Health Insurance for an Overweight Applicant

Many people with weight problems are worried about getting health insurance and how much health insurance will cost. The best way to confront these worries is to inform yourself about the situation for overweight people who are looking for health insurance.

The first thing you should know is that obesity is considered a pre-existing condition. In this day and age, pre-existing conditions are not grounds for an insurer to deny an applicant a policy.

However, they can raise their premiums, which will likely happen for overweight applicants. The Affordable Care Act restricts how insurers approve or deny applicants for their policies, but insurers can increase their premiums within reason for pre-existing conditions. You also have the option to shop around if your insurance policy is not through an employer.

If your insurance is through an employer, they can charge a monthly fee for things like smoking. An additional employer fee for being overweight is uncommon even when talking about morbidly obese people. Insurance companies are accounting for an elevated risk of high blood pressure, cholesterol, heart disease, diabetes, and other health conditions that could cost them more year over year.

It is still possible to find an affordable policy. To learn more about getting health insurance as an overweight applicant, read on.

Do you want to find affordable and better health insurance today? Enter your ZIP code above and compare at least three to four policies!

What Are Pre-Existing Conditions for a Health Insurance Company?

Preexisting conditions are a fundamental concept in healthcare. A pre-existing condition can be any diagnosed medical condition which started before an application for a health insurance policy. A healthcare professional cannot release certain aspects of your medical history without your permission. But your insurance company typically gets access to your health records to provide coverage for prescriptions, appointments, and medical treatments. They also ask about these on applications.

Previously, insurers regularly declined applications due to pre-existing conditions; the Affordable Care Act made this illegal.

However, insurers now raise premiums by significant amounts due to pre-existing conditions, such as obesity.

For an overweight person to be diagnosed with obesity for health insurance, they need to have been prescribed medication or treatment from a licensed physician before the application for a policy. If you’re also checking life insurance rates, companies typically ask about things like weight and health history. Some policies also require a medical checkup before a policy can be issued.

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Why Is Obesity Classified as A Pre-Existing Condition?

Most people do not think of obesity as a disease, so they are surprised to hear that it is a pre-existing condition. In fact, many people who are obese and their families don’t see their weight as being that severe. However, nearly all insurers consider obesity to be a pre-existing condition due to its connection to other sometimes life threatening conditions.

In the past, many insurers would deny applicants. In modern times, insurers will raise premiums significantly for obese applicants. Obese people experience higher rates of heart disease, diabetes, and other conditions you might expect. They also see increased rates of certain types of cancer.

Insurers will commonly increase premiums significantly if pre-existing conditions, such as obesity, are included in the health insurance application. Even if you don’t list it, they may assume it if you have other related condition that require ongoing medical treatments. Appointment notes are also likely to include related notes for obese or overweight individuals.

There has been some criticism for insurers labeling obesity as a pre-existing condition, but things do not seem to be changing. Most medical professionals agree that obesity significantly increases the risks of serious conditions, such as heart disease and diabetes.

For obesity to be considered a pre-existing condition, generally a licensed health care practitioner must have prescribed treatment or medication with the intention of losing weight.

Simply being overweight is not a pre-existing condition. While it does place added pressure on joints among other things, having more muscle could technically make you “overweight.” Obesity is based on body composition and body fat percentage. These conditions need to be covered by insurance, which costs the insurer lot of money, which is why insurers will raise the premiums for obesity.

Does Obesity Increase Costs and Premiums in Other Ways?

If obesity is considered to be a pre-existing condition by your health insurance, your premiums will almost inevitably go up a considerable amount. An independent agent can review your insurance and if you might save with a different company. However, they don’t have the training to assess the medical risks you face. Even with a life insurance policy application, they feed the data into an algorithm and rely on medical doctors to conduct health exams. Then the system makes the determination on rates and if you qualify for coverage. Often, your medical records are also taken into account.

Just how much the premiums go up to depends on the policy and the insurer. They may go up by half, or they may double or triple.

It is probably a good idea to compare health insurance quotes online to find the best quote for your situation. Comparing quotes can help you save hundreds or even thousands of dollars a year.

How to Find an Affordable Policy Despite Obesity

As previously mentioned, your best bet for finding an affordable health insurance policy despite being overweight is comparing health insurance quotes online. It is easy to compare multiple quotes at a time.

Comparison shopping will allow you to pick the quote that has the best combination of coverage and low price.

It may not be a good idea to just pick the cheapest health insurance; make sure the coverage is good as well. Also, make sure to take advantage of any tax credits they may be eligible for.

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Saving Money on Health Insurance After Losing Weight

If you purchase an expensive health insurance policy with obesity as a pre-existing condition, you may want to try to lose weight. Obviously, you may have motivations to save money on health insurance as well as other motivations for doing this.

If you do successfully lose weight, you should get a new quote on a health insurance policy, which will likely be considerably cheaper than your previous policy.

You may have the option to simply renew your old policy, but you do not want to do this without informing your insurer about your new, healthier weight. Otherwise, you’ll not see any savings from your healthier lifestyle.

Employers and Denial of Health Insurance Benefits Due to Obesity

While it is illegal for health insurers to deny applicants based on pre-existing conditions, some people fear that their employers will not offer them health insurance benefits to the pre-existing conditions. Be advised that denying health insurance benefits due to obesity is also illegal.

If your employer attempts to deny you health insurance benefits, let them know this is illegal.

If they still refuse to offer you health insurance benefits as they do with the other employees, it is time for you to go to the government. There are several different government agencies you can go to report this behavior.

Final Thoughts

If you are worried about getting an affordable health insurance policy as an overweight person, rest assured that you will be able to do so. It may take you more research and time to compare insurance quotes, but it certainly is possible.

Also keep in mind that insurers are now not allowed to deny you coverage based on pre-existing conditions, such as obesity. They can and will, however, raise your premiums.

There are currently no legal restrictions on how much the insurance can raise your premiums. There are proposals for such restrictions, but none look to be passed in the foreseeable future.

Looking to save on health insurance? Start comparison shopping today by entering your ZIP code below!