John Hancock Life Insurance Underwriting
Competitive top-tier placement with unusual flexibility on aviation risks, paired with a tighter substandard ceiling than most peers.
Top-two placement probability for the sample profile
Probability that 58-year-old male with BMI 29, treated hypertension (130/85 on 1 medication), father had an MI at age 62, total cholesterol 240, non-smoker lands in the two highest non-tobacco tiers at John Hancock.
Class Ladder
John Hancock publishes the following underwriting classes. Class names differ across carriers; comparing top-tier placement requires normalizing to a common taxonomy.
Where John Hancock Is Competitive
- Generous build allowances at the top non-tobacco tier for ages 50-70
- Treated hypertension rarely blocks the Preferred Non-Smoker tier when BP is controlled on a single medication
- Single-event family history is handled more flexibly than peer-average
- Strong cholesterol treatment: medicated cholesterol rarely disqualifies the top tier when on-treatment readings are acceptable
Where John Hancock Is Stricter
- Five-year tobacco-free window required for Super Preferred (peer-matching, not a differentiator)
- Pilot risk disqualifies Super Preferred regardless of hours or IFR rating
- Substandard ceiling at Table 8 (300 percent of standard) is stricter than most peers, which cap at Table 16
- Severe impaired-risk cases above a 3.0x mortality multiple typically do not place here
Distinctive Underwriting Rules
Aviation rating cap at Table 4 (200 percent of standard)
Most carriers either accept a pilot at standard or decline outright for complex aviation exposures. John Hancock caps aviation at Table 4, which means a private pilot with a clean record who would be declined elsewhere can often place here at a rated offer.
Table 8 substandard ceiling
John Hancock will not rate beyond Table 8, which corresponds to roughly 300 percent of standard mortality. Peer carriers typically rate to Table 16 (500 percent). Cases with severe impairments are better shopped to carriers with deeper substandard capacity.
Who John Hancock Tends to Fit
Best-fit profiles
- Healthy non-smokers in their 50s and 60s with controlled treated hypertension
- Private pilots with clean records who would face declines elsewhere
- Single-event family history (one parent, non-early onset)
Less ideal profiles
- Severe impaired-risk cases expected to rate above Table 8
- Recent tobacco use (within 5 years of application)
Frequently Asked Questions
What are John Hancock's underwriting classes?
John Hancock publishes four non-tobacco tiers (Super Preferred, Preferred, Standard Plus, Standard) and two tobacco tiers (Preferred Smoker, Standard Smoker). Substandard cases are rated up to Table 8, approximately 300 percent of standard mortality.
Does John Hancock offer top-tier rates to private pilots?
Private pilot status disqualifies the Super Preferred non-smoker tier at John Hancock. However, John Hancock caps aviation ratings at Table 4, meaning pilots who would be declined at other carriers can often still place here at a rated offer.
How strict is John Hancock on treated hypertension?
John Hancock is competitive on treated hypertension. Blood pressure controlled on a single medication at typical on-treatment readings rarely blocks the Preferred Non-Smoker tier. Multiple medications or elevated on-treatment readings move the case into Standard Plus or Standard.
What is John Hancock's substandard rating ceiling?
John Hancock will rate up to Table 8, which is approximately 300 percent of standard mortality. Peers often rate to Table 16 (500 percent). Severe impaired-risk cases should typically be shopped to carriers with deeper substandard capacity.
How often does John Hancock update its field underwriting guide?
Major field guide updates typically happen every 12 to 24 months. Lumis Life tracks the guide version stamp (currently 2024.01) and refreshes the per-carrier model when a new public guide is released.
Source and Methodology
Underwriting rules on this page are derived from John Hancock's publicly available John Hancock Field Underwriting Guide, published 2024-01. Guide version tracked as 2024.01. Top-two placement probability reflects the Lumis Life underwriting estimator applied to the sample profile; live estimates use the client's actual assessment inputs.
Real placement depends on medical records, paramedical exam labs, financial underwriting, and current carrier appetite. See the methodology page for the full approach, class taxonomy definitions, and update cadence. This page is informational and is not a quote, offer of insurance, or guarantee of placement.
Related Carriers
- Protective (72% top-two for the sample profile)
- Lincoln Financial (70% top-two for the sample profile)
- Back to the full 18-carrier comparison
Run a live estimate for your client
The Lumis Life dashboard runs the underwriting estimator against all eighteen carriers using the client's actual health profile from the longevity assessment. See where this carrier ranks for your specific case before routing an informal inquiry.
Get Started