| Life insurance is essentially financial coverage on | | | | companies and are charged smoker's rates. However |
| human life. Just as your car would have to be in tip-top | | | | if you are a smoker and seriously intend to quit |
| condition to warrant a good auto insurance rate, you | | | | smoking, you need to be 'smoke-free' for at least a |
| need to be in good health to qualify you for an | | | | year to qualify for a non-smoker rate. Smoking cigars, |
| affordable term insurance rate. | | | | marijuana and tobacco usage will also be considered |
| High blood pressure, diabetes, cancer, heart disease | | | | as smoking by the life insurance company. A urine or |
| and life style-related conditions such as smoking, | | | | saliva test will detect the presence of nicotine, so if |
| obesity and drinking can prevent you from getting a | | | | you are a smoker, it is best not to lie in you term |
| good rate. The only way to bring your rate down is by | | | | insurance application. |
| improving your health. | | | | A history of drug abuse or heavy drinking will hamper |
| How term life insurance companies grade you for | | | | your chances of qualifying for a good term insurance |
| premiums | | | | rate. The life insurance company will need real proof |
| After a physical examination, your insurance company | | | | that you are working on quitting the habit, and require |
| will grade you according to your risk of dying. They | | | | you to 'pass' their medical exam to prove it. If you are |
| have certain pre-determined risk types, and, you will be | | | | a moderate drinker, make sure that you do not |
| accordingly bracketed into a premium category such | | | | consume alcohol for at least 72 hours prior to your |
| as super preferred, preferred, standard rate, etc. If you | | | | term insurance medical exam. Even traces of alcohol |
| are in excellent health, lead a healthy lifestyle and have | | | | can disqualify you from a lower life insurance rate. |
| no history of major ill health in the past, you qualify for | | | | Obesity |
| the Super preferred category which means your | | | | Being even mildly overweight but otherwise healthy |
| premiums will be very low, because you are probably | | | | can hamper your chances of obtaining a cheaper |
| going to live long. If they find that your health is good, | | | | premium rate. A recent study has predicted that 86 |
| but not good enough to warrant a super-preferred | | | | percent of Americans could be overweight by 2030. If |
| premium, you will be in the preferred category. Most | | | | this turns out to be true, term insurance companies will |
| Americans qualify for standard. There are categories | | | | probably have to disqualify everyone from preferential |
| lower than the standard category, with very high | | | | life insurance rates. Obesity is closely linked to other |
| premiums. Let's learn more about the common health | | | | health ailments. |
| risks that affect term insurance rates and what you | | | | Luckily, in most cases obesity is due to bad eating |
| can do to improve your term insurance rates. | | | | habits and lack of exercise. Simple lifestyle changes |
| High-risk health conditions | | | | such as improving dietary habits and making it a point |
| If you have a high-risk health condition like high blood | | | | to exercise will no doubt help you. |
| pressure, heart disease and diabetes you need to be | | | | Some points to remember |
| aware that you will never qualify for a preferred | | | | These days there are a lot of TV commercials |
| insurance rate. Even if you have a family history of | | | | advertising 'no medical' life insurance policies. While it |
| these diseases, you may not qualify for a low life term | | | | does sound attractive, know that this type of life |
| life insurance rate. However, you can provide | | | | insurance may only work for senior citizens or |
| supporting medical records and documents to show | | | | someone in really poor health. If your health problem |
| that you are regular with your checkups or follow the | | | | can be brought down through medication, diet and |
| health guidelines that your medical practitioner has | | | | exercise you will probably get a better deal by getting |
| advised you. | | | | your life insurance through the more common channels. |
| Pre-existing medical conditions | | | | There are certain life insurance companies that look |
| Blood pressure, high cholesterol levels and other | | | | more favorably on certain health conditions than |
| pre-existing medical conditions will disqualify you from | | | | others. Buy term insurance online because an online |
| obtaining a preferred term life rate. While you can't | | | | agency will be able to quickly identify these companies |
| change this, you can work on your health and take the | | | | for you. The free term insurance quotes that they give |
| required medication so that you don't slip further down | | | | you are probably from one of these companies. |
| in the insurance company's grading system. If you | | | | Never lie about your health in your policy application. If |
| show the insurance company supporting documents | | | | the life insurance company finds out, it could |
| such as medical reports showing a drop in your | | | | permanently disqualify you from getting life insurance, |
| cholesterol levels, or falling blood pressure readings, | | | | even from other providers. Just work on your health |
| they are likely to offer better rates. | | | | and on leading a healthy life style. Not only will your |
| Smoking, Drinking or Drug Abuse | | | | term insurance rates be cheaper, but your family too |
| Smokers are separately bracketed by life insurance | | | | will be happy to have you around for longer. |