Low Pressure = Lower Costs
–By Priya Jestin, Staff Writer
While each individual policy may be different depending on the policyholder’s needs, there are certain factors that remain constant and affect your life insurance costs. A while back I had written about how your cholesterol level can actually affect your insurance rates. Cholesterol isn’t the only factor taken into account when deciding insurance rates. Your weight and blood pressure are the two other very common factors that can have a great impact on your life insurance costs.
So why do life insurance companies place blood pressure on such a high pedestal? Well, for one, if you have high blood pressure, it could lead to further complications. Like high cholesterol, high blood pressure can lead to heart disease and other health problems. This in turn may put you at risk for higher life insurance costs.
Your gender and age are some of the factors that determine your blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Normal adult blood pressure is generally identified as 130 over 85. You have hypertension (high blood pressure) if your blood pressure is at or above 140 over 90. A blood pressure level at or slightly above 140 over 90 is regarded as low-grade hypertension. Most insurance companies have levels they consider acceptable, and other levels they consider preferred (which may qualify you for discounted rates).
Now, your blood pressure levels alone will usually not raise your life insurance costs. But combined with another underwriting factor (such as cholesterol or obesity), hypertension is likely to raise your costs. Moreover, if your blood pressure is dangerously high, this may be reason enough to raise your rates.
This doesn’t mean you need to despair if your blood pressure levels aren’t normal. Many people respond well to medications that help lower their blood pressure. If you have managed to lower your level, your past higher level should not affect your life insurance costs now.
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