Are You In Control?

By Author: Norris Rios
Total Articles: 572
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We all feel most confident when we think we are in control of events around us. If we have doubts, this is a cause of worry and anxiety. But, when it comes to insuring your life, there are some factors that, try as you might, you cannot control. You just have to accept those and argue the best case you can on the basis of all the other factors. So, for example, unless you forge your birth certificate, you have a fixed age and you cannot do anything abut the medical history of your family. But this leaves you in control of your lifestyle as it affects your health, your education and what you do to earn your dollars.

So how do we approach the task of getting a policy? Well, the best strategy is to buy a policy earlier rather than later. The idea is to get into the market before any real health issues emerge. Except, of course, you can be caught out by your family's history. If your parents or grandparents had heart problems and died young, you are going to face a strict medical examination to test out your heart. Even though that examination may show your heart in perfect health, insurers may still be reluctant to give ...
... you full coverage. This doubt is going to be even stronger if you have not been taking care of your own health. Say you have a weight problem. There is a strong link between obesity and heart disease. You may find any offer of a policy is made conditional on losing some of that weight and then coming back for a second medical in a year's time. So, to give yourself an edge, you should ensure your own lifestyle is at its best to offset the effects of any family medical history. That means no smoking, only moderate alcohol consumption, a healthy diet and a reasonable commitment to exercise, but not in any sport or hobby where there is an element of risk. You will undo all your hard work if you admit to going hang-gliding or rock climbing on a regular basis.

Think through all the possible issues some time before you make your application. It may be necessary to change your lifestyle early. Remember the examination may test to see whether you smoke or have any drugs in your system. So if you are going to quit smoking or change your diet, you had better show the results when called for an examination. One final issue to think about: life insurance companies believe some jobs are associated with short life expectancy. For example, mining and high-rise construction will make it difficult for you to get coverage. It is better to have a quiet office job. This means planning ahead. When you know some factors are outside your control, work on all the others which you can control. Put yourself in the best possible light to get the best life insurance terms at the most affordable rates. As a final thought, always tell the truth throughout the application process. If the insurer finds you have been dishonest, the company can cancel the policy and leave your dependents with nothing.