Information about our life insurance and disability income insurance underwriting practices: Traditional Underwriting and Algorithmic Underwriting
Life insurance
MassMutual uses traditional underwriting and algorithmic underwriting to evaluate insurance applications:
Traditional Underwriting typically involves a physical examination and certain lab testing (e.g., physical measurements, blood, urine and/or oral fluids) and then an underwriter reviews the case and assigns a rating. Traditional underwriting can be enhanced through automated rules that assist the underwriter in making a rating determination.
Algorithmic Underwriting is a streamlined method for evaluating your application that uses algorithmic models based on the information you provide in your application, along with other health data that we receive electronically.
MassMutual’s Algorithmic Underwriting programs use artificial intelligence systems (AIS) as part of the underwriting process to determine your eligibility for coverage. MassExpressSM is MassMutual’s Algorithmic Underwriting program that uses AIS and external consumer data information sources (ECDIS) to determine eligibility for underwriting without a physical exam or labs (e.g., blood, urine or saliva). These AIS technologies allow us to analyze a wide range of data, including information that you provide during the application process, information that we obtain from your physicians, medical facilities, medical claims records, and pharmacy databases, and credit related information (e.g., payment history, collections and available credit limits) that we obtain from other external sources including consumer reporting agencies. By utilizing AIS and ECDIS, we aim to streamline the application process, reduce the need for physical examinations and lab testing, and provide faster underwriting decisions.
Algorithmic Underwriting and MassExpressSM are currently available for the following ages, face amounts and life insurance products we offer:
| Eligibility Requirements for Algorithmic Underwriting | Eligibility Requirements for MassExpressSM Fluidless | |
|---|---|---|
| Physical Exam and Labs | Required | Not Required |
| Coverage Amount | Up to $3 million | Up to $3 million |
| Ages | 17-59 | 17-50 |
| Available Products | All individual Term Life and Whole Life products* | All individual Term Life and Whole Life products* |
| Available Rate Classes | Ultra Preferred Non-Tobacco Select Preferred Non-Tobacco Standard Non-Tobacco Select Preferred Tobacco Standard Tobacco | Ultra Preferred Non-Tobacco Select Preferred Non-Tobacco Standard Non-Tobacco Select Preferred Tobacco Standard Tobacco |
| Available Riders | Waiver of Premium Rider Renewable Term Rider Guaranteed Insurability Rider Life Insurance Supplement Rider Additional Life Insurance Rider Planned Additional Life Insurance Rider LTC Access Rider | Waiver of Premium Rider Renewable Term Rider Guaranteed Insurability Rider Life Insurance Supplement Rider Additional Life Insurance Rider Planned Additional Life Insurance Rider** |
| States | All states, District of Columbia and Puerto Rico | All states, District of Columbia and Puerto Rico |
| Applications | New applications only; not available for conversions, option exercises or face amount increases | New applications only; not available for conversions, option exercises or face amount increases |
| Language | Must speak and read English | Must speak and read English |
| Residency | Not available for non-US residents | Not available for non-US residents |
| Programs | Not available for Platinum Pass or Offer Match | Not available for Platinum Pass or Offer Match |
*excluding Survivorship Whole Life, CareChoice One, CareChoice Select **excluding LTC Access Rider
Not all eligible applicants may qualify for or receive a MassExpress offer even though they meet the above requirements and may be required to have a physical examination and lab testing. This may be due to current underwriting rules and algorithmic models in effect which result in requiring labs (e.g., blood, urine and/or saliva) based on certain factors such as an applicant’s insufficient digital medical footprint or insufficient number of positive risk factors. These factors may change periodically as our underwriting rules and models are updated from time to time. Some otherwise eligible applicants may not be able to receive a MassExpress offer based on random hold-outs for control and audit purposes.
In addition, applicants with certain medical conditions will generally not qualify for a MassExpress fluidless offer and will be required to complete labs and a physical examination. These include such conditions as cardiovascular disease, metabolic diseases (e.g., Diabetes), gastrointestinal disorders, and mental/nervous, autoimmune and neurological disorders. In some cases, applicants eligible for algorithmic underwriting will need to be underwritten traditionally based on their medical conditions.
While we strive to ensure that our underwriting offers are consistent regardless of underwriting method, the risk class determined through Algorithmic Underwriting or MassExpress may be different compared to Traditional Underwriting. This can result in different premiums and/or expected dividends (for whole life policies) if the Algorithmic Underwriting or MassExpress risk class is better or worse than what would have otherwise been determined through Traditional Underwriting.
Disability income insurance
MassMutual uses traditional underwriting to evaluate Disability income insurance applications. With traditional underwriting, an underwriter will review the application and other medical and financial information collected from the applicant. Depending on the age of the applicant and the product applied for, a physical examination and lab testing may be required, including collecting physical measurements, blood, urine and/or oral fluids. Tax documentation and returns may also be required based on the amount of coverage applied for. Additional supporting financial information may be required for business owners seeking coverage.
Traditional underwriting can be enhanced through automated rules that assist the underwriter in making an underwriting decision. Disability income insurance underwriters are also assisted by third-party Artificial Intelligence Systems (AIS) that collect, aggregate and analyze a range of data received from medical facilities, medical claims records and pharmacy databases.
If you have any questions about our traditional and algorithmic underwriting processes, including our use of AIS and ECDIS or about the underwriting process in general, refer to AI Systems - MassMutual or contact your financial professional.