Over the next several months, we will be identifying various factors (called underwriting factors) that may have an impact on your life insurance costs. This month's article will focus on how your weight (or build), blood pressure and cholesterol can affect your costs. Check back in future months to see how things such as asthma, alcohol and extreme sports can increase the amount of money you pay for life insurance.

Cholesterol
Did you know that the cholesterol levels of approximately a quarter of the adult population in this country are higher than normal? And did you know that nearly half of all adult Americans have cholesterol levels that are not within the surgeon general's desirable range? This is not only dangerous to your health, but may increase the amount of money you pay for life insurance. Checking your cholesterol levels regularly and lowering high levels can aid you both physically and fiscally.

While the liver naturally produces cholesterol for normal body functions, elevated levels can lead to heart disease and other maladies. Most doctors recommend that you keep your cholesterol below 200 (with your LDL, or low density lipoprotein level, below 100). However, a slightly elevated cholesterol level will not generally impact your life insurance costs. If you have severely elevated levels of cholesterol, or have slightly elevated levels combined with another negative underwriting factor (such as blood pressure or weight), your costs may be higher. Or if not higher, these factors are likely to make you ineligible for preferred rates.

Blood Pressure
Like high cholesterol, high blood pressure can lead to heart disease and other health problems, and may put you at risk for higher life insurance costs. Healthy blood pressure and cholesterol levels are largely dependent on your gender and age, and most insurance companies have levels they consider acceptable, and other levels they consider preferred (which may qualify you for discounted rates). Normal adult blood pressure is generally identified as 130 over 85. You are considered hypertensive (hypertension = high blood pressure) if your blood pressure is at or above 140 over 90. A blood pressure level at or slightly above 140 over 90 is regarded as low-grade hypertension, and this alone will usually not raise your life insurance costs. But combined with another underwriting factor (such as cholesterol or obesity), hypertension is likely to raise your costs, and if your blood pressure is dangerously high, this alone may raise your rates.

Keep in mind that many people respond well to medications that help lower their blood pressure and/or cholesterol levels. If you have successfully lowered your levels, your past higher levels should not affect your life insurance costs.

Build
Most life insurance companies take your basic build into consideration when determining insurance costs. Your build is your height to weight ratio; if you weigh too much for your height, you may find your rates will be higher. However, once again, take this in moderation - being 10-15 pounds overweight (if you have no other risk factors) is unlikely to affect your costs. But, if you are more than 30 pounds over the ideal weight (as determined by the American Medical Association) for your height, your life insurance costs will probably be higher.

With the percentage of American adults that are considered overweight constantly increasing, it is more important than ever to keep yourself fit and healthy. Nearly 20 percent of U.S. adults are considered obese, and obesity, along with other underwriting factors such as blood pressure and cholesterol, can lead to serious health problems. To be considered for preferred low rates, it is important to keep your height to weight ratio at or near the normal range for your body type.

In Summary
Underwriting factors such as high cholesterol or blood pressure and above-average weight can affect your life insurance costs, especially if you have any combination of more than one factor. Life insurance companies reward good health, and we all know good health is rewarding in many other ways. Remember, it is always important to shop around before you purchase any life insurance policy. This is especially true for people who are overweight and/or have high cholesterol and blood pressure. And since underwriting factors can vary from company to company, make sure to compare quotes and find out which policy is best for you.

Check back soon to see how other underwriting factors may affect your life insurance costs.