
A life insurance medical exam is a routine part of most insurance applications. The process usually involves two parts: first, you'll fill out a medical questionnaire about your current health, medical history, prescriptions, lifestyle, and habits. Then, a healthcare professional will perform a physical exam, which will be similar to a regular yearly checkup. The examiner will often come to your home or office and take basic height and weight measurements, check your vital signs, including pulse and blood pressure, and take blood and urine samples. The urine sample will be used to look for kidney issues, recreational drug use, and more.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Medical questionnaire | Current health, medical history, prescriptions, lifestyle, and habits |
Medical history interview | Medications, dosages, family medical history, recent doctors' visits, recommendations, recent hospitalisations |
Physical exam | Height and weight measurements, vital signs (pulse and blood pressure), blood and urine samples |
What You'll Learn
Medical history interview
A life insurance medical exam usually has two parts. The first is a medical history interview, which may be conducted over the phone or during the physical exam. This interview will cover your current health, medical history, prescriptions, lifestyle and habits. You will be asked about any medications you take, how often you take them and their dosages. You may also be asked about your family medical history, what doctors you've seen recently, their recommendations and whether you've been hospitalised recently.
The medical history interview is designed to give the life insurance company an idea of how healthy you are. It's a good idea to have your medical records and contacts on hand so you can easily answer any questions.
The second part of the life insurance medical exam is a physical examination. This will usually be carried out by a healthcare professional and will be similar to a regular yearly checkup. The examiner will often come to your home or office to perform the examination. The physical exam will include basic height and weight measurements, a check of your vital signs, including pulse and blood pressure, and taking blood and urine samples. The urine sample will be used to look for kidney issues, recreational drug use and more.
It's worth noting that you can ask your insurance company what kinds of tests you will receive before your exam. Sometimes, insurance companies will let you retake your medical exam if you have made significant changes in your life since your previous exam, such as dropping excess weight or quitting smoking or drinking alcohol.
Life Insurance Options for Disabled Veterans: What You Need to Know
You may want to see also
Height and weight measurements
The physical examination is usually the second part of the process, after you have filled out a medical questionnaire about your current health, medical history, prescriptions, lifestyle, and habits. The questionnaire will include questions about your family medical history, what doctors you've seen recently, their recommendations, and whether you've been hospitalised recently.
The physical examination will also include a check of your vital signs, such as pulse and blood pressure, and the taking of blood and urine samples. The urine sample will be used to look for kidney issues, recreational drug use, and more. The insurance company should let you know what kinds of tests you will receive before your exam, but if they don't, you can ask.
It's a good idea to make changes in advance of your life insurance physical exam, as this might translate to dollars saved. For example, you might consider stopping smoking, getting into an exercise routine, and watching your food choices in the weeks and months leading up to your exam. Keep in mind that, typically, you would need to have quit nicotine at least a year in advance in order to qualify as a non-smoker.
Intestate Law vs Life Insurance: Who Wins?
You may want to see also
Blood and urine samples
Before the physical examination, you will be asked to fill out a medical questionnaire about your current health, medical history, prescriptions, lifestyle, and habits. You will be asked about any medications you take, how often you take them, and their dosages. You may also be asked about your family medical history, what doctors you've seen recently, and whether you've been hospitalized recently.
The physical examination will also include basic height and weight measurements, as well as a check of your vital signs, including pulse and blood pressure.
If you are concerned about what tests you will receive, your insurance company should let you know in advance. If they don't, don't be afraid to ask.
Flex Life Insurance: Smart Investment or Risky Business?
You may want to see also
Vital signs check
A life insurance medical exam is a routine part of most insurance applications. The examiner will often come to your home or office to perform a short physical examination. This will include a check of your vital signs, such as your pulse and blood pressure.
The vital signs check is an important part of the life insurance physical as it gives the insurance company an idea of your overall health. Your pulse and blood pressure can indicate whether you are at risk of certain health conditions, such as heart disease or high blood pressure. These conditions can impact your life expectancy and, therefore, your insurance premiums.
During the vital signs check, the examiner will use a sphygmomanometer to measure your blood pressure. They will also take your pulse by feeling your wrist or neck. These measurements will be taken while you are at rest to get an accurate reading.
In addition to the vital signs check, the physical examination for life insurance may also include height and weight measurements, blood and urine samples, and a medical history interview. The medical history interview will cover topics such as your current health, medical history, prescriptions, lifestyle, and habits. This gives the insurance company a more comprehensive understanding of your health and helps them assess your insurance application.
It is important to note that you can prepare for your life insurance physical exam by making healthy changes in advance. For example, stopping smoking, exercising regularly, and improving your diet can positively impact your vital signs and overall health. These changes may even translate to savings on your insurance premiums.
Life Insurance and COVID: What Cover Does Your Term Offer?
You may want to see also
Medical questionnaire
A life insurance medical exam usually has two parts: a medical questionnaire and a physical exam.
The medical questionnaire will ask about your current health, medical history, prescriptions, lifestyle, and habits. You may be asked about any medications you take, how often you take them and their dosages. You may also be asked about your family medical history, what doctors you've seen recently, their recommendations, and whether you've been hospitalized recently.
The physical exam will be performed by a healthcare professional and will be similar to a regular yearly checkup. It will include basic height and weight measurements, a check of your vital signs, including pulse and blood pressure, and taking blood and urine samples. The urine sample will look for kidney issues, recreational drug use, and more.
Life Insurance Increase: Permanent Change or Temporary Hike?
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
A life insurance physical is a routine part of most insurance applications. It usually involves filling out a medical questionnaire and then having a physical exam performed by a healthcare professional.
The physical exam is similar to a regular yearly checkup. It includes basic height and weight measurements, a check of your vital signs, including pulse and blood pressure, and taking blood and urine samples.
The urine sample will be tested for kidney issues, recreational drug use, and more.
You will be asked about your current health, medical history, prescriptions, lifestyle, and habits. This includes questions about any medications you take, how often you take them, and their dosages. You may also be asked about your family medical history, what doctors you've seen recently, and whether you've been hospitalized recently.
Yes, sometimes insurance companies will let you retake your medical exam. However, this only makes sense if you have made significant changes in your life since your previous exam, such as dropping excess weight or quitting smoking or drinking alcohol.