Insurers use your age, gender, hobbies, and overall health to determine how much you pay for life insurance. They also factor in your parents and siblings' medical history to assign you a health classification, because some conditions that might increase your insurance risk — including cancer, diabetes, or heart disease — can be caused by genetic diseases.
But even if your loved ones had a medical condition, don’t fret — you’re not doomed to pay a high premium.
Some life insurance companies are more forgiving than others, and your family medical history is just one of many factors underwriters take into account when determining your life insurance rates.
Key takeaways
Life insurance companies use your family’s medical history as an indicator of your future health risks.
Your personal health and age are weighted more heavily than your family history of disease or premature death.
You shouldn’t lie about your family’s medical history because insurers can see previous medical records, and lying on your application could cause you to lose coverage.
How family history affects the cost of life insurance
If your family has a history of illness, you might see some higher premiums. Here are what rates look like based on the factors below.
Life insurance company | Gender | No adverse family history | 1X living parent with heart disease (under 60) | 1X deceased parent with heart disease (under 60) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Female | $20.84 | $25.55 | $33.63 | |
Male | $24.65 | $30.51 | $39.31 | |
Female | $20.84 | $25.55 | $38.18 | |
Male | $24.65 | $30.51 | $46.34 | |
Female | $20.84 | $25.55 | $33.63 | |
Male | $24.65 | $30.51 | $39.31 | |
Female | $20.84 | $25.55 | $38.18 | |
Male | $24.65 | $30.51 | $46.34 | |
Female | $20.84 | $25.55 | $33.63 | |
Male | $24.65 | $30.51 | $39.31 | |
Female | $20.84 | $25.55 | $33.63 | |
Male | $24.65 | $30.51 | $39.31 | |
Female | $20.84 | $25.55 | $38.18 | |
Male | $24.65 | $30.51 | $46.34 | |
Female | $20.84 | $25.55 | $33.63 | |
Male | $24.65 | $30.51 | $39.31 | |
Female | $20.84 | $25.55 | $33.63 | |
Male | $24.65 | $30.51 | $39.31 | |
Female | $20.84 | $25.55 | $33.63 | |
Male | $24.65 | $30.51 | $39.31 |
Methodology: Rates are calculated for a 35-year-old female non-smoker living in Columbus, Ohio, with limited to no health issues, obtaining a 20-year, $500,000 term life insurance policy. Rates are calculated at the Preferred Plus, Preferred, and Standard Plus health classes. Quotes are based on policies from Banner, Brighthouse, Corebridge Financial, Lincoln, Mutual of Omaha, Pacific Life, Protective, Prudential, Symetra, and Transamerica and may vary by carrier, term, coverage amount, health class, and state. Not all policies are available in all states. Rate illustration valid as of 06/01/2023.
If you have a parent or sibling who’s died from heart disease you could pay more in monthly premiums than an applicant with no significant family medical history.
However, the increase in cost will still be lower than it will be if you have one or more serious health conditions yourself.
Your actual life insurance rates may vary — and if you have none or one or two minor health conditions under control, your rates may turn out to be lower than you expect.
Family history guidelines
The top insurance companies all classify a family history of illness differently. Insurers take a holistic approach to determining your health classification that involves more than just your family history.
Applicants above a certain age may not be evaluated by their family history at all.
Here are the general guidelines insurance companies use to determine health classifications.
Life insurance health classification | Family history |
|---|---|
Preferred plus | No deaths in immediate family from cardiovascular disease or cancer |
Preferred | No deaths in immediate family from cardiovascular disease or cancer |
Standard Plus | No more than one death of a parent due to cardiovascular disease or cancer |
Why do insurers care about family history?
Insurance companies set your premiums based on the risk you pose to them —the higher your risk of dying while your policy is in force, the higher your policy premiums will be.
Your family’s medical history tells an important story about your genetics. [1] Trends in your immediate family’s mortality can indicate a higher chance of you developing a certain condition — even if you don’t have such condition at the moment of your application.
According to the National Human Genome Research Institute, some conditions can be caused by gene mutations that are inherited from the parents and are present in an individual at birth. [2]
Life insurance companies take this possibility very seriously.
Illnesses or trends that suggest a genetic predisposition to different conditions include (but are not limited to):
Colon cancer
Lung cancer
Melanoma
Prostate cancer
Depending on the severity and frequency of a disease in your family’s health history, you may get a lower health classification.
But your family history won’t make or break your application. Your medical background and age are given more value, so even with a family history of disease, you can still get competitive coverage.
Underwriting and family history
Once you submit a life insurance application, insurers will take a look at your health, either from a medical exam or from previous medical records.
You’ll also have an extended interview with the insurer, where you ’ll answer even more questions about your family history.
Specific diseases you may be asked about include:
Alzheimer's Disease
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
Attempted suicide or mental illness
Cardiomyopathy
Huntington’s disease
Porphyria
Sickle cell anemia
Stroke
While the death of an immediate family member can earn you a lower health classification, you shouldn’t worry too much about an adverse family medical history.
It’s unlikely to disqualify you from getting coverage altogether — and if you’re not a risky candidate in other facets of your life (like your health or hobbies) you can still get affordable premiums.
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Buying life insurance if you’re adopted
The only time your adoption will come into play during the life insurance application process is when you’re asked about your family history, which is just one part of the robust overview of your health conducted by life insurance companies.
How does adoption affect your family history?
Even though family history plays a role in the life insurance application decision process, you won’t receive an adverse decision if you don’t know your biological family’s medical history. Instead, it simply won’t be included in your health profile.
“If a proposed insured is adopted and does not have any information regarding their biological family history, that can be noted and the underwriter will assume [a] best-case scenario,” says Eloise Spinello, associate director of PgPro partner success at Policygenius. “What is known, however, should be disclosed to avoid any contestability concerns down the road.”
Underwriting if you don't know your biological family’s history
If you don't know your biological family’s medical history, it will be marked as ‘unknown’ in your application.
If you don’t know the health history of your natural parents, insurers won’t hold this against you on your application. Your family history will be marked as ‘unknown’ and noted that you are adopted.
Underwriting if you do know information about your biological family’s history
Whatever you do know about your biological family’s medical background, you should disclose it to the underwriter.
The most important thing is to answer the questions about your biological family history — and every other part of the life insurance application — to the best of your knowledge.
But, whatever you do, be honest. Any indication that you intentionally withheld information during your life insurance application is considered life insurance fraud and could result in your policy being canceled by the insurer — meaning they won’t pay out the death benefit to your beneficiaries.
Other health concerns that can affect your life insurance
Certain pre-existing conditions and other health-related concerns can affect your life insurance options or costs. A Policygenius expert can help you find the right policy for your needs.
Mental health issues such as depression or anxiety
Frequently asked questions
Does family history affect life insurance?
Yes. Your life insurance rates may be higher if someone in your immediate family (such as a parent or sibling) has a history of certain illnesses, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, or cancer.
Why is family medical history important in underwriting?
Insurers evaluate family medical history because you may be genetically predisposed to certain illnesses that could increase your risk of death. For example, if your family has a history of diabetes, it’s more likely that you’ll receive a diabetes diagnosis in your lifetime.
