Can social media affect my life insurance application?

Life insurance underwriting is primarily based on medical history, lab results, lifestyle disclosures, and financial information — not social media profiles. However, the relationship between social media and insurance underwriting is an evolving area worth understanding.

Currently, most carriers do not routinely review social media during standard underwriting. However, if a claim investigation reveals information that contradicts what was stated on an application — for example, disclosed activities or health claims that are inconsistent with publicly posted content — that inconsistency could affect a claim outcome.

The more direct risk is misrepresentation. If you disclose on your application that you do not engage in certain activities (skydiving, extreme sports) and social media clearly demonstrates otherwise, this could be treated as material misrepresentation. The safest approach is full honesty in your application, regardless of what you post publicly.

For most straightforward applicants — healthy, non-smoking, no undisclosed high-risk activities — social media is simply not a factor in the underwriting decision. Agents in our network can walk you through exactly what to disclose and how to present your application most effectively to A-rated (A.M. Best) carriers.