CPS Horizon Underwriting

May 22, 2026

No Adverse Underwriting For Family History Of Cancer

Family history of cancer can have an adverse impact on underwriting decisions despite a client’s own personal history of excellent health.

While most carriers limit eligible rate classes for this particular family history, there are still a couple of A+ carriers that do not underwrite family cancer histories at all.

This means a client with a family history of cancer can still qualify for all of the Preferred Rate Classes, including Best Class.

In addition, there are other carriers who disregard family history of opposite-gender cancers, such as, a male applicant whose mother died from uterine cancer or a female applicant whose father died from prostate cancer.

Let our Underwriting Team help you get the best offers for your clients with family history of cancer! Call us today.

May 15, 2026

Underwriting Strengths Help Shape Great Offers

CPS Insurance Services

The underwriting strengths of a carrier can help you shape up for spring and beyond. Here are some examples to help with the heavy lifting:

Tobacco and Marijuana Underwriting Strengths

Occasional cigar users (two per month or less) can qualify for Preferred Plus, Preferred & Standard Plus non-tobacco rates if there is a negative urinalysis test
Clients who occasionally use marijuana may qualify for Preferred or Standard Plus non-tobacco rates

Family History Underwriting Strengths

Family history qualifications do not apply if the proposed insured is 60 or older for Preferred Plus, Preferred & Standard Plus classes
Family history qualifications apply only to deaths rather than disease
Family history qualifications do not apply to gender-specific cancers for opposite sex persons
Family history of deaths due to diabetes can qualify for Preferred Plus, Preferred and Standard Plus classes

Underwriting Strengths for Common Health Impairments and Non-Medical Risks

Mild Asthma clients may be eligible for Preferred
Mild Sleep Apnea may be eligible for Preferred with verified C-PAP usage
Treatment for cholesterol or hypertension does not exclude a proposed insured from any Preferred classes
Maximum cholesterol levels for Preferred classes is 300 with favorable ratios; 5.0 or less for Preferred Plus, 6.0 or less for Preferred, 7.0 or less for Standard Plus
Commercial pilots for regularly scheduled passenger airlines can qualify for all Preferred classes
Certain private pilots with IFR/ATP rating, flying between 50-250 hours annually and 1000 or more total hours of piloting experience may qualify for Preferred and Standard Plus classes
Preferred classes may be available for occasional scuba diving if proposed insured is certified and dives less than 100 feet

Call our Life Underwriting Department today – we can help you shape great offers and get more business on the books!

May 8, 2026

Take Heart! Not All Cholesterol Is Bad

CPS Insurance Services

Did you know:

The liver produces all the cholesterol our body needs, however, dietary cholesterol (taken in through the foods we eat), causes the liver to send even more cholesterol into the bloodstream.
High cholesterol can cause fatty build up in the arteries which increases our risk of heart disease and stroke.
High-density lipoprotein, or HDL, is considered “good” cholesterol. HDL helps to remove bad cholesterol known as low-density lipoprotein, or LDL. Triglyceride is another form of cholesterol and the most common type of fat in the body.
Cholesterol/HDL Ratio is calculated by dividing total cholesterol by HDL. The higher the HDL, the lower the ratio. This is a good thing!

In the past, carriers looked stringently upon all cholesterol levels when underwriting a case. These days, there are some carriers who can overlook total cholesterol levels if between 150-300.

Preferred classes are available with favorable, low cholesterol/HDL ratios, even with total cholesterol levels nearing 300!

Consider these examples:

Male client, age 45, NS
Seeking $2 mil of Term, Cholesterol on exam was 298 with a Chol/HDL ratio of 5.0
Does not take any medication

Underwriting outcome: PREFERRED BEST!

Female client, age 60, NS
Seeking $1 mil of UL, Cholesterol on exam was 275 with a Chol/HDL ratio of 6.0
Takes a prescribed cholesterol medication

Underwriting outcome: PREFERRED!

Male client, age 52, NS
Seeking $500k of Term, Cholesterol on exam was 260 with a Chol/HDL ratio of 7.0
Takes a prescribed cholesterol medication

Underwriting outcome: NON SMOKER PLUS!

Our Life Underwriting Department has a heart for finding the best possible outcomes on your cholesterol cases. Give us a call!

May 1, 2026

Underwriting Diabetes

CPS Insurance Services

Let’s talk about Diabetes. This is a chronic condition associated with high levels of glucose (sugar) in the blood. Insulin hormone produced in the pancreas helps to turn glucose from the food we eat into energy.

When the body doesn’t produce enough insulin or doesn’t effectively use the insulin produced, it increases the amount of sugar in the blood and can lead to diabetes.

Types of diabetes:

Type 2: Occurs when the body is resistant to insulin and cannot effectively use the insulin it produces. This is the most common form of diabetes.
Type 1: Occurs when the body produces little to no insulin. This is an autoimmune type of diabetes and generally diagnosed early in life. Latent diabetes in adults is a slow-progressing form of autoimmune diabetes.
Pre-Diabetes: Also referred to as impaired fasting glucose and impaired glucose tolerance, this occurs when glucose levels are higher than normal but still below the level for a diabetes diagnosis.
Gestational Diabetes: Occurs during pregnancy and generally resolves after delivery. Women with gestational diabetes have an increased chance of developing Type 2 diabetes later in life.

A1c blood testing (average blood sugar) is key in determining severity when diagnosed as well as ongoing level of diabetic control.

Complications from diabetes can include neuropathy (nerve damage), kidney disease, retinopathy (vision problems caused by damage to the retina), stroke and cardiovascular disease.

Now let’s talk about some potential underwriting outcomes for Life coverage.

Type 2 diabetes may qualify at a Standard rate class with good diabetic control and no complications.
Type 1 diabetes could be as good as Table 2 for over age 50 in a best case scenario. Higher table ratings would apply for ages 50 and under depending on diabetic control and any complications.
Pre-diabetes and gestational diabetes may qualify at Standard Plus.

Contact our Underwriting Team for help in pre-screening your client living with diabetes.

April 24, 2026

Helping Foreign Nationals Secure Life Insurance—With Confidence

CPS Insurance Services

Placing life insurance for foreign nationals doesn’t have to be complicated—with the right underwriting expertise, it can be a smooth and successful experience.

While underwriting for foreign national clients is often more complex, understanding how carriers evaluate these cases can dramatically improve outcomes and set clear expectations from the start.

Who Is Considered a Foreign National?

In general, a foreign national is anyone who is not a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident (green card holder). This may include individuals residing outside the U.S. with American ties, U.S. citizens living abroad, temporary visa holders, and international students studying in the United States.

Because each carrier defines foreign national eligibility differently, choosing the carrier from the beginning is critical—and that’s where experience truly makes the difference.

What Underwriters Evaluate

U.S. carriers assess foreign national cases using a holistic approach. Key considerations may include:

Country of citizenship and current residence
Visa type and immigration status
Strength of U.S. ties (business, family, property, or financial interests)
Length and consistency of time spent in the United States
Occupation, income, and global net worth
Travel history and future travel plans
Purpose and justification for coverage
Medical history and access to acceptable medical records outside the U.S.

Each of these factors can impact product availability, pricing, and maximum face amounts—making expert guidance essential.

Important Requirements to Know

All policy solicitation and insurance exams must be completed within the United States. Some carriers may allow a limited Power of Attorney for policy delivery if the insured is out of the country at issue, though restrictions apply. Product options and coverage limits may also vary based on the overall risk profile.

Knowing which carriers are flexible—and which are not—can save time, avoid declines, and protect the client experience.

Partner With Experts Who Deliver Results

Foreign national underwriting takes more than product knowledge—it requires strategy, carrier insight, and proactive case management. That’s where the our Underwriting Team stands apart.

Our seasoned underwriters specialize in the complexities of foreign national cases. From identifying the most appropriate carriers to structuring cases for success, we partner with you every step of the way to help secure the best possible outcomes for your clients.

Ready to place your next foreign national case with confidence?

Canada and the United States share more than a border—they share similar lifestyles and comparable mortality risks. That insight has led a top carrier to offer underwriting guidelines designed specifically for Canadian citizens living in the U.S. and Canada—creating meaningful opportunities when cases are structured correctly.

We act as a true underwriting partner—understanding the nuances, anticipating potential obstacles, and proactively navigating each case to move it forward with clarity and confidence.

April 17, 2026

Aggressive Rates For High Blood Pressure

CPS Insurance Services

Don’t let one impairment, like elevated blood pressure force your client into a Standard Non-tobacco class.

Here’s an example for the record:

60-year- old female non-smoker
Has no history of high blood pressure
Her current BP is 150/92 (normal should be 140/90 and under)
Applied for $1 million of Permanent Life Insurance

Offer: Standard Plus!

If you aren’t quoting Standard Plus for your healthy standard cases, your clients could be paying more than they need to.

Our Underwriting Team is here to help with all of your impaired risk cases. Please contact us today for more information about this carrier and how we can help boost your sales.

April 10, 2026

How Our Underwriting Team Can Help You Make A Difference To Your Clients

CPS Insurance Services

One of the most important aspects to placing more business is a knowledgeable underwriting team to be your advocate for those challenging cases. Our Life Underwriting Team has a philosophy we call “never say never”.

We don’t give up on a case because it’s difficult. We take on the challenge and look outside the box for solutions.

This innovation sets us apart from the rest and helps to get more cases placed for your clients.

Here’s a recent example:

We were presented with case on a 53 year old seeking $2 million of IUL coverage. Initial tentative assessment of the case was a Table 6 due to a long history of Chronic Kidney Disease with abnormal kidney function testing and impaired fasting glucose, subject to review of additional records. The client then submitted a formal application at the Table 6 rating.

Upon review of the additional required medical records, the case was later declined due to elevated A1c (average blood sugar) of 6.5% found in the additional records.
The lab report was of somewhat poor quality and our Underwriting team questioned the true A1c reading. We reached back out to the underwriter to discuss and they agreed to review a clearer page of the report to further confirm the A1c.
We obtained a clearer copy showing the A1c reading was actually 5.8%. As a result, the case was approved at the initial Table 6 rate class, as applied!

If we had not gone back to the carrier for reconsideration, the case would have remained a decline on the books. Another way we made a difference to our broker and the client.

Let our Underwriting Team help you with your challenging cases and generate more sales this year. We look forward to hearing from you.

April 3, 2026

Expedite Cases With Field Underwriting

CPS Insurance Services

Nothing makes an underwriter happier than details to health histories.

When a health history (“I’ve got a guy” scenario) is shared with us, we look for the basics of the Who/What/Where/When and Why.

These details help frame the health history and add context.

The standard set of questions include:

What is the nature of illness / health issue or underlying cause? For example:
- For cancer, type of cancer, area affected, Stage and Grade, PSA readings (if applicable), any recurrence or cancer spread
- For Diabetes, most recent A1c reading, Type 1 or Type 2
Date diagnosed?
Diagnosed as Mild, Moderate or Severe?
How is the health issue treated?
Are symptoms well controlled?
Any complications?
Fully recovered?
Date of last follow-up with a physician and the outcome
Present Condition

Also helpful:

Height and Weight
Any use of tobacco products (cigarettes, cigar, tobacco chew, e-cigs)
Any family history such as diabetes or cancer

Every additional detail gleaned or morsel of information provided, builds the story of each particular individual – and allows the underwriter to provide a firmer response with quicker turnaround time, versus working with gaps in information in what could have been a well written story.

Presenting each client’s history to the carriers in the best possible light will allow us to provide you with solid recommendations, the best carrier options, products and plan for a successful outcome.

Our Underwriting Team is here to provide guidance and direction – the full story of each client’s health history has a shot at a happy ending.

March 27, 2026

High BMI Weighing You Down?

CPS Insurance Services

Our Underwriting Department can help you make the sale for your clients whose heavy build may be weighing down a chance for a favorable underwriting decision.

The reality is…

71% of American adults are considered overweight and nearly 40% considered obese
20% of American adolescents ages 12-19 are overweight or obese
18% of American children ages 6-11 are overweight or obese

Here are some case examples from A+ carriers that may surprise you:

A male non-smoker, 5’11” and 265 lbs. and in good health otherwise could qualify for STANDARD rates
A female non-smoker, 5’4” and 235 lbs. could qualify for STANDARD rates assuming no co-morbidities (heart disease, diabetes, sleep apnea, etc.)

Call our Underwriting Department today to turn real life cases into success stories for you and your client.

March 20, 2026

Underwriting Program Improves Sub-Standard Ratings

CPS Insurance Services

One of our A+ rated carriers has underwriting crediting program that will benefit more of your clients.

Here’s an example:

Seeking term coverage
45-year-old male, non-tobacco
History of bipolar disorder with occasional minor episodes treated with medication on an as-needed basis – no daily medication
History of elevated cholesterol with favorable cholesterol ratio of 3.17
Family history of early heart disease – had a coronary artery calcium score test 3 years ago showing a zero calcium score (no heart disease)
Favorable height/weight 5’10” 174 lbs. (BMI 25.0)

Initial assessment is Table B, but with the application of this crediting program, a more favorable underwriting decision is possible. Underwriting outcome; Standard!

Our Underwriting Team is here to help with all your impaired risk cases. Please contact us today for more information about this carrier and how we can help boost your sales.

CPS Horizon Underwriting

Tobacco and Marijuana Underwriting Strengths

Family History Underwriting Strengths

Underwriting Strengths for Common Health Impairments and Non-Medical Risks

Did you know:

Consider these examples:

Types of diabetes:

Now let’s talk about some potential underwriting outcomes for Life coverage.

Who Is Considered a Foreign National?

What Underwriters Evaluate

Important Requirements to Know

Partner With Experts Who Deliver Results

Ready to place your next foreign national case with confidence?

Here’s an example for the record:

Here’s a recent example:

The standard set of questions include:

Also helpful:

The reality is…

Here are some case examples from A+ carriers that may surprise you:

Here’s an example:

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