CPS Horizon Underwriting

February 20, 2026

Extended Shelf Life Of Medical Requirements Can Help Boost Your Sales!

The idea of getting your client examined for life insurance can be a challenge.

Asking for a second exam after one was done in the not so distant past can jeopardize a sale. Worry no more.

Consider the following:

A 70 year-old female applied for $10 million of life insurance coverage with another company, was approved, and the policy placed in-force over six months ago. She now desires additional coverage for the same amount, but does not want to go through another exam. Her previous exam, lab and resting EKG were completed over nine months ago.

Exam requirements are generally good for up to 12 months on applicants up to insurance age 70, so your client does not have to be inconvenienced by scheduling new testing as long as a non-medical part 2 is completed along with the application.

For those applicants over age 70, cognitive testing previously done may be good for up to one year in addition to resting EKGs – although they will need a new exam and labs after a 6 month time-frame.

*Age limits and timeframes may vary by carrier

Take advantage of these guidelines when you can, give us a call to discuss the details of your cases – the Underwriting Department is here to help.

February 13, 2026

Placing Sleep Apnea Cases: A Breath Of Fresh Air

CPS Insurance Services

Imagine the thought of not being able to take in a breath, then suddenly gasping for air when you’re able to breathe in again. Now, you’re probably thinking to yourself this sounds a lot like the feeling you sometimes get with certain not-so-favorable offers on impaired risk cases!

All kidding aside, this is actually what happens with people who have sleep apnea. An individual suffering from sleep apnea may not even be aware of it while it’s happening, but could still experience symptoms – most commonly, daytime sleepiness, morning headaches and loud snoring. Sleep apnea restricts oxygen to vital organs and if left untreated, it can lead to more serious conditions such as heart arrhythmias, stroke and diabetes.

Diagnosis is usually made after undergoing an overnight sleep study. Severity is measured by the Apnea/Hypopnea Index (AHI) which represents the number of episodes per hour. An AHI score of 5-14 indicates mild severity, 15-30 indicates moderate and over 30 is considered severe.

CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) is usually the recommended treatment. Other treatments may include dental appliances or surgery. Follow up sleep studies to monitor the effectiveness of treatment are also often recommended.

So what does all this mean for life underwriting?

The key to favorable outcomes isn’t as much the severity at diagnosis as it is the follow up and compliance to treatment.

In some cases, lack of compliance or failure to follow up can lead to highly rated offers and declines.

Take for instance this case involving severe sleep apnea but with good follow up and compliance:

66 year old male applying for $500k of Term coverage
Lifetime non-smoker
Height 6’ 4”, weight 220 lbs
Hypertension, well controlled on Amlodipine
High cholesterol, well controlled on Pravastatin
A sleep study done in 2016 revealed severe obstructive sleep apnea with an AHI of 78 and CPAP treatment was initiated
Sleep apnea is well controlled, without symptoms, and good compliance on nightly CPAP use.

Underwriting decision: Preferred NS for the sleep apnea history!

Place more business and earn more commissions! Our Underwriting Team is here to help you get the best possible underwriting offer on each and every case.

February 6, 2026

Preferred Is Possible For Your Clients With Asthma

CPS Insurance Services

Asthma is a disease that affects the lungs and results in temporary narrowing of the airways. Symptoms include difficulty breathing, wheezing, coughing and tightness in the chest. It affects over 8% of adults in the United States.

Diagnosis and severity of asthma is determined by lung function testing known as Spirometry. Results are measured in percentages and values of 80% or greater are generally considered normal.

Individuals with this impairment may represent a significant underwriting challenge. However, PREFERRED may be possible for your asthmatic clients!

Criteria that could help applicants qualify for Preferred include:

No tobacco use
No hospitalization for asthma in the last 5 years; no other ailments
Spirometry showing normal results of FVC (Forced Vital Capacity) and FEV1 (Forced Expiratory Volume in one second)
Treatment may include intermittent (as needed) use of inhaled bronchodilators, brief courses of corticosteroids or low dose medication
No time off of work or school due to asthma symptoms
No underwater or high altitude avocations, whether ratable or non-ratable
Must meet all other regular, published Preferred criteria

So, breathe easier for your clients with an asthma history.

Call the Underwriting Team today for more information on this carrier and to see how we can help get the underwriting offers you need to make the sale!

January 30, 2026

Underwriting Recreational Marijuana

CPS Insurance Services

Did you know that Non-Smoker rate classes are available on marijuana use? In some cases, Preferred Non-Smoker rate classes may be possible.

Take a look at these potential rate classes for recreational marijuana use:

8 or less days per month may qualify for Preferred Plus Non-Smoker
Up to 3 times per week may qualify for Preferred Non-Smoker
If over age 50, no more than 1 time per day and up to 4-6 times per week may qualify for Standard Non-Smoker

Contact the Underwriting Team for best possible outcomes on marijuana use.

January 23, 2026

The Skinny On GLP‑1: Underwriting In The Weight-Loss Era

CPS Insurance Services

Obesity is a major risk factor for Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, sleep apnea, liver disease, and certain cancers.

It’s estimated that around 40% of the adult non-diabetic population in the U.S. is obese.

Over the past few years, GLP‑1 medications have become mainstream for the treatment of both obesity and Type 2 diabetes. GLP-1 receptor agonists – such as Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro and Zepbound – mimic the body’s GLP-1 hormone which helps manage blood sugar levels, suppresses appetite and slows the process of food leaving the stomach.

GLP-1 agonists have been shown to reduce effects of metabolic risk factors including obesity, diabetes and in atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. However, there is also a high incidence of regaining weight loss after stopping the GLP-1, in some cases with weight returning to baseline levels within 1 to 2 years. Ongoing lifestyle change is key for long term success beyond treatment.

When it comes to underwriting, here are a few things carriers look for in assessing the use of GLP-1 medications:

Indication – What is the medication treating? Weight loss, diabetes, or both
Weight loss history over a period of one year – What is the current height/weight and what is the total amount of weight loss in the prior year? To account for stability risk, carriers will underwrite based on an adjusted weight that includes adding back half of the weight lost within the prior 12 months
Comorbidities – Are there any diagnoses for co-morbid conditions such as Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, sleep apnea and hypertension? Additional ratings may apply if comorbidities are present
Healthy lifestyle habits – A healthy lifestyle can help with a more favorable underwriting assessment. These include diet, exercise habits, and a lifelong nonsmoker

Contact our Underwriting Team of experts to help get the best possible offers with your GLP-1 scenarios.

January 16, 2026

Best Rates Are Possible For History Of Gastric Ulcers

CPS Insurance Services

Gastric ulcers, also known as peptic ulcers, are localized areas of erosion in the stomach lining that result in abdominal pain, possible bleeding and other gastrointestinal symptoms.

The most common cause of these ulcers is infection of the stomach by bacteria called Helicobacter pylori (H.pylori). Other risk factors include alcohol use, smoking and use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

Ulcers that are successfully treated with good follow up and documentation of healing generally get more favorable underwriting outcomes.

Take a look at this case study:

59 year old male
$1 million of Term coverage
5’9”, 140 lbs
Lifelong non-smoker
No adverse family history
Diagnosed with a non-bleeding gastric ulcer in 2018. Takes over-the-counter medication for heartburn symptoms
No alcohol use

Underwriting Decision: Select Preferred!

Contact our Underwriting Team for more information and let us help you find ways to generate more sales with great underwriting offers!

January 9, 2026

Obesity + Lap Band Surgery = Standard

CPS Insurance Services

Obesity in the United States has been increasingly cited as a major health issue in recent decades. While many industrialized countries have experienced similar increases, obesity rates in the United States are among the highest in the world.

There are several types of surgeries that fall under the group of “bariatric surgery” designed for people that are obese. Lap band surgery (laparoscopic adjustable gastric band), is an inflatable silicone device placed around the top portion of the stomach to treat obesity, intended to slow consumption of food and thus the amount of food consumed.

One of our Strategic Carrier Providers look favorably upon this type of surgery and with applicable credits, will make a favorable offer.

Let’s take a look…

A female client, aged 32 years, is seeking $500,000 of 10-year Term Life Insurance, history includes:

Build of 5’6 and 212 pounds
Blood pressure 120/76Lap band procedure 2 years ago

The initial underwriting work up – Table 2.

Then, the following underwriting credits were applied:

Optimal blood pressure
Lifetime nonsmoker
Regular preventative care
A1c Test < 5.7
Preferred driving record

Final Offer – Standard!

Our Underwriting Team is here to help with all of your impaired risk cases. Please contact us today – we will help you make the sales!

January 2, 2026

Become A 3-Point Shooter By Understanding The proBNP

CPS Insurance Services

Just as basketball fans had to get used to the 3-point shot first debuted by the NBA in the 1979-80 season, we must get used to current trends in underwriting.

A blood test was introduced into the game and has been around for several years now. It’s called the proBNP.

What is it? The proBNP blood test is a marker for overall cardiovascular risk and a marker of long-term mortality in individuals with heart disease. It is released by the heart as a natural response to when the heart is not strong enough to pump adequate blood and nutrients to meet the body’s needs – when it is deprived of oxygen, or when the main heart muscle is enlarged from working too hard.

If the proBNP is abnormal on an exam lab panel, some carriers will automatically decline the applicant or ask for an additional cardiac work-up at the his/her expense in order to reconsider.

However, if the proBNP is favorable on an exam lab panel, carriers may be able to use the result as an underwriting credit for applicants ages 70 and up.

Here’s an example:

Male, Age 75, Non Smoker; Seeking $500,000 of UL coverage
History of a TIA (mini-stroke) 3 years ago
Followed closely by his physician
Insurance lab panel showed a proBNP of 55 (normal)

Under normal circumstances, this would be a mild substandard rate – however, with the credit, he can now qualify for Standard. That’s a 3-pointer and a win-win for us all!

Contact your Life Underwriting Department for more information.

December 26, 2025

Tobacco Use: The Ifs, Ands & Butts Of Underwriting

CPS Insurance Services

Tobacco use is known to increase the risk of heart disease, stroke, lung diseases and cancer. It remains the leading cause of preventable disease and death in the United States. More than 19% of U.S. adults reported current tobacco product use.

When applying for life insurance, carriers consider all forms of tobacco/nicotine in their underwriting assessments: cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco, vaping, and nicotine‑replacement products such as gum, pouches and patches.

Typically, any use of tobacco products within the past 12 months is assessed at tobacco class and can significantly impact insurance premiums.

But did you know:

Non-tobacco class may be available with some carriers if the use is other than cigarettes or vaping. Smokeless tobacco – chewing, pouches, nicotine patches and gum – could qualify for Standard non-tobacco class if the use is disclosed on the application and if there is no use of cigarettes or vaping within the prior 12 months.
Celebratory cigar use (no more than 12-24 cigars per year) could qualify for up to Preferred Best non-tobacco provided a urine specimen is negative for nicotine.

Contact our Underwriting Team for more information on how to get the best rates on your tobacco cases.

December 19, 2025

Why Cholesterol Isn’t Half Bad: Underwriting Successes

CPS Insurance Services

It may surprise you to know that cholesterol itself isn’t bad. Cholesterol is one of the many substances created and used by our bodies to keep us healthy. Some of the cholesterol we need is produced naturally while some of it comes from what we eat.

There are two types of cholesterol: HDL, the “good” cholesterol, and LDL, the “bad” cholesterol. A healthy level of HDL helps protect against heart disease and stroke.

The total cholesterol-to-HDL ratio (chol/HDL ratio) is also an indicator in determining an individual’s risk of developing heart disease. This ratio is obtained by dividing the total cholesterol value by the value of the HDL cholesterol. Healthy, higher levels of HDL – the “good” cholesterol – helps to drive down the ratio. This is a good thing! Low ratios indicate a lower risk and, thus, are more desirable.

Some carriers no longer look at total cholesterol in assessing risk, but reviews only the cholesterol/HDL ratio instead.

Now clients with high total cholesterol but lower, favorable ratios can still qualify for best rates.

Consider these examples:

Case #1

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!

Case #2

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!

Case #3

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: STANDARD PLUS!

*Total cholesterol cannot exceed 299

We also have other top rated carriers who use only cholesterol/HDL ratios in their underwriting criteria.

Contact our Underwriting Team today for more information and let us help you boost your sales this quarter!

CPS Horizon Underwriting

Consider the following:

Take for instance this case involving severe sleep apnea but with good follow up and compliance:

Criteria that could help applicants qualify for Preferred include:

Take a look at these potential rate classes for recreational marijuana use:

When it comes to underwriting, here are a few things carriers look for in assessing the use of GLP-1 medications:

Take a look at this case study:

Let’s take a look…

Then, the following underwriting credits were applied:

Here’s an example:

But did you know:

Consider these examples:

Subscribe to our newsletter