Getting a life insurance policy helps protect your family’s future after you pass away. However, before signing a policy, you need to know what to expect from your family members. It may require each loved one to take a medical exam. Here’s what you need to know about getting life insurance to protect your loved ones.
Applying for Life Insurance
Your life insurance application may request information about your own and your family’s medical history. Your responses will help policy underwriters shape the rest of the life insurance plan. The application may lead to deeper questions about your family’s lifestyle, as well as requests for each member to undergo a medical evaluation.
Life Insurance Medical Evaluations
The medical evaluations conducted for life insurance applicants typically involve taking various lab tests. Many insurance companies work with established third-party providers such as Exam One and American Para Professionals Systems (APPS). These third-party entities provide medical information directly to the insurance underwriters.
How Do You Take a Medical Exam for Life Insurance?
When preparing for a life insurance medical exam, family members should avoid strenuous activity or drinking alcohol the night before or the day of the exam. They should also avoid nicotine and caffeine before arriving for the exam. It’s best to get a good night’s rest and drink enough water to remain hydrated.
The exam may involve a discussion on the different types of physical and mental conditions in the family. It’s important to be forthcoming in identifying conditions such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and mental illness.
What’s the Process Like?
The medical exam process involves standard procedures such as measuring height, weight, and blood pressure. It may further involve tests that measure glucose in the individual’s blood sugar level. Other tests may measure protein, cholesterol, alkaline phosphate, and drugs in the individual’s system.
Why Are Medical Exams Required for Life Insurance?
Life insurance underwriters must assess health risks in individuals named in a life insurance policy, which helps them estimate life expectancy and health costs. They particularly want to know about illnesses that are hereditary and have occurred frequently in family history.
Are Life Insurance Medical Evaluations Always Required?
Not all life insurance policies require medical exams, and many of them don’t. Age, the type of policy, and the amount of coverage are the three big factors that usually determine whether medical exams are needed. It also depends on the insurer.
The Paramedical Exam
A paramedical exam is divided into two areas: personal medical history and a series of lab tests.
Getting Deeper into Your Medical History
Medical examiners will engage with you in a discussion about your medications and certain lifestyle activities. They will likely ask about several different common medical conditions before completing the life insurance medical exam. These questions may involve alcoholism and drug use.
Non-Medical Evaluation for Life Insurance
Additionally, your life insurance medical exam may involve answering questions about non-medical activities, such as your career and hobbies.
Get the Right Life Insurance Coverage You Need with CAV!
When you need to take a life insurance medical exam, make sure you know what to expect. Contact us at CAV Insurance Agency, Inc. today for more information on getting the right life insurance policy for you and your loved ones.