Q. Why do insurers use BMI?

Ans: Insurers use BMI as a quick tool to assess your health risk based on your weight and height. It helps to predict the potential health risks and future medical claims and determine premium rates.

Q. How does obesity affect health insurance?

Ans: BMI is used to categorize if you are underweight, normal weight, overweight or obese. If your BMI categorizes you as obese, then it can impact your health insurance premiums costs, eligibility for coverage, additional medical tests, waiting periods, or exclusions for related conditions.

Q. Why is BMI important in healthcare?

Ans: BMI is important in healthcare as it helps identify if you are at risk of weight-related diseases like diabetes, heart disease, and hypertension. It serves as an early health indicator, helping you to focus on your well-being by taking the necessary steps.

Q. What is the acceptable BMI for health insurance?

Ans: The acceptable BMI range for health insurance is between 18.5 and 24.9.

Why BMI Matters in Health Insurance Underwriting?

What is the Role of BMI in Health Insurance Underwriting?

BMI helps to determine if you are underweight, normal weight, overweight, or obese. It is used to assess whether you are prone to any potential weight-related health risks and how much premium should be charged. Moreover, BMI helps insurers to determine which health insurance plan is suitable for you along with its scope of coverage.

Health insurance companies consider BMI as they are fast and reasonably accurate. A high BMI is commonly associated with lifestyle diseases, such as diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, etc. On the other hand, a low BMI may hint at malnutrition, anaemia, eating disorders, or osteoporosis. Although BMI cannot be used as a standalone health measure, it still remains one of the most common and cost-effective methods.

How to Calculate Your BMI?

You can use a BMI calculator online to estimate your BMI before buying a health insurance policy. You can also use the following BMI formula:

BMI= weight (kg) / (height (m))^2

As per the World Health Organization (WHO), the following BMI chart is followed for adults aged 20 years and above:

BMI Value

Classification

Below 18.5

Underweight

18.5 – 24.9

Normal weight

25 – 29.9

Overweight or Pre-obesity

30 – 34.9

Obese Class I

35 – 39.9

Obese Class II

More than 40

Obese Class III

Impact of BMI on Health Insurance

BMI directly impacts your health insurance policy and, more importantly, its premium. Take a look at how BMI affects your mediclaim policy:

Increases Health Insurance Premium: Your BMI affects your health insurance premium. A very high or low BMI value might indicate underlying health issues, which result in an increase in the premium amount.

Additional Health Check-Up: In case of an abnormally high or low BMI level, your insurance company may ask you to undergo a medical check-up to assess your health conditions before issuing you a policy.

Impact on Coverage: Apart from premiums, BMI can also impact the terms and conditions of your medical insurance policy. It can decide possible inclusions, exclusions and waiting periods for certain diseases. You must always check your BMI before buying a mediclaim policy as it will even help you to include covers that are necessary for you as per your BMI.

Is Your BMI Level Enough for Buying Health Insurance?

Although BMI is a commonly used tool, it is not the only health indicator insurers use while offering you a health insurance policy. BMI has its own set of limitations and cannot be relied on completely. BMI neither differentiates between muscle mass and fat mass nor accounts for the distribution of fat in the body. Hence, insurers also consider factors, such as age, gender, pre-existing diseases, family history, etc., while issuing a health policy.

Why Maintaining a Healthy BMI is Important?

Maintaining a healthy BMI level will help you attract lower premiums, higher sum insured, and comprehensive coverage. Your ideal BMI must be between 18.5 and 24.9 to be considered healthy. A healthy BMI not only contributes to overall well-being but also helps to get the best policy at the best price. It can be a medical as well as a financial incentive.

Some health insurance companies even encourage you to maintain or reduce your BMI by offering wellness benefits and discounts on renewal premiums.

FAQs

Q. Why do insurers use BMI?

Ans: Insurers use BMI as a quick tool to assess your health risk based on your weight and height. It helps to predict the potential health risks and future medical claims and determine premium rates.
Q. How does obesity affect health insurance?

Ans: BMI is used to categorize if you are underweight, normal weight, overweight or obese. If your BMI categorizes you as obese, then it can impact your health insurance premiums costs, eligibility for coverage, additional medical tests, waiting periods, or exclusions for related conditions.
Q. Why is BMI important in healthcare?

Ans: BMI is important in healthcare as it helps identify if you are at risk of weight-related diseases like diabetes, heart disease, and hypertension. It serves as an early health indicator, helping you to focus on your well-being by taking the necessary steps.
Q. What is the acceptable BMI for health insurance?

Ans: The acceptable BMI range for health insurance is between 18.5 and 24.9.