Underwriting Score Calculator

Work out underwriting score instantly with clear inputs, formula shown and shareable results.

About Underwriting Score Calculator

Life underwriting scores age, build, smoking status and medical or family history to place an applicant in a rating class. Smoking and BMI carry disproportionate weight because they are the strongest modifiable mortality predictors in the population data insurers price from.

Formulas

Score

Score = 100 - 0.6 x (Age - 30) - 1.8 x |BMI - 22.5| - Smoking penalty - 8 per adverse factor

Rating class

85+ preferred; 70-84 standard; 55-69 substandard; 40-54 heavily loaded; below 40 likely decline

Worked example

With the default values below, Underwriting Score Calculator returns Underwriting score (0-100) of 74.6. Change any input above and every figure here is recalculated in your browser.

Inputs used

Applicant age: 44
Body mass index: 27.5
Smoking statusone of Never smoked, Ex-smoker (over 12 months), Current smoker: Never smoked
Number of adverse medical or family history factors: 1

Results

Underwriting score (0-100): 74.6
Indicative rating class: Standard
Indicative premium loading: 25%
Score penalty from BMI: 9.0

Step by step

1Values used
2Score
3Rating class
4Underwriting score (0-100)= 74.6
5Indicative rating class= Standard
6Indicative premium loading= 25
7Score penalty from BMI= 9.0

Assumptions and limits

The result is derived only from the 4 inputs listed above. Anything not among them is not part of the calculation.
In particular, this calculator does not take inflation, fees or charges or compounding frequency into account.
Figures are rounded for display to 1 decimal place, so totals built from several rounded parts can differ slightly from the unrounded arithmetic.
Illustrative underwriting heuristic only, not an insurer's rating engine. Actual decisions depend on full medical evidence, financial underwriting and insurer-specific manuals. Not insurance or medical advice.

How these calculators are built and tested is described on the Methodology page. If a figure looks wrong, please report it.

Illustrative underwriting heuristic only, not an insurer's rating engine. Actual decisions depend on full medical evidence, financial underwriting and insurer-specific manuals. Not insurance or medical advice.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does quitting smoking reduce the premium?

Yes, substantially — most insurers reclassify after 12 months smoke-free, with the largest reductions after two to three years.

Is a high BMI always loaded?

Not always, but both ends of the range attract loading. Muscular builds are sometimes assessed on additional measurements rather than BMI alone.