Eric moved recently to Salt Lake City Utah. His question is: What types of questions will the life insurance company ask me when I apply for a insurance policy?”

Answer to Readers Question: It is common for life insurance applications to ask the following questions:

• Do you regularly use tobacco or tobacco products? Life insurance companies strongly believe that smoking or using tobacco products in any form can make an individual’s life shorter and will charge higher premiums for smokers.Do you have AIDS, cancer, heart disease, or are you HIV+? Depending on the severity of any health conditions such as these, a life insurance company may sell you a policy at the normal rate or possibly charge you a more expensive price. If the health problem is extremely severe, most life insurance companies will directly reject your application.
• Do you have a hazardous career? With more dangerous jobs, companies tend to charge a more expensive price for a life insurance policy. If your job requires an above average amount of risky, life threatening behavior, expect a higher cost for life insurance.
• Does your immediate family have a history of fatal diseases or death at a young age not due to an accident? The life insurance company is not barred from questioning you about you and your family health history. Diseases that commonly run in the family that are fatal, such as heart disease, Sickle Cell Anemia, or cancer may cause a company to reject your application or charge you a higher rate.