Declined for Term Life Insurance

By James Tobin, CFP®

Critical Takeaways

  • You can request a detailed explanation of your declination 
  • Verify that the information used for the declination is correct
  • Use an independent agent to send your application to the carrier who will see you in the best light

Expert Review Of Declined For Term Life Insurance

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Reviewed by

Jim Tobin, CFP®

Why you can trust this review

At Bequest Mutual Life Insurance, we value our editorial independence. We keep our reviews strictly factual so you can use them to make informed decisions. Life insurance carriers referred to on this site do not approve reviews. 

Have you been declined for term life insurance? 

If you have, well , that stinks.

However, there are things you can do to change your predicament.

But first, you should scream a bit, or eat  chocolate ice cream...whatever you need to do to get the frustration out of your system.

With that taken care of it's time  to start working to rectify the situation.

Why Were You Declined For Term Life Insurance?

Tern life insurance underwriters take all sorts of information into account when classifying a applicant. 

The primary information sources are:

  •  Answers to questions on the application.
  • Information provided by the Medical information Bureau (MIB)
  • Prescription history check
  • Driving history from DMV check
  • Answers to telephone interview 
  • Attending physician statements (APS)

Upon your request (you need to make the request), the carrier that declined your application will provide a detailed account of the reason, and information used, to come to the declination decision.

It is important that you have this information , as it will color the carrier choice that an independent agent will recommend going forward.

Did They Have The Right Information?

How many times have you gotten a bill that was incorrect? 

Probably more than you care to think about.

Well, in this vein it makes sense to  verify the information that underwriting used to decline your application. 

Is the driving history they relied on correct? how about the Rx history? 

Do you have reason to believe that the results of the medical exam are wrong?

If you do you can request a second exam- at your expense - but you should see your primary care physician first.

The Info Is Correct. Now What?

Once you have confirmed the accuracy of the information used to turn down your application, it's time to  talk with an experienced independent agent. 

An independent agent will have access to many carrier(often over 50) to shop your particular situation.

This is important, because different insurers have different appetites for specific types of risks. 

Just because you were declined by one carrier does not mean you will be declined by all carriers. What is a decline at some carriers may be a table rated offer at others.

The trick is knowing which carrier to go to based on your individual situation. An independent agent is the best shot at success in this circumstance. 

What If You Truly Are Not Insurable By Traditional Carriers?

The circumstance sometimes occurs where an applicant has been turned down for legitimate reasons and there are no current traditional alternatives. 

In these situations, the applicant has two options that can often be used in combination.

The first is to use either a simplified issue or guaranteed  issue carrier. These carriers are often used for smaller face amounts and are often referred to as "final expense" carriers.

I'm not implying you are peering at your final days, but rather pointing out that there are ways to obtain insurance when you are declined by the traditional carriers.   

Simplified issue policies require no medical exam and tend to both more expensive and far more lenient than traditional carriers.

Guaranteed issue policies are even more limited in that they have smaller face amounts (under 25K) and pay out on a graded basis.

That means that your beneficiary would only receive the full benefit after the Graded period (2-3 yrs. depending on the policy).

The other action you can take after you are turned down and there are no available alternatives, is to work to improve your health.

If your declination came about due to a health condition that can be improved by lifestyle choices, insurers will be happy to entertain the new and improved you.

Weight loss usually is accompanied by blood pressure improvement, cholesterol improvement, and control of type ll diabetes.

Just be aware that most life insurance companies want the weight change to be effective for 1 year before giving full credit for it.

Your Next Step

Thank you for visiting the life Insurance Help[ Desk to research your next move after being declined for term life insurance. If you have been declined for term  life insurance or want to consult prior to an application , to avoid a similar fate, We'd love to hear from you. Please drop us a note with any questions.

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