Getting a life insurance policy is a smart financial move for you and your family. But scheduling and undergoing a medical exam can seem like a hassle, especially during a time when you have many other responsibilities. The good news is medical exams may sound intimidating, but the process should be quick and similar to a standard check-up.

Taking the time to prepare could help you achieve the best results, secure the best rates, and ease your anxiety about the exam. Read on to learn what you can expect from the examination and how to pass a life insurance medical exam.

What is a life insurance medical exam?

A life insurance medical exam is a health review with a medical technician that you complete as part of your life insurance application process. The exam includes some questions and basic tests that paint a picture of your overall health.

Insurers require medical exams to help them understand the relative risk level of providing you with coverage. The better your overall health, the lower that risk. An exam can verify the responses you provide in your application and offer new insights about your medical history and your lifestyle. Insurance providers use the information from your exam and data from various sources to determine your risk and set the most appropriate premium rates based on how risky you’ll be to insure.

What to expect during a life insurance exam

Medical exams usually last around an hour or less. They can take place at a doctor’s office, at your workplace, or in the comfort of your home. You won’t need to pay anything for a life insurance medical exam as the insurance company covers the cost. The exam has two parts: an interview and a physical exam.

The interview 

Your interview with the technician shines a light on your personal and family health history, daily habits, lifestyle, activity level, and diet. You can expect to discuss basics like age, weight, and height. Also, prepare to answer questions about tobacco, drug, and alcohol consumption, and bring a list of your medications.

The interview includes questions about your health history, including any chronic illnesses, severe injuries, or serious hospitalizations. Finally, you’ll share as much as you can about your family health history and predispositions to any genetic conditions. Being as honest as possible is vital because discrepancies between what you disclose when you apply and what shows up in your health exam results can affect your eligibility.

The physical exam 

Physical exams can be nerve-wracking, but they typically aren’t too intensive or intrusive. Your technician will take vitals, like your heart rate and blood pressure. They’ll also measure your height and weight to determine your Body Mass Index (BMI) measurement. Finally, your medical technician will collect urine and blood samples for further testing.

Urine tests screen for various substances, including recreational drugs, nicotine, and medications. Results from urine tests can also flag health issues, including diabetes, liver disease, and other infections throughout the body.

In addition to drug screen information, blood tests offer your insurance providers insight into several health indicators. Irregularities in cholesterol, blood pressure, or blood sugar can point to a wide range of health issues. Enzyme levels can show whether you have any inflammation in your organs, which can signal a serious health concern.

Because blood tests and urine tests show any medications you take, giving your technician a comprehensive list of prescriptions is a good idea.

5 Tips to help you pass a life insurance medical exam

Insurance providers like Fidelity Life try to make medical exams as simple and stress-free as possible. Still, preparing for the exam in the days leading up to it can help ease your anxiety and may even improve your results. Since medical exams focus on your lifestyle, diet, and habits, the following steps can help your life insurance medical exam go smoothly:

• Drink plenty of water to prepare for the urine sample and flush toxins out of your system.
•  Eat healthily in the days leading up to your exam. Your food decisions can help regulate cholesterol and blood sugar.
• Get a full night’s sleep before your exam to keep your blood pressure low.
• Wear loose-fitting, comfortable clothes to your exam to make blood tests and vitals easier.
• Schedule an exam early in the day because you have to fast for 12 hours to prepare.

For more medical exam tips, check out Fidelity Life’s Life Insurance Medical Exam Checklist.

What should you avoid before a life insurance medical exam?

Your medical exam should give insurers the best possible picture of your health. Therefore, you might want to avoid any activities that could affect the outcomes of your tests, including the following:

• Performing strenuous activity. Some stretching or yoga before your exam is fine, but you may want to avoid any intensive exercise for 24 hours.
• Eating salty or highly processed foods. Too many of these foods could affect your blood tests before the exam.
• Drinking alcohol. Try not to consume any alcohol the week of your exam, as it can dehydrate you and affect your tests.
• Smoking or vaping. Try to avoid tobacco for at least an hour before your test.
• Drinking coffee. Having caffeine before your exam could affect your heart rate and dehydrate you.

What happens after the life insurance exam?

After you complete your medical exam, your technician will send your samples to a lab and review the medical information from your application and interview. They’ll also analyze any information they gather during the physical examination.

In some rare cases, you’ll have to complete additional tests, like an EKG. Alternatively, your medical technician may request medical records from your doctor. Underwriters might also consult databases like motor vehicle records and the Medical Information Bureau. Finally, the insurance provider will determine your life insurance eligibility and premium.

Following the exam, you’ll receive a copy of the results. And if the insurance provider denies your application based on your medical exam, you can ask for a written explanation of the rejection.

Looking for a life insurance option with no medical exam?

If you don’t have time to complete a medical exam or feel uneasy about needles or doctors, you may want to consider life insurance options that don’t require a medical exam.

Final expense policies are permanent life insurance policies that cover the costs of funerals, memorial services, credit card debt, and more end-of-life expenses. Simplified issue final expense policies, like Fidelity Life’s RAPIDecision Final Expense life insurance, include a medical questionnaire instead of a medical exam. Underwriters use your responses to those questions and information from online databases to determine your eligibility and costs.

If you have health concerns that you worry may disqualify you from life insurance altogether, then a guaranteed issue policy may better suit your needs. Fidelity Life offers up to $25,000 in coverage through RAPIDecision® Guaranteed Issue life insurance policies. These policies have no health requirements; applicants qualify for coverage as long as they fall into the necessary age range.

Find a life insurance policy that works for you

Whether you want to complete a medical exam to secure the best possible rates or prefer a plan without a medical exam requirement, you have options. Fidelity Life can help you prepare for your medical exam or find the best no-exam policy for you and your loved ones. To learn more, you can talk to a licensed agent today or get a quote online.