Modern U.S. life / SI / mortgage-protection underwriting knowledge — actuarial decision framing for software.
Knowledge priority 8/10Not 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
Catch-all must become structured: HIV, substance use, cannabis/vape, cognitive impairment, and transplants are real UW axes in 2026—not vague Other dumps.
Primary risk drivers
HIV (U=U / viral load)
Alcohol/drug treatment recency
Nicotine/vape/cannabis
Cognitive impairment
Organ transplant
Terminal illness
Life (full / accelerated)
Map drivers → rate class / flat extra / postpone / decline. Labs & Rx history refine.
Mortgage / FE SI
Treat vape as tobacco; recent substance use blocks level SI.
Health insurance
HIV/substance/cognitive have distinct health frameworks.
Recommended interview logic (software schema)
Other major risks
HIV — undetectable, stable ART (U=U era)
Many carriers now offer; not automatic decline
Illicit drug treatment under 2 years / current non-marijuana illicit
Common decline
Marijuana only, disclosed
Often Standard/Preferred at modern carriers
Vape / e-cig
Usually tobacco class
Cognitive impairment / dementia diagnosis
Decline Level
Terminal diagnosis
Decline / GI only if available
Typical decision patterns
Profile
Traditional / Express-style
FE / Mortgage SI path
Vape
TOBACCO CLASS
Price as smoker often
Illicit drugs under 2y
DECLINE
—
Stable HIV undetectable
Offer at modern appetites
Do not bury in vague Other
Software implementation note
Promote first-class attributes out of Other; keep Other empty.