Guide to Life Insurance if You’re Overweight

Can you get life insurance if you're overweight?

Yes, you can get life insurance if you’re overweight. While insurance can be more complex for overweight individuals and obese people, it’s rare for someone to be declined a policy purely as a result of their body fat.

If you do not have any health conditions related to being overweight, you have a great shot at getting life insurance with standard rates or near-standard rates.

Weight limits for life insurance coverage depend on the company:

• Premiums range from standard pricing to a maximum rateable weight of 350%
• Premiums will be higher depending on your exact weight class
• You can exceed the standard weight for your height (as defined by the insurer) and still receive insurance

It’s a good idea to compare quotes from multiple companies when shopping for life insurance to ensure you’re getting the most affordable rates available to you.

How weight impacts life insurance

Medical underwriting, which includes questions about your weight, is one way that insurance companies assess your risk before issuing a policy. Life insurance companies use your BMI (Body Mass Index) to assess your overall health and risk level:

• BMI alone is not an accurate indicator of health
• BMI does correlate with additional health risks
• A higher chance of passing away young will increase your premium

It’s common for a life insurance application to be flagged for a non-standard BMI—and in this case, policy approval may take four to six weeks. The company may also ask for a medical history report from your doctor, as well as for a medical exam that includes blood and urine tests to better understand your current health status.

In Canada, there are four ranges for BMI categories:

• BMI less than 18.5 = underweight
• BMIs 18.5 to 24.9 = normal weight
• BMIs 25 to 29.9 = overweight
• BMI 30 and over = obese

There are three categories of obese:

• BMI 30.0 to 34.9 = obese class I
• BMI 35.0 to 39.9 = obese class II
• BMI 40+ = obese class III

Individuals with higher BMIs are still eligible for insurance coverage but tend to pay higher premiums. This is typically due to the potential for weight-related health issues like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, hypertension, sleep apnea, diabetes, and heart disease.

Lower BMI individuals who are mildly overweight and do not have any other risk factors are likely to pay a lower rate for life insurance plans.
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How much does life insurance cost?

The average cost of life insurance in Canada for a 30-year-old is around $20 and $30 per month. Your price will be unique to you and your health risks. For instance, smokers, older people, and people who are overweight tend to pay more for coverage than non-smokers, young people, and people with lower BMIs.

Insurance costs may be higher if you’re overweight

Higher-risk individuals pay higher premiums for life insurance coverage. Since people who are overweight face additional health risks and medical conditions, insurers may consider them part of the “high risk” category.

If you received a higher insurance rate due to being overweight, losing weight could help you secure lower premiums through a process called “reconsideration”. There are two key caveats:

• You must must keep the weight off for 12 months
• You may need to take another medical exam

Here’s a look at how insurance costs relate to risk in general.

What may improve your rates

Some lifestyle and health factors can improve your life insurance rates if you’re overweight, especially if they show insurers that your health is stable and well-managed.

• Stable weight history
• Controlled blood pressure
• No smoking
• Active lifestyle
• Conditions (like diabetes) are well-managed
• Consistent treatment adherence

In order to affect your life insurance rates significantly, you need to demonstrate long-term trends. Any health improvements you make must be maintained for 6 to 12 months or longer. 

Underwriting guidelines vary by company, and some providers are more flexible with BMI limits—especially if you have strong overall health markers in other areas.

Weight isn’t the only thing insurance providers look at

Insurers review many factors to estimate your life expectancy—they’re not judging your appearance or fitness.

Beyond the number on the scale, insurance providers may review a wide variety of factors as part of an overall health profile before they offer you a policy:

• Blood pressure: Uncontrolled or medicated high blood pressure may increase rates.
• Cholesterol: These levels matter because they can affect your risk of heart disease and stroke.
• Diabetes: Well-controlled diabetes will impact your rates less than poorly managed conditions.
• Smoking: Smokers pay a lot more for life insurance than non-smokers.
• Sleep apnea: Untreated or severe sleep apnea has a bigger effect on rates than well-managed conditions.
• Medications: Companies may review the meds you take, why you take them, and if your condition appears stable.
• Activity levels: Regular exercise can contribute to a better health outlook for underwriting.
• Family history: Any heart disease, cancer, or serious conditions in your family can affect your risk assessment.

Some factors matter more than others. For instance, you may have a higher BMI but normal blood pressure and no smoking history. You’d qualify for better rates than someone with a lower BMI who smokes.

Improving even one or two of your risk factors can help make a meaningful difference in your life insurance rates, even if your weight stays the same.

Can you be denied life insurance due to your weight?

It’s possible that you could be denied coverage due to your weight, but in most cases, it won’t be solely because of your weight. Insurers use BMI to assess risk, however, and you could be denied life insurance for having a high BMI or in combination with other health problems, like high blood pressure or diabetes.

“You might be at higher risk, but still very much insurable. You are high risk now, but you could end up paying more for a high-risk life insurance policy in the future as you age or your condition progresses.” —Erik Heidebrecht, Life Insurance Advisor

How to improve your approval odds

If you do not plan to lose weight, here’s how to improve your chances at getting a good life insurance rate:

• Manage chronic conditions effectively to improve your overall health
• Choose the right type of policy for your health profile
• Compare multiple life insurance providers to find the best fit (and rate) for you
• Apply as soon as you can to lock in lower premiums while you’re younger

If you do plan to lose weight, you could get better rates:
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• Maintain a healthy lifestyle with weight management
• Aim for a BMI of 30 or below (the limit for “obese”)
• As you continue losing weight, ask your provider to reassess your rates

Next steps if you’re denied

If you’re denied a standard life insurance policy, there are two other coverage options to consider: group life insurance and no-medical life insurance.

Group life insurance may be available through your employer. This is a good option if you are rejected from an outside company as there are little-to-no hurdles to be approved. Be aware, though, that your coverage is typically limited to 1–2x your annual salary and the policy will end if you leave your job.

No medical life insurance, such as guaranteed issue life insurance, offers coverage with no medical exam. Premiums are higher and there is usually a waiting period before you’re eligible for the death benefit. This is a good plan B, and the best life insurance option if you can’t secure a standard policy and need supplementary coverage for your group life insurance.

FAQ: Life insurance for overweight adults