What It Signals

Lescol (Fluvastatin) is a statin prescribed to manage high cholesterol (hyperlipidemia). Use indicates you have been diagnosed with elevated cholesterol and are actively managing your lipid levels with a commonly prescribed, well-established medication. High cholesterol is one of the most prevalent conditions in adults and is a major cardiovascular risk factor. Life insurance companies have extensive experience evaluating applicants with high cholesterol and view well-controlled lipid levels as manageable and insurable. Unlike progressive conditions, cholesterol that is controlled with medication typically remains stable indefinitely with consistent medication use.

“High cholesterol managed with Lescol is one of the most favorable medications from an underwriting perspective. Insurers know that applicants taking Lescol are actively managing a key cardiovascular risk factor. Approval is very likely with well-controlled lipid levels and recent lab work demonstrating good control. Statin use is viewed positively—it shows responsibility about health management.”

– InsuranceBrokers USA – Management Team

“Cholesterol underwriting is straightforward. Insurers need recent lipid panel results showing your LDL, HDL, and triglyceride levels. They want proof that you’re taking Lescol consistently and seeing a doctor regularly for monitoring. They also assess your overall cardiovascular risk: smoking status, blood pressure, family history of heart disease, prior cardiac events, and any other relevant health factors. For most applicants with well-controlled cholesterol, approval is very straightforward.”

– InsuranceBrokers USA – Management Team

Current Lipid Panel Results (LDL, HDL, Triglycerides)

Recent lab results show that your cholesterol levels are the primary underwriting factor. LDL under 100 mg/dL is considered controlled; under 70 is excellent. HDL above 40 mg/dL is good. Triglycerides below 150 mg/dL are favorable. Insurers want recent results (within 3-6 months ideally).

Consistency of Medical Care

Regular doctor visits for cholesterol monitoring are important. Applicants who see their physician regularly for lipid checks and medication management get better underwriting outcomes. Gaps in medical care or infrequent monitoring raise questions about disease management.

Duration of High Cholesterol

How long you’ve had high cholesterol matters less than how well it’s controlled, but long-standing, well-controlled cholesterol suggests stability. Recently diagnosed high cholesterol that’s already well-controlled is favorable. Uncontrolled cholesterol diagnosed years ago is unfavorable.

Prior Cardiovascular Events

Insurers check for prior heart attacks, strokes, or heart disease. Well-controlled cholesterol post-event is favorable. Applicants without cardiovascular history but with high cholesterol have the best outcomes. Any prior events get closer scrutiny and may result in higher rates.

Other Cardiovascular Risk Factors

Age, smoking status, family history of heart disease, blood pressure, weight, and diabetes (if applicable) are evaluated alongside cholesterol. Your overall cardiovascular risk profile, not cholesterol alone, determines your rates. Well-controlled cholesterol combined with favorable other risk factors results in standard or near-standard rates.

Honesty Protects Your Approval

Complete disclosure on cholesterol applications leads to straightforward approval. Insurers will verify information through medical records anyway, so omissions or misstatements will be discovered. Honesty upfront prevents denials and ensures your coverage is secure after approval.

“Cholesterol disclosure is straightforward. Report your diagnosis date, your current lipid levels from recent lab work, how long you’ve been on Lescol, and whether you have any prior cardiovascular history. Honesty about lipid levels and cardiovascular risk factors leads to better outcomes than minimization. Your medical records will confirm this information anyway.”

– InsuranceBrokers USA – Management Team

High Cholesterol Diagnosis and Current Lipid Levels

Report when you were diagnosed with high cholesterol and your current LDL, HDL, and triglyceride levels. If you don’t know your recent numbers, get them from your doctor before applying. Provide recent lab reports showing current cholesterol levels.

Current Medications (Lescol and Any Others)

List Lescol and any other cholesterol medications or medications for related conditions. Include dosages if you know them. Insurers use medication regimens to assess disease control and overall health management.

Doctor Visit Frequency

Disclose how often you see your physician for cholesterol monitoring. Regular follow-ups (at least annually, ideally more frequently) demonstrate consistent management. If you haven’t seen a doctor recently, schedule a visit before applying to get current lipid levels.

Prior Cardiovascular Events (If Any)

Report any history of heart attacks, strokes, heart disease, or chest pain. These complicate underwriting but don’t automatically result in denial. Complete disclosure allows for proper evaluation and prevents rescission risk.

Smoking Status

Disclose whether you smoke. Smoking combined with high cholesterol increases cardiovascular risk and results in higher rates. Be accurate about smoking status.

Family History of Heart Disease

Report if parents, siblings, or close relatives had heart attacks, strokes, or early heart disease. This information helps underwriters assess your cardiovascular risk profile.

“Approval with Lescol is very likely for applicants with well-controlled cholesterol and no prior cardiovascular events. This is one of the most favorable medication-based applications to underwrite. Most applicants get straightforward approval within 2-3 weeks. Even applicants with well-controlled cholesterol and one prior minor cardiac event (such as angioplasty several years ago with good recovery) typically get approved at reasonable rates.”

– InsuranceBrokers USA – Management Team

Well-Controlled Cholesterol, No Cardiovascular History, Non-Smoker

LDL under 100 mg/dL (ideally under 70), on Lescol for 2+ years, sees doctor regularly for monitoring, no history of heart disease or stroke, non-smoker, favorable family history, or no significant family history of early heart disease. This applicant has excellent approval odds and typically receives standard or near-standard rates. This is the most favorable cholesterol profile.

Well-Controlled Cholesterol With Smoker Status

Approval is very likely, but smoker rates apply. Rate increase is typically 10-25% higher than non-smoker rates. Quitting smoking before applying significantly improves your rates.

Reasonably Controlled Cholesterol (LDL 100-130)

LDL in the 100-130 mg/dL range still results in approval, though rates may be slightly higher (5-15% increase above standard). This indicates good but not optimal control, which insurers can work with, especially if trending downward.

Well-Controlled Cholesterol With Prior Minor Cardiac Event

Applicants with well-controlled cholesterol but prior stent placement or angioplasty (several years ago with good recovery) typically still get approved at moderate rate increases (10-25%). Recent cardiac events result in more scrutiny, but well-controlled cholesterol post-event helps significantly.

Poorly Controlled High Cholesterol (LDL Above 130)

LDL consistently above 130 mg/dL despite being on Lescol results in a decline from some carriers or significant rate increases. Applicants in this situation should work with their doctor to improve cholesterol control before applying. Waiting 2-3 months while increasing the Lescol dose or adding a second medication often allows for much better underwriting.

High Cholesterol With Prior Heart Attack or Stroke

Approval is still possible, but underwriting is more detailed. Carriers require additional medical records and information about the event. Rates are substantially higher (25-50%+ increase). If the event was recent (within 1-2 years), waiting a bit longer can improve underwriting outcomes.

Multiple Prior Cardiac Events

Applicants with multiple cardiac events (two stents, prior bypass surgery, etc.) face more challenging underwriting. Approval is still possible if cholesterol is well-controlled now, but rates are significantly higher (50-100%+). Limited carrier options are available.

“Lescol applicants with well-controlled cholesterol typically pay standard to slightly elevated rates. This is very favorable compared to most other conditions. Rate increases are usually minimal—often 0-10% for well-controlled applicants without other risk factors. Cholesterol control is the primary driver; other factors like smoking and family history matter but are secondary to lipid control. Well-controlled cholesterol represents one of the best underwriting scenarios in life insurance.”

– InsuranceBrokers USA – Management Team

Well-Controlled Cholesterol, Non-Smoker, No Cardiovascular History

Rate increase: 0-5% above standard or sometimes standard rates. Example: A 50-year-old who would pay $60/month at standard rates might pay $60-63/month with well-controlled cholesterol. This is minimal to no impact.

Well-Controlled Cholesterol, Smoker

Rate increase: 10-25% above standard (includes both smoker surcharge and cholesterol factor). The same applicant might pay $75-90/month. Smoking impacts rates more than cholesterol control.

Reasonably Controlled Cholesterol (LDL 100-130)

Rate increase: 5-10% above standard. Example: The same 50-year-old non-smoker might pay $63-66/month. Slightly higher cholesterol targets result in a minimal rate increase.

Well-Controlled Cholesterol With Prior Cardiac Event

Rate increase: 15-40% above standard. Example: The same applicant might pay $90-125/month. Prior events significantly increase rates, but good cholesterol control post-event helps mitigate the impact.

Poorly Controlled Cholesterol (LDL Above 130)

Rate increase: 10-40%+ or possible decline. Applicants with poorly controlled cholesterol face higher rates and possible denial. The solution is often to work with your doctor to control cholesterol better, then reapply for much better rates.

Get Your Cholesterol Optimized and Recent Labs

See your doctor and get recent lipid panel results. If your cholesterol is not well-controlled (LDL above 100), work with your physician for 2-3 months to optimize treatment before applying. Having documented LDL under 100 (ideally under 70) significantly improves approval odds and rates. Bring recent lab results to your application.

If You Smoke: Quit or Be Ready to Pay More

Smoking adds 10-25% to rates. If you can quit before applying, you’ll save significantly on premiums. Even if you quit shortly before applying (showing 6+ months of cessation), this helps your rates. Disclose smoking status honestly—carriers verify, and lying results in denial.

Gather Your Medical Records

Get copies of recent doctor visit summaries, your most recent lipid panel report, and any EKG or cardiac testing if applicable. Complete medical records speed underwriting and reduce requests for additional information.

Be Clear About Your Cholesterol Control

Provide your most recent lipid panel results (LDL, HDL, triglycerides) and explain how long you’ve been on Lescol. If you have multiple recent lab results, share them—showing consistent control over time strengthens your application.

Submit Medical Records Proactively

Don’t wait for the insurer to request medical records. Provide them upfront. This demonstrates transparency and speeds up underwriting. Include recent doctor visit summaries and your lipid panel results.

Respond Quickly to Any Requests

If the insurer requests additional information or medical records, respond quickly. Delays extend the underwriting timeline. Cholesterol underwriting is fast and straightforward—don’t slow it down with late responses.

Wait and Optimize Before Applying

If your LDL is above 100, work with your doctor for 2-3 months to optimize treatment. Many applicants improve cholesterol control by increasing the Lescol dose, adding a second medication (like ezetimibe), or making lifestyle changes. Applying after demonstrating improvement can mean the difference between higher rates and standard rates.

Will I be declined because I take Lescol?

Direct answer: No. Lescol use does not disqualify applicants. Approval depends on cholesterol control.

Well-controlled cholesterol on Lescol results in approval for the vast majority of applicants. This is one of the easiest medications to get approved for. Decline is unlikely unless your cholesterol is poorly controlled despite medication or you have sa ignificant prior cardiac history.

How much will Lescol increase my rates?

Direct answer: Likely very little or none. Often 0-10% or less if your cholesterol is well-controlled.

Well-controlled cholesterol typically results in standard or near-standard rates. This is one of the most favorable conditions in life insurance. If your cholesterol is less well-controlled, rates might be 5-15% higher. Smoking adds more to rates than cholesterol in most cases.

What cholesterol level is acceptable to insurers?

Direct answer: LDL under 100 mg/dL is controlled. Under 70 is excellent. Up to 130 is usually acceptable, though rates may be slightly higher.

LDL above 130 mg/dL despite being on Lescol signals inadequate control and results in higher rates or possible decline. If your LDL is consistently above this level, work with your doctor to improve control before applying.

Do I have to disclose my high cholesterol?

Direct answer: Yes. Always disclose diagnosed high cholesterol on life insurance applications.

Omitting high cholesterol could be treated as application fraud and result in denial or cancellation. Complete honesty protects your coverage. Insurance companies verify information through medical records anyway—disclosure is always the safest approach.

How long does underwriting take for high cholesterol?

Direct answer: Typically 2-3 weeks. High cholesterol is one of the fastest applications to underwrite.

Well-controlled cholesterol with recent medical records moves quickly through underwriting. Incomplete information may extend timelines slightly. Having your medical records and lipid panel results ready speeds the process significantly.

Will I need medical testing?

Direct answer: Possibly. Blood work is often requested; an EKG if you’re age 50+ or have other risk factors.

Many applicants with high cholesterol need blood work to verify lipid levels and check overall health. Applicants age 50+ often get an EKG as well. Testing is standard for cholesterol underwriting and helps verify good control and the absence of cardiac complications.

What if I have a history of heart attack or stroke?

Direct answer: Approval is still possible, but underwriting is more detailed, and rates are substantially higher.

Applicants with prior cardiovascular events are still insurable, especially if cholesterol is well-controlled now. Underwriters require additional medical records and information about the event. Rates are typically 25-50%+ higher. If the event was recent (within 1-2 years), waiting a bit longer improves underwriting outcomes.

Can I get life insurance if my cholesterol isn’t well-controlled yet?

Direct answer: Yes, but rates will be higher. Better to wait and optimize first.

Applicants with LDL above 130 mg/dL can still apply, but outcomes are less favorable. The better strategy is to work with your doctor for 2-3 months to improve control, then apply. Many applicants who wait see dramatically better approval odds and rates by demonstrating improved control.

Will my insurance rates change after I get the policy?

Direct answer: No. Once approved and in force, your premiums remain locked in regardless of future health changes.

Any changes to your cholesterol, lipid levels, or other health factors after the policy issue won’t affect your rates or benefits. Lock in coverage now at favorable rates. Your rates stay the same for the life of your policy.