When it comes to life insurance, men get the short end of the stick, simply for being a man.

Life Insurance
Life Insurance (Hemera Technologies, ThinkStock)
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Men pay an average of 38 percent more than women for the same exact life insurance policy, according to a new report by insuranceQutoes.com.

"Men are paying higher rates for life insurance than women because they do not live as long," said Laura Adams, a senior analyst at insuranceQuotes.com. The average life span for a man is 76, and for woman it's 81, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Smokers also pay higher life insurance premiums than non-smokers.  On average, smokers pay more than three times as much as non-smokers for the same policy. Over the course of a year, smokers pay $1,462 more in life insurance premiums than non-smokers.

Policyholders that are overweight or have pre-existing medical conditions also get hit harder in the wallet. "If you do have a pre-existing condition, perhaps you have diabetes, heart disease, you know something very serious - that's going to definitely affect your life insurance rates," Adams said.

Younger policyholders also spend less than their older counterparts.  A 35-year-old policyholder pays, on average, 27 percent more than a 25-year-old policyholder. The rate continues to climb as people age.  For example, a 45-year-old pays 120 percent more than a 35-year-old.

"By locking in a level-term policy in your twenties or early thirties, you will benefit from much lower rates," Adams said.

 

 

 

 

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