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Learning that you have high cholesterol can make your search for life insurance more stressful. But you can still find affordable life insurance if you’re willing to shop around for the right policy.
In most cases, having high cholesterol on its own won’t stop you from getting life insurance, but you might pay more for your premiums than someone with lower cholesterol numbers.
High cholesterol could be linked to other conditions that increase your risk of dying, such as cardiovascular disease, stroke and high blood pressure. Having high cholesterol could be viewed by insurers as a higher risk for any of these conditions, which drives up premiums.
Life insurance companies use classifications to determine what you’ll pay for your policy, and your cholesterol is just one part of your health classification. The importance your insurer places on cholesterol and how you’re classified varies between companies. But that also means if you don’t like the rates from one insurer, you can shop around to find a better deal.
Insurance companies look at two main cholesterol figures when determining your classification: your total cholesterol number and the ratio of your total cholesterol to your HDL, or good cholesterol level.
HDL is considered “good” cholesterol because it keeps other forms of cholesterol in check and lowers your risk of heart disease. To get your HDL-to-total-cholesterol ratio, divide your total cholesterol by your HDL number. For example, if your total cholesterol is 240 and your HDL is 60, your ratio is four.
A ratio of five for an adult man is considered average, but an acceptable ratio or total cholesterol number varies by insurer. With one insurer, a ratio of six might put you in a lower health classification, where another might not consider the ratio number at all.
Making lifestyle changes to bring down your total cholesterol or increase your HDL can really help, but also takes time. In the meantime, consider the following:
Several life insurance companies offer coverage without a medical exam, but be prepared to pay more for your policy and face coverage limitations. The types of policies don’t require a medical exam are:
A high cholesterol diagnosis doesn’t automatically disqualify you from getting a good deal on life insurance, but it can make finding preferred rates a little harder. Following your doctor’s orders can show underwriters that you’re managing your condition and may help improve your underwriting class. But most importantly, comparing life insurance companies can make sure you get the coverage you need at the best possible price.
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