CPS RELIABLE Underwriting

March 13, 2026

Underwriting Niches Lead To Opportunities To Place More Cases

We know how to elevate your sales. We are experts when it comes to new and innovative underwriting changes. We also know which carriers to recommend for your challenging clients.

Bottom line, we find ways to say “yes” to your cases.

We represent carriers that can offer:

Right away to individuals after treatment is completed for early stage prostate and breast cancer
Preferred Non-Smoker rates to your clients who use marijuana on a regular basis
Up to $3 million of term or permanent plan coverage to your healthy clients without any exam requirements, and can still offer their Super Preferred rates
Standard or even better to your clients with Type 2 diabetes
Preferred classes to your overweight clients
Preferred Best rates even if someone’s total cholesterol level is up to 300
Preferred Best rates for someone who is treated for depression
Preferred or better for your clients treated for sleep apnea using their CPAP machine on a nightly basis
Non-Smoker rates to your clients who smoke cigars or pipes or use tobacco chew on a regular basis (even daily) and have a positive specimen for nicotine

Contact the Life Underwriting Team – get some Preferred Best service as we help you with your next case!

March 6, 2026

Underwriting With Digital Data – Milliman IntelliScript

CPS Insurance Services

In this digital age, insurance companies have reshaped how they assess life insurance risks. One of these ways is by gathering prescription and medical claims histories through Milliman IntelliScript, a digital health data platform. This allows carriers to streamline underwriting decisions by reducing the need for full medical records and lab testing.

Milliman reports include:

Prescription history including dates and refill information
Medical claims data from health insurance billing, which includes diagnosis and procedure codes, doctor visits and hospitalizations, and lab test orders (results not included)
A list of physicians who prescribed medication and/or visited

This information helps carriers identify chronic conditions, length of treatment, and any high-risk procedures or hospitalizations.

In some cases, however, these pictures are not so clear and may result in adverse decisions based on limited information. This is where our knowledgeable Underwriting Team can determine what additional information is needed, help build a clearer picture, identify any inaccurate information, and create better underwriting outcomes.

Milliman reports are available to consumers who have applied for insurance and authorized release of information to the insurance company. Applicants can request a copy of their report through Milliman’s online portal at no cost to the consumer.

🔗 https://www.rxhistories.com/contact/#report

Contact our Underwriting Team if you want to learn more about digital underwriting and how we can help with better underwriting outcomes.

February 27, 2026

Client’s Family History Have You Down? We Have A Solution!

CPS Insurance Services

If you feel challenged with significant adverse family history compromising your client’s ability to achieve Preferred rates, we have a solution.

Our Underwriting Team is here to help with all your impaired risk cases.

Here are some examples:

Example #1

67- year- old male
5’10”, 190 lbs.
BP averages 140/84, total cholesterol 218, & Chol/HDL ratio 4.6
Father died at age 45 due to a heart attack and mother died at age 60 due to advanced breast cancer
No other adverse medical history in his APS records

Underwriting Decision: Preferred Best!

Key Factor: Family history is NOT considered when the proposed insured is older than 65. Therefore, the fact that our individual had two parents dying of heart disease/cancer at age 60 and younger had no bearing on the final decision.

Example #2

42- year- old female
5’3”, 154 lbs.
BP averages 130/80, total cholesterol 220, & Chol/HDL ratio 4.2
Both hypertension and cholesterol are currently being treated with medications
Father passed away at age 59 due to prostate cancer
No other adverse medical history in her APS records

Underwriting Decision: Preferred Best!

Key Factor: Gender specific cancers are not considered on proposed insured’s of the opposite sex. Since our female applicant’s adverse family history was due to a male disease, it also had no bearing on the final decision.

Please contact us today for more information about this carrier and how we can help boost your sales.

February 20, 2026

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

CPS Insurance Services

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!

CPS RELIABLE Underwriting

We represent carriers that can offer:

Milliman reports include:

Here are some examples:

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:

Subscribe to our newsletter