Life Insurance Cover - Fat Chance

The Government predicts that by 2025, obesity rates in children will be a
frightening statistic. It is thought that around 33% of girls and 25% of
boys will be clinically obese. This means overweight to the extent that
their health will be likely to suffer.

The rate at which UK children are getting fat is the worst in the world.
There are experts that believe that the UK will top the tables as the most
obese country, overtaking the USA.

Obesity and conditions related to this condition are costing the country
£4billion in working days lost. Disability pay and lost tax payments through
being unable to work are believed to be costing up to £20billion per annum.

Obese people are likely to visit the GP’s surgeries and hospital clinic’s
more frequently than average weight patients and there is an increased need
for treatment. With the National Health Service’s cost for these “obesity”
patients estimated to be at £15billion per year, it’s a worrying thought
that these costs will spiral as the younger generation figures come into
play.

Naturally, insurance companies are showing a lot of concern about these
predictions. Many of them now ask specifically for the weight of the
applicant on the day that they fill in the form. Asking how heavy you were
when last weighed is not quite the same thing. It’s easy to get “weight
amnesia” and omit a few pounds ………or more. If the answer is not to the
insurer’s liking the premium could rise significantly, or you may even be
refused cover.

We have some figures from one of the main insurer’s. Take, for example, a
man in good health and aged 40 and applying for 20 years life insurance
worth £100,000. If he’s Mr Average, he’ll weigh around 12 stone and be 5ft
10ins tall. Now consider the same person but put his weight at 18 stone.
Still in good health, but the premium for his life insurance would rise by
over 50%.
If a medical was insisted on and he was found to have one or two problems
which would be quite usual for a person of his age and weight, then either
the premiums would be considerably higher or he would be refused cover.

In the case of critical illness insurance, it’s unlikely that this same
person would get any cover at all. Certainly there would be a refusal if the
result of a medical showed any weight-related complications, such as high
blood pressure or raised cholesterol.

Women weighing over 16 stone are likely to have similar problems when it
comes to insurance, and the extra cost of insurance at this weight, as
opposed to “normal” weight, would be an additional 33%. Again, if in ill
health or weighing very much more than this, then the ability to get cover
would be doubtful.

These facts present major problems for both sexes as, due to health
problems, life insurance becomes an important issue.

So what you can do to change the situation?

Life insurance in particular is extremely important. If you have a problem
in organising life insurance due to obesity and possibly ill health due to
the condition, then you’ll need a good broker to help you to find the right
company to help you.
It might be expensive, but remember if you take the cover that you need now,
if there is an improvement in your position at a later date and your weight
has fallen, it will be possible to switch to a more reasonably priced
policy.

Adjustments to your lifestyle and diet will certainly lower your premiums
for life, critical illness and probably travel insurance too.

Although obese people are entitled to NHS treatment, a great many people
claim that it is denied. There has been a recent survey of 70,000 hospital
doctors in which it is reported that almost 50% said that patients should
not be given replacement hip operations or similar. The use of free
anti-obesity drugs, which you would imagine would be desirable, was
challenged by a third of the doctors.

The attitude of some GP’s is not helpful. Quite often the message is that
you’re overweight and it’s time to do something about it, without any real
help being offered. It also has to be said that some GP’s offer real help
and for patient’s lucky enough to be under their care, they will offer a lot
of encouragement, but it’s a combined effort!

There are lots of slimming clubs offering you the chance to slim in the
company of others with similar problems and they certainly seem to be
extremely successful with some of their members. Some of these clubs combine
exercise with diet and certainly exercise plays a large part in becoming fit
and healthy.

Whilst some people find that a regime of diet and exercise, combined with a
very large helping of will power and determination, will get them to their
optimum weight for their age and height, others have taken more extreme
action.

An operation called a gastric bypass, which costs the NHS around £12,000 per
patient, is possible. It’s not to be undertaken lightly and not without
risks to the patient but for those who have undergone, or are about to
undergo, the 5 hour
operation, be assured that the results are amazing. This may
sound extremely expensive, but treatment for an obesity-related illness such
as diabetes could well cost more than this in just one year. We heard
recently of one lady whose weight had reduced by 12 stone, from her
heaviest, as a result of her operation. The “before and after” photographs
are truly amazing and she’s well on her way to a normal weight and wonderful
new lifestyle.

Once down to an acceptable weight, insurance companies are more than happy
to take you on, so don’t delay in arranging some cover in the meantime.
Remember, the more you lose, the more you’ll gain in premium savings.

Log on to the Internet to find an on-line broker, who’ll contact insurance
companies offering specialist help for you.

About The Author: Michael has worked in financial srrvices for over 15 years
at Director level. He also writes articles for a number of UK based
financial web sites. Get great articles on life insurance from life
insurance shop http://www.life-insurance-shop.co.uk