I smoke. What is the best life insurance for me?

Life insurance rates are based on tables of life expectancy. Life expectancy is the number of years that someone of your age, on the average, will live. The longer the number of years that the insurance company can anticipate that you will live, the lower the premiums will be.

Anything that affects the number of years that you can be expected to live may affect the rates that you pay for life insurance. When you apply for life insurance, you will have to answer questions about your medical history. The agent will then send the application to the company for underwriting. Underwriting is the process by which the insurance company investigates your personal history and issues a policy at preferred rates or makes an offer to you based on the medical information you (or your doctor) have provided and based on a physical exam that the insurance company pays for.

One of the most important considerations on your health is smoking. If you smoke and your health is good, the insurance company will generally rate your premiums at about twice that of a non-smoker in the same health. Rates will be individually determined at one of several rating tiers if you have had significant health history. You will have the opportunity to accept or not accept the policy. If your policy is rated (offered at an increased premium), a good General Insurance agent will check with other insurance carriers who may offer you a more favorable policy.

Additional factors that affect your insurance eligibility and premium are your height and weight, your family history, and hobbies and professions that present an increased risk (skydiving, professional sports, skin diving, piloting an airplane.)

As a General Agent, David B. Mulberg and Associates has been twenty three years experience in comparing insurance plans, and can choose for your the plan best suited to your individual requirements.

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