Is there a way to get good life insurance with less than perfect height/weight?

Question

I am a big guy (think NFL lineman) at 6'3" and right around 300 pounds. I'm 29 years old, and I don't have any life insurance yet. Now that I am having kids, I need to do this. It seems difficult to get insurance with less than ideal height/weight. Although I am a big guy, I am very athletic. I go to the gym 5 days and week and run 3-5 miles a day. I have no major health problems. I know I am overweight and need to shed some pounds.

My question is---- Is there a way to get life insurance for a guy like me?

Answer 1

Probably - but you will pay higher premiums.

Answer 2

You will still be offered a policy if you're healthy. The things that affect life insurance as far as insurability and cost (premium) are mobility and mortality. If you're sick, your chances are less, or if there is something causing you health problems, like say ... back surgeries, that will be an issue in underwriting as well.

As an athlete, they will be asking you these questions, and even though you might not get a preferred rating for the weight, your health will go a long way. Worst case scenario, you'd get a table rating, but if you're healthy, that's not likely. You'll probably just end up with a standard or non-tobacco (I hope you don't smoke!) rating.

In short, I don't think you have much to worry about. I can say that some companies are more strict in underwriting than others. Some who are more loose are Mutual of Omaha, Western Southern, Sun Life etc.

Answer 3

Yes. You will qualify for life insurance, the question is how much if anything will you be "rated."  There is a scale or table of ratings when they decide what the premiums will be.  They will get all of your medical records, perhaps even request more info from your doctor, and then set a premium for you.  If may be more than if you weighed the ideal weight, but you will get it.  Also, if you decide to lose weight and reach a better weight, you can reapply and get a lesser premium.