1. Home
  2. Business & Finance
  3. Personal Insurance

How Does The Insurance Company Determine My Life Insurance Premium?

By Bobbie Sage, About.com

Question: How Does The Insurance Company Determine My Life Insurance Premium?

Answer: Your insurance premium is generally based on:

  • the type and amount of insurance you buy and
  • your chance of death while the policy is in effect which is determined by your lifestyle habits (smoking) along with your age and medical condition.

    The agent's commissions, overhead, and expenses of doing business are other factors in determing the premium.

    Ideally, to get the best rate, one would want to be classified as a "preferred" risk or below-average risk of early death. Other classifications include "standard" (average risk of death), or "substandard" (insurable, but with an above-average risk of death). Sometimes someone is such a high risk that they are classified as "uninsurable" (a high probability of early death).

    Just because one company classifies someone as uninsurable it is possible to get a different classification from another company since insurance company's classification criteria vary. In addition, some companies will remove a rated premium if you maintain good health for a specified period, give evidence that your health has improved, or change to a less-hazardous occupation. Being a non-smoker carries a strong advantage when looking for low life insurance rates.

    More Personal Insurance Q&A
  • Explore Personal Insurance
    About.com Special Features

    Start your new business on the right foot with these helpful tips. More >

    Easy steps to take control of your credit card debt. More >

    1. Home
    2. Business & Finance
    3. Personal Insurance
    4. Life Insurance & Annuities
    5. FAQ's
    6. How Does The Insurance Company Determine My Life Insurance Premium?

    ©2009 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company.

    All rights reserved.