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Life Insurance A Weighty Issue
s a nation, we are getting figure is set to rise as the new
bigger. By 2025, according heavier generation matures.
to the latest government
statistics, around 33% of girls Insurers are following this
and 25% of boys will be progress with a beady eye. Many
classifiable as clinically obese. applications for insurance now
‘Obese’ is defined as overweight include a ‘weigh on the day’
to the probable detriment of a clause that specifies customer
person’s health. In fact the rate weight on the same day the form
at which UK children are getting is filled in. They will no longer
fatter is set to increase, accept the last known weight,
becoming the worst in the world because it’s simply too tempting
even above the USA. to subtract a pound or two for
the desert you promise not to eat
An estimated £4 billion a year is tomorrow! Heavier customers may
lost through obesity and related be given a higher rate, or even
conditions through time off work. refused certain policies.
Add in disability pay and lost
taxes, and the figure is said to One of the UK’s main insurers
top £20 billion. gave us this example. Consider a
fit, healthy man of 40, weighing
It is generally more likely for about 12 stone at 5ft 10ins. He
an obese person to need to see wishes to find a life insurance
their family doctor, or visit an policy lasting 20 years for
out patients’ clinic, than their £100,000 worth of cover. All well
slimmer neighbour. They also need and good. But if you supersize
treatment more often. The our Mr. Average to 18 stone, even
National Health Service estimates if he is still in excellent
that £15 billion a year must be health, his premium will rise by
spent on these patients, and this more than 50%.
to get cover at all.
If he was asked to undergo a
medical prior to taking up the So neither gender has it easy
policy, and one or two health when it comes to insurance for
issues were raised, this would be heavier clients. The insurance
quite common for someone in his companies naturally feel a need
circumstances. Sadly, it would be to increase their costs in line
equally common for his premium to with their risks, but for those
rise yet again, or for the policy at risk of suffering from health
to be refused. problems life insurance becomes
even more important.
Our poor client would most
probably be denied critical There is undoubtedly an issue of
illness cover altogether. increased costs facing the
Problems such as raised overweight customer looking for
cholesterol or high blood insurance. The extra cost and
pressure, while not exclusively weight go hand in hand. So what
related to a high weight, most can be done to help the
certainly go hand in hand with a situation?
high premium or in this case,
almost certain refusal. In fact, it’s especially
important to get good Life
For women over 16 stone, the Insurance in this situation. If
insurance situation is not much finding this insurance is a
better. They face an increase of problem due to higher weight or
33% on the cost for someone of possible ill health due to the
“normal” weight. Once more, ill condition, a good insurance
health or significantly higher broker is your key to a suitable
weight further increase the cost policy. There is the issue of
of a policy, or even the ability increased cost to consider. But
think about it this way: your new these doctors.
policy at your current weight can
always be updated if your weight Some family GPs do little to help
drops. You’ll enjoy the reduced the situation. Their message is
costs too as your premiums will that the overweight patient is
get lower. just someone who should get off
their couch and do something
Not only that, but these changes about it, without offering any
will probably affect your premium real help, support or information
costs for Life and Travel about useful changes. Thankfully
Insurance too, as well as this is by no means everyone’s
Critical Illness Cover. attitude! Many other family
practitioners do offer a lot of
There is a more insidious problem encouragement, advice and help to
facing the overweight when it their lucky patients, but it can
comes to the NHS. Patients be a bit of a lottery.
defined as obese are entitled to
treatment in the same way as If you find working in a group of
everyone else, yet many people like-minded people useful, you
feel that they will not be given could try one of the many
an equal chance. In a recent slimming clubs on offer. Some
survey of 70,000 hospital people find them very motivating.
doctors, almost 50% were reported They enjoy sharing their
as saying that overweight experiences with others, and if
patients should not be given a this approach is for you then the
replacement hip or other such results can be excellent. Some
surgery. Treatment with free clubs combine diet with an
anti-obesity drugs might seem a exercise programme, and exercise
good solution, but it has been has long been known to be useful
judged undesirable by a third of in increasing fitness as well as
weight loss. are avoided, such as some types
of diabetes, that add up to a
People who have discovered a much higher bill for the NHS as
suitable programme of exercise well as causing patients
and diet, along with a problems. Indeed one lady who had
considerable application of the operation reduced by 12 stone
willpower and determination, and, as her impressive “Before”
often find that achieving and and “After” photos show, she’s
maintaining their ideal weight is well on the way to her target
possible and practical. Others weight and enjoying her new
however have opted for more lifestyle.
extreme measures to get into that
elusive perfect height-weight Once you reach a lower weight,
zone. insurance companies will be more
than happy to give you a policy.
These people have chosen to have So make sure that you have a good
an operation called a gastric set of insurance to see you
bypass, a serious matter – and it though to that day – and don’t
costs the NHS about £12,000 a forget to update them as your
time. All operations, including weight changes! Remember, as you
this one, have their risks. Five lose weight, you gain in savings
hours under the knife is on premium costs.
certainly not something to be
done on a whim! But those who Look though your local insurance
have taken this route say that companies, but don’t forget that
the results are impressive enough there are many great deals
to warrant taking the chance. available online – find yourself
Additionally, there are possible an Internet broker, and they’ll
benefits to be gained for be able to find you specialist
obesity-related conditions that and up-to-date help with all the
latest offers!
About the Author:
Life insurance protection provides free and amazing articles based on life insurance quotes.
Read more articles by: Michael Challiner
Article Source: www.iSnare.com |
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