Understanding the ins and outs of term life insurance rates can often be confusing and time consuming to understand. There are multiple things that can affect the rates and terms of your policy. Unhealthy lifestyles, such as smoking, drinking and being overweight are all considered when trying to formulate a quote for someone who is looking for life insurance. These are not the only unhealthy habits that are taken into account, however. There are other things that can be found through medical exams or the questionnaire that can help term life insurance companies determine what the rate you receive should be.

Mental Health Affects Term Life Insurance Rates

If you are on medication for mental health issues, such as antidepressants, it can unfortunately lead to higher rates. As morbid and unnerving as it may sound, life insurance companies consider the risk of suicide when giving out term life insurance rates. Therefore, if someone has a mental health issue, the company is going to take notice. Many people do not realize that mental health
can play an important aspect on the rates that they receive.

Generally, however, this is only considered if it is something that is long term. There are people who take antidepressants or other medication for mental health, after a particularly traumatizing event. This stay with medication usually lasts for a few months. Because this was only a one-time event, and the person is not considered a long-term risk as far as depression goes, companies will generally not increase your term life insurance rates. If it has been considered, and assumed, that the person taking mental health medication is at risk, premiums may rise.

Foreign Travel and Term Life Insurance Rates

For those who love to travel, you may notice higher premiums with regards to your term life insurance rates. People who travel often to foreign places are considered a greater risk. If someone is traveling across the country, that isn't considered nearly as much of a risk as someone who is traveling to other countries. The insurance company will know this information from your questionnaire.

Personal Hobbies and Term Life Insurance Rates

It seems that personal hobbies are something that you find on personal ads and websites. Most people would not think that questions on personal hobbies are something that they would find on a life insurance questionnaire. Insurance companies, however, want to know as much as they can about your lifestyle. There are many hobbies that could be considered dangerous. Extreme sports and other major hobbies, like flying small planes and mountain climbing, are considered dangerous enough to potentially cause a rise in term life insurance rates. Many insurance companies do not waver on this idea. Extreme sports are known to be more dangerous and therefore, can be a health issue. As with other personal health issues, insurance companies take them seriously.

It's always the questionnaire that catches things such as mental issues, travel and personal hobbies. When it comes to term life insurance rates, insurance companies are making sure that they catch any potential hazards to their client's health. The companies attempt to raise the prices in order to match how long they believe you will be paying into the system. Because things like extreme sports and mental disorders can cause problems, these are seen as potential red flags to life insurance companies.