Modern U.S. life / SI / mortgage-protection underwriting knowledge — actuarial decision framing for software.
Knowledge priority 7/10Not legacy dump tree
Actuarial software-knowledge disclaimer:
These pages synthesize typical U.S. life / simplified-issue / final-expense / mortgage-protection
underwriting logic used industry-wide (2024–2026 field guides, carrier appetites, reinsurance mortality framing).
They are not any single carrier’s filed rates, not advice to applicants,
and not the legacy 2022 database dump. Use them to design interview schemas and carrier-ruleset APIs.
Actuarial view
Mortality risk concentrates in severe mood disorders, psychosis, recent hospitalization, and suicide attempt—not routine SSRI-treated mild anxiety/depression. 2020s UW is more nuanced than binary declines.
Primary risk drivers
Diagnosis severity
Hospitalization dates
Suicide attempt date
Stability on meds
Substance co-use
Work/ADL function
Life (full / accelerated)
Map drivers → rate class / flat extra / postpone / decline. Labs & Rx history refine.
Mortgage / FE SI
Stable mild MH usually OK; recent crisis not for level SI.
Health insurance
Behavioral health is a top medical cost center—separate rules.
Recommended interview logic (software schema)
Anxiety, depression, bipolar, schizophrenia, PTSD, or other MH treatment?