You may safeguard the financial security of your loved ones and plan for the future with the aid of life insurance. Life insurance also gives you life insurance tax benefits. But if you’re a high-risk applicant, it might be difficult to be approved for a reasonable life insurance coverage that meets your needs.
The High-Risk Factors for Life Insurance
If an applicant has a reduced life expectancy due to medical or lifestyle risk factors, such as chronic health disorders or hazardous work, life insurance companies typically consider them to be high-risk applicants.
Medical Danger Signs
The following illnesses—known to reduce a patient’s life expectancy—usually place applicants in a high-risk life insurance category.
- Certain Cancer Types: Life insurance coverage for cancer patients and survivors may be expensive and limited. However, depending on the sort of cancer you were diagnosed with, whether you received successful treatment, and how long you have been in remission, you may or may not be regarded as high risk. For instance, if your basal cell carcinoma was surgically removed, you might still be eligible for preferential rates on standard life insurance.
- Chronic Illnesses: Because health issues like high blood pressure or heart disease can shorten your life expectancy, insurance companies frequently view candidates who have them as higher risk.
- Heart Attack: Although it will probably make you a higher-risk applicant, you can usually still receive life insurance after having a heart attack. Your general health and how long it has been since your heart attack are typically taken into account by your life insurance provider.
Risk Factors For Lifestyle
The cost of your life insurance may rise due to your lifestyle’s impact on your life insurance risk level.
- Alcohol Use: Your insurance provider may classify drinking as a lifestyle risk because it can have a detrimental influence on your health.
- Dangerous Pastimes: Skydiving, snorkelling, and rock climbing are likely to be viewed as high-risk hobbies by insurance providers. Your life insurance application may be rejected if you engage in risky hobbies, or your premium may increase to account for the risk.
- Dangerous Occupations: Life insurance companies will probably view you as a high-risk candidate if you work in a hazardous field. According to the Bureau of Labour Statistics research, fishing and hunting, logging, roofing, and building are the most hazardous jobs.
Options For Life Insurance For High-Risk Applicants
If you are deemed a high-risk candidate, life insurance companies may restrict the types of policies you can purchase. You might be able to purchase term life insurance, but your premiums will be higher than those of applicants who pose a smaller risk.
It may be more difficult for applicants with high-risk diseases, such as specific cancers, to obtain a term plan. However, guaranteed-issue life insurance policies can assist high-risk applicants in obtaining at least some coverage.
A medical exam is not necessary for some types of life insurance, such as guaranteed-issue coverage. These plans perform the same functions as a typical life insurance policy, but they are much more expensive and frequently have a smaller death benefit.
Classes in High-Risk Life Insurance Underwriting
When you apply, a life insurance company examines your application as part of a procedure known as underwriting. Your underwriting class, which affects the cost of your insurance, is determined by an underwriter based on your health and lifestyle risk factors.
The premium, or the amount you will pay for your life insurance policy, is determined by life insurance underwriting classes. Your age, health, and particular lifestyle factors determine these underwriting levels.
How Much Does High-Risk Life Insurance Cost?
High-risk life insurance may be pricey depending on your level of risk and the type of life insurance coverage.
The amount of term plan coverage you get and the anticipated length of your life are two factors that influence the rates.
An insurance company will often charge you a higher premium if you have dangerous habits or a medical condition that puts you at greater risk.
The Best Way To Obtain High-Risk Life Insurance
Work with a knowledgeable, impartial life insurance agent. Based on your specific health situation or lifestyle, an experienced agent will know which companies will most likely offer you the best cost. To help you avoid application denials, an agent may even shop your application around anonymously among a few insurers. This will also help you avail of life insurance tax benefits.
An expert in high-risk life insurance applicants, an impaired risk specialist is another option you have.
