Before an insurance company will issue you a new life insurance policy, you must first receive a health exam from a licensed medical professional. The exam is usually administered at your home, office or a nearby medical clinic within three or four days after you apply for a policy by a paramedical professional chosen by the insurance company.After you have applied for a policy and the company determines you are eligible for coverage based on a set of preliminary questions, you can request that the company schedule your health exam at a time that is convenient for you.
Step 1
Select the insurance company from which you wish to buy life insurance. If you are not sure of the type or amount of life insurance that is best for you, call the company and ask one of its agents to explain your options.
Step 2
Complete the application for a new life insurance policy to determine your eligibility for coverage. Provide all required information, including your full name, Social Security Number, date of birth, height, weight, preexisting medical conditions, any previous surgeries or hospitalizations, and any medications you are taking. You must also answer several questions about your family medical history and your lifestyle, such as whether you smoke, drink alcoholic beverages, exercise or take recreational drugs. You can complete an application online at the company's website or over the phone, and a company agent will let you know if you meet initial eligibility requirements for coverage based on the answers you provide.
Step 3
Inform the agent where and when you wish to receive your medical exam. Generally, you can choose whether to perform the exam at your home, place of business or a nearby medical testing laboratory. The company's paramedical professional will call you to schedule your appointment within 24 to 48 hours after you apply for a policy, and will meet you at a time that is convenient for you. Most insurance companies gladly schedule in-home exams well after normal business hours.
Step 4
Call your primary care physician and ask that he forward a copy of your complete medical history to the life insurance company. If there are any discrepancies between your medical history and the results of your exam that exclude you from coverage or result in a premium that is higher than expected, you can ask the insurance company to discuss such findings with your doctor.
Step 5
Submit to the exam. The paramedical professional will take your pulse, height, weight and blood pressure, and will ask you several health-related questions. She will also request a urine sample and draw a few vials of blood for testing of your general health.
Tips and Warnings
- If you get nervous before medical exams, do your best to find something that relaxes you, such as listening to soothing music or bringing a friend to the exam; your blood pressure results could be abnormally high if you are anxious. If you are applying for a policy later in life, more tests could be required by the insurance company. For more invasive tests, the company will schedule an appointment for you at the office of a doctor of their choosing.
- Avoid caffeine for at least an hour before your exam. Do not exercise vigorously or eat high-cholesterol, high-salt or high-fat food for at least 24 hours before submitting to your medical exam. Do not drink alcohol for at least 24 hours before the exam.
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