You know that obesity can lead to a myriad of health issues, ranging from high blood pressure to cancer. If you are obese, your health insurance company will assume that you’re more likely to develop long-term health problems. This has caused you to wonder how health insurance for obese people works. Can you be forced to pay higher premiums, or even turned away? If so, what can you do about it? Get the details about health insurance and obesity.
How Can Obesity Increase Insurance Premiums?
The Affordable Care Act changed the health insurance industry. According to the act, insurers cannot charge higher health insurance premiums to people with pre-existing medical conditions. Unfortunately, obesity is not considered a pre-existing condition, so insurers can charge higher premiums when providing health insurance for obese people. Generally, people with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher can expect to pay more each month for health insurance. In some cases, health insurance for obese people costs 25 to 50 percent more than coverage for people with a BMI below 30.
Can an Overweight Individual Be Denied Coverage?
You probably also wonder, “Can I be denied insurance for being obese?” Because obesity is not a covered pre-existing condition, it is possible to be denied coverage. Fortunately, there are options for health insurance for obese people. If you have been denied coverage, don’t get discouraged. You can still get the coverage you need by comparing options from multiple insurers.
What About Life Insurance for Obese People?
If you’re overweight, it’s reasonable to worry about being refused life insurance due to your BMI. While it’s possible, most life insurance companies offer insurance to overweight people. However, life insurance for obese applicants can be more costly. Your premium could cost twice as much or more than policies for people of average weight.
Generally, life insurance companies use five categories for determining premiums. Preferred Plus is the top tier category and provides the lowest rate. You will have a hard time getting this rate unless you are at an ideal weight.
The Preferred category is for people who are in excellent health who might have one or two minor health issues. Again, you need to be at least close to the ideal weight to make it into this class.
Standard Plus is the next category, and it was created for those who are a bit healthier than the average person, while people in average health fall in the Standard category. You can get this coverage if you are obese, even if you have some health conditions.
However, if you are morbidly obese, you might only qualify for a Table rating, which means you fall below the standard health class. This rating comes with the highest premiums. Fortunately, you can still likely find coverage.
What Can You Do to Prevent Higher Premiums?
The best way to save money on health insurance is to lose weight. Of course, this is a slow process, so you might not get better rates for a year or longer.
Fortunately, you can find competitive rates for health insurance for obese people is through comparative shopping. You can speak to a licensed insurance agent at Freeway Insurance. Your agent will take your details and compare plans to find you the best coverage at the lowest possible price. This is the easiest way to save on health insurance for obese people, so get your free quote today.
