How do I get the Best Results on My Insurance Physical Exam?

If you are considering the purchase of a fully underwritten life insurance policy, there are a few things you should know before taking your insurance physical exam. You want to get the best results possible because it can save you thousands of dollars over the life of your policy.
I should start from the beginning...There are both fully underwritten life insurance and non-med exam life insurance policies. A fully underwritten policy requires you to go through a medical exam that is paid for by the insurance company that you are applying with. Fully underwritten policies will have much lower premiums and better provisions in the contract. The requirements of the exam will depend on the amount of life insurance that you are applying for and your age. Most commonly a physical exam consists of a height, weight, chest and waist measurements, blood pressure check, blood draw and urinalysis. The exam will also require the examiner to ask you medical questions, as well as, collect your doctor's and medication information. The insurance company reserves the right to order your doctor's records and most times they do  this to have an idea of your medical background. There are insurance exam companies located all over the country. These companies will send an examiner to your home or office and usually give you the option to come to them at a local office if that is what you choose. Again, these exams are free to applicants and paid for by insurance companies. It usually takes 4-8 weeks after your physical exam to have a medical decision be made on your fully underwritten life policy.

A non-med life insurance policy just checks your MIB (Medical Information Bureau of Records), scripts (open prescriptions) and reserve the right to order your credit file and driving records as well. (Same with fully underwritten insurance. However, companies do not usually order credit files unless you disclose something like a recent bankruptcy on the application. Driving records are ordered very regularly.) This MIB is just an information sharing service fro Insurance Companies, you are entitled to have a copy of your file. A non-med policy will have higher premiums (because the life companies don't know as much about you, so it's higher risk)  and less flexibility with things like term conversions.

Now that you know the general differences between both fully underwritten and non med life insurance, See below for ideas on ways to get the best results on your insurance physical for a fully underwritten policy. If you have any additional questions on how to get the best results on your insurance physical exam, please contact me, I would be happy to help with no sales pressure.

1.     No alcohol 24-48 hours before

2.     At least 8 hour fast, best to take exam in morning before you eat breakfast, your blood pressure and blood work will be better then

3.     No strenuous exercise 24 hours before

4.     Take the weight part with light to minimal clothing and no shoes (if your shoes weigh 2 lbs and that two pounds puts you in another underwriting class, it could cost hundreds over the life of policy.)

5.     Avoid salt 24 hours before, it can raise BP

6.     If you are taking a normal regimen of medication, keep taking it, which will actually look better to the company that your condition is controlled with regular medication


7. If you are a tobacco user try and use those products as lightly as you can 24-48 hours before