How To Prepare and What to Expect

Most life insurance policies require you to undergo a medical exam as part of the application process. The exam is similar to a standard physical, but instead of being performed by your doctor, its performed by a paramedical professional from a company the life insurance partners with. When you agree to the exam, you agree for the results to be given to the life insurance company for the purpose of determining your acceptance and rates.

Here well cover the life insurance medical exam from A to Z: whats involved, why you need it, how you can schedule it, and alternatives. Read on to find the answers to all your questions.

3. Weight (to calculate your BMI)

6. Primary physician contact information

1. The medications you have taken/are currently taking

2. Surgeries/hospitalizations youve had

3. Family medical history (diabetes, heart disease, cancer, etc.)

4. Lifestyle (dangerous hobbies, exercise, alcohol and drug use)

5. Whether you suffer/have suffered from:
   

24. Other issues
    Have you caught your breath yet? Theres no denying that the list is long, but take your time and answer everything as fully and truthfully as possible. (In addition to health information, youll also be asked to answer questions about your driving records and financial situation.)
    
    

Being Truthful on Your Application is Crucial
When filling out the life insurance questionnaire, you may be tempted to fudge the truth or not bother to provide accurate information.

Resist the urge!

On life insurance applications, its crucial to provide the most truthful, accurate information possible. There are both moral and practical reasons for doing so. Morally, telling the truth is the right thing to do. Practically, since the life insurance application includes a medical exam, it will be obvious if you lie about your weight or health issues you may have.

Additionally, if you die during the first two years of policy ownership (known as the contestability period.), the insurance company can contest the death benefit claim. If the insurer discovers that you omitted or lied about certain information, it can contest the claim and your beneficiaries wont get the payout. This defeats the entire purpose of life insurance, and frankly, isnt worth the risk.

If you think that the insurer wont find out pertinent medical information about you even with a medical exam, think again. Many insurers obtain information about you from these third-party sources:

1. The MIB database, which has any previous life insurance applications you filled out

4. Your credit reports
   All of this is on the up and up when you apply for life insurance, you give the insurer permission to check this information.
   
   

3. Vital signs pulse, blood pressure, temperature, breathing rate
   Youll also need to go through blood tests and urine exams. Through these blood & urine samples, insurance companies check for several things, including:
   

5. Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)

9. Drug use
   Some of these are health issues that, in theory, you can have and not know about, which is why the medical exam is important. If you didnt know about a previous health condition, the medical exam will alert you so you can take care of it.
   
   If youre applying for a large death benefit or are above a certain age, you may be asked to undergo an electrocardiogram (EKG), chest X-ray, and/or a treadmill test. These additional tests will add some time to the standard 30-minute exam.
   
   

Do You Need A Medical Exam to Get Life Insurance?
Not always! While traditional life insurance policies require a medical exam in order to qualify for coverage, other options such as no exam life insurance policies do not. The latter is a type of life insurance that allows you to skip the medical exam and still get coverage. The trade-off is that these types of policies are usually more expensive than policies that do require a medical exam. Well discuss the reason for that in the next section.

Despite the higher cost, many people choose no exam life insurance because it:

1. Allows them to skip the exam, which is good if you dont feel comfortable with physical exams or if youre scared of needles

2. Is convenient, which is good if you dont have time for an exam or want a totally online application process

3. Offers easier approval, which is good if you have serious health conditions and might not get approved for traditional policies

How to Prepare for the Medical Exam
Preparing for your medical exam is fairly easy and straightforward. While you wont be able to change your overall state of health or BMI, there are certain things you can do to help your body give the best impression.

First, inquire whether you need to fast. If you do, try to schedule a morning exam. In the days leading up to the exam, make sure youre properly hydrated and drink lots of water. Avoiding alcohol, nicotine, and caffeine is also a good idea since these things can affect blood pressure.

Eat lots of fruits, vegetables, and healthy fats (think avocado, nuts), but avoid red meat, sugar, and salt. You should also avoid certain over-the-counter medications, like cold medicine, decongestants, diet pills, sleeping pills, and more. These can create false positives for drug use.

Also, get a good nights sleep! According to the Mayo Clinic, People who sleep six hours or less may have steeper increases in blood pressure.

Oddly enough, paramedical examiners recommend not doing any strenuous cardio exercise before your exam, since it can raise your blood pressure and pulse.

You should also be prepared to answer questions about your health (which you already answered on the written application). You can bring the completed application itself as well as any important medical records. On a practical level, wearing short sleeves can make it easier for the paramedical examiner to draw blood.

If you wake up on the day of your exam and dont feel good, we recommend rescheduling. Even a common cold can affect the results of your exam adversely, and as such, your monthly premium payments.

1. Stay hydrated. Drinking plenty of water can help dilute sugar and protein concentrations, as well as flush out toxins from your body.

2. Cut down your salt intake. It can increase your blood pressure and lead to dehydration.

3. Eat healthy. It’s been proven that whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and low-fat dairy products can lower blood pressure. For the same reason, processed foods with added sodium should be avoided.

4. Avoid drinking alcohol. And if you drink alcohol, do so moderately (According to the Mayo Clinic, women should drink one drink per day and men should drink two at the most). The more you drink, the higher your blood pressure and the less effective your blood pressure medication.

5. Dont’consume nicotine/tobacco products. They can raise your blood pressure. Keep in mind, however, that recent nicotine use will be revealed through a blood or urine test.

6. Don’t eat red meat. This is a high-cholesterol food.

7. Try to avoid over-the-counter medication. Medications such as antihistamines and nasal decongestants can raise blood pressure.The day of the exam:

8. Make sure you get a good night’s sleep. A study by the Mayo Clinic found that individuals with less than six hours of sleep have higher blood pressure.

9. Do not drink caffeinated beverages. Coffee, soda, and tea will increase your heart rate and blood pressure.

10. Exercise at a moderate pace. Do not increase your blood pressure with strenuous activity.