Paramed Exam For Life Insurance: What You Need To Know

A paramedical exam is a personal interview that allows an insurance company to gather information about your medical history and evaluate your current health. This includes a medical history questionnaire, body measurements, and a urine and blood sample. The exam is usually completed within 20 minutes, but additional tests may be required depending on the insurer's underwriting guidelines. The results of the exam are used to determine the insurance coverage and premium rates.

What is measured in a paramed exam?

A paramedical exam, or paramed, is a personal interview that allows the insurance company to gather information about your medical history and evaluate your current health. This includes a medical history questionnaire, body measurements, and samples of blood, urine, and oral fluid. The exam may also include an EKG or X-ray, depending on the insurer's underwriting guidelines, your age, and the insurance amount.

During the paramedical exam, a certified paramedical professional will take your height, weight, blood pressure, and pulse measurements. These tests help identify major health problems that might affect your health, longevity, and coverage eligibility. Issues like high urine acidity and high cholesterol levels can be indicators of future health problems, so life insurers may factor any issues identified into their underwriting process.

The blood sample will also look for drug use, both prescription and recreational. Testing positive for illegal drugs will likely result in automatic disqualification from traditional life insurance. Note that every insurance company evaluates marijuana usage differently, and states have different laws on recreational use of the drug. If your life insurance blood test detects prescription drugs, your insurance company will compare the detected drugs with your medical history and doctor-provided prescriptions.

Evidence of illegal drug use typically results in automatic ineligibility. The urine sample will be collected during the paramedical exam, and the test results will be performed by a laboratory and reviewed by the life insurance company. The test results will only be sent to the insurance company to help evaluate your individual application.

The paramedical examiner will also ask you questions about your current health and medical history, and they will collect blood and urine samples. They will go over the exam with you before they begin and explain if you will need any other tests.

What are the benefits of a paramed exam?

A paramed exam is a crucial component of the life insurance underwriting process. It is a health assessment that allows insurance companies to determine the level of risk associated with insuring an applicant and setting premium rates. The benefits of a paramed exam are:

• Uncovering unknown medical concerns: A paramed exam can help uncover medical issues that the applicant may not have been aware of. This early detection can be beneficial for the applicant's health and well-being.
• Cost-effectiveness: Policies that require a paramed exam are usually less expensive than those without an exam. By undergoing the exam, applicants can save money over the life of the policy.
• Free of cost: The life insurance company typically covers the cost of the paramed exam, so applicants do not have to worry about any out-of-pocket expenses.
• Convenience: The paramed exam can be conducted at a location of the applicant's choice, such as their home or office, making it a convenient and time-saving option.
• Comprehensive health evaluation: The exam includes a review of medical history, vital statistics, and diagnostic tests such as blood and urine samples. This comprehensive evaluation provides insurance companies with the necessary information to make informed decisions about coverage and premium rates.
• Enhanced accuracy: By collecting blood and urine samples, the paramed exam can identify major health problems, such as high cholesterol levels or high urine acidity, which can impact an applicant's health, longevity, and coverage eligibility.
• Early health risk detection: The exam can detect risk factors like drug use and health issues. This allows applicants to address these issues early on and make necessary lifestyle changes to improve their overall health.
• Streamlined application process: The paramed exam helps streamline the life insurance application process by providing insurance companies with the information they need to evaluate an applicant's eligibility and determine coverage and premium rates promptly.

How to prepare for a paramed exam

A paramed exam is a personal interview that allows the insurance company to gather information about your medical history and perform an evaluation of your current health. The exam usually takes about 20 minutes and includes a medical history questionnaire, body measurements, and a urine and blood sample. Depending on your age and insurance amount, the exam may also include an EKG and/or X-ray.

• Wear a short-sleeved garment or one with sleeves that can be easily rolled up.
• Drink a glass of water about an hour before the exam to facilitate a urine sample.
• Avoid caffeine, tobacco, and alcohol for several hours or at least one hour before the exam.
• Avoid strenuous physical activity for at least 24 hours before the exam.
• Get a good night's rest before the exam.
• Schedule the exam for the least stressful time of the day.
• Fast for 8-12 hours before the exam, but make sure to drink plenty of water during this time.
• Limit salt and high-cholesterol foods for 24 hours before the exam.
• Have your photo identification, as well as your physician's names, addresses, and dates of past visits, ready.
• Provide a list of your current medications, including names and dosages.
• Inform the examiner of any history of problems associated with providing a blood sample.

What happens after the paramed exam?

After the paramed exam, the specimens obtained during the examination are sent to a designated laboratory, such as Quest Diagnostics, and the results are forwarded to the insurance company for assessment. The insurance company will then contact you to let you know if you are eligible for a traditional type of life insurance and what rate they can offer you. This process may take a few days or up to a few weeks, depending on your insurer.

The paramedical examiner will not be aware of the tests performed on the specimens at the laboratory and will not receive the test results. However, you can request a copy of your lab results from the insurance company, which will be provided free of charge.

If there are no other requirements, such as additional medical records or forms, the insurance company will usually provide approval within 2-3 weeks of completing the paramed exam.

What is the difference between a paramed exam and a physician exam?

A paramed exam, or paramedical exam, is a personal interview that allows the insurance company to gather information about your medical history and evaluate your current health. This includes a medical history questionnaire, body measurements, and a urine and blood sample. The exam is usually completed within 20 minutes and may also include an EKG or X-ray, depending on the insurer's underwriting guidelines for your age and insurance amount.

A physician exam is a more thorough exam conducted by a licensed physician, typically in the physician's office. It includes all elements of a paramedical exam, along with additional testing such as an EKG/ECG, treadmill test, and chest X-rays. The insurance company decides which type of exam is required based on factors such as the type of coverage and the age of the insured.

The paramed exam is usually performed by a registered nurse or examiner at a time and location convenient for the insured. The physician exam, on the other hand, is a more comprehensive evaluation conducted by a licensed physician.

Both types of exams are paid for by the insurance company and help them determine the level of risk associated with insuring the applicant, which in turn influences the premium rates offered.

Frequently asked questions