If you’re just a little overweight, say about 10 pounds, you might see no difference in the life insurance rates you are quoted. However, life insurance for obese individuals can be costly. If you’re severely overweight, you’d better budget more money for life insurance.

Steve Zitney, a senior agency consultant with a leading insurance company, says a person can be denied life insurance at his company if the person is “grossly overweight or dramatically obese,” even if he does not have any other health problems.


The company will also charge higher premiums if your weight is significantly more than it should be in relation to your height.

Naturally, insurance for obese individuals will be more costly than for those slightly overweight. If a 40-year-old, 6-foot-tall male is 270 pounds, he will have to pay 15 to 20 percent more than a person of ideal weight, Zitney says. If the person weighs 300 pounds or more, Zitney says that figure jumps to 30 to 35 percent.


Many other large life insurers take a similar approach to underwriting. David Potter, a spokesman for The Hartford, says people who are at 150 percent of their desired weight will see an increase in premium. Again, in these cases, the more weight you carry, the more your premium will be. “It’s possible to be rejected by weight, but it’s rare,” Potter says. “Most of the people with weight problems do have other health problems, like high blood pressure and high cholesterol.”

Life insurance for overweight individuals, even moderately so, could still cost more. People who are slightly overweight can be disqualified for a “preferred rate,” which is a lower premium that rewards people who are healthy. For example, a person who is 20 to 30 pounds overweight and does not have high blood pressure or diabetes might get a normal rate, but they won’t see the preferred rate. Life insurance for obese individuals

Weight problems can dog you whether you are applying for permanent or term life insurance. Underwriting is based on survival mortality. It won’t be different if you are applying for term or permanent insurance.