Burial insurance rates are always going to be lower for younger and healthier individuals. That raises the question about obesity and the effect it has on insurability. While obesity negatively impacts health, that’s not always the case for burial insurance.
What Role Does Weight Play In Burial Insurance Applications?
Some insurance companies incorporate a “build chart”, which lists the acceptable minimum and maximum body weights relative to different heights. If an individual’s weight is not on the policy’s build chart, then that individual will not be able to get a policy. However, build charts are not universal.
There are many companies that don’t have build charts in their applications. They may not even ask about weight at all. While a person’s weight does have some bearing on life expectancy, it doesn’t always mean it’s life-threatening. Burial insurance applications ask questions about medical history, referencing medical conditions and lifestyle choices such as tobacco use. Weight by itself is typically a non-factor.
When Does Obesity Affect My Ability To Get Burial Insurance?
Obesity alone does not affect your ability to get good coverage without a waiting period. It’s the associated conditions that negatively impact your ability to get immediate, low-cost coverage. If you have a history of conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease, or stroke, your options will be limited. You’ll have to pay higher premiums, and you may only qualify for burial insurance policies with a two-year waiting period, in which the full death benefit will not be released to your beneficiaries unless you have lived beyond those two years.
Obesity may make it harder to find good coverage if it is severe enough to interfere with your activities of daily living (ADL), which include:
- Bathing
- Eating
- Dressing
- Toileting
- Transferring
- Continence
If you’re unable to perform these, it may be better to get a guaranteed issue burial insurance policy. The premiums will be higher and you will have a waiting period, but you will not be denied a policy.
Should I Wait Until I’ve Lost Weight To Apply?
It may seem better to wait until you’re in better physical condition to apply for burial insurance, but in this case, it’s better to get a policy sooner than later. It may take several months for you to reach your goal weight, and in that time, you will continue to go uninsured. There’s no magic body weight you have to reach before you become insurable. You’re insurable as you are, and you can still qualify for immediate coverage at low rates.
Get Your Burial Policy Today
At Senior Life Services, we help individuals of all sizes and walks of life get the policies they need. We get you coverage where your weight will not be held against you, and you’ll be able to provide your loved ones with peace of mind at an affordable cost. Call us today at (800) 548-3249 to learn more.
