Ethos Underwriting and Product Guidelines
Knockouts
For licensed life agents only. Do not distribute.
Ethos was built to match the right life insurance product to each client. U.S. adults up to age 85 will get approved
through our platform. However, not every product is right for every client. To help you understand the situations in
which an applicant might be declined, we’ve provided a list of knockout conditions below. Knockout conditions are
not available for TruStage
TM
products.
Product Ethos Term Life Ethos IUL Ethos Final Expense
Ethos Term Life - Prime Ethos Term Life - Spectrum Ethos Term Life - Select
BMI (if any weight
lost within the past 12
months, half of weight
lost is added back
when calculating BMI)
<18 or >48.9 BMI <17 or BMI >=41
Weight change of >15 lbs (past year) due to
physical disorder/disease/illness or unknown
cause
>55 <18 or >48.9 Unexplained weight change >15 lbs
in the past 6 months
Blood pressure Average BP within the past 12 months:
Age 1839: >150/98
Age 4049: >160/98
Age 5059: >165/100
Age 60: >175/100
Hypertension uncontrolled or including
complications within the past 10 years
Uncontrolled hypertension or
including complications within the
past 5 years
Average BP within the past 12 months:
Age 1839: >150/98
Age 4049: >160/98
Age 5059: >165/100
Age 6065: >175/100
Uncontrolled hypertension or
including complications within the
past 2 years
Cholesterol Total cholesterol >350 Hypertension uncontrolled or including
complications within the past 10 years
Uncontrolled hyperlipedemia or
including complications within the
past 5 years
Total cholesterol >350 Uncontrolled hyperlipedemia or
including complications within the
past 2 years
Diabetes <age 30, associated with physical complications
(eyes, kidneys, neuropathy, amputation), A1C >9.5
(past 12 months), fasting blood sugar >200 (past
12 months), non-fasting blood sugar >250 (past 12
months), no testing or check up within the last 12
months, BMI >41.49
Diagnosed before age 40 and requiring insulin Requiring insulin and/or diagnosed
within the past 5 years
<age 30, associated with physical complications
(eyes, kidneys, neuropathy, amputation), A1C >9.5
(past 12 months), fasting blood sugar >200 (past
12 months), non-fasting blood sugar >250 (past 12
months), no testing or check up within the last 12
months, BMI >41.49
Uncontrolled diabetes or including
complications within the past
2 years
Mental illness Severe anxiety, depression, PTSD, bipolar
disorder, or other mental disorder with history
of suicidal thoughts or attempt within 10 years,
hospitalization or inpatient treatment related
to condition within the last 5 years, disability or
missed work/school (more than 10 days) in the last
12 months
Mental disorder (other than mild anxiety,
mild depression, or ADHD) diagnosed
or treated within the past 10 years.
No suicide attempt or hospitalization within the
past 5 years
Any chronic depression or other
psychiatric/mood disorder
(excluding mild anxiety) diagnosed
within the past 5 years, or
hospitalization for suicide attempt
or thoughts within the past 5 years
Severe anxiety, depression, PTSD, bipolar
disorder, or other mental disorder with history
of suicidal thoughts or attempt within 10 years,
hospitalization or inpatient treatment related
to condition within the last 5 years, disability or
missed work/school (more than 10 days) in the last
12 months
Any diagnosed within the past
2 years
COVID19 Any symptoms or positive test within the
past 14 days
Any symptoms or positive test within the past
30 days
Not applicable Any symptoms or positive test within the
past 14 days
Not applicable
HIV/AIDS All cases All cases All cases All cases All cases
Cancer All cancers diagnosed within the past 10 years,
excluding skin cancers (eg: basal cell skin cancer,
squamous cell skin cancer, melanoma) and some
cases of lymphoma
Cancer diagnosed or treated within the past
10 years (excluding basal cell skin cancer and
squamous cell skin cancer)
Any diagnosed within the past 5
years excluding skin cancer (eg:
basal cell skin cancer, squamous
cell skin cancer, melanoma)
All cancers diagnosed within the past 10 years,
excluding skin cancers (eg: basal cell skin cancer,
squamous cell skin cancer, melanoma) and some
cases of lymphoma
Any diagnosed within the past 2
years
Neurological disease
or brain disorder
Any other than epilepsy/seizures, multiple
sclerosis, Bell’s palsy, restless leg syndrome,
narcolepsy, vertigo, migraine
Stroke/TIA or any neurological disease diagnosed
or treated within the past 10 years, dementia or
Alzheimer’s disease
Any diagnosed within the past 5
years
Any other than epilepsy/seizures, multiple
sclerosis, Bell’s palsy, restless leg syndrome,
narcolepsy, vertigo, migraine
Severe, chronic, uncontrolled
condition diagnosed within the
past 2 years
Cardiovascular
disease
Heart disease, congestive heart disorder, heart
failure, valve disorder, cardiomyopathy, coronary
artery disease, peripheral vascular/artery disease,
pulmonary hypertension, carotid artery disease
Heart or vascular disease diagnosed or treated
within the past 10 years (excluding controlled
hypertension)
Any other than controlled
hypertension diagnosed within the
past 5 years
Heart disease, congestive heart disorder, heart
failure, valve disorder, cardiomyopathy, coronary
artery disease, peripheral vascular/artery disease,
pulmonary hypertension, carotid artery disease
Within the past 2 years:
uncontrolled hypertension, heart
disease, arrhythmia, or installation
of a pacemaker/debrillator
© 2023 Ethos Technologies Inc. Ethos operates in some states as Ethos Life Insurance Services. CA license #0L28949; AR license #100164629. Ethos oers policies issued by the carriers listed at www.ethoslife.com/carriers.
Products and their features may not be available in all states.
Best–Moderate Risk
Best Risk
Moderate Risk
Higher Risk