- Each insurance company may require different life and health insurance exams depending on the age of the individual and the amount of insurance applied for. The different types of life and health insurance exams include a standard physical exam, collection and analysis of a urine and saliva specimen, complete blood work, an EKG and a chest S-ray.
- Generally the older the applicant and the higher or more extensive life or health insurance applied for, the more exams that must be taken. In the basic physical part of life and health insurance exams, a paramedical simply takes note of the applicant's medical history, records physical measurements, and takes a urine, blood and possibly a saliva specimen. These exams are very brief and can usually be done in the office or even at home.
For health insurance coverage for older applicants and life insurance policies of more than $1,000,000, a stress EKG also is required. During the stress EKG portion of life and health insurance exams, the applicant is hooked up to heart and blood pressure monitors while jogging up to his target heart rate on a treadmill. This particular exam normally takes place at a hospital or doctor's office.
Some insurance companies require a thorough examination by an internist employed by the insurance agency as part of the life and health insurance exams, and others may ask that the applicant have a chest X-ray taken. - Life and health insurance exams are significant because they measure the amount of risk involved for the insurance company in issuing the applicant a policy. These exams test for HIV, high cholesterol, liver and kidney disease, diabetes, hepatitis, prostate cancer and evidence of nicotine and drugs. If one of these conditions is evident in life and health insurance exams the insurance company may decline to cover the applicant or offer a substandard premium with higher costs for the applicant. If all life and health insurance exams are passed without any problems, the insurance company should offer coverage at the predetermined rate.
- There are several precautions the applicant should take before life and health insurance exams in order to get the best results. Starting at least 24 hours before the exams, the applicant should avoid high sodium and high cholesterol foods and vigorous physical activity. The night before the life and health insurance exams the applicant should get a solid night's sleep and remember to not take in fluids starting at eight hours before the exams.
- One factor that many insurance applicants fail to understand when taking life and health insurance exams is that the results of these exams will go on their permanent records with the Medical Information Bureau. Life and health insurance exams should not be taken lightly because poor results could affect future efforts at obtaining insurance as well.