What is BMI? How does it impact your Health Insurance Premium?

Did you know that obesity is a rising health concern in India, with almost 1 in 4 people being overweight?

Sedentary lifestyles, sitting in front of screens for hours, eating unhealthy food and moving for hardly a few minutes seem to be the daily routines for many people. While development has brought along convenience and ease, it has also brought along a slew of lifestyle diseases.

With the rise in the prevalence of diseases, Health Insurance policies help customers pay for their heavy medical bills and receive the best care.

However, research has shown that those who are overweight or obese wind up paying more for their Health Insurance coverage than those who are not. 

Body Mass Index (BMI) and pre-existing conditions determine the applicants’ insurance Premiums.

What is BMI?

Body Mass Index, or BMI, is a formula that uses height to determine your optimal weight. You can also predict your body fat percentage. If your BMI is high, you may have a high-fat range; if your BMI is low, you may have a low-fat range. But BMI alone is not a good indicator and needs corroborating measurements.  

How to calculate BMI?

You can use the formula below to calculate your BMI:

BMI formula=	Weight of the person (in kg)
(Height of the person) 2(in m2)

So, for example, if your height is 1.54 meters and your weight is 55kg, your BMI would be

55/(1.54)², which is equal to 55/2.371, which comes to 23.19.

After calculating your BMI, check the chart below to see if it is high or low:

BMI	Weight category
Less than 18.5	Underweight
18.5 to 24.9	Healthy weight
25 to 29.9	Overweight
30+	Obese

Relationship between BMI and Health Insurance?

Your BMI impacts your insurance Premiums because it reflects your level of fitness and health. A higher or lower BMI will result in higher or lower insurance costs.

This is because having a high BMI puts you at risk for developing heart disease and increases the likelihood that you may need to go to the hospital for complications brought on by your weight. A low BMI might also indicate an unidentified medical condition.

According to Health Insurance providers, having a BMI that is too high or too low may cause more hospital visits. For the insurance provider, this will mean higher medical costs. Accordingly, your insurance Premium may be higher or lower, depending on your BMI.

You should be aware that these values are merely a measure of your level of health. They are not final and binding, though. For instance, an athlete or someone who is extremely fit may have a high BMI. You cannot categorise them as overweight or obese because the additional weight in this scenario may be caused by muscle mass. 

Though BMI is a good measure, it is only one of several factors that determine your health.

How can you maximise the benefits of your Health Insurance?

At Star Health Insurance, you have a wide range of Health Insurance plans to choose from. These policies will cover the medical needs of you and your family in the event of an emergency. 

Being fit and healthy can result in renewal discounts. For instance, insurers could encourage their customers to participate in certain wellness activities and provide them with points for doing so. 

Conclusion

With Star Health Insurance, you can avail a discount on Premium, depending on how many wellness points you have earned. Therefore, you reap the rewards of both cost-saving and good health through such incentives for staying active.