BMI 'no factor' in lower health insurance premiums

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BMI 'no factor' in lower health insurance premiums

Mon 15th Jan 2007

Hitting the gym to lower your body mass index (BMI) will not necessarily cut your health insurance premiums, according to an industry insider.

Martin Smith, sales development manager at health insurance provider Bupa, said that people have the option to reapply and have underwriting terms reconsidered.

However, he added: "BMI doesn't form part of the price at the moment so it wouldn't affect your price."

BMI can be calculated by taking your body mass in kilograms and dividing it by the square of your height in metres.

Mr Smith's comments came after health insurance provider Legal & General indicated that people with a BMI count of over 30 may face increased costs on their policies.

But Mr Smith says this isn't Bupa's stance. "We would not say that 'because your BMI is now x the price adjusts'," he said.

Mr Smith added that a person's medical history would be the only factor in a price adjustment.

"If we had put some exclusions on based on actual medical conditions that is what we would reconsider for you," he said.

Someone whose BMI exceeds 30 will be classed as obese.

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