How Your Lifestyle Affects Life Insurance

When you apply for life insurance, insurers don’t just look at your age and health. Your lifestyle plays a big role in how risk is assessed and can directly affect whether you’re accepted, how much you pay, and the terms of your policy.

Below, we explain the key lifestyle factors insurers consider and why they matter.

Why insurers assess lifestyle risks

Your life insurance premium is based on your risk. Insurers use lifestyle information to estimate how likely it is that a claim will be made during the policy term.

Some habits increase the risk of serious illness or early death, while others suggest a lower risk. The higher the perceived risk, the higher your monthly premiums are likely to be.

Note: Always give full and accurate details, as withholding information could affect your ability to make a claim later.

What lifestyle factors impact life insurance premiums?

Smoking, vaping and nicotine use

Smoking is one of the biggest factors affecting life insurance premiums. It's well documented the health risks it can cause, such as lung cancer, heart disease, and respiratory problems.

Insurers usually ask if you:

• Smoke cigarettes or cigars

• Vape or use e-cigarettes

• Use nicotine replacement products

If you’ve used nicotine (even vaping) within the last 12 months, most insurers will classify you as a smoker. This can significantly increase premiums.

If you stop smoking and remain nicotine-free for a set period, you may be able to reapply for lower premiums.

Alcohol consumption

Your height and weight are used to calculate your Body Mass Index (BMI), which insurers use as one indicator of potential long-term health risks.

A BMI outside the recommended range may result in higher premiums, while maintaining a stable weight and staying physically active can be viewed positively. Significant changes in weight over a short period of time may also prompt insurers to ask further questions.

BMI is assessed differently depending on your family background:

If you have a White family background, BMI is typically classed as:

• Under 18.5 – underweight

• 18.5 to 24.9 – within the healthy range

• 25 to 29.9 – overweight

• 30 to 39.9 – obesity

• 40 or above – severe obesity

If you have an Asian, Chinese, Middle Eastern, Black African or African-Caribbean family background, lower BMI thresholds are used:

• 23 to 27.4 – overweight

• 27.5 or above – obese

(Source: NHS Inform).

A higher BMI could increase the risk of developing certain conditions, such as heart disease, high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes.

BMI is only one factor, but it can influence how insurers assess long-term health risk.

Diet and general health

While insurers don’t usually ask detailed questions about your diet, your overall health and lifestyle habits can still impact how your application is assessed.

Healthy day-to-day routines give insurers confidence that you are managing your long-term health risks.

Some of the factors they may consider include:

• Managing existing conditions such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or diabetes. Showing that these are controlled through diet, medication, or lifestyle changes can help.

• Maintaining a balanced lifestyle, including regular exercise, sufficient sleep, and stress management.

• Evidence of ongoing health management, like regular check-ups, following medical advice, and proactive steps to reduce risk.

Healthy habits may help offset other risk factors, making you less likely to develop serious health issues and potentially leading to lower premiums.

A poor diet or an unmanaged medical condition, however, could increase the likelihood of higher costs.

Hobbies and high-risk sports

Leisure activities can also affect life insurance, as insurers consider the potential for injury or death outside of work.

Examples of activities that may lead to higher premiums or exclusions include:

• Extreme sports such as skydiving, mountaineering, or rock climbing

• Scuba diving

• Motor racing or motorsport hobbies

• Flying private planes or certain aviation hobbies

Insurers may ask how frequently you participate in these activities, how experienced you are, and what safety precautions you take. In some cases, you may face higher premiums, policy exclusions, or additional questions to assess risk.

Travel and overseas living

Frequent travel or long-term stays abroad can affect life insurance, especially if you visit countries considered higher risk.

They may ask about:

• Destinations (countries with limited healthcare or higher political risk can affect premiums)

• Frequency of travel

• Purpose of travel, such as work or leisure

Travel to high-risk areas doesn’t automatically exclude you from cover, but it may lead to higher premiums or policy restrictions depending on the insurer.

Mental health

Mental health is treated with increasing understanding, but it is still a factor insurers consider. Such conditions can range from anxiety or depression to bipolar disorder or schizophrenia.

If you disclose you have a mental health condition they may ask about:

• The type of condition you have

• What medication are you taking, if any

• Whether you've had time off work related to mental health

• If you've been hospitalised due to your condition

Well-managed conditions with long periods of stability are often viewed more favourably than recent or ongoing issues. Learn more about mental health and life insurance.

Drug use and substance history

Insurers will ask about recreational drug use, both now and in the past.

This includes:

• Illegal substances

• Misuse of prescriptions

Drug use can lead to exclusions, higher premiums, or declined applications depending on frequency and type.

What other factors can impact life insurance?

Alongside your lifestyle habits, insurers will also consider practical details about your cover and circumstances. These can include:

• The type of life insurance you choose, such as term life insurance or whole of life insurance

• The length of cover and the amount you want to insure

• Your age when the policy starts

• Whether the policy is single or joint

Different types of cover suit different needs. For example, term life insurance is often used to protect a mortgage or provide for children while they’re financially dependent.

Whereas whole of life insurance is designed to provide lifelong cover and is often used for estate planning or funeral costs.

The type of policy you choose plays a role in both cost and underwriting. It'll also cost more if you have any additional protection, such as critical illness cover.

Why you need to be honest when applying for life cover

It’s essential to answer lifestyle questions fully and truthfully when applying for life insurance. This helps insurers assess your application correctly to make sure your cover works as expected when your family needs it most.

Providing incorrect or incomplete information (especially around smoking, alcohol, or drug use) could lead to:

• A reduced payout

• A delay in processing a claim

• In some cases, a claim being declined

If you’re unsure how to answer a question or whether something needs to be disclosed, you can speak to one of our advisers for expert guidance. We can help you get it right from the start and avoid issues later on.

Can lifestyle changes reduce your premiums?

In many cases, yes. Making positive lifestyle changes could improve how your risk is assessed and may allow you to apply for lower monthly premiums in the future.

This can include:

• Quitting smoking or vaping

• Reducing alcohol intake

• Improving fitness or reaching a healthier weight

• Changing jobs or no longer taking part in high-risk hobbies

Some people choose to replace or review their policy after making these changes. While lower premiums aren’t guaranteed, it can be worthwhile exploring your options if your lifestyle has improved since you first took out cover.

Getting the right cover for your lifestyle

No two lifestyles are the same, and life insurers don’t all assess risk in the same way. That’s why comparing policies and getting expert advice can make a real difference.

Our advisers can:

• Identify insurers who are more flexible with certain lifestyle factors

• Explain how your habits may affect your premiums or policy terms

• Help you find cover that fits your lifestyle, budget, and long-term needs

By getting the right guidance from the start, you can feel confident that your life insurance provides the protection your loved ones need, without paying more than necessary.