Why would you be denied term life insurance?

Asked by: Edna Kreiger  |  Last update: December 21, 2025
Score: 4.3/5 (38 votes)

They can include engaging in risky hobbies and behaviors like skydiving; having a history of DUIs or speeding tickets; having a dangerous job like roofing; having a criminal record or a less than ideal financial history; being a smoker; and failing a drug test.

Can you be denied term life insurance?

Insurers may reject your life insurance application if there's reason to believe you can't afford the premiums. This might happen if you have a history of bankruptcy, lots of outstanding debt or a low income.

What will disqualify you from term life insurance?

Due to the added risk health problems create for insurers, some pre-existing conditions can raise your premium or even disqualify you entirely from certain types of life insurance. A few common examples of pre-existing conditions include high blood pressure, diabetes, cancer, and asthma.

What disqualifies someone from getting life insurance?

Pre-existing conditions – meaning any health issue or condition that existed before applying for coverage – are often considered high-risk by insurance companies and can lead to disqualification. Chronic conditions that require long-term medication or treatment can also impact eligibility.

What would cause a life insurance claim to be denied?

The policyholder lied on the life insurance application

Applying for a life insurance policy requires truthful answers about a policyholder's health and lifestyle. If the policyholder lies on their application or withholds important information, the life insurance company might refuse the pay out.

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44 related questions found

Why would someone not qualify for life insurance?

People are typically denied life insurance because they fall into a high-risk category. This is often due to health challenges like diabetes, obesity or a previous diagnosis of serious disease.

Which life insurance company denies the most claims?

Top 8 Worst Insurance Companies
  1. Allstate. We know you have seen the ads. ...
  2. Unum. Unum is a leading disability insurance provider in the United States has a reputation for denied and delayed insurance claims – even when claims include their own employees. ...
  3. State Farm. ...
  4. AIG. ...
  5. Anthem. ...
  6. Farmers Insurance Group. ...
  7. UnitedHealth. ...
  8. USAA.

What reasons will life insurance not pay?

17 Common Reasons Life Insurance Won't Pay Out
  • Nonpayment of Premiums.
  • Death during the Contestability Period.
  • Misrepresentation on Application.
  • Employer Failed to Submit a Disability Waiver of Premium.
  • Problems with the Beneficiary.
  • Policy was included in a Trust or a Will.
  • Denials Due to Suicide Exclusion.

What pre-existing conditions disqualify you from life insurance?

What medical conditions prevent you from getting life insurance?
  • Anxiety and depression.
  • Asthma.
  • Diabetes.
  • Heart disease.
  • High blood pressure.
  • High cholesterol.
  • HIV.
  • Obesity.

What makes a person uninsurable?

“Factors such as pre-existing medical conditions, age, occupation and lifestyle choices can contribute to a person being considered 'uninsurable' according to standard underwriting guidelines,” says Tarek El Ali, Founder of Smart Insurance Agents.

What voids term life insurance?

Life insurance is a contract between you and the insurance company. Misrepresenting yourself or providing inaccurate information on your insurance application can cause a breach and void the contract, ending with the claim denied.

Is it hard to get term life insurance?

The good news is that term life insurance is generally easy to shop for: Many companies, including Guardian, will give you an instant online quote. Compare insurance rates from a couple of sources, and before you make a choice, consider the company you're buying from.

What are the bad things about term life insurance?

Term Life insurance Cons: If you outlive the term length, your coverage will end and you won't receive any benefits. You will not be covered your entire lifetime and your policy will not accumulate cash value like an investment account does.

At what age should you not get term life insurance?

At What Age Is Life Insurance No Longer Needed? Life insurance is no longer needed for many people once they reach their 60s or 70s. At this point they have retired, their kids have grown up, and they've paid off their mortgage and other debts.

What not to say when applying for life insurance?

Tobacco use: Lying about smoking on a life insurance application likely constitutes a misrepresentation, even if you only smoke occasionally. Drug and alcohol use: Someone who engages in drug or alcohol misuse may omit this information.

Is a medical exam required for term life insurance?

Traditional term and permanent life insurance policies typically require a medical exam. However, there are plenty of non-traditional term life insurance policies that don't require a medical exam, including: Simplified issue life insurance.

Who is uninsurable for life insurance?

People are typically denied life insurance because they fall into a high-risk category. This is often due to health challenges like diabetes and obesity, as well as non-health related life insurance disqualifiers like a dangerous job or hobby, a history of speeding tickets or using tobacco products.

What pre-existing conditions are not covered?

Is there health insurance for pre-existing conditions? Choosing a health plan is no longer based on the concept of a pre-existing condition. A health insurer cannot deny you coverage or raise rates for plans if you have a medical condition at the time of enrollment.

Can you get life insurance if you have anxiety?

You can get a life insurance policy if you have been diagnosed with a mental health disorder such as anxiety or depression. However, you may be charged a higher premium depending on the frequency, severity, treatment, and diagnosis details of the mental health condition.

Why do I keep getting denied for life insurance?

Their reasons could be anything from a serious medical condition (like heart disease) or poor results from your life insurance medical exam to nonmedical reasons like bankruptcy, a criminal record, a positive drug test or even a dangerous hobby—carriers are not fans of insuring base jumpers in squirrel suits.

Which type of death is not covered in term insurance?

Ans: Term insurance does not cover deaths resulting from suicide (within the first year), self-inflicted injuries, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, undeclared pre-existing diseases, involvement in illegal activities, adventure sports, or exposure to nuclear, biological, or chemical radiation.

What disqualifies life insurance payout?

Life insurance proceeds can be denied. Some denials are legitimate, like in case of policy lapses, material misrepresentations, or exclusions in the form of illegal activities or war. In other cases, bad-faith insurers use elaborate methods to reject claims so they do not have to pay the proceeds.

Why has my life insurance been declined?

Reasons you may have been declined

Most applications are declined due to medical issues. Each life insurance company sees medical issues (and other risk factors, such as extreme sports) differently. For example one company may decline you because you have diabetes, while another may accept you.

What is the most common source of insurance denials?

The top 4 mistakes that lead to claims denials
  • Incomplete or inaccurate patient information.
  • Healthcare plan changes.
  • Claims submission errors.
  • Untimely claims submissions.