Life Insurance Types | Buying Life Insurance | Understanding Life Insurance | Glossary
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High Risk Term Life Insurance

Term life insurance premiums, like all other insurance premiums, are based on the level of risk the insured represents to the company underwriting the policy. The higher the risk the policyholder poses, the more he/she will pay. Life insurers group applicants into the high-risk category for a number of different reasons, including advanced age, preexisting health conditions, and hazardous hobbies or occupations. If you fall into this category, finding coverage can prove challenging, particularly if you are on a tight budget. Read on to learn more about high risk term life insurance and how it can serve your needs.

What Is High Risk?

Your health, age, and/or lifestyle are the factors most likely to result in a high-risk designation by a life insurer. Those who seek high risk term life insurance typically have been denied for standard coverage for one or more of the following reasons:

  • A preexisting medical condition, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, or heart disease
  • Tobacco, alcohol, or drug use
  • Dangerous occupation (e.g., fireman or electrician)
  • Hazardous pastimes, such as hang gliding, bungee jumping, or skydiving
  • Advanced age
  • Obesity

How a High-Risk Policy Can Help

Traditional life insurance companies often rely on mortality tables that may contain data up to 30 years old. Because they are outdated, these tables fail to account for the advances made in modern medicine that allow people to live longer, healthier lives than ever before, even when certain risk factors are present. Fortunately, the companies that offer high risk term life insurance typically utilize "clinical medical underwriting" instead of outmoded mortality tables. This philosophy of underwriting accounts for the latest medical advances that help people with health conditions live longer. This type of underwriting also allows carriers to provide more reasonable term life premiums to policyholders who might otherwise be uninsurable because of the prohibitive cost of coverage.

Finding High-Risk Term Life Insurance

Only a handful of carriers offer high risk term insurance, but you can find these providers easily by requesting quotes on high-risk term life policies here. LifeInsuranceRates.com makes a number of special-needs life insurance policies available to its visitors, including high-risk coverage. Use our multi-quote request system to compare high-risk term life policies and find the most reasonable premiums for your individual needs. Don't make finding high risk term life insurance a frustrating hassle when you can get up to five offers with one click on our site.