Final answer:
In life insurance underwriting, marital status of the applicant is typically considered unimportant compared to gender, age, and weight, which are critical for assessing risk and setting premiums. Marital status does not directly affect mortality risk and is not a key factor in insurance risk assessment.
Step-by-step explanation:
When life insurance underwriting is being considered, the factor that is generally deemed unimportant is D. Marital status of the applicant. Factors like gender, age, and weight are significant in assessing the risk profile and determining life insurance premiums.
Life insurance companies use historical data and statistical analysis to calculate the likelihood of an event such as death occurring. Gender and age are key determinants because they have been shown to statistically influence life expectancy. Similarly, weight can be an important factor as it may indicate potential health risks like heart disease or diabetes. Marital status, however, does not have a direct impact on the likelihood of mortality and is not considered a key variable in risk assessment for life insurance policies.
Insurance underwriting is substantially influenced by the concept of adverse selection, where individuals with higher risk are more likely to purchase insurance, potentially leading to higher premiums for all insured due to a riskier pool of policyholders.