Insurance news
Being obese 'won't affect insurance policy'
15 January, 2007
Being dangerously overweight does not necessarily mean you will be excluded from getting adequate health cover, according to one insurance firm.
The comments follow revelations by Legal & General earlier this week which warned that being obese could have a serious effect on your life insurance premium.
But PruHealth said that people would not be excluded simply because they were fat but could be if this excess weight had caused another health problem such as heart attack.
When asked whether PruHealth would refuse cover for an overweight customer, spokesperson Natalie Eyles said: "No we wouldn't. That wouldn't be the reason.
"If their obesity had led to further medical problems which were categorised as something else - they had had a heart attack or something like that - then they would be excluded because of the underwriting. But it would not be just for being obese."
When considering the cost of life insurance and critical illness premiums, firms look at a person's Body Mass Index (BMI).
Legal & General have said that although they would not increase premiums for those with a BMI under 30, those with a score which is over this figure may face increased insurance costs.
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