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  1. Home
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  4. How Does BMI Affect Life Insurance Rates

How Does BMI Affect Life Insurance Rates

BMI, Life Insurance Quotes, and You

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Life insurance is based on a variety of factors. One of those factors is BMI. BMI, or Body Mass Index, is a ratio determined with height and weight. According to the CDC, "BMI appears to be as strongly correlated with various metabolic and disease outcome(s)."1 Thus a higher BMI could mean more health risks for a life insurance company to consider; usually resulting in a higher life insurance rate. In some more extreme cases, depending on the life insurance BMI chart, the application may be disqualified.

Calculating your BMI

If you would like to calculate your own BMI to see where you stand, divide your weight in pounds by your height in inches squared, then multiply that by 703. Alternatively, there are many online calculators that can do the math for you by simply entering your height and weight.

Non-ideal BMI? Don't give up just yet.

You may still be eligible for life insurance. All insurance companies have varying factors and levels in determining your life insurance rate. You should also keep in mind that life insurance companies look at your weight at the time of your exam, plus any weight loss within the past 12 months. Losing a significant amount of weight just before applying for life insurance would not necessarily help in lowering your rate. If you don't qualify for one company, that doesn't mean that you will be disqualified from them all. It's important to not procrastinate in getting your life insurance policy to make sure your loved ones are always protected.

Luckily, working with an agency like AIG Direct we are able to compare quotes across multiple highly rated insurance companies for you, helping you get lower rates.

Other reasons for an outlier BMI.

There may be other reasons for an outlier BMI and in some cases a BMI measurement should be viewed with caution. For example, athletes may have a high BMI because of their muscularity rather than their body fat. Alternatively, some athletes are very lean and may be healthy, but have a low BMI. Life insurance companies may make exceptions for such individuals provided the rest of their medical exam results and medical records are in line with preferred rate requirements. If this is the case for you, please talk to a licensed life insurance agent about your options.

Maintaining a healthy BMI is beneficial in many ways.

Having a healthy BMI may help you to secure lower life insurance premiums and simply improve your overall health. Medical and personal benefits can range from things such as reducing blood pressure, reduced risk of developing type 2 diabetes, having more energy, better sleep, and improvement in mobility.2

Small steps can help lead you in the right direction. Learn about 4 ways to improve your health little by little.


1. "About Adult BMI," CDC https://www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/assessing/
bmi/adult_bmi/index.html (2017)
2. "Benefits of Healthy weight - Healthy BMI range," http://www.aboutbmi.com/low_bmi_benefits.html (2018)

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  • LIFE INSURANCE PRODUCTS
    • Term Life Insurance
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  • LIFE INSURANCE BASICS
    • Life Insurance
    • What is Life Insurance
    • How Does Life Insurance Work
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    • What to Expect When You Apply
    • Medical Exam Preparations
    • Managing Your Life Insurance Policy
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© 2023 AIG Direct Insurance Services, Inc. Agency services provided by AIG Direct Insurance Services, Inc. ("AIG Direct"), CA license # 0B57619 and AR license # 0100105378, a subsidiary of American General Life Insurance Company ("AGL"), Houston, TX and an affiliate of The United States Life Insurance Company in the City of New York ("US Life"). All members of American International Group ("AIG"). AGL does not solicit, issue or deliver policies or contracts in the state of New York. AIG Direct offers policies on behalf of affiliated and unaffiliated insurance companies. Guarantees are backed by the claims-paying ability of the issuing insurance company. Products may not be available in all states and product features may vary by state. For all companies mentioned, their financial professionals and other representatives are not authorized to give legal, tax or accounting advice. For advice concerning your individual circumstances, consult the appropriate professional.

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