What is BMI (Body Mass Index)? BMI is a ratio that is used by life insurance companies to estimate individual’s health and fitness condition, and it is considered when determining insurance premiums. BMI is calculated as the mass of an individual (in kilograms) divided by his/her height (in meters) squared.
Typically insurance companies will use BMI tables to sort policy applicants into different categories. Here is a high-level perspective on some BMI values.
| Category | BMI range |
|---|---|
| Very severely underweight | less than 15 |
| Severely underweight | from 15.0 to 16.0 |
| Underweight | from 16.0 to 18.5 |
| Healthy, normal weight | from 18.5 to 25 |
| Overweight | from 25 to 30 |
| Moderately obese | from 30 to 35 |
| Severely obese | from 35 to 40 |
| Very severely obese | over 40 |
Life, Disability and Critical Illness Insurance Tip:
Be healthy, save on insurance: If you are in a good health and have a good build when you apply for a life insurance policy (based on BMI), insurers will reward that with lower premiums.
If you already have a life insurance policy and got in shape compared to your state when you signed up for a policy (e.g. spending hours in a gym), you can request a review of your life insurance premiums.
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