Is obesity in the U.S. causing higher insurance rates?

Everywhere, in places where people gather, it seems that more and more are overweight. I've also noticed a distinct increase in childhood obesity. This must be causing more hyper-tension and more heart disease. If they are heavy, when they purchase a policy, I wonder if it is considered a pre-existing condition and excluded from coverage.

It's certainly contributing to higher insurance rates, as is lack of excercise, poor eating habits, smoking, driving while chatting on the cell phone, speeding, etc.

Obesity itself is NOT a preexisting condition, but if you're outside the normal weight tables, it's pretty darned hard to get health insurance, period, because you KNOW that if stuff hasn't started going wrong yet, it will. The diabetes, hypertension, heart issues, circulation problems that all go with obesity, THOSE are preexisting conditions.

Fat people have a VERY hard time finding health insurance. Source(s): agent, 21+ years

I think so. There is quite a few over weigh people in this world.
I doubt obesity itself can be considered a pre-existing condition, but medical issues caused by obesity can be. And yes, it is causing higher insurance rates because it's costing the insurance companies more money, and they never hesitate to pass that increased cost to the consumer.
Yes & yes
wk in health insurance 10+ yrs
I am an overweight person, and I can answer your question. If you are talking about health insurance, then no, obesity is not excluded from my health coverage nor are any of the ailments that result from it. Just like lung cancer, emphysema, and heart disease are not excluded from coverage for smokers nor liver disease excluded from coverage for alcoholics, hypertension and heart disease are not excluded from coverage for the overweight.

Additionally, federal law prohibits insurance companies from imposing discriminatory insurance rates. One study found that obesity increases healthcare service costs more than smoking or problem drinking which means insurance companies must cover those costs. This does not increase their rates, however.

If you are talking about life insurance, then yes, I have been denied life insurance because of my weight.