Episode 4, nearly 300 miles into their “march”, I continue to watch the progress both as an interested spectator and a life insurance professional. My goal in following this program has never been to be actively involved in it’s progress, but rather to use the real life examples of the weight loss to illustrate that overweight and obesity do not have to stand in the way of getting life insurance. Further I wanted all to know that it may not take a huge change in weight to make a huge change in life insurance rates.
Will was voted off last night. Will hit the wall and couldn’t work through it and the other participants decided that he was hurting their chances of reaching their own goals. While I understand the team aspect of the program, in real life, you pick your team and you pick a team that will offer you the best chance of success in regards to your own goals. You surround yourself with people whose goals are common, part and parcel, of your own, not money.
Whether it is weight loss, diabetes or cancer, you need to know that your team will be with you through ups and downs and there is no other agenda.
On to the results. Again, based on the best rates I could find for $250,000 of 20 year term insurance, assuming no health issues and also assuming that the weights achieved are kept off for more than a year. First is their starting weight and current weight. Then their beginning life insurance cost, 3rd episode cost and current cost.
1. Michael started at 319 and is now 258. Start $735, 3rd $420, still $420.
2. Chantal started at 250 and is now 221. Start $535, 3rd $421, still $421.
3. Will started at 472 and is now 413. Start uninsurable, 3rd $560, now $500.***
4. Anthony started at 433 and is now 367. Start $560, 3rd $500, now at $441.
5. Sam started at 382 and is now 323. Start $686, 3rd $553, now at $486.
6. Jami Lynn started at 236 and is now 202. Start $430, 3rd $356, now $165.
7. Loralie started at 241 and is now 206. Start $381, 3rd $225, still at $225.
8. Shea started at 289 and is now 255. Start $475, 3rd $410, nowl at $310.
9. Matt started at 389 and is now 336. Start $613, 3rd $525, now at $478.
***final weight
Jami, while not making her goal to break 200 this week, did become the first person to qualify for preferred rates. I understand her frustration when she didn’t reach her goal. No doubt it will come next week and she will no longer be “the 200# woman”.
I think it is important to note why life insurance underwriters seem to be rather heavy handed when dealing with weight, and why the rewards for weight loss can be so significant. From the Center For Disease Control website, the following list of health risks for overweight people was borrowed:
“Overweight and obese individuals are at increased risk for many diseases and health conditions, including the following:
- Hypertension (high blood pressure)
- Osteoarthritis (a degeneration of cartilage and its underlying bone within a joint)
- Dyslipidemia (for example, high total cholesterol or high levels of triglycerides)
- Type 2 diabetes
- Coronary heart disease
- Stroke
- Gallbladder disease
- Sleep apnea and respiratory problems
- Some cancers (endometrial, breast, and colon)”
These are not health issues to be taken lightly by individuals or life insurance underwriters.
Bottom line. Don’t let your weight get out of control and if it does, seek help. I know there is nothing easy about weight loss, but there isn’t anything easy looking about the list above either.
Don’t go without life insurance just because of your weight. If you can’t afford $250,000, get $100,000. Provide the protection that you can for your family and increase it to the level you really want as your weight comes down.
My 20 years of experience give me the knowledge and leverage to find reasonably-priced life insurance for people who have been declined or are paying more than they need to.
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