Health Evaluation Process

Understand what to expect from your life insurance health evaluation.

The following information explains what to expect from the health evaluation process and strategies you can use to achieve the best possible outcome, which in turn translates into your best possible price!

A couple of common questions related to the health evaluations are; why do I have to take an exam to obtain life insurance and how much will the health evaluation cost me? The health evaluation is a routine and required part of your application for life insurance. The health evaluation is considered part of underwriting and is performed at no cost to you; the insurance company pays for all of the underwriting costs.

The purpose of the life insurance health evaluation is to collect and provide a snapshot of your current overall health to the underwriter handling your case at the insurance company.

After your application is submitted to the insurance company, a local Para-medical company will contact you to arrange a convenient time and place to have the required health evaluation. You may choose to have the evaluation conducted at your home or your office. You decide what works best for you.

The health evaluation generally takes 20-30 minutes. An experienced licensed medical professional completes the evaluation. Your examiner is licensed and certified in the medical community as a medical assistant, medical technician, registered nurse or physician.

The evaluation consists of a brief health questionnaire, physical measurements (height, weight and waist), vital signs (blood pressure and pulse) and a blood draw and urine specimen. You will also need to be prepared to discuss your family’s medical history as well; hereditary health plays a major role in your underwriting outcome.

Make sure in the days prior to the paramedical exam to get plenty of rest and avoid alcohol or excessive caffeine, over-eating, and excessive salt intake. All of these factors can spike a blood pressure reading and affect the final rates that you are offered you

Later in the underwriting process, the health evaluation information will be cross-referenced with your lab results from blood and urine testing, background information and medical history collected from your doctor’s records to determine your unique level of risk to the company and hence your pricing.

If you do not provide the necessary medical information to the examiner, the insurance company will have a difficult time determining pricing and have trouble making you an offer. Many companies choose not to offer “No Exam” coverage because of the uncertainty of the applicants and the likelihood of extraordinary claims in the future.

Here are some suggestions to help you save time and obtain the best results.
• Have a picture ID (preferably a driver’s license) available
• Have your physicians’ contact information available
• Drink a glass of water one hour or so prior to provide a urine specimen
• Avoid strenuous activity and exercise for prior to the appointment
• If a fasting blood profile is required, you will be notified upon scheduling

ALL INFORMATION OBTAINED DURING EXAM IS STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL