Life insurance - any chance to change underwriters analysis?

[redredwine]

My H and I applied for Term Life Insurance and just got our results and underwriting decisions back today. 

My quote is higher than originally thought-I got "downgraded" because I have "high cholesterol". Here's the thing. I have "near optimal" LDL (bad cholesterol) that is 117 and "above optimal" HDL (good cholesterol) Like, it's WELL above the "optimal range". 63 is "optimal" and mine was 85, so well above optimal. So, my total cholesterol is 225, which that number alone is high. BUT my ratio is great. It just happens to be that my high cholesterol is great but the better it is, the higher the number. 

Any chance underwriting will be like "oh, yah, that makes sense" or did they already dive into that. They specifically called me out as the only reason I got downgraded was because  I had high cholesterol, but my numbers indicate I have really GOOD cholesterol. 
It's not THAT much higher, but I'm annoyed. I'm like, well, am I supposed to lower my good cholesterol? 

[WOUNDTIGHT]

Are you working with an agent or broker? They should be able to shop your file with a bunch of companies. There may be a company who rates you best class of it's really just a cholesterol problem. There are other factors they take into consideration, including family history and driving record.

To answer your question, unless you are buying a large amount of insurance from the agent it's probably not worth their time to fight with the underwriter about something that probably can't be changed.

[redredwine]

Oct 12, 2015 18:42:07 GMT -5 WOUNDTIGHT said:

Are you working with an agent or broker? They should be able to shop your file with a bunch of companies. There may be a company who rates you best class of it's really just a cholesterol problem. There are other factors they take into consideration, including family history and driving record.

To answer your question, unless you are buying a large amount of insurance from the agent it's probably not worth their time to fight with the underwriter about something that probably can't be changed.

I have an Allstate agent. My business policy is with him and his initial quotes were comparable to everyone else. 

[WOUNDTIGHT]

Oct 12, 2015 19:11:39 GMT -5 redredwine said:

Oct 12, 2015 18:42:07 GMT -5 WOUNDTIGHT said:

Are you working with an agent or broker? They should be able to shop your file with a bunch of companies. There may be a company who rates you best class of it's really just a cholesterol problem. There are other factors they take into consideration, including family history and driving record.

To answer your question, unless you are buying a large amount of insurance from the agent it's probably not worth their time to fight with the underwriter about something that probably can't be changed.

I have an Allstate agent. My business policy is with him and his initial quotes were comparable to everyone else. 

How were you rated for your business policy? Were you best class for that? I'd still ask if he shopped your current file.

[AAM2012]

It's worth asking but usually the underwriters have already looked. My category was bumped down because my cholesterol was borderline. Like the optimal range is 0-99 (just throwing numbers out) and mine was 100 and the only thing I could do is retest later and if it improved they would update my policy with the lower premium.

[redredwine]

Oct 12, 2015 19:14:24 GMT -5 WOUNDTIGHT said:

Oct 12, 2015 19:11:39 GMT -5 redredwine said:

I have an Allstate agent. My business policy is with him and his initial quotes were comparable to everyone else. 

How were you rated for your business policy? Were you best class for that? I'd still ask if he shopped your current file.

My business policy is for my business only-not life insurance. 
I'm sure he used my current info, but the biggest thing they called out was my high cholesterol. 

[whitemerlot]

My understanding is that anything over 200 knocks you out of the best class, regardless of the ratios. We used select quote.

[Deleted]

We got quotes from Allstate and decided not to use them. H was also downgraded due to cholesterol because his HDL was high, but ratio was optimal. They wanted something like $500/yr for an otherwise healthy 33 year old. We got life insurance through our employer for a nominal cost instead. Sucks that we can't take it with us if we leave our employer, but it would have been like $800 for both of us, which I thought was silly. The agent was also an asshole who commented our house smelt like curry. I made it for dinner - I like curry!!

[redredwine]

Oct 12, 2015 20:44:23 GMT -5 @bigredgum said:

We got quotes from Allstate and decided not to use them. H was also downgraded due to cholesterol because his HDL was high, but ratio was optimal. They wanted something like $500/yr for an otherwise healthy 33 year old. We got life insurance through our employer for a nominal cost instead. Sucks that we can't take it with us if we leave our employer, but it would have been like $800 for both of us, which I thought was silly. The agent was also an asshole who commented our house smelt like curry. I made it for dinner - I like curry!!

We're splitting it up between employer and outside just to be safe. In case something happens to our employment, we want to be sure we're covered and well, we're not getting any younger! We don't want to put all our eggs in one basket (I posted about it on an older thread and appreciated all the responses which led to our decision)

[redredwine]

Oct 12, 2015 20:15:59 GMT -5 @fivedogs said:

Oct 12, 2015 18:31:34 GMT -5 redredwine said:

My H and I applied for Term Life Insurance and just got our results and underwriting decisions back today. 

My quote is higher than originally thought-I got "downgraded" because I have "high cholesterol". Here's the thing. I have "near optimal" LDL (bad cholesterol) that is 117 and "above optimal" HDL (good cholesterol) Like, it's WELL above the "optimal range". 63 is "optimal" and mine was 85, so well above optimal. So, my total cholesterol is 225, which that number alone is high. BUT my ratio is great. It just happens to be that my high cholesterol is great but the better it is, the higher the number. 

Any chance underwriting will be like "oh, yah, that makes sense" or did they already dive into that. They specifically called me out as the only reason I got downgraded was because  I had high cholesterol, but my numbers indicate I have really GOOD cholesterol. 
It's not THAT much higher, but I'm annoyed. I'm like, well, am I supposed to lower my good cholesterol? 

I think unless you are willing to apply other places, you are stuck.  Your total and LDL are both in the above optimal category, and I don't think their formulas for risk are that nuanced.  Like you get a point for having high HDL, but you get dinged for the total and LDL being not optimal.  Your outlying HDL doesn't get you extra credit.  

BUT I WANT EXTRA CREDIT!!! POUTY FACE!!

Oh well, can't hurt to ask but I mean, it's not THAT much more than the original quote. I'll suck it up but was more annoyed than anything.

[thatgirl2478]

you should shop around... try Zander.

That sucks that your high good cholesterol shot your total up over their 'high' levels (which even doctors aren't convinced actually MEANS anything since cholesterol levels can be hereditary).

[M]

The last time, something came back high on my blood work. I don't remember what it was but I went to my doctor and had all the blood work done again and sent to the life insurance company. They reduced my premium.

[redredwine]

I have a response from the underwriter:
"Thank you for your inquiry. We do review all the numbers you addressed in your email. While true that her HDL is quite high, her Total Cholesterol of 225 (calculated using HDL + LDL + 20 percent of triglyceride level) does not meet our criteria for Preferred Elite rate class. Her LDL or "bad" cholesterol is of average range as are her triglycerides. Unfortunately in this case there aren't enough favorable factors to improve her to the Preferred Elite rate class.

If she would like to be reconsidered for a better rate class, she may submit subsequent/recent total cholesterol readings from her physician at her own expense. I'd be happy to review for possible reconsideration, though I cannot guarantee a better offer will be made. Please let me know if you have any further questions. "

Oh well, at least I know all that went into it. Nice to know we can get reclassified...H also has gained quite a few pounds the past few years, so it motivated him to sign up for the gym again.