Ups
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.
Consult With an Insurance ProfessionalConsulting 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.
Life Insurance for Overweight: Policy Options
Overweight applicants pay more for life insurance, but multiple life insurance types can meet your family's coverage needs.
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's the right choice if you want to skip the full exam but don't need the coverage limits that full underwriting provides. |
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. Annual renewable term starts with no medical exam, but premiums increase every year. |
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. |
Life Insurance for Overweight People: Bottom Line
The insurer you pick matters more for overweight applicants. Weight impacts life insurance premiums through BMI-based underwriting, but multiple coverage options exist for higher-BMI applicants.
Based on MoneyGeek's analysis, Lincoln Financial has the lowest rates at $45 a month for women and $61 for men for $500,000 in coverage. Protective leads for whole and universal policies, Legal & General for term, and Pacific Life for no-exam coverage.
Compare Life Insurance Rates
Get the best rate for your insurance. Compare quotes from the top insurance companies.
Life Insurance for High BMI: FAQ
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.
The rate impact depends on how far above standard BMI you are and which insurer you choose. Most applicants between BMI 25 and 30 see only modest increases. At BMI 30 to 35, you pay more than a standard-rated applicant for the same policy. In MoneyGeek's 2026 analysis, the difference between the cheapest and most expensive insurer for the same overweight profile is $34 a month for women and $54 a month for men on a $500,000 20-year term policy.
Life Insurance for Overweight Individuals: Our Review Methodology
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.
Sample Profile
- 40-year-old nonsmoking man
- 5 feet 9 inches tall
- 220 pounds
- average health rating
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 more than standard rates.
Our overall scores are based on:
- Affordability: 55%
- Customer Experience: 30%
- Coverage Options: 15%
A 40-year-old at 220 pounds (BMI 32.5) is just above the "overweight" threshold where insurers start adding rate increases. This BMI level shows premium differences between companies without triggering automatic substandard ratings that severely limit your options. Younger applicants can offset weight concerns with age advantages. Older applicants pay more because both age and weight increase premiums.
Overweight Life Insurance: Related Pages
About Mark Fitzpatrick
Mark Fitzpatrick is a licensed Property and Casualty (P&C) Insurance Producer and MoneyGeek's resident expert in insurance and economics. In nearly a decade covering the insurance market at LendingTree and MoneyGeek, he's analyzed hundreds of carriers and millions of rates across auto, home, renters, health and life insurance.
His work has appeared in The Washington Post, The New York Times and NPR. He draws on independent cost and consumer experience data, and no insurance company partnerships affect his recommendations.
Mark studied at Boston College and later earned a master's in economics and international relations from Johns Hopkins University. He worked in financial risk management at State Street before joining MoneyGeek. He's also a five-time “Jeopardy!” champion.