Generic Life Insurance Underwriting Guide
Our Generic life underwriting guide can provide the criteria insurance companies use to determine your health class. Because each company has their own specific underwriting guidelines, the choice of insurance policies will be affected by the way each respective company evaluates your health.

	Determining your health class
	Height and Weight chart (Male and Female)
	Tobacco or Nicotine Use
	Opportunities for Alternate Tobacco Users
	Determining your Health Class for Tobacco and Nicotine Users
	Common Health Impairments
	Life Insurance "Mini Physical" Information

Determining your health class

This chart will help you identify which rate class you may obtain based on your specific health information. This is a general guide only. Each company has its own underwriting guidelines. Please call MEG toll free at 1(877) 583-3955 and we will help you identify which rate class and insurance company best suites you.

Height and Weight Chart (Male and Female)

IMPORTANT: Tobacco and nicotine users Please Click here.

Category	Preferred Best Non-Smoker	Preferred Non- Smoker	Standard Plus Non-Smoker	Standard Non-Smoker
Physical / Mental Impairments and Medical History	NO history of heart, stroke, diabetes, cancer, respiratory, circulatory, anxiety, depression, sleep apnea, or any other internal problems.	NO history of heart, stroke, diabetes, cancer, respiratory, circulatory, anxiety, depression, sleep apnea, or any other internal problems.	Some minor history of heart, stroke, diabetes, cancer, respiratory, circulatory, anxiety, depression, sleep apnea, or any other internal problems.	Some minor history of heart, stroke, diabetes, cancer, respiratory, circulatory, anxiety, depression, sleep apnea, or any other internal problems.
Use of Tobacco or Nicotine Products	No use within last 60 months.	No use within last 36 months.	No use within last 12 months.	No use within last 12 months.
Blood Pressure	140/80 or less. No current treatment. Prior treatment OK, if 2+ years	Current or past treatment OK. 145/90	Current or past treatment OK. 152/90	Current or past treatment OK. 156/92
Cholesterols Readings and Ratio	May not exceed 220 or ratio of 5.0, with or without treatment.	May not exceed 250 or ratio of 6.0, with or without treatment	May not exceed 280 or ratio of 7.0, with or without treatment	May not exceed 300 or ratio of 8.0, with or without treatment
Cancer	Only some skin cancers	Only some skin cancers	Depends on type and date of onset	Depends on type and date of onset.
Family Medical History	No cardiovascular disease or cancer in either parent or siblings before age 60	No cardiovascular or cancer death in either parent.	No cardiovascular or cancer death in both parents	No cardiovascular death in both parents.
Aviation	Commercial airline pilots accepted. Private pilots with exclusion.	Commercial airline pilots accepted. Private pilots with exclusion.	Commercial airline pilots accepted. Private pilots with exclusion or flat extra.	Commercial airline pilots accepted. Private pilots with exclusion or flat extra.
Hazardous Activities (Sky Diving, Hang Gliding, Rock Climbing, Scuba Diving, ect)	Available if no flat extra involved.	May include flat extra.	May include flat extra.	May include flat extra
Personal Driving History	No more than 2 moving violations in last 3 years and No DWI, DUI, reckless driving, or suspension in last 5 years.	No more than 2 moving violations in last 3 years and No DWI, DUI, reckless driving, or suspension in last 5 years.	No more than 3 moving violations in last 3 years and No DWI,DUI, reckless driving, or suspension in last 3 years.	No more than 3 moving violations in last 3 years and No DWI, DUI, reckless driving, or suspension in last 3 years.
Substance or Alcohol Abuse	No abuse.	No abuse.	No abuse in last 10 years.	No abuse in last 7 years.
Residency/Citizenship	US citizen, resident for 3 years, must hold permanent Visa or Green Card.	US citizen, resident for 3 years, must hold permanent Visa or Green Card.	US citizen, resident for 2 years, must hold permanent Visa or Green Card.	US citizen, resident for 2 years, must hold permanent Visa or Green Card.

To Top

Height and Weight Chart (Male and Female)

The requirements for height and weight will vary among insurance companies. The chart below should be considered the maximum allowed. If your build exceeds these ranges, please call MEG TOLL FREE 1-877-583-3955 for a personalized quote.

Height	Best Class/ Preferred Plus	Preferred	Standard Plus	Standard
5' 0"	144	158	166	172
5' 1"	148	163	172	178
5' 2"	153	168	175	183
5' 3"	158	174	182	190
5' 4"	163	179	188	195
5' 5"	168	185	194	202
5' 6"	174	191	200	208
5' 7"	179	197	206	215
5' 8"	185	203	212	221
5' 9"	190	209	219	228
5' 10"	196	215	226	234
5' 11"	201	221	231	241
6' 0"	207	228	240	249
6' 1"	213	234	245	255
6' 2"	219	241	253	263
6' 3"	225	247	259	269
6' 4"	230	253	265	276
6' 5"	237	260	272	283
6' 6"	243	267	280	291
6' 7"	249	274	287	299

To Top

Tobacco or Nicotine Use

All smokers and alternative tobacco users will pay more for life insurance due to the increased risk associated with tobacco use. Additionally, most insurers require that former tobacco users be "tobacco free" for at least 12 months (maybe longer) to qualify for preferred non-tobacco rates. However, there are opportunities for alternate tobacco users to obtain non tobacco rates depending on the type and frequency of usage. Occasional cigar users may even qualify for preferred plus nonsmoker rates depending on the circumstances. Please call MEG toll free at 1-877-583-3955 for details.

Determining your Health Class for Tobacco and Nicotine Users

This chart will help you identify which rate class you may obtain, based on your specific health information. This is a general guide. Some alternate tobacco users (cigars, pipe, chewing tobacco, snuff) may qualify for non-tobacco rates. If you are a user of tobacco products other than cigarettes see, opportunities for alternate tobacco users. Please call MEG TOLL FREE at 1-877-583-3955 to see if you qualify.

Height and Weight Chart (Male and Female)

Category	Preferred Smoker	Standard Smoker
Physical / Mental Impairments and Medical History	NO ratable history of heart, stroke, diabetes, cancer, respiratory, circulatory, anxiety, depression, sleep apnea, or any other internal problems.	NO ratable history of heart, stroke, diabetes, cancer, respiratory, circulatory, anxiety, depression, sleep apnea, or any other internal problems.
Blood Pressure	Current or past treatment OK. 152/90	Current or past treatment OK. 156/92
Cholesterols Readings and Ratio	May not exceed 300 or ratio of 7.0, with or without treatment	May not exceed ratio of 8.0, with or without treatment
Cancer	Only some skin cancers	Depends on type and date of onset.
Family Medical History	No cardiovascular or cancer death in either parent.	No cardiovascular death in both parents.
Aviation	Commercial airline pilots accepted. Private pilots with exclusion or flat extra.	Commercial airline pilots accepted. Private pilots with exclusion or flat extra.
Hazardous Activities (i.e. Sky diving, Hang gliding, Rock climbing, Scuba diving etc)	May include flat extra.	May include flat extra
Personal Driving History	No more than 2 moving violations in last 3 years and No DWI, DUI, reckless driving, or suspension in last 5 years.	No more than 3 moving violations in last 3 years and No DWI, DUI, reckless driving, or suspension in last 3 years.
Substance or Alcohol Abuse	No abuse.	No abuse in last 7 years.
Residency/Citizenship	US citizen, resident for 3 years, must hold permanent Visa or Green Card.	US citizen, resident for 2 years, must hold permanent Visa or Green Card.

To Top

Opportunities for Alternate Tobacco Users

Some non-cigarette tobacco users (cigars, pipes, chewing tobacco, snuff, nicotine patches, etc.) may qualify for non tobacco rates depending on certain conditions. There are several life insurance companies that offer alternate tobacco users this special underwriting concession. You may be able to save as much as 50% off normal smoker rates. Please call MEG toll free at 1(877) 583-3955 to determine if you can qualify for one of these low non tobacco rate opportunities.

 

Common Health Impairments

The table below provides general guidelines for some of the most common health impairments and how each impairment relates to your underwriting class. Your underwriting class will be based on your current health, medical history, and additional underwriting information. Depending on the nature, severity, and treatment of your impairment, higher rates may apply. Underwriting requirements vary by company. If you have any questions or if you have an impairment not listed in the table, please call MEG TOLL FREE at 1-877-583-3955 for additional information.

 

Medical History	Best Class	Preferred	Standard
Alcohol / Drug Abuse Dependency History
Arthritis (rheumatoid)
Asthma (requiring treatment within past 2 years)
Bronchitis (chronic)
Cancer (except certain basal cell skin types)
Cardiovascular / Heart Disease
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Crohn's Disease
Depression (requiring treatment within past 2 years)
Diabetes (non-insulin dependent)
Diabetes (insulin dependent)
Emphysema
Epilepsy (seizures within past 5 years)
Gastric / Peptic Ulcers (requiring treatment within past 2 years)
Hyperlipidemia (treatment for elevated cholesterol/lipids)
Hypertension (High Blood Pressure)
Kidney / Liver Disease (chronic)
Melanoma
Mental Illness
Multiple Sclerosis
Stroke (including TIA)
Ulcerative Colitis
Vascular Disease

Higher table class rates usually apply

To Top

 

Home About Us Contact Us Privacy PolicyLegal