5 Factors that May Affect the Cost of Life Insurance

So…how much does life insurance cost? If you’ve been following our blog for a while (hey, thanks!), you may have already learned that it may not cost as much as many of us think it does. However, if you’re shopping for life insurance, it’s good to know going in that there are a number of factors that may affect how much you’ll pay for coverage. We’re here to talk about five common things that could influence your rates!

Age

Age can play a big role in the determining the cost of life insurance. You might think that premiums would just gradually increase each year at a fairly steady pace, but that’s not really how it works. Milestone birthdays can often trigger a bigger increase, so if you have one coming up, now may be a good time to consider getting coverage (or purchasing additional coverage).

Keep in mind that as long as your premium payments are current, rates are typically locked in for the duration of your policy term (which could mean permanently for whole life insurance). The younger you are, the less likely you probably are to think you “need” life insurance…but that’s typically the best time to buy it!

Health

Health status is another major life insurance cost factor. Are there any red flags on your family medical history? Are you taking any daily medications? How healthy is your lifestyle? While of course some issues are out of your control, it’s a good idea to address the ones that you may be able to manage through diet, exercise and healthy habits like height-to-weight ratio/BMI, which tends to have a big impact on cost.

Keep in mind that some carriers may deny you if you do not have regular doctor visits — so even if you’re super healthy, it’s important to schedule checkups. The healthier you are, the lower the cost of life insurance tends to be…so if you needed one more dose of motivation, there you go!

Gender

Typically, life insurance will cost a male applicant more than a female applicant, even if they are the same age and receive the same rating. This is simply because women have a slightly longer life expectancy than men (81.2 years vs. 76.4 years). If you ask us, this is just one more reason to consider getting coverage, ladies!

Smoking/Nicotine Use

It’s pretty well-established that smoking is bad for your health…but you should also know that it’s bad for your life insurance rates! If you use cigarettes or other nicotine products, your monthly premiums could be 30% (or more) higher than those of nonsmokers/nicotine users. Generally, carriers require you to refrain from tobacco/nicotine use for at least 12 consecutive months to achieve nicotine-free status.

Occupation

If no one had jobs that were a little bit (or more than a little bit) dangerous, life as we know it could fall apart pretty quickly. We’re all about embracing your talents and following your passions…but unfortunately, certain occupations are simply higher risk than others. Are you a pilot? A construction worker? Do you work higher than 10 feet off the ground regularly? These are just a few of the many occupational considerations that could increase your life insurance rates. However, while it’s important to consider life insurance no matter what you do for a living, it may be especially important if your career is on the hazardous side.

Learn more!

While of course this isn’t a comprehensive list of life insurance underwriting factors, we hope it helps better prepare you to shop more confidently for coverage that works for you!

So grab a quote to get started, and then if you have any questions or concerns, our team is here for you. You can call us at 888–828–9760, email us at Emily@ourlifecovered.com, text us at 636–590–7416, or use our handy live chat feature!

Want to learn more about life insurance and talk more about how to work toward a longer, healthier, more financially secure life? Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, and LinkedIn, or send us a message directly to join the conversation.

Originally published at www.ourlifecovered.com.