18.1.2 Physical Condition
Obviously, the proposed insured's physical state is very important. A person who has had or is likely to have more illnesses and injuries than a typically healthy person would cost the insurer more in medical bills.
The health of an individual affects life expectancy, and therefore plays a key role in establishing the risk factor involved with insuring an individual. The underwriter must take into consideration any illnesses such as cancer, heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, etc. Such illnesses cause a greater than average risk of untimely death in an individual.
Since a person's height, weight and weight distribution play key roles in life longevity, these factors too must be taken into consideration.
An individual's family health history is also a contributing factor due to heredity. It has been statistically proven that, taken as a whole, an individual's parents' life span can have a direct effect on that individual's likelihood of emulating the same. If an individual's parents lived a long and healthy life, chances are pretty good that the individual will do the same. On the other hand, if an individual's parents both died at a younger age due to illness or disease, the odds are that the individual will not enjoy a long life either.
