Low BMI & Life Insurance
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Low BMI & Life Insurance
When you apply for life insurance your BMI is something that most UK insurers want to know about. BMI tables are outdated but they are one of the quickest ways for insurers to get a quick view of your health.
A lot of the time people think about high BMIs as a potential barrier to getting life insurance and this can be true. But low BMI can also sometimes make getting life insurance harder.
When you speak with us we might ask you:
- What is your height?
- What is your weight?
- Is your low weight caused by a medical condition?
Insurers generally see a lower weight as an indication that a person has a healthier lifestyle. This is based upon a lot of assumptions and is not necessarily right for everyone.
When your BMI starts to drop below 19 insurers within the UK, often start to look at life insurance applications more. This is because they want to just double check why your BMI is so low.
It can be that you just naturally have a lower BMI, but sometimes it can be linked to eating disorders or other medical conditions. If your low BMI is caused by a medical condition then the insurer is likely to ask you more about it.
When you have a BMI lower than 19 it is possible that some insurers will increase the cost of your life insurance a little bit. If your BMI is 17 or lower it is quite likely that you will need to speak to a specialist insurer for life insurance.
It is worth bearing in mind that if your BMI is lower as you were born with a reduced number of limbs, or have had an amputation, some insurers will be very understanding as to why your BMI is low.
Our expert advisers are to make sure that your life insurance policy is placed with the best insurer for you.
Low BMI & Critical Illness Cover
Critical illness cover pays out a cash lump sum of money, if you are diagnosed with a medical condition that is listed in the insurer’s claims set e.g. cancer, heart attack, stroke.
Having a low BMI can have an influence on your options for critical illness cover. BMI plays quite a big part in developing serious medical conditions, that could potential lead to a claim on critical illness cover.
When your BMI is lower than 19 you can find that some insurers start to increase the cost of your critical illness policy. A BMI of 17 or lower will usually mean that your critical illness policy will need to be placed with a specialist insurer.
Our award winning advisers are here to make sure that you get the right insurer to match you and your health.
Low BMI & Income Protection
Income protection pays you a replacement of your monthly income, if you are unable to work due to ill health.
When you take out income protection the insurers want to know about anything that could increase the chance of you claiming on the policy. Having a low BMI can sometimes lead to an increased risk of heart problems, anaemia, osteoporosis and some other conditions too.
You will find that some insurers will not be able to offer you income protection if your BMI is lower than 19. The key thing here is some, not all.
Our advisers are here to make sure that you get the best insurance policy to protect your income.
Low BMI & Travel Insurance
Are you going on holiday? It’s always a good idea to make sure that you have good travel insurance in place. You can find out more about getting a quote on our travel insurance page.
Video Transcript
to follow
What is a low BMI?
Possible Effects on Lifestyle
Some of the symptoms people may experience that have a low BMI:
- Concentration difficulties
- Fatigue
- Hair loss
- Loss of muscle mass
- Vitamin deficiency
Medications and Treatments
- Exercise planning
- Food planning
- Cognitive behaviour therapy
- Counselling
Further Reading and Research
By clicking on the link(s) above you will be departing from the regulatory site of Cura Financial Services. Cura Financial Services is not responsible for the accuracy of the information contained within the linked site(s).
Common Questions
Hi, it’s lovely to hear from you. I’m sorry that you have not found getting life insurance easy. When your BMI is 18.5 insurers might see you as underweight and want to check with you if there is a specific reason for this.
I have helped people to get life insurance with a BMI that was similar to yours and that was their natural body type, and for people where a medical condition has caused it.
If there is no reason for your BMI being low other than the fact that your weight is naturally low, you shouldn’t be declined life insurance by most insurers in the UK.
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Review by Fiona on 2nd November 2023
“Very efficient and knowledgeable about the product. Was easy to talk too and i could ask any questions, highly recommend” - 5
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Dr Kathryn Knowles Phd
Author
This page was written by Dr Kathryn Knowles Phd, an award-winning insurance adviser. To read more about Kathryn please see her bio here
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