When a person has high levels of cholesterol, it is bad for their health. It increases risks for heart diseases. So, if you proceed to apply for life insurance with high cholesterol, you are likely to pay more premiums.
Alternatively, you may be denied coverage. But if you understand how insurers handle high cholesterol cases, you may get a cover with the best ratings. You will even end up paying less on premiums.
Cholesterol reading is very critical to the insurer. Any reading below 6 is considered safe and accepted for standard rates. But when the reading is at 6, insurers will have issues with it. Above level 6, it calls for additional underwriting.
Also, the insurer could request for further information. If the information provided shows more risks, you will get subjected to additional loading.
Let’s Look at What Cholesterol is
It refers to a waxy substance that the body creates to keep one healthy. Besides the body extracts cholesterol from the foods we eat. HDL is the good cholesterol while the LDL is the bad one.
The body needs two types of cholesterol. But, obviously, too little or too much of either of them may not be good for the body.
Note that the genes for creating LDL are inherited. So, the body will produce as much or as little depending on your lineage. When too much LDL is produced and circulates in the body, it can clog arteries. This is what insurers are concerned with. It causes heart attack and increases the chances of stroke.
Examples of Policies Available
Well, there are different types of options available. Term and whole life insurance are very common and we have different posts on them. So, we will not discuss about those here.
Here are two uncommon types of policies.
Critical Illness Policy
It is available to people whose condition is believed to be milled. The policy is also available to those who have managed to control cholesterol through diet and medication?
But, underwriters may need the most recent reading and medication. It helps them assess the level of your risk. If the applicant has been denied a cover before, they may not succeed.
Also, if they have received a cover on special terms, it may be necessary to review the cover. It helps to get the best cover depending on their current situation.
Income Protection Policy
The policy is available and can be granted at standard rates. But the underwriting is always strict because of the risks.
To apply for this coverage, you need to get the latest readings. The insured may also want to know the medication you are using and the dosage. If you have had issues in the past few years, then the rates for the cover are likely to shoot. The cover may be declined if you have had related conditions like diabetes.
How Cholesterol Impacts On the Life Insurance Policy
The insurer requires one to take an exam when they submit their application for a life insurance cover. It will help them to find more about your lifestyle. The exam will tell them whether you drink or smoke.
Typically, you will be required to answer a few questions. These questions are intended to help the insurer find out more about your family history. They will collect info on height, your blood pressure, pulse, and weight. Some blood will be collected and used to measure cholesterol levels.
But, this should not make you fearful of anything. Even where you have experienced instances of high cholesterol in the past, don’t panic. You can work hard to lower the levels before going for the test.
What Insurers Will Look For
The underwriter will want to find out if you take adequate precautions to help keep cholesterol under control. Regular medical check-ups by a competent physician are vital in this case.
Preparing To Apply For a Coverage
There are a few things you can do and procedures to follow when preparing to take a life insurance cover if you have high cholesterol. Following the procedures will increase the chances of getting the best ratings. Here are the things you need to do.
First, ensure that you start planning early.
Second, visit your physician as many times as possible. If the doctor prescribes medication, follow the prescription to the later.
Also, ensure that your records are updated on a regular basis. This is important because life insurance will give you a poor rating if the cholesterol level is high.
The ratings will plummet further if they ascertain that you don’t do anything to control your level of cholesterol. So if you have high blood pressure, ensuring that it is treated and managed is critical.
What You Need to Know
- Premiums are normally low for people who are already dieting. Also, those who are exercising for purposes of keeping cholesterol down get favorable treatment.
- Premiums will be high for people with cholesterol but who do not follow the doctor’s instructions.
- People with an HDL ratio that is below 4.0 may get a favorable outcome. But their total cholesterol level must be between 250 and 150.
Commonly Asked Questions
How does high cholesterol affect life insurance?
High cholesterol may affect premiums and loading. But if it is controlled with proper medication, there will be no problem. In some cases, if a person is on high cholesterol medication for preventive purposes, it may not be a big issue. However, in such cases, you will need to provide details of medication and the latest reading.
Why should you pay more?
Paying high rates for a cover is normal for people with high cholesterol. Such people could be having risks related issues that the underwriter has identified. But if the applicant has high cholesterol alone, it may not be an issue unless they lead a lifestyle that is not healthy.
What do you need to know about cholesterol?
Cholesterol is an important component of the body. It is referred to as lipids and is the fatty element found in some type of food. Also, the liver makes cholesterol for the body.
What are the symptoms of high cholesterol?
There are no symptoms of high cholesterol. It requires a medical exam for it to be diagnosed. But if left untreated, it results in complications such as type 2 diabetes. It can also lead to coronary heart disease, stroke, and heart attack.
Why High Cholesterol Can Hurt Your Chance?
High cholesterol can reduce your chances of getting a life insurance cover. It tells the underwriter that your health is not good and you are likely to get a stroke or a heart attack. So, it implies that the risk of dying is high and thus the insurer should be prepared to pay your benefits sooner. If this is the case, underwriters will either reject the application or charge more.
Applying for Life Insurance Coverage With High Cholesterol
Insurers are interested in knowing the level of your cholesterol. They know that it can be high or low. They may also be interested in cholesterol ratio.
Typically, there are two kinds of cholesterol: good and bad cholesterol. The bad cholesterol LDL blocks the arteries and will strain the heart.
The good cholesterol does not have any effect. So, even when the level of good cholesterol is high, it may not be a problem for the insurer.
Thus, the insurer will be interested in the ratio of HDL and LDL. This is the information they will want to seek from the general practitioner. The ratio is found by dividing the LDL and HDL you get the ratio.
Things to Do Before Applying
If you are planning to shop for a life insurance cover with cholesterol, go for a medical exam. It will help you establish where you fall. If you find that you have cholesterol, you may use the following strategies to get good coverages.
Try to Lower the Cholesterol
Lowering your cholesterol may be the only thing you may need to do to secure a life insurance cover. This is a cover that will protect your loved ones for decades. Here are some of the things you should do.
Reduce the amount of red meat and fried foods. Instead, eat more whole-grain foods, fruits, and vegetables including broccoli
Start exercising
Visit your nearest gym at least twice per week
Take Prescribed Medicine
Let your doctor prescribe medication that can help lower the level of cholesterol.
Ensure that you use the medication as prescribed. It will show the underwriter that you have managed to bring your levels under control. Talk to your doctor to develop a plan depending on your health needs.
Medical Records Update
The update of your medical records is critical. So ensure that your doctor updates them on every achievement made. Also, ensure you have your electronic record updated. It will help you get credit for improved health.
Go for Less Coverage
The amount of coverage you go for determines whether you go through an exam or not. Most of the no exam life insurance coverage caps at about $350,000. So if your cholesterol is high you may go for this coverage. The face value may not look a lot, but it ensures that your family is covered.
Conclusion
Protecting the lives of your loved ones is critical. Yet you may be denied life insurance coverage if you have high cholesterol. Putting the right strategies in place may be critical. But if things don’t work out as planned, consider a no exam policy.
