| Term life insurance (term assurance in the United | | | | level of obesity will pay a higher premium. |
| Kingdom) is generally the most inexpensive and | | | | 5. Your family history might be reviewed. Any |
| often the most effective way to ensure that | | | | close family history of disease such as diabetes or |
| your next of kin is financially protected. Premiums | | | | heart disease can lead to a higher term life |
| are usually relatively low, and the terms are | | | | premium. This will be particularly true for those |
| straightforward. That said, there are many | | | | diseases that have proven to be passed on from |
| factors that can affect your own unique premium, | | | | generation to generation. |
| such as: | | | | 6. Alcohol and drug use will always affect your |
| 1. Your overall health, as measured by a medical | | | | premium level, and could even disqualify you from |
| exam carried out by a practitioner hired by the | | | | term life insurance altogether. |
| insurance company. While the exam will be fair, | | | | 7. Smoking is another issue that could disqualify |
| this person is usually trained in what to look for as | | | | you from term assurance. |
| far as term life insurance "risk" goes. There will be | | | | 8. Your occupation will be reviewed for risk as |
| no cost to you for this exam which is designed to | | | | well. Most occupations will not register as far as |
| evaluate the chances you will outlive the term | | | | term life assurance, but if you do have an |
| insurance policy (a good thing for both you and | | | | occupation that puts you at risk - such as being a |
| the insurance company!) | | | | firefighter or pilot, you may have to pay a higher |
| 2. Your age is considered, as well as the life | | | | term life premium |
| expectation of people in your gender, ethnic | | | | Some term assurance companies will give you a |
| group, and region. For example, age more | | | | chance to reduce your premium if any of the |
| negatively affects men because a woman at a | | | | above - your health, job, or substance use |
| given age is likely to live longer than a man. | | | | situation - improves. This is something to ask your |
| 3. Specific medical problems in your history will be | | | | broker about when shopping around for the best |
| reviewed by the insurer who will ask for your | | | | term life assurance policy. |
| medical records. For example your cholesterol | | | | Each life insurance company will have different |
| level will be looked at historically because heart | | | | factors they pay attention to when designing |
| disease is a major problem of men as they get | | | | premiums. This should lead to your agent or |
| older. | | | | broker to choose the policy that fits your own |
| 4. Your basic build, usually measured as height vs. | | | | unique profile best. |
| weight will be considered. Anyone approaching the | | | | |