Too fat for life insurance: Edmund is one of 1.4MILLION people whose weight means they will be rejected

Refused: Personal finance blogger Edmund Greaves was unable to take out a life insurance policy 

My life has been a wonderful whirlwind this year. I got married, and my new wife and I bought a house. Then we discovered the joyous news that we are expecting a baby in October.

So with a new wife and a baby on the way, I decided it was time to take out life insurance. I wanted to ensure my family would be protected and could pay off the mortgage should the worst happen. First stop — find an insurer. Vitality was recommended by a friend, so I phoned them to find out the costs involved. That’s as far as I got — one of the company’s advisers made it clear that I would be declined cover.

It’s not because I’m some sort of ‘politically exposed person’ — as the banks are claiming many of those they’re rejecting are.  Neither is it because of a personal health concern, such as an underlying heart condition or a risk of hereditary disease.

I have no illnesses, I’m a humble personal finance blogger — and I’m only 34. No, the reason I’ve been given is my weight. Simply put, I’m too fat.

I weighed 159kg (25st) and my body mass index (BMI) was 49.3. BMI, which is a ratio of weight to height, that is used to gauge whether someone is a healthy weight. 

The NHS classifies any score above 30 as ‘obese’ and above 40 as ‘severely obese’. Vitality won’t insure anyone with a BMI score over 40.4.

The NHS’s most recent data warns that more than 1.4 million people in England alone are ‘severely obese’ — and the number is rising.

Like me, millions could be ineligible for life insurance.

This is particularly worrying as some mortgage providers can require you to take out cover before they will lend you money to buy a home.

So why are insurers blocking millions of otherwise healthy people from taking out insurance and what can we do about it?

Why get life insurance?

Life insurance will ensure your family is looked after financially in the event of your death by guaranteeing them a pre-agreed lump sum. Typically, this should be enough to pay off your mortgage.

Monthly premiums vary and depend on your age, lifestyle and factors such as if you do a dangerous job. 

An average level-term policy, which is paid over a fixed period of time that typically runs until the end of a mortgage, costs around £38 a month, according to broker Reassured.

Big problem: The NHS classifies any body mass index above 30 as ‘obese’ and above 40 as ‘severely obese’. Leading insurer Vitality won’t insure anyone with a BMI score over 40.4

A whole life policy, which pays out no matter when you die, as long as you keep up with your premium payments, can cost around £180 a month.

I was denied cover because my weight relative to my height —which is 5ft 9in — which is used to calculate BMI, was seen as too high and too big a risk factor. 

Obesity increases the risk of many other health conditions, such as coronary heart disease, some types of cancer and stroke.

Vitality says that poorly controlled diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and lifestyle reasons (such as alcohol use) are other common reasons why an insurer may decline cover.

Nicky Bray, a chief underwriter for Zurich UK Life, says his firm tends to decline those reporting a BMI above 40. 

‘For customers with high BMIs of over 38, applications will be referred to an underwriter to see if we can offer cover. The max BMI we would look to offer is 47 for any age,’ he adds.

Although you may feel fit and healthy, insurance firms can estimate how much of a risk you will be only using your BMI and whether you smoke.

Alan Lakey, of adviser Highclere Financial Services, says having a condition such as high blood pressure won’t preclude you from getting cover if it is managed successfully, but it will add to your premiums.

He adds: ‘Another area that can be an issue is family medical history, particularly with conditions such as breast cancer in women under 40.

‘Someone who has a sister or a mother with a diagnosis can be refused.’

What to do if you’re declined

Specialist brokers such as Cura, Moneysworth and Pulse help to secure cover for people with underlying health conditions or extreme hobbies, says Mr Lakey.

In some cases, measures such as BMI can unintentionally lead to wrongful policy refusals.

For example, professional rugby players can have very high BMIs because of their disproportionate muscle mass.

Warning sign: Obesity increases the risk of many other health conditions, such as coronary heart disease, some types of cancer and stroke, which is why insurers may not offer cover

In such cases, it is better to go through a broker who could help you get cover by taking your circumstances into account. 

BMI itself is a controversial measurement, with some doctors questioning whether it’s too simplistic a tool to determine whether someone is overweight.

Brokers typically consider applications more carefully and don’t rely on computer modelling to find policies for customers. Vitality recommends finding a specialist broker at biba.org.uk/ find-insurance. Consider this route if you feel you have been wrongly turned down.

Karina Hutchins, head of mortgages at digital advice firm OpenMoney, says: ‘Just because one insurer says no doesn’t mean they all will. Find an adviser who can compare insurers to make sure they place you with the right policy for your circumstances.’

Reversal of fortune

The good news in my case is that, with hard work, the rejection can be reversed. 

A spokesman for Vitality says: ‘Ongoing medical issues can often be resolved, so while you may initially have been declined, once these reasons have been addressed a second application may be accepted.’ 

I’ve paused my search for insurance while I tackle the underlying problem: I’ve started losing weight and have brought my BMI down to 44.4.

I have also set myself the challenge of climbing Mount Kilimanjaro in February 2024, which I’m doing on behalf of Marie Curie in memory of my late mum (check out my fundraiser at justgiving.com/page/kilimanjaro-2024).

Being turned down for life insurance shakes you. But I am determined to do the right thing for my family so they are protected if something should happen to me.

The younger you are, the cheaper your monthly premium will be, and once cover is in place, any future changes in your health will not impact the policy.

Emma Walker, of broker LifeSearch, says: ‘Unlike general insurance, if you buy a life insurance policy for, say, 25 years, the cover and premiums are fixed for its term. And you do not need to tell the insurer about any changes in your health.’

• Edmund Greaves is the editor of personal finance blog Mouthy Money.

This post first appeared on Dailymail.co.uk