High Cholesterol: Will It Impact Life Insurance?

You may have high cholesterol, and you might be wondering about how it could potentially impact your life insurance. Here are some things you need to know about how much high cholesterol can potentially affect what you pay for life insurance:

Why high cholesterol rates can affect life insurance rates

We all need cholesterol in order to live, but having too much cholesterol can be too bad for us. High cholesterol – generally numbers above 200, with the LDL, or “bad cholesterol,” numbers below 100 – could potentially affect how much you pay for life insurance. Here is why – high cholesterol, especially high numbers of LDL and low numbers of HDL, the “good cholesterol,” as well as high levels of triglycerides, indicate the possibility of clogged arteries and the increased likelihood of heart disease. It could also lead to an increased risk of stroke. These things can result in you paying more for life insurance, because your lifespan can be decreased by high cholesterol. The bigger the numbers, the higher your risk.

Now, if you have an overall cholesterol rate of over 200, but much of that is HDL – the good cholesterol, which can be achieved by healthy exercise, and which protects against things like the LDL (the bad cholesterol) clogging your arteries, that may be more palatable to your life insurance company. It is not just the overall cholesterol number, but the ratio between the good and bad cholesterol that can affect your health – and your life insurance rates.

What can you do to lower cholesterol

Some of your cholesterol numbers are genetic – if your family has a history of high cholesterol, you may as well – and some are based on dietary considerations, as well as a lack of exercise. If you eat fatty foods and don’t exercise, you can end up with higher cholesterol. Combining that with being overweight and having high blood pressure, and you could potentially be a heart attack waiting to happen, which is why you could pay more on life insurance.

If you have been diagnosed with high cholesterol, the American Heart Association says you should avoid saturated foods, foods with high cholesterol, and fatty foods. You should also get on a regular exercise plan in order to improve your numbers.  If you smoke, quit now. If your cholesterol rates are still high after these changes, there are medications you can take to potentially lower your cholesterol, and eventually lower your life insurance rates. Speak with your doctor about a plan to reduce your cholesterol.

You should also shop around when it comes to life insurance. Here is a good way to start. To learn more tips on Medlife insurance, click here to go to the Medlife site to learn more about Medlife coverage.