life insurance declined due to size.....help needed

macca1974

I agree with pjereed, it does look like you'd need to find a specialist protection adviser who can speak to underwriters and get them to consider your specific case.

One thing I would say though is that a few years back I worked for one of the big insurance companies and was having a chat with the head of underwriting about this exact issue. One of the things that he said, was that when they look at people with high BMI's, they are aware that this can mean rejecting people who are very fit (he quoted Rugby players). One of the points that he made was that when you are considering a 25 year plan you need to look into the future and consider the potential health of people based on their current health (just like they do with perfectly healthy smokers, it doesn't mean that they will be healthy in 20 years time). From what he said, statistically "big" people who train a lot in their 20's / 30's, still have a tendency for early mortality because when they get to their 40's / 50's they stop training but can continue to eat the same amount that they used to and that this can cause them to "go to seed" which can then have issues later on relating to heart conditions etc. Not saying that this would be the case, but apparently even healthy bigger people are a higher mortality risk statistically than those with an average BMI.

Silvertabby

so ive just been declined my life insurance due to my size.
now before people start stereotyping me let me explain.
im a shade under 6ft 9 inch tall and weigh 27 stone, i partake in strongman training/comps and weight lifting,i can run up and down stairs etc and swim lengths under water so im far from a useless fat blob that im being made out to be.

i have legally exchanged with jelsons now and handed over £12k deposit so now im !!!!!!!! myself that i wont get life cover which i need for my mortgage.

im guessing they use the generic bmi calculator which makes me morbidly obese, it doesnt take into account muscle mass. i have a body builder friend who is classed as morbidly obese and there isnt a shred of fat on him-the guy looks like he is carved from stone.its !!!!ing !!!!!!!! it is.

proper raging at the minute

Back in my day (and probably now) the Armed Forces used height/weight charts as part of the medical assessment for service/promotion etc. When they found that rugby players etc were 'off the charts', they applied a little common sense and used calipers to assess if the excess was down to fat or muscle. Sorted.

Geoff1963

Percent body fat might be a useful measurement. Some machines can do it by electronics.

sheramber

Many years ago I took out an endowment policy just after my son was born. One of the questions was had I lost more than x amount of weight in the last year.

Well, having given birth a month before the answer was yes.

I had to have a medical done by my GP. My GP laughed when I told him why it was being done.

Geoff1963

A friend went to the doctor, to find out why her appetite had increased recently.
The doctor asked for her a urine sample, and a few minutes later came back to tell her that , "You're eating for two".
"You mean, I'm pregnant ?" she asked.
"No", said the doctor. "You have a tapeworm."

ThinkingOutLoud_2

Ok so if all the mainstream fail - try Pulse Insurance who specialise in those who others decline be that health or sport...

Believe they can handle very high BMIs and as policies are individually underwritten.

Go here and pick the Height Weight form
http://www.pulse-insurance.co.uk/how-to-apply.asp


Let u know how you get on.