Many seniors believe that they are at an age at which they have passed life insurance eligibility. Although most major life insurance policies require health underwriting (many smaller policies do not) and they won’t automatically deem you ineligible for insurance if you have pre-existing conditions, but you will pay more. For instance, a 70-year-old male in excellent health would pay an average of $3,295 with a $100K death benefit, while an applicant with a condition like controlled diabetes might pay about $5,449 per year. Before applying, experts recommend that you proactively manage your health. For example, if you have high cholesterol, bring it down through medication and diet. You can even pay to have a blood test run prior to applying to make sure your medical condition is under control (Kiplinger’s Retirement Report, August 2021, P8).