Preparing for a Life Insurance Medical Exam? Find Out What to Expect

While it’s possible to secure a life insurance policy without a paramedical exam, there are some instances where one could be required. If you’ve never had one before, you probably have some questions, and even a little anxiety.

Today, we’re going to walk you through the process and provide answers to some of the most commonly asked questions. Hopefully we can put your mind at ease. Worrying about the exam only puts undue stress on your body, potentially harming your exam results.

Scheduling Your Paramedical Exam

Once your life insurance application has been received, a licensed medical professional will contact you to schedule the exam. They’ll come to either your home or office, whichever is most convenient for you. The average exam lasts 15-30 minutes.

An important tip to remember – The examiner will be taking several vials of blood, so you’ll need to fast for at least 8 hours leading up to the exam. If possible, schedule your appointment for first thing in the morning. When you wake, your fasting will be complete and you’ll be ready to take the exam. It’s ok to drink a glass of water that morning, but wait until after the tests are complete before eating breakfast and drinking your morning coffee.

Stages of the Life Insurance Medical Exam

The medical exam will be broken down into two steps:

A medical questionnaire, where the examiner will ask you a series of questions about your health.

A physical exam, where the medical professional will draw blood and collect a urine sample. He/she will also record some basic measurements, including your height and weight, blood pressure, and pulse.

If you’re applying for a face amount or are 60 years of age or older, the insurance company may require an EKG. When scheduling your appointment, ask the technician if this will be required of you. If so, plan on the exam taking 30-45 minutes.

Depending upon the findings on your application and medical questionnaire, further checks into your personal history may be required. If you have a history of drug or alcohol abuse, a criminal record, or engage in any dangerous hobbies, be prepared to provide additional details. Remember, the purpose of this exam is to determine eligibility AND rate class. So don’t assume, just because you jump out of planes on the weekend, you’ll be denied coverage.

An important tip to remember – To verify your identity, the examiner will ask to see your driver’s license. So, make sure you have it easily accessible before getting started.

What Happens Now?

Upon leaving the exam, the medical professional will submit your lab work for processing. Samples will be screened and the results will be sent to the underwriter for consideration. If necessary, underwriting may request additional medical records from your private physician. After a thorough review, the life insurance company will assign you a rate class, which is what determines your premium amount. Should you accept their policy offer, a policy will be sent to for you to review.

An important tip to remember – Within 7-14 days, your lab results will be completed. Be sure to ask for a copy of the results for personal review.

Frequently Asked Questions Regarding a Life Insurance Medical Exam

What is the insurance company testing for? Blood and urine samples are collected to test for irregularities in your:

1. Heart and Arteries
2. Kidney and Bladder
3. Liver
4. Pancreas

Additionally, they’re looking for traces of Cotinine, the main byproduct of nicotine, which can remain in your system for up to 3 months and Serum HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.

How much does my paramedical exam cost? Your exam is part of the life insurance underwriting process. The company absorbs all of the cost. And don’t forget to ask for your free copy of the results!

What if I believe the results are inaccurate? If you feel some of the results are off, contact your agent. They can contact the insurer to see if they’ll accept a second medical exam. If the results of the second exam offer different information, the underwriter will consider both when determining your rating.

If I die before the results are in, will the beneficiary receive payment? There’s no set rule for this scenario. Generally speaking, if underwriting comes back that you would have been accepted, the beneficiary would receive the death benefit. For more detailed information, consult with your agent. They can help you understand the intricacies of the policy you’ve applied for.

Once I’ve applied and taken the medical exam, am I obligated to purchase the policy?No, you’re not obligated to purchase the policy, even after you’ve taken the exam. In fact, if you’re considering another carrier, you can even avoid a second exam by sharing a copy of the results with them. They just require that the paramedical exam was taken in the last 6 months.

As you can see, the life insurance paramedical exam is a fairly quick and painless process. If you’re still concerned about the exam, there are No Medical Term Life Insurance policies available. Because the insurance company collects limited health information from you for these policies, the premiums are typically quite a bit higher.

Stay tuned next week, as we offer some tips on how to prepare for your life insurance paramedical exam.