Underwriting Special Risk

Special Risk Companies

Dippers, Pipe/Cigar Smokers (All non-cigarette tobacco users):

• American General
  • "Super preferred" for cigars, up to one per week with a negative urine test and no other tobacco for five years
• ING
  • "super preferred" for cigars, up to one per week with a negative urine test
• John Hancock
  • "Standard non-smoker" for non-cigarette even with a positive urine specimen; minimum face amount of $750,000 for term
  • "Preferred non-smoker" for less than twelve cigars a year with a negative urine specimen
  • "Non-smoker Plus" for no more than two cigars per month and a negative urine specimen (This class is not available on all products.) 
• Prudential
  • "Non-smoker plus" for all non-cigarette tobacco users even with a positive urine specimen
• Lincoln Financial
  • All non-cigarette tobacco is standard non-smoker, even with positive urine specimen. Needs to be admitted and clear on application. (All products, even term.)
  • Preferred non-smoker is available if the specimen is negative for occasional cigar.

*Tobacco use must be admitted on the application and exam for all carriers.

Cigarette Smokers (aggressive smoker rates):

• Amercian General
• ING
• Protective Life
• West Coast Life

Controlled Diabetes:

• American General
• John Hancock
• Lincoln Financial Group
• Prudential
• West Coast Life

Table-Shaving Programs (Permanent products only):

• AXA
  • Table 2 to Standard*
• Indianapolis Life
• Lincoln Financial Group
  • Table 3 to Standard*
• MetLife
  • Table C to standard*

*Applicants up to age 70 are eligible.
*Not all impairments qualify for Table Shaving, even if they are rated Table 2 or 3.

Private Pilots:

• Lincoln Financial
• Transamerica
• Prudential

Aggressive Underwriting

• Prudential
  • Sleep Apnea, Diabetes, heart conditions, certain types of cancer, one-time DUI’s
• ING
  • Heart conditions, kidney conditions
  • Does not exclude super preferred if the insured’s parent was diagnosed with heart disease prior to age 60, as long as the parent is still living.
• AIG
  • Well rounded with many of the common impairments
  • Offers preferred rating at face amounts as low as $50,000 for permanent insurance.
• West Coast Life
  • Aggressive smoker rates
  • Preferred Non-tobacco is available to clients who have quit smoking for a full year.