What is a life insurance medical exam?

If you've been asked to undergo a medical examination for insurance purposes, there's no need to worry. It's to help your life Insurance providers ensure they have all facts available to them so that your policy accurately reflects your situation. In most cases, a life insurance medical exam involves a simple visit from a healthcare professional to check things such as your weight, blood pressure, resting heart rate, etc. The exam is not likely to be invasive or strenuous. However, further tests may be required.

What does the insurer test for?

A life insurance health check makes it possible for your insurer to screen for a range of health issues such as: High cholesterol levels Glucose levels, which are a potential indicator of diabetes Urine acidity, which may indicate an issue with your kidneys

What's involved in the life insurance medical exam?

Typically, the insurer will have you meet with a licensed medical professional in your home, or maybe your office. This is often a nurse, rather than a doctor. That's because the procedures you undertake are fairly straightforward in nature. Some insurers, such as NobleOak, will pay for the costs incurred in the medical exam or tests.

Do you need a medical exam for life insurance?

So, does life insurance require a medical exam in all cases? The short answer is no. You may be asked to undertake a medical exam or testing if you have certain medical conditions or you apply for a high sum insured. NobleOak offers fully underwritten life insurance, which means that you'll need to provide detailed health information - and possibly also undergo a medical exam - when you apply for a policy. The advantage is that you'll have more certainty if you ever need to make a claim.

How to get a medical exam

When you're applying for life insurance with NobleOak, getting a medical is easy. First, you'll need to complete the initial application - which will include a health questionnaire. Based on your answers, we may decide that a medical exam is required. From here, we'll arrange an appointment with a healthcare professional at no cost to you. They'll contact you to schedule an appointment at a time and place that's convenient, which could be your home or workplace.

How to prepare for the medical exam

When you're filling out the preliminary questionnaire, make sure to answer as honestly as possible. Amongst other things, this allows all parties to go into the exam with a reasonable understanding of the results they can expect.

What to bring with you

Aim to have the following ready to go on the day of your medical exam: A driver's licence (or some other form of ID) A list of any medications you take and the dosages The details of any doctor that you've visited over the last five years Any other important information about your existing medical conditions

How long will the exam take?

Assuming you don't need to undergo an ECG, the exam should take about half an hour (this already includes the verbal questionnaire phase). You can add 20 minutes to this time if the insurer asks for an ECG. It's unlikely that your medical exam will take more than one hour.

Is a medical exam a negative thing?

Not at all. One common concern people have is that the medical exam will uncover an unknown health issue. However, this is actually a good thing, as it gives you more knowledge about your body. Another concern people have is that the medical exam could lead to higher Life Insurance premiums. Although in some cases this might be true, it also means that you'll have more certainty at claim time.

Can you fail a life insurance medical exam?

The word 'fail' in this context isn't entirely accurate, as the purpose of the test is to provide a full picture of your health status (rather than to award a score). Certain results may lead to more tests, questions, or exclusions and loadings in the cover provided to you - and in addition to this, it will give you valuable knowledge about your own body. If you're wondering how to 'pass' a life insurance medical exam, the key is to try and provide questionnaire answers that are honest. If the information you've provided about your health matches up with the results from your medical exam, you'll have a better chance of getting coverage that suits your needs.

What if you don't feel well on the day of the exam?

If you're unwell, it's generally a good idea to reschedule the exam. Most insurers allow you to postpone the exam to ensure that the results accurately reflect your normal health. Communicating with the insurer and the medical professional about your situation is important to avoid unfairly skewed results.

Could you avoid the medical exam?

Some insurance providers do offer life insurance policies without a medical exam and most insurance providers don't ask for a medical examination unless you fall within certain criteria.