Life insurance is an essential tool for protecting your family and ensuring financial stability, but what happens if you have a health condition like diabetes, high blood pressure, or a history of heart issues? Can you still get coverage? The answer is yes—and understanding table ratings and the available options is the key to securing the protection you need.
Better coverage starts here, and we’re here to guide you through the process, whether you’re in perfect health or living with a medical condition.
What Are Table Ratings?
When you apply for life insurance, the insurer assesses your health and assigns a risk category. Typically, life insurance companies offer ratings such as Super Preferred, Preferred, and Standard for applicants without significant health concerns.
Super Preferred: The best possible rating, given to applicants with excellent health, no major medical history, and ideal lifestyle habits. This rating comes with the lowest premiums.
Preferred: For individuals with good health but perhaps a minor health condition or less-than-ideal lifestyle factors, like slightly elevated cholesterol.
Standard: Assigned to individuals with average health risks and common medical conditions. This also includes those with a mild chronic medical condition, but has been managed and maintained with lifestyle and medications for years.
If you have more complex health issues, you may fall into a different category called table ratings, which affect your premium rates. For those with medical conditions, insurers often use table ratings to determine how much extra you’ll pay for coverage. Think of it as a grading system: the more severe your health condition, the higher the table rating, and the higher your premium.
How Table Ratings Work: Standard policies are generally given to people with average health risks, but if you have a health condition, you might be rated below the standard level. Table ratings are typically represented as Table A, B, C, and so on (sometimes Tables 1-10), with each level adding a percentage increase to the base premium. For example, if your policy has a base premium of $50 per month and you’re assigned a Table C (or Table 3) rating, your premium might be increased by 50%, making it $75 per month.
Who Typically Gets a Table Rating?
You may receive a table rating if you have:
Chronic health conditions such as diabetes or high blood pressure
A history of heart disease or stroke
Obesity or related health complications
Mental health concerns like severe anxiety or depression
Lifestyle risks, such as smoking or hazardous job activities
The good news? Even with a table rating, you can still get life insurance coverage. And with our help, we can find the most competitive rates possible by shopping around and working with our underwriters.
How Can Someone with Health Problems Get Life Insurance?
If you have major health issues, here are several options to consider:
Health Questionnaires and Underwriting Assistance:
You can fill out a health questionnaire detailing your condition, and we will submit it to our underwriters. Our team will work with various life insurance companies to find one that is willing to offer coverage based on your specific health situation. This option provides flexibility and may help secure better rates than you’d expect.
Guaranteed Issue Life Insurance:
These policies offer smaller death benefits, typically between $5,000 and $50,000. There are no medical exams or health questions required to apply for these policies. They are ideal for covering final expenses, such as funeral costs. While premiums are higher, guaranteed issue policies provide peace of mind when traditional coverage isn’t available.
Spouse Rider on a Life Insurance Policy:
If your spouse has a life insurance policy, you may be able to be added as a rider. No health questions or medical exams required. These policies are usually available on many short-term policies, including 10- and 20-year term plans.
Why Are Premiums Higher for People with Health Conditions?
Life insurance companies base premiums on risk. If you have a medical condition, insurers view you as a higher risk because there’s a greater chance they will need to pay the death benefit sooner. As a result, your premiums will typically be higher to account for that risk.
However, the good news is that some companies specialize in working with people who have health conditions, and we know how to connect you with them.
Why It’s Best to Get Life Insurance Now, While You’re Healthy
One of the biggest lessons we share with clients is that it’s always better to apply for life insurance when you’re healthy. Here’s why:
Lower Premiums: The younger and healthier you are, the lower your premiums will be. Waiting until you develop a medical condition could significantly increase your costs.
Guaranteed Coverage: Once you secure a policy, your coverage is locked in, even if your health changes later.
Peace of Mind: Life is unpredictable. Securing life insurance early ensures your family is protected no matter what happens in the future.
Let Utah Avenue Insurance Help You Find the Right Policy
Navigating life insurance with a health condition doesn’t have to be difficult. At Utah Avenue Insurance, our local agents are here to help you find the coverage you need, whether through table-rated policies, guaranteed issue plans, or custom solutions through our underwriters.
Better coverage starts here. Don’t let health concerns hold you back from protecting your family’s future.
📲 Contact us today to explore your options and secure the best policy for your situation!
