Can you be denied life insurance due to weight?

Asked by: Candelario Johnson  |  Last update: February 11, 2022
Score: 4.6/5 (64 votes)

Yes, a life insurance company may deny you coverage if you are overweight. However, because every life insurance company will have its own rules regarding weight limits, it is possible to find another insurance company that will insure you even though another company has denied coverage.

Can you be denied life insurance for obesity?

In most cases, you won't be denied life insurance coverage solely due to a high BMI. Even if you're refused coverage by one company, it's likely that another would offer you a policy. To fail to qualify for life insurance with multiple insurers, you'd have to be morbidly obese.

Do life insurance companies check your weight?

While a few insurance companies use BMI when calculating your life insurance rates, most companies use their own height and weight charts, also called “build charts.” Insurers use build charts during the life insurance underwriting process to help determine your life insurance class, which then determines your rate for ...

Can insurance companies discriminate based on weight?

If you are denied health insurance because of your weight:

We know that it is not fair, but until cultural attitudes and laws change, this is the reality of the situation. ... Basically, health insurance companies can decide whom they want to insure and whom they want to reject.

Can you get life insurance if you have a high BMI?

It is possible to get High BMI life insurance at standard rates where the BMI levels are within a certain tolerance level with no further medical or health issues. The other thing to consider for High BMI life insurance is that you may be classed as having a higher than normal BMI but be perfectly fit and healthy.

Can I Be Denied Life Insurance Because Of My Weight?

33 related questions found

Does BMI affect insurance?

Life Insurance Companies Use BMI to Estimate How Much Your Policy Will Cost. While companies do consider your BMI, they don't use it to set your final price. Carriers each have their own guidelines for height and weight that they use to assign term life insurance rates based on underwriting statistics.

Is obesity considered a pre existing condition?

Unfortunately, obesity is not considered a pre-existing condition, so insurers can charge higher premiums when providing health insurance for obese people. Generally, people with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher can expect to pay more each month for health insurance.

What is considered morbidly obese?

Defining Obesity

Individuals are usually considered morbidly obese if their weight is more than 80 to 100 pounds above their ideal body weight. A BMI above 40 indicates that a person is morbidly obese and therefore a candidate for bariatric surgery. ... People who are obese have higher rates of medical problems.

What are 5 complications that can occur if you are overweight?

Five complications of obesity
  • Diabetes. Carrying excess weight could lead to Type 2 diabetes. ...
  • Heart disease and stroke. Being obese can lead to high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease, heart attacks, and even stroke. ...
  • Cancer. ...
  • Sleep apnea. ...
  • Digestive issues.

What is class 3 obesity?

Class 3: BMI of 40 or higher. Class 3 obesity is sometimes categorized as “severe” obesity.

Can I get disability for obesity?

If you are obese or morbidly obese, that alone won't qualify you for disability benefits. You must show your obesity leads to conditions in the SSA's special set of rules or that because of your obesity, you're unable to work. Social Security's rule recognize many conditions are affected by obesity, like: Heart disease.

Should obese people pay more health insurance?

Obese people are likely to pay a higher premium than normal healthy customers as many diseases are linked to obesity. Obese policyholders are prone to illness, likely to make more claims than normal policyholders. It is important to disclose all the personal information at the time of buying health insurance.

How do insurance companies know if you have a pre-existing condition?

How do insurance companies know if you have a pre-existing condition? Life insurance applications ask questions about your health, and the process typically requires you to give the insurer permission to access any medical records needed to validate your information.

Do smokers pay more for health insurance?

Tobacco Rating

Health insurers cannot outright deny coverage to smokers, but they can charge them higher premiums than non-smokers. The Affordable Care Act allows insurance companies to charge smokers up to 50% more for premiums.

What is a direct cost of obesity?

Direct and Indirect Costs of Obesity

Two types of costs are associated with the treatment of obesity and obesity-related conditions: Direct costs are those that result from outpatient and inpatient health services (including surgery), laboratory and radiological tests, and drug therapy.

How much does obesity cost the US 2020?

Estimates of the medical cost of adult obesity in the United States (U.S.) range from $147 billion to nearly $210 billion per year. The majority of the spending is generated from treating obesity-related diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease, among others.

How much do I have to weigh to get disability?

Some people with obesity qualify for SSDI benefits, because of their other medical conditions. Although the medical community defines obesity as having a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher, the SSA does not use any specific weight or BMI to establish obesity as a severe impairment for purposes of SSDI benefits.

Is obesity a disability EEOC?

The EEOC and some courts have concluded that obesity is a physical impairment that constitutes a disability, even if the employee does not demonstrate medical complications.

How many obese people are on disability?

Link between disability and obesity

Looking at the link from different directions, almost 20% of overweight adults and roughly 30% of obese adults also have a disability, while roughly 36% of people with disabilities are also obese.

Who is at risk for obesity?

Obesity affects some groups more than others

Non-Hispanic Black adults (49.6%) had the highest age-adjusted prevalence of obesity, followed by Hispanic adults (44.8%), non-Hispanic White adults (42.2%) and non-Hispanic Asian adults (17.4%).

What weight do I need to be to have a BMI of 25?

tall is considered overweight (BMI is 25 to 29) if she weighs between about 145 and 169 pounds. She is considered obese (BMI is 30 or more) if she is closer to 174 pounds or more. A man who is 5 ft. 10 in.

What does a BMI of 40 mean?

Your body mass index (BMI) is the initial factor that determines whether you'll qualify for weight loss surgery. A BMI between 18 and 25 is desirable. A BMI over 25 suggests you're overweight, while 30-39 indicates you're obese. A BMI of 40+ suggests morbid obesity.

What does obesity put you at risk for?

Obesity is serious because it is associated with poorer mental health outcomes and reduced quality of life. Obesity is also associated with the leading causes of death in the United States and worldwide, including diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and some types of cancer.

What are 3 main causes of obesity?

9 Most common causes of obesity
  • Physical inactivity. ...
  • Overeating. ...
  • Genetics. ...
  • A diet high in simple carbohydrates. ...
  • Frequency of eating. ...
  • Medications. ...
  • Psychological factors. ...
  • Diseases such as hypothyroidism, insulin resistance, polycystic ovary syndrome, and Cushing's syndrome are also contributors to obesity.