Can you get life insurance if you are overweight?
Obesity or a high body mass index (BMI) does not usually mean that you can’t get life insurance in the UK, but it can increase your premiums or reduce your choice of insurers. Many of the standard life insurance companies will accept applications up to a BMI of 48, and some specialist companies offer cover for people up to 55. If your BMI is extremely high or there are other medical complications, such as diabetes or heart problems, then cover may not be available. You may also need to speak to a specialist broker to make sure that you get cover at the right price from the best insurers.
What is the maximum BMI for life insurance?
Currently the maximum BMI for life insurance is up to 48 with a standard provider, or some specialist companies will accept applications up to 55 in some cases. Life insurance for people who are classed as obese will typically require additional medical underwriting and may need a medical report from your GP.
Is life insurance more expensive for overweight people?
Premiums for life insurance start from †£5 per month for standard life insurance with no medical conditions or health problems. If you are overweight, then the price you pay for your cover may be higher depending on your age and if your BMI is above the insurer’s standard levels (approximately 25 BMI).
Which is the best life insurance company for high BMIs?
Currently the best life insurance companies for high BMIs are The Exeter (up to 55 BMI), Zurich (up to 47 BMI), Royal London (up to 46 BMI), and LV (up to 46 BMI). Each insurance provider has its own rules and underwriting criteria for high BMI, so it’s important to shop around and compare quotes to find the cheapest cover.
Is it worth using a broker for high BMI life cover?
Using an independent, fee-free specialist broker can be very helpful if you have a high BMI, because they understand which insurers are more open to higher-risk applicants and can compare quotes quickly. This can save you time, reduce the chance of refusals, and help you avoid paying more than you need to for similar cover.
Key Points: Guide to Overweight life insurance 2026.
- Life insurance premiums are typically linked to your weight or Body Mass Index and higher BMI’s can mean higher life insurance premiums.
- Some life insurance companies offer cheaper premiums for overweight people than others and you can save money by speaking to an overweight life insurance specialist.
- According to the NHS, people are classed as being overweight from 25 to 29.9 BMI and obese is over 30 BMI, which is roughly the same for life insurance underwriting.
- Losing weight can also reduce your life insurance premiums as well as other lifestyle changes, such as stopping smoking and regular exercise.
- Some life insurance companies have programmes and schemes to help policyholders to lose weight, such as WeightWatchers, Park Run, Nuffield Health, and Pure Gym.
- Body Mass Index is not the most reliable measurement for your height and weight ratio, but this is still the most common method that insurers use.
- Maximum BMI levels for life insurance is currently approximately 50 with some insurance companies and as much as 55 for specialist insurers.
About our iam|INSURED Overweight Life Insurance Guide
Our team of qualified insurance experts has 30 years of experience and expertise in helping people with pre-existing medical conditions to find cheaper cover to protect your family. We understand how things like high BMI can impact life insurance premiums due to the related health risks, and it’s our mission to help you save money on your life cover. Life insurance premiums for Overweight individuals can vary dramatically from one insurer to another, so it’s important to apply to the best high-BMI life insurance company for you.
There are also often other health factors to consider with high body fat, such as high blood pressure or raised cholesterol levels, that can also affect life insurance premiums. Also, life insurance for overweight females is usually the same price as males, so premiums are typically the same for men and women.
Can you get life insurance if you are overweight?
Yes, it is possible to get life insurance if you have a high BMI or if you are classed as obese by your doctor. Most of the mainstream life insurance brands do not consider high BMI to be high risk and so will offer life cover for people who have a BMI of up to between 45 and 50 BMI, with specialist insurers covering up to around 55 BMI in 2026.
Life insurance companies will ask for your latest height, weight, and sometimes waist measurement or dress sizes to calculate your body mass index (BMI). Some insurance companies use different BMI scales than others, and so you will find that overweight cover can be cheaper through some insurers.
Common health questions about BMI | NHS
This clip from the NHS explains how to work out your BMI and answers the UK’s most common BMI questions.
Does overweight life insurance cost more?
Typically, life insurance premiums don’t increase unless your BMI is above 30; then you would expect to pay more for life cover. People who are overweight or obese would usually pay higher premiums, and cover will get more expensive for higher BMI levels up to the maximum levels of approximately 50 to 55.
BMI levels are also lower for people who are older, such as someone who is applying for life insurance at over 40 or over 50 years of age. This is usually because your BMI will normally increase naturally as you get older, and the impact on your health tends to be lower at later stages in life.
There are also some exceptions to the high BMI rule, such as people who have a higher muscle mass, which can cause them to weigh more. Some insurers ask for waist measurements or dress size to be able to identify those people who are healthy or active with a high BMI (e.g., rugby players, weightlifters, athletes, and active people).
What is the maximum BMI for life insurance?
Currently in 2026, life insurance companies offer life insurance up to a limit of around 45 to 50 with most insurers and up to 55 with some specialists. Each insurance company has their own BMI limits, and these can sometimes change depending on claims experience and medical data.
Latest Life Insurance BMI limits 2026
| Insurance company | BMI limits |
|---|---|
| The Exeter | Covers BMI up to 55 for ages 45-59 Covers BMI up to 51 for people younger than 44 Covers BMI up to 41 for people over 60 |
| Royal London | Covers BMI up to 46 (if there are no other medical conditions) |
| Liverpool Victoria | Covers BMI up to 46 for ages 31 and above Covers BMI up to 53 for ages 30 and younger |
| Guardian | Covers BMI up to 44 |
| Zurich | Covers BMI up to 47 |
| Scottish Widows | Covers BMI up to 44 |
| Aviva | Covers BMI up to 40 |
| Vitality | Covers BMI up to 39 |
| Legal & General | Covers BMI up to 40 maximum (Limits vary based on each applicant.) |
Note: Many companies can offer life cover to people with a high BMI, and you should consider which insurer feels like the right fit for the policy that you need.
How does overweight life insurance work?
Life insurance for overweight applicants are generally the same for most insurance companies, apart from some differences in what health questions they ask or how they ask questions about your health. For example, some insurers will only ask for your height and weight, whereas other insurance companies might ask for your waist measurement or dress size.
Also, some insurance companies offer better underwriting terms for people with higher BMI levels than others, which can be for a number of reasons. This is usually because an insurer might have lower claims for overweight people, and therefore they can be more flexible with their pricing or underwriting.
You can also read our guide to the best life insurance for overweight companies, which compares the latest high-BMI life cover insurers.
Application questions for overweight life insurance
- What is your current height and weight? (used to calculate your BMI)
- How old are you? (Your age will also affect your premiums linked to your BMI)
- What is your smoker status? (e.g. non-smoker, smoker, or ex-smoker)
- Do you have any medical conditions? (related or non-related to your BMI)
- What type of life insurance do you want? (e.g. family life insurance or mortgage life insurance)
Do I need life insurance if I am overweight?
Whether life insurance is right for you will depend on your specific circumstances, but it is certainly a useful policy to have and is recommended by various financial experts. Overweight people have the same worries and concerns as anyone else, and this includes wanting the best financial protection for their families.
Having life insurance can make a huge difference to your family’s lives if you pass away. The payout from a life insurance policy will help your loved ones to cover important expenses, such as repaying your mortgage or increased childcare costs.
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Does life insurance pay out for overweight people?
There is no need to worry that your life insurance policy won’t pay out because of your weight, as this is extremely unlikely to happen. Life insurance companies won’t refuse to pay out based on your weight, and they will pay out if you die for any reason related to your weight (e.g., a related medical condition).
You will also still be covered if your weight changes in the future (e.g., you were a ‘healthy’ weight when you applied and have gained weight since). If you lose weight, it is worth reviewing the cover that you have to see if lower prices are now available for you.
How much does life insurance for overweight people cost?
You might find that life insurance does cost slightly more for some people, though, as this will be based on the insurance company’s attitude to ‘risk.’ Insurance companies will often view people who are overweight as having a higher risk of claiming on their policy, even if they are generally healthy. This is because having a high BMI can sometimes cause medical issues such as heart disease or diabetes to develop, so the companies will account for this.
To give you a rough idea of pricing, our experts have put together these case studies which highlight real-life overweight life insurance policies. We have made sure to include a range of different BMIs and ages to give you a better idea of how much you might pay for your cover.
Case Study: Mr C.
| Applicant details | Overweight life insurance |
|---|---|
| Age and smoker status | Born in 1987 and is a non-smoker |
| Height and Weight | Height: 6’2” / Weight: 22st 4lbs |
| Body Mass Index (BMI) | 40 |
| Other health details | No other medical conditions |
| Cover amount | £300,000 (mortgage life insurance) |
| Policy term | 38 years |
| Premium type | Guaranteed (fixed) premiums |
| Policy price | £35.02 per month |
Case Study: Miss L.
| Applicant details | Overweight life insurance |
|---|---|
| Age and smoker status | Born in 1985 and is a non-smoker |
| Height and Weight | Height: 5’8” / Weight: 19st |
| Body Mass Index (BMI) | 40.4 |
| Other health details | Also has fibromyalgia, anxiety, and high blood pressure. |
| Cover amount | £150,000 (mortgage life insurance) |
| Policy term | 40 years |
| Premium type | Guaranteed (fixed) premiums |
| Policy price | £11.44 per month |
Note: These case studies are only intended to be examples to give you a rough idea of pricing, and your own policy may cost more or less than the examples above.
How can I save money on overweight life insurance?
Finding the right price for your life cover is important, and by comparing quotes from several insurance companies with a broker, that’s the easiest and quickest way to save money, usually. There are also some other things that you can do to help reduce the cost of your life insurance if you are classed as being overweight. Below are several simple money-saving hints and tips to reduce the cost of your life cover with a high BMI.
How to Save Money on Overweight Life Insurance
- Weight loss: Losing even a small amount of weight may help to reduce the cost of life insurance for overweight people (e.g., diet or exercise).
- Quit smoking: Smokers will always pay higher premiums for life insurance, so quitting smoking for 12 or more months will significantly cut the cost of life cover.
- Other lifestyle improvements: Prices can often be lowered if you make other improvements to your lifestyle (e.g., being more active or reducing the amount of alcohol that you drink).
Can you get critical illness cover if you are overweight?
It is often possible to buy critical illness cover if you are overweight, which offers a higher level of protection for you and your family. If you were diagnosed with a serious medical condition, critical illness insurance pays out a lump sum to help with any extra costs like private medical bills or adaptations to your home (not to be confused with income protection insurance, which covers your income if you’re unable to work).
This gives you some peace of mind that you won’t struggle financially because of your condition, especially if you need some time off work to recover.
What BMI is a critical illness?
You won’t be able to claim on critical illness insurance for being overweight, but you might be able to claim for other related medical conditions if they are covered by your policy. This includes conditions like heart attacks and strokes, which are some of the most common reasons for critical illness claims in the UK.
Frequently asked questions about life insurance and BMI
What weight do I need to be for life insurance?
There isn’t a set ‘ideal weight’ for life insurance, as insurance companies will look at your BMI rather than your weight. This number is a combination of your height and weight, which helps them to determine if you are a ‘healthy’ weight.
Even if your BMI is above the ‘healthy’ range, there will usually still be life insurance companies that can offer the policies that you need.
What is considered overweight for life insurance?
You will be considered as overweight by a life insurance company if your BMI is 25 or higher. This can vary slightly though, as some insurance companies might use the American BMI scale rather than the British one.
Don’t be worried that your BMI is too high for life insurance, as this won’t generally be true. Most insurers can offer cover to overweight individuals, and some specialist companies will cover people with a BMI as high as 53.
Can you buy life insurance for obese people?
Obesity is a medical term and is usually defined by your BMI. According to the NHS, you would be classed as ‘obese’ if you have a BMI of over 30, and ‘morbidly obese’ if it’s over 40. It is still very likely that you will be able to get affordable life insurance with a high BMI or if you are overweight. People who are overweight may also still be able to get standard rates life insurance by speaking to our carefully selected insurance partners.
Finding the right life insurance for overweight individuals
The quickest way to compare life insurance quotes for high BMI is to speak to a specialist who can compare the cost of cover for you from multiple insurers to find the right options. Life insurance premiums can vary dramatically for people with high BMI and so it’s definitely a good idea to get quotes from as many insurance companies so that they can find their cheapest prices for you.
It’s important to compare quotes from a panel of insurance companies to find the right cover at the right price, especially for people with specialist requirements like life insurance for overweight individuals. You shouldn’t have to pay more for your life cover and some insurers can be considerably more expensive than others for high BMI and other health related situations.
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Useful resources
Obesity UK
Obesity UK is this country's leading charity dedicated to supporting people living with obesity. They work as a support group which aims to raise awareness and understanding of obesity, as well as reducing the stigma around being overweight.
Their website contains useful guides and resources for overweight people, and Obesity UK currently helps over 35,000 members.
Contact Obesity UK
You can contact Obesity UK over social media or by using their online contact form here: Obesity UK - Contact Us
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