Obesity and Life Insurance

5/8/2014

Because we truly love helping overweight and obese persons get affordable life insurance, we get many, many requests for quotes from individuals who struggle with their weight.

Some make us smile, such as the lady who was searching for “fat-friendly life insurance companies.” Some make us happy, such as the man who was able to quit taking his diabetes medication after undergoing a successful gastric bypass. Some make us frustrated, when the only thing keeping an otherwise healthy young person from getting a policy is being 20# over the weight limit.

There is no doubt that when someone’s weight strays from the “overweight” to the “obesity” category, the challenge increases to find that person an affordable life insurance premium. What exactly is the difference between being overweight and being obese? The Weight-Control Information Network has a simple explanation: “Overweight refers to excess weight that may come from muscles, bones, fat and water. Obesity refers to an excess amount of body fat.”

In other words, you may be overweight because you simply weigh too much. This may be because you work out and have a lot of muscles, or because you are carrying water weight due to high blood pressure or other illness, or because you have a large frame. Some life insurance companies actually take all that into account. I have about 5 companies I almost always use for overweight persons with relatively good health, because their rates are so much more reasonable than the rest.

If you are obese, your excess weight is at least partially attributed to too much body fat, and insurance companies consider you at risk for diseases linked with obesity: type 2 diabetes, sleep apnea, heart disease, stroke, arthritis, and some cancers. Again, there are companies that look at your overall health, and at Outlook Life, we know exactly who to go to for the most affordable rate for those who are obese. When weight crosses into the morbidly obese category, you may only be able to get guaranteed or simplified issue policies (which do not have any weight limit). But still, most people can get coverage.

As the average weight in America increases, we just want you to know that Outlook Life is here for you. Not only will we help you get the best rate now, but we will tell you if you just need to lose 10# to get a better rate in the future. Don’t ever worry about any lectures or tsk tsk’s from us. Our job is to find you affordable life insurance. Period.