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Traditional underwriting

Get a competitive decision … the first time

You want to get your clients the protection they need as fast and as easy as possible. Our underwriters continually research and develop ways to improve underwriting offers to your clients to help you feel confident that you will get a competitive decision the first time. You and your clients are kept top of mind as we set new service standards.

Traditional underwriting build chart guidelines

Refer to the charts below when discussing available classes for your client’s height and weight when going through our Traditional Underwriting process.

Build charts

Ages 16 - 64
  Minimum weight Maximum weight
Height
IC B NT+ Preferred Preferred Select Preferred Non-Tobacco Plus Standard
4'8" <76 76 78 81-82 129 138 155 169
4'9" <79 79 81 83-85 134 143 161 175
4'10" <81 81 84 86-88 139 148 167 182
4'11" <84 84 87 89-91 143 153 173 188
5'0" <87 87 90 92-94 148 159 178 194
5'1" <90 90 93 96-97 153 164 184 201
5'2" <93 93 96 99-100 158 169 191 208
5'3" <96 96 99 102-104 164 175 197 214
5'4" <99 99 102 105-107 169 180 203 221
5'5" <102 102 105 108-110 174 186 210 228
5'6" <105 105 109 112-114 180 192 216 235
5'7" <109 109 112 115-117 185 198 223 242
5'8" <112 112 115 119-121 191 204 229 250
5'9" <115 115 119 122-124 196 210 236 257
5'10" <118 118 122 126-128 202 216 243 265
5'11" <122 122 126 129-132 208 222 250 272
6'0" <125 125 129 133-136 214 228 257 280
6'1" <129 129 133 137-139 220 235 264 288
6'2" <132 132 136 140-144 226 241 272 296
6'3" <136 136 140 144-147 232 248 279 304
6'4" <140 140 144 148-151 238 255 287 312
6'5" <143 143 148 152-155 245 261 294 320
6'6" <147 147 152 156-159 251 268 302 329
6'7" <151 151 155 160-163 257 275 310 337
6'8" <155 155 159 164-167 264 282 318 346
6'9" <159 159 163 168-172 271 289 326 355
6'10" <163 163 167 172-176 277 296 334 363
6'11" <167 167 172 176-180 284 304 342 372
7'0" <171 171 177 181-185 291 311 350 381
Ages 65+
  Minimum weight Maximum weight
Height
IC B Standard Non-tobacco+ Preferred Preferred Select Preferred Non-Tobacco Plus Standard
4'8" <81 81 83 85 89-93 134 145 164 173
4'9" <83 83 86 88 93-96 138 150 170 180
4'10" <86 86 89 91 96-100 143 155 176 186
4'11" <89 89 92 94 99-103 148 161 182 192
5'0" <92 92 95 98 103-107 153 166 189 199
5'1" <96 96 98 101 106-110 159 172 195 206
5'2" <99 99 101 104 110-114 164 177 202 212
5'3" <102 102 105 107 113-118 169 183 208 219
5'4" <105 105 108 111 117-122 175 189 215 226
5'5" <108 108 111 114 120-125 180 195 222 234
5'6" <112 112 115 118 124-129 186 201 228 241
5'7" <115 115 118 122 128-133 191 207 235 248
5'8" <119 119 122 125 132-137 197 214 243 256
5'9" <122 122 125 129 136-141 203 220 250 263
5'10" <126 126 129 133 140-146 210 226 257 271
5'11" <129 129 133 136 144-150 215 233 264 279
6'0" <133 133 137 140 148-154 221 240 272 287
6'1" <137 137 140 144 152-158 227 246 280 295
6'2" <140 140 144 148 156-163 234 253 287 303
6'3" <144 144 148 152 160-167 240 260 295 311
6'4" <148 148 152 156 164-172 246 267 303 320
6'5" <152 152 156 160 169-176 253 274 311 328
6'6" <156 156 160 164 173-181 260 281 319 337
6'7" <160 160 164 169 177-185 266 288 328 345
6'8" <164 164 168 173 182-190 273 296 336 354
6'9" <168 168 173 177 187-195 280 303 344 363
6'10" <172 172 177 182 191-200 287 311 353 372
6'11" <176 176 181 186 196-205 294 318 362 381
7'0" <181 181 186 191 201-210 301 326 370 390

Criteria for top underwriting classes

Feature Preferred Select criteria Preferred criteria Non-Tobacco Plus criteria
Personal history No history of diabetes, heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, or cancer (except certain types of basal cell skin cancer) No history of diabetes, heart disease, cerebrovascular disease or cancer (except certain types of skin cancer) No history of diabetes, heart disease, cerebrovascular disease or cancer (except certain types of skin cancer)
Tobacco*

No tobacco or nicotine use in the past 36 months 

Nicotine (cotinine) reading on specimen must be negative

No tobacco or nicotine use in the past 12 months

Nicotine (cotinine) reading on specimen must be negative

No tobacco or nicotine use in the past 12 months 

Nicotine (cotinine) reading on specimen must be negative

Blood pressure Must be better than or equal to 135/85 with or without treatment Must be better than or equal to 145/90 with or without treatment Must be better than or equal to 145/95 with or without treatment
Family history* No death of a parent or sibling before age 60 due to diabetes, heart disease, cerebrovascular disease or cancer No death of a parent or sibling before age 60 due to diabetes, heart disease or cerebrovascular disease No more than one death of a parent or sibling before age 60 due to diabetes, heart disease or cerebrovascular disease
Alcohol/Substance abuse No history of or treatment for alcohol or substance abuse No history of or treatment for alcohol or substance abuse within the last 10 years No history of or treatment for alcohol or substance abuse within the last 10 years
Cholesterol*

Cholesterol level of 240 or less

Cholesterol/HDL ratio must be less than or equal to 5.0

Cholesterol level of 260 or less

Cholesterol/HDL ratio must be less than or equal to 6.0

Cholesterol level of 280 or less

Cholesterol/HDL ratio must be less than or equal to 7.0

Avocations No ratable avocations No ratable avocations No ratable avocations
Build* Must satisfy the Preferred Select build criteria Must satisfy the Preferred build criteria Must satisfy the Non-Tobacco Plus build criteria
Aviation

No student or private pilots (unless aviation coverage is excluded)

Private pilots considered if IFR rated, 250 or more total hours and flying between 50 and 250 hours annually

Commercially certified pilots are eligible if employed full-time as corporate pilots or as commercial airline pilots

All pilots are eligible for Preferred pricing dependent on their experience and aviation activities, but may be charged a cash extra premium

It may be necessary to exclude aviation coverage to qualify for Preferred pricing

All pilots are eligible for Non-Tobacco Plus pricing dependent on their experience and aviation activities, but may be charged a cash extra premium

It may be necessary to exclude aviation coverage to qualify for Non-Tobacco Plus pricing

Driving*

No DWI, DUI, or reckless driving in the past 10 years

No more than 2 moving violations in the past 5 years

No DWI, DUI, or reckless driving in the past 5 years

No more than 2 moving violations in the past 3 years

No DWI, DUI, or reckless driving in the past 3 years

No more than 2 moving violations in the past 2 years

Residence Must be a permanent U.S. resident Must be a permanent U.S. resident Must be a permanent U.S. resident

Third-party financials

We specialize in underwriting large face amount cases. To help your underwriter deliver a quick decision, make sure you provide accurate and verifiable information. 

Face amounts over $10 million (over $1 million for applicants ages 70 and over) require signed and dated third-party financial documents.

Acceptable sources

  • Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
  • Personal attorney
  • Personal banker
  • Minnesota Life or Securian Life financial supplement signed by CPA/Attorney
  • Tax returns (2-3 years if possible)
  • Broker-dealer statements (401(k), mutual funds, bank account statements)
  • Tax assessment or appraisal
  • Audited CPA-signed business or personal financial statements
  • Underwriter call to client’s personal CPA or attorney

If the potential sale is over $10 million, your underwriter should review the case before you complete an application. You will discuss the proposed coverage, competition and details of other policies in force.

Approved examiners for traditional underwriting

Approved paramedical facilities have all the necessary forms and know the proper procedures for exams and various tests, including HOS, Blood Test, EKG and TST.  

Each of the following facilities will forward exam results and lab reports to us.

American ParaProfessional System, Inc (APPS)

(800) 727-2101

APPS website

ExamOne

(877) 933-9261

ExamOne website

Learn how we look at financials

Financial underwriting verifies a valid, insurable interest exists and justifies the amount of life insurance applied for. It helps maintain an acceptable level of persistency for all parties.

Learn how we share risk

Reinsurance is a method of sharing financial risk with another insurance company. We use reinsurance when a large amount of insurance is applied for or when a client has a significant medical history.

Quote in minutes

eValuate offers you real-time quotes, so you don't have to wait and see what underwriting class your clients qualify for.

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Have questions or need assistance?

These are general guidelines used at the discretion of the underwriter. Many other factors, such as family history, smoking status, blood pressure and cholesterol also affect a rating for build.

Overall medical history will be considered in addition to the above criteria.

Non-Tobacco Plus not available on all products.

Please keep in mind that the primary reason to purchase a life insurance product is the death benefit.

Product features and availability may vary by state.

Life insurance products contain charges, such as Cost of Insurance Charge, Cash Extra Charge, and Additional Agreements Charge (which we refer to as mortality charges), and Premium Charge, Monthly Policy Charge, Policy Issue Charge, Transaction Charge, Index Segment Charge, and Surrender Charge (which we refer to as expense charges). These charges may increase over time, and these policies may contain restrictions, such as surrender periods. Policyholders could lose money in these products.

These materials are for informational and educational purposes only and are not designed, or intended, to be applicable to any person's individual circumstances. It should not be considered investment advice, nor does it constitute a recommendation that anyone engage in (or refrain from) a particular course of action. Securian Financial Group, and its subsidiaries, have a financial interest in the sale of its products.

For financial professional use only. Not for use with the public. This material may not be reproduced in any form where it is accessible to the general public.

DOFU 9-2024

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