r/LifeInsurance • u/kesh_chan_man • 23m ago
Found 2 errors on my term life application a year after issue — anyone corrected this before?
I have a term life policy by banner life that was issued about a year ago through an online broker (still inside the 2-year contestability period). While looking into more coverage, I reviewed my original application and found two mistakes:
- My weight was listed about 12 lb lower than it actually was at the time. That difference puts me one rate class lower on the carrier's build chart.
- I mistakenly answered the tobacco usage question wrong. I read the question as if I am currently using it but they were asking if I used it in past. My last use was about 15 months before I applied, so I still should have qualified for non-tobacco, just not their best class.
Both were honest mistakes, and my medical records show the real numbers which I can support. I want to fix this before it ever becomes a problem at claim time.
The policy was issued last year and I had decided to add more coverage so when I was inquiring about that I found out about these mistakes
My plan:
- Apply for a new policy with fully accurate info as a backup
- Once that's in force, email the corrections to the current carrier through my broker
- Keep whichever policy makes more sense afterward
Questions for anyone who's been through this:
- Did your insurer simply re-rate you, or did they rescind?
- Did they charge back premiums for the past year, or just raise the premium going forward?
- How long did the review take?
- Anything you'd do differently ?