Get a Second Opinion on Your Life Insurance Underwriting

Already have an offer? Keep it. Let Big Lou tell you whether it deserves to be your final answer.

If your life insurance quote changed, you were table-rated, declined, postponed, or you're wondering whether an instant no-exam offer is really your best option, Big Lou can take another look.

Get My Underwriting Second Opinion →

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A life insurance underwriting second opinion means reviewing the offer or decision you already received and asking a simple question:

Could another insurance company reasonably look at this differently?

Sometimes the answer is yes.

Sometimes the offer you already have is a good one.

And sometimes the best strategy is to wait before applying again.

The point of a second opinion isn't to apply everywhere. It's to understand the first decision before deciding what to do next.

When Should You Get a Life Insurance Underwriting Second Opinion?

A second opinion may be worth considering if:

• Your final premium came back much higher than the original quote
• You expected Preferred or Standard rates and received a table rating
• Your application was declined
• Your application was postponed
• An insurer raised concerns about a medication or medical condition
• You received an instant or no-exam offer and want to know whether traditional underwriting might produce a better result
• You have diabetes, sleep apnea, heart disease, elevated BMI or another condition that carriers may evaluate differently
• You already have a policy offer but aren't sure whether you should accept it

You don't need to throw away the first offer to investigate whether another option exists.

Your Quote Changed After Underwriting

This is one of the most common reasons to ask for another opinion.

You started with an attractive quote. Then the insurance company reviewed your application and the final premium was substantially higher.

That doesn't necessarily mean anyone did anything wrong.

The original quote was based on an assumed rate class. Underwriting determined the class the insurance company was actually willing to offer.

The first question should be: Why did the rate change?

Once you know the reason, you can determine whether another insurance company may evaluate that particular issue differently.

Learn why online life insurance quotes can change →

You Were Table-Rated or Approved Higher Than Expected

Being approved is good news.

But the rate class matters.

If you expected Preferred, Standard Plus or Standard and received a table rating instead, find out what caused the insurance company to move you up the pricing ladder.

Was it:

• Your height and weight?
• A prescription medication?
• Your A1C?
• Sleep apnea?
• Blood pressure?
• A cardiac history?
• A lab result?
• Something in your medical records?

Another carrier may or may not view the same issue differently.

But you can't intelligently shop the underwriting until you know what you're shopping around.

See how life insurance rate classes work →

You Were Declined or Postponed

A decline from one life insurance company does not necessarily mean every insurance company will decline you.

But it also doesn't mean the answer is to immediately apply somewhere else.

First determine why the company declined or postponed the application.

If the issue is something another carrier legitimately treats differently, another application may make sense.

If the issue is a recent surgery, pending medical test, unstable condition or something that needs more time, waiting may be the better strategy.

Sometimes another carrier is the answer. Sometimes time is the answer.

Learn what to do after a life insurance decline →

You Already Have an Instant or No-Exam Offer

Fast life insurance can be a great option.

If you've received a good instant or accelerated offer and you're happy with the coverage and price, there may be no reason to make the process more complicated.

But speed and price are two different benefits.

Some accelerated products are designed to make underwriting faster and simpler. A traditionally underwritten product may use a different process and potentially produce a different price or underwriting result.

The fastest underwriting path isn't always the best underwriting path for every applicant.

If you're unsure, keep the offer and compare before deciding.

THE BIG LOU PRINCIPLE

We don't just shop prices. We shop underwriting.

Once you already have an underwriting decision, comparing hypothetical quotes isn't enough.

The question becomes whether another insurance company may treat the specific reason for your rating, decline or higher premium differently.

Same person. Same medical history. Different insurance company. Potentially different result.

Why Can Another Insurance Company Reach a Different Decision?

Life insurance companies do not all have identical underwriting guidelines.

They can have different risk tolerances, underwriting manuals, product designs and reinsurance arrangements.

That means one company may be more comfortable than another with a particular combination of age, medications and medical history.

It doesn't mean there is always a better answer somewhere else.

It means the first underwriting decision deserves to be understood before you assume it is the only possible decision.

Health Conditions Where a Second Look May Matter

Type 2 Diabetes

A1C, medications, age at diagnosis, insulin use, kidney function, complications, weight and overall control can all influence underwriting.

Sleep Apnea

Severity, AHI, treatment, CPAP compliance, BMI and related cardiovascular risks may all matter.

Learn more about life insurance with sleep apnea →

Heart Disease

A heart attack, stent, bypass, arrhythmia or other cardiac history can require detailed review of timing, treatment, cardiac function, follow-up testing, medications and current symptoms.

Elevated BMI

Insurance companies do not necessarily use identical height-and-weight guidelines. A build that affects your rate class with one company may be treated differently by another.

Multiple Medications

Underwriters generally care about more than the medication name. The condition being treated, stability, control and surrounding medical history can matter too.

How Big Lou Reviews an Existing Life Insurance Offer

We're not looking for an excuse to move every case.

We want to understand:

1. What did you originally expect?
2. What did the insurance company actually offer?
3. Why did underwriting make that decision?
4. Is the information being used accurate and current?
5. Could another available carrier legitimately view the issue differently?
6. Is the potential improvement meaningful enough to justify another application?

Sometimes we'll believe another carrier is worth pursuing.

Sometimes we'll tell you the offer you already have looks pretty good.

A useful second opinion should be willing to tell you both.

Already Have a Good Offer? Keep It.

Seriously.

Getting a second opinion does not mean you should give up an offer you already have.

If you've been approved, preserve that option while you determine whether another path is realistically better.

Don't cancel existing coverage just because you're shopping for something better.

If you're replacing an existing policy, keep the current policy in force until the replacement coverage has been fully approved, issued and is in force.

Already Have an Ethos or Other Online Offer?

Bring it.

Big Lou isn't asking you to throw away a good online offer.

We can review your health profile and help determine whether another carrier or underwriting approach may be worth considering.

If the offer you already have is the right answer, that's useful information too.

Compare Big Lou and Ethos →

What Should You Have Ready?

Don't worry if you don't have every document. But if possible, know:

• The insurance company you applied with
• The coverage amount and term
• The original rate you expected
• The final rate or underwriting decision
• The reason the company gave for the change, rating, postponement or decline
• Your current medications
• Your major medical conditions and recent procedures
• Any recent lab or test results relevant to the decision

If you don't know why the rate changed, that's okay. Start with what you do know.

What Big Lou Won't Promise

We can't promise another company will approve you.

We can't promise another company will give you a better rate.

And we can't guarantee an underwriting class before the insurance company makes its decision.

What we can do is help you understand whether the first answer deserves a second look.

That's a very different promise.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can another life insurance company give me a better rate?

Potentially. Insurance companies can have different underwriting guidelines and risk tolerances. Whether another carrier may offer a better result depends on why you received your original rate and your complete health profile.

Should I decline my current offer before getting a second opinion?

No. If you already have an offer, there is generally no reason to give it up simply because you want another opinion. Preserve your existing option while you investigate whether another one may be better.

Can I get a second opinion after being declined for life insurance?

Yes. The important first step is determining why you were declined. Another carrier may evaluate the issue differently, but another application is not always appropriate and approval is never guaranteed.

Can another company give me a better rate if I was table-rated?

Possibly. First identify what caused the table rating. If another carrier has different guidelines for that particular risk factor, another application may be worth considering.

Is traditional underwriting always cheaper than instant life insurance?

No. Accelerated or instant underwriting can produce excellent offers for many applicants. The better path depends on the applicant, product, carrier and underwriting result.

What if Big Lou thinks my current offer is already good?

We'll tell you. The purpose of reviewing an existing offer is to determine whether another path makes sense, not to create another application when there isn't a meaningful reason to do so.

Does getting another quote hurt my existing life insurance offer?

Simply discussing your situation or obtaining another opinion does not require you to give up an existing offer. If another application is appropriate, answer all application questions accurately, including questions about prior insurance applications or underwriting decisions.

Can Big Lou guarantee a better underwriting result?

No. The insurance company makes the final underwriting decision. Big Lou can help evaluate whether another carrier or underwriting path may be worth considering.

Before You Accept the First Answer, Get a Second One

Already approved? Keep the offer.

Rated higher than expected? Tell us why.

Declined? Let's understand the decision before you apply again.

You don't need another mythical quote. You need to know whether another insurance company may underwrite you differently.

Get My Underwriting Second Opinion →

No pressure. No obligation. Just another opinion before you make a decision about coverage you may keep for decades.

Disclaimer: This page provides general educational information and is not a guarantee of life insurance eligibility, approval, rate class, premium or improvement over an existing offer. Underwriting guidelines, products and availability vary by insurance company, state and individual applicant. Big Lou/TermProvider is an independent life insurance brokerage. If replacing existing life insurance coverage, do not cancel existing coverage until replacement coverage has been fully approved, issued and is in force.