Underwriting Factors Of Life Insurance

Updated: 28 April 2026

What Does Underwriting Factors Of Life Insurance Mean?

The underwriting factors of life insurance are the criteria an insurance company uses to determine whether to issue a policy and, if so, at what price. These factors can include age, weight, tobacco use, total cholesterol levels, heart disease, diabetes, and family history of diseases. Each of these factors feeds directly into what you’ll actually pay for your life insurance premium, so understanding them before you apply can help you anticipate your rate class.

Insuranceopedia Explains Underwriting Factors Of Life Insurance

It is crucial for life insurance companies to accurately assess the underwriting factors when issuing policies. If too many policies are granted to high-risk individuals, the insurance company could face significant financial losses. Certain factors, such as being over 80 years old, can make a prospective policyholder a high risk, which may make it unlikely for them to qualify for a life insurance policy.

Applicants with conditions like diabetes or a history of tobacco use sometimes turn to no medical exam life insurance, which uses a shorter list of underwriting factors and skips the blood work and physical.