Overweight People See Higher Life Insurance Rates

A recently published article on InsuranceAgents.com reveals that when it comes to a life insurance policy, size really does matter. End Quote

Your life insurance rates rely on a number of factors, but none are bigger - no pun intended - than your weight

Chicago, IL (1888PressRelease) October 03, 2009 - Obtaining an extensive but affordable life insurance policy is easier said than done these days, especially if the applicant is overweight. With obesity becoming a prominent problem throughout the United States, many insurance companies are becoming more and more hesitant to dish out policies.

“Your life insurance rates rely on a number of factors, but none are bigger—no pun intended—than your weight,” the article, Size Matters: How Weight Affects Life Insurance Rates, reports. “If you’re worried about losing out on the cheapest life insurance policy because of your weight, you are not alone. According to a 2007 report by the Trust for America’s Health, 25 percent of the population in 19 states is obese. Underwriters see overweight applicants as high risk, causing them to either deny their requests for a policy or bombard them with life insurance rates that are through the roof.”

So how does an applicant know whether or not he/she is overweight? Most life insurance companies gauge a person’s weight using their BMI, or body mass index. A person is considered overweight if their BMI is between 25 and 30, and obese if it is over 30. The higher the BMI, the more expensive life insurance rates they will receive.

Life insurance rates are not the only things a person’s weight affects. People considered overweight or obese are more susceptible to deadly health conditions such as hypertension, osteoarthritis, type 2 diabetes and respiratory problems, just to name a few.

So is there any chance for a positive outcome? The answer is a resounding yes.

“Don’t get discouraged if you are overweight and in need of cheap life insurance,” the article emphasizes. “Although it’s easier said than done, maintaining a good diet and exercising regularly can drastically improve your BMI and help you obtain those inexpensive life insurance rates you’ve always wanted.”

Staff contribution: Rafael Onak

http://www.insuranceagents.com/size-matters.html

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