Obesity Can Hike Your Life Insurance Premiums
October 19, 2009 |
Featured, Medical
The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) published a survey recently of the states that were most obese in the U.S. Most of the top ten of the fattest states were Southern states, due to the specific dietary habits of the region. There is a greater likelihood for people in Southern states to eat fried and high fat foods, which are contributing factors to obesity. The states with the highest rates of obesity also have the premiums for life insurance. This is not surprising since obesity is linked to a number of fatal diseases and ailments.
Using the body mass index (BMI), the CDC found the highest percentages of obese people in the following states: Mississippi (32%), Tennessee (30.1%), Alabama (30%), Louisiana (29.8%), West Virginia (29.5%), Arkansas (28.7%), South Carolina (28.4%), Georgia (28.2%), Oklahoma (28.1%) and Texas (28.1%).
So why are life insurance premiums higher if you are considered overweight? When a life insurance company underwrites an insurance application your physical build is factored into their consideration. Your weight and height measurements are used to help determine which of the rating categories you fall in. Insurance cmpanies usually will use the applicant’s BMI. The BMI is calculated by dividing weight in kilograms by height that is measured in meters squared. Individuals who have high BMI’s (the normal range is considered to be 18.5 to 24.9), will be still be eligible for life insurance but will not qualify for the best premiums. This is because obesity can shorten an individual’s life which makes them a higher risk for a life insurance company. Obesity can contribute to: some cancers, strokes, heart disease, high cholesterol, type II diabetes and hypertension.
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