Why is a medical exam required for life insurance?

Asked by: Mrs. Alysha Predovic  |  Last update: July 23, 2025
Score: 4.9/5 (43 votes)

Medical exams are a crucial component of underwriting for insurers since it impacts the applicant's risk and insurability. They use the exam results alongside numerous other factors to determine approvals, calculate premiums, and create other policy terms.

Why do I need a medical exam for life insurance?

The exam is done to get a clear picture of your health. Those results are combined with things like your medical history, driving record and hobbies to get an overall picture of your life. The insurance company uses this information to calculate how much your coverage will cost.

What disqualifies a person from life insurance?

Specific Conditions that May Disqualify You

Certain health conditions and lifestyle choices can significantly impact your eligibility for full coverage life insurance. Chronic diseases such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and high blood pressure are among the top concerns for insurers.

What are they looking for in a life insurance exam?

They are looking for potential health risks in an effort to better understand your physical condition. In order to accurately price life insurance, the company might evaluate several factors to determine coverage and premiums, including: Overall health status. Weight and BMI.

How to avoid medical exam for life insurance?

Four basic kinds of life insurance that may allow you to avoid a medical exam
  1. accelerated underwriting life insurance.
  2. simplified issue life insurance.
  3. guaranteed issue life insurance.
  4. and group life insurance.

Medical Exam | Life Insurance Explained

28 related questions found

How to pass a medical exam for life insurance?

Here are some life insurance exam tips to help you prepare:
  1. Eat healthy. During the life insurance physical, the examiner will take a blood sample for testing and he or she will check your blood pressure and pulse. ...
  2. Drink water. ...
  3. Consider fasting. ...
  4. Skip the gym. ...
  5. Get a good night's sleep. ...
  6. Wear lightweight clothing.

What is the catch with no medical exam life insurance?

What is the catch for no-exam life insurance? Because insurers don't have health data on you, your premiums will probably be higher and the amount of your death benefit will likely be smaller — especially in the first few years. In addition, there are usually age caps on who can take out a no-exam policy.

Can life insurance see your medical records?

Can Life Insurance Companies Access Medical Records? 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.

What not to say when applying for life insurance?

Tobacco use: Lying about smoking on a life insurance application likely constitutes a misrepresentation, even if you only smoke occasionally. Drug and alcohol use: Someone who engages in drug or alcohol misuse may omit this information.

What makes you uninsurable for life insurance?

This is often due to health challenges like diabetes and obesity, as well as non-health related life insurance disqualifiers like a dangerous job or hobby, a history of speeding tickets or using tobacco products. Here's how to understand what might make you uninsurable for life insurance and what your options are.

Who Cannot be a life insurance beneficiary?

Ineligible Beneficiaries: Minors: Generally, minors (individuals under the age of 18 or 21, depending on the jurisdiction) cannot be named as direct beneficiaries of a life insurance policy. In such cases, a trust or custodian may be designated to manage the proceeds until the minor reaches the age of majority.

Which case is likely to be declined by a life insurer?

People are typically denied life insurance because they fall into a high-risk category. This is often due to health challenges like diabetes, obesity or a previous diagnosis of serious disease. There are also nonhealth reasons for being denied life insurance.

How to get life insurance without a medical exam?

Simplified issue life insurance: Best if you're young and in good health but want life insurance with no waiting period, this type of policy allows you to skip the medical exam — if you're willing to answer health questions and share your medical and pharmaceutical records.

What does a urine test show for life insurance?

The urinalysis screens for a number of things including diabetes, the presence of medication and nicotine and cocaine, as well as general kidney function.

How many people pass the insurance exam?

The pass rate for the Property and Casualty Insurance Exam typically ranges around 50-60%.

Do life insurance companies call your doctor?

Many life insurance companies will contact your doctor's office and obtain medical records after you have given permission for them to do so. The doctor's office will complete a medical questionnaire as well.

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.

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.

How much term life insurance can you get without a medical exam?

If you qualify for no medical exam life insurance, you can get coverage up to $2 million. That sounds like a lot—and it is. But you'll need 10–12 times your annual salary in term life insurance to make sure your family can replace your income if something happens to you.

Why did I get denied life insurance?

Their reasons could be anything from a serious medical condition (like heart disease) or poor results from your life insurance medical exam to nonmedical reasons like bankruptcy, a criminal record, a positive drug test or even a dangerous hobby—carriers are not fans of insuring base jumpers in squirrel suits.

Why do you have to pee in a cup for life insurance?

Potential health issues.

Urine tests are an effective way to check for a range of potential health issues, like kidney disease, liver problems, diabetes, and infections. Providers will send your samples to a lab for microscopic review to gauge your health overall.

What is the hardest insurance exam to pass?

Each insurance licensing exam presents its own challenge. Between Life and Health, students say that the Health insurance exam is the more difficult. Health insurance policies are simply more complicated than life insurance policies. The Property insurance exam is easier than the Casualty insurance exam.

What not to do before a physical exam?

What not to do before a physical exam
  1. Consuming alcohol.
  2. Drinking caffeine within an hour of your visit.
  3. Eating a high-fat meal before bloodwork.
  4. Eating or drinking anything for eight to 12 hours, or as directed by your provider, before bloodwork that requires a fast.
  5. Taking cold medicine if you're feeling under the weather.

Who pays for life insurance medical exam?

If the policy you're applying for requires a medical exam, the life insurance company will arrange for it and cover the costs. A professional will usually contact you to schedule your appointment, and the examiner will come to your home or office.