Buying life insurance is a very sensitive process for more people. After all, you are picking out a benefit that you want to pay your loved ones in the event of your death, whenever that might be. You want to make your policy work for you, but you also want to keep it affordable. 

Still, the fact of the matter is that life insurers will take a deep dive into your personal life to determine exactly what type of risk they will take by investing in you. That’s why many different parts of your life might be open to scrutiny, and if one of these indicates a high life insurance risk, then your ability to obtain an affordable benefit might become harder. 

Keep these common risk factors in mind when searching for life insurance, and be sure to work with your agent to learn how you can get optimized coverage nonetheless. 

1. Age 

The older you get, the more likely you are to pass away. That’s just a fact of life. As a result, the later you wait to buy life insurance, the more you are likely to pay for your plan, and your application for certain plans might be denied altogether. Most people should make the investment in life insurance as early as you can. Often, investing before the age of 30 is the optimal timeframe. 

2. Pre-Existing Conditions 

If you have a history of medical problems, be they curable or chronic, then you will face a higher-than-average risk of death, which to your life insurer could represent a challenge. Sometimes, you will not be able to apply for certain policies, or you might pay a higher premium for the coverage you wind up buying. However, your insurer is happy to work with you to still find the optimized plan despite this limitation. 

3. Occupation 

Your job is a factor that can influence your life insurance eligibility. After all, if you work in a field where you put your life on the line every day, then there’s a much higher chance of your life insurer suddenly having to pay out your death benefit. It is important to be honest about your occupation with your insurer, so that there are never any questions about whether your plan is truly optimized for you. 

4. Tobacco Use History 

Using tobacco of any kind is detrimental to your health, and to life insurers it represents a risk. That’s why smokers are often ineligible for certain plans, but it is not impossible to get life insurance just because you smoke. Still, it always helps to quit, not just because of your insurance eligibility, but because it’s an asset to your overall health in general. 

With the help of our agents, you’ll be able to create customized life insurance benefits. The best thing you can do for yourself during this process is to be honest, flexible and thoughtful.