Do life insurance companies have access to your health records?

Asked by: Kathryne Feeney  |  Last update: May 11, 2025
Score: 4.1/5 (68 votes)

An insurer can only access your medical records if you give your permission for them to do so. If you agree to let them go through your medical history, they'll contact your doctor and will look at your records over the last five to ten years.

Can life insurance companies look at your medical records?

Yes, life insurers will review your medical records if you are applying for a medically underwritten policy. They can do so only with the consent of the applicant, however. The consent agreement between the applicant and insurance company will specify the number of years of medical records that will be examined.

Does Hipaa apply to life insurance companies?

Many organizations that have health information about you do not have to follow these laws. Examples of organizations that do not have to follow the Privacy and Security Rules include: Life insurers.

Can my insurance company share my medical records?

The Health Care Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (“HIPAA”) precludes insurance companies and other third parties from accessing your medical records without your permission. You have probably seen and signed off on HIPAA notices when you have had appointments with your doctor.

Can life insurance companies access mental health records?

The entire insurance company does not have access to those records if your doctor has to submit them, only the people who are absolutely necessary to complete a review are allowed to review them.

Why Life Insurance Companies Request Medical Records

29 related questions found

Do insurance companies have access to therapy notes?

An insurance company cannot obtain psychotherapy notes without the patient's authorization. And the insurance company is not permitted to condition reimbursement on receipt of the patient's authorization for disclosure of psychotherapy notes.

Can you be denied life insurance because of mental illness?

There can be incidences where a life insurance company will deny coverage due to an ongoing mental health condition, but the decision is typically made by reviewing recent medical history and specific details of the condition. A mental illness does not automatically disqualify a person from life insurance eligibility.

What information can insurance companies access?

The Power of Integrated Information Management for Insurance Companies. Insurance companies have records for just about everything — customer information and policy details, rates and underwriting procedures, marketing material, and licensing records. The list goes on, and on… and on.

Is it illegal to delete medical records?

Healthcare providers must retain medical records by law, but they don't have to keep them forever. Before requesting old medical records, call the healthcare facility to find out about their medical record retention policy.

Do companies have access to medical records?

Current background check laws ban employers from accessing certain types of information. This includes military and medical records.

Is life insurance information confidential?

California Insurance Code Sections 791 - 791.27, the Insurance Information and Privacy Protection Act (IIPPA), provide protections for one's personally identifiable information, which is generally provided to an agent, broker or insurance company in order to apply for insurance or submit a claim.

Can insurance companies have access to protected health information?

Insurers cannot access your actual medical record without your authorization.

What patient information cannot be shared?

Protected health information (PHI) cannot be shared under HIPAA. So what exactly is considered PHI according to HIPAA? It's information that can identify a particular patient, including health records, lab reports, bills, or even verbal conversations.

What medical history affects life insurance?

Due to the added risk health problems create for insurers, some pre-existing conditions can raise your premium or even disqualify you entirely from certain types of life insurance. A few common examples of pre-existing conditions include high blood pressure, diabetes, cancer, and asthma.

What is the 80% rule 1 point?

The 80% rule means that an insurer will only fully cover the cost of damage to a house if the owner has purchased insurance coverage equal to at least 80% of the house's total replacement value.

Can life insurance see my prescription history?

Life insurance companies will check prescription records as part of the life insurance application process. As they review your medical history, they'll typically ask which medications you take or have taken in the past and what conditions they were for.

What medical records do insurance companies have access to?

This can include:
  • Paramedic or ambulance records.
  • Emergency records.
  • Hospital records.
  • Records of MRIs, CT scans, X-Rays, and other diagnostic tests.
  • Physical records.
  • Records of follow-up appointments.

How do I purge my medical records?

Different media require different methods of destruction: shred, burn, or pulverize paper records; recycle or shred microfilm or microfiche; purge and destroy computerized records. Whatever method is used, ensure that third parties cannot discern or reconstruct patient information from destroyed records.

Why do doctors not like being recorded?

Recording a visit without the practitioner's permission may result in a loss of trust—the critical basis of a strong practitioner-patient relationship. Only about a dozen states nationwide, however, prohibit electronic recordings made without the explicit consent of all participants.

How far back can a life insurance company request medical records?

If you agree to let them go through your medical history, they'll contact your doctor and will look at your records over the last five to ten years. If you don't give your permission, they can't investigate your background and could either refuse to insure you or offer you insurance with higher premiums.

Do insurance companies need permission to access medical records?

Due to state and federal privacy laws, an insurance company must obtain a claimant's written permission in order to access medical records.

What are insurance companies not allowed to ask you?

If you're applying for health insurance, pregnancy status or plans to have children shouldn't come into the conversation. Under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), pregnancy is considered a pre-existing condition, and insurers cannot deny coverage or charge higher premiums due to it.

What disqualifies me for life insurance?

They can include engaging in risky hobbies and behaviors like skydiving; having a history of DUIs or speeding tickets; having a dangerous job like roofing; having a criminal record or a less than ideal financial history; being a smoker; and failing a drug test.

Can mental illness be considered a terminal illness?

Without delving into the meaning of unendurable psychological suffering, we might consider that a lifetime of refractory mental illness might be unendurable and can—and, for many, does—result in a shortened life span [11]. The illness, in fact, proves terminal, be it from disease, accident, or intent.

Can life insurance access mental health records?

Insurance companies can see mental health records, prescriptions you've filled, and much more when making their decision to approve or deny you. This information is used to determine your risk or rating class. The classification will determine how much you pay for the life of the policy.