The lowdown on life insurance medical exams

By Insure.com

There's a good chance you will need to undergo a medical exam if you are buying life insurance, whether it's term or whole life. Typically, insurance medical exams are done by paramedicals, who are licensed health professionals. Paramedicals are often independent contractors hired by the insurance company who come to your home.

There are medical questions on Part I (some insurers call it Part A) of a life insurance application that are usually completed by your agent in your presence, or online by you. Part II (or Part B) is the medical form that is completed by a paramedical or a physician.

After receiving your application for life insurance, your agent or life insurer will call one of several paramedical services that specialize in mobile exams. They'll give the paramedical service information on you, the amount of insurance you're applying for, and the name of the insurance company. Most paramedical professionals stay current on insurers' underwriting requirements.

What's involved in the exam

Nearly all exams can take place at your home or office, since many paramedicals carry their own supplies and have centrifuges for blood sampling. Although the insurer might order what is called an attending physician's statement (APS) from your doctor, you cannot have the life insurance medical exam done by your own physician.

A paramedical professional will call you to schedule your appointment. If you can't schedule an appointment, you'll usually have the option of going to a clinic specified by the insurer. The exam isn't optional — you must have it or your application won't be processed. The insurance company pays the paramedical service or examining physician directly, so you're not financially responsible for the exam or any lab work.

In a basic exam, the paramedical will take your medical history, physical measurements of height and weight, blood pressure, pulse, and blood and urine samples. Beyond that, tests vary based on your age and policy amount.

For example, MetLife will order an in-home EKG for applicants age 50 and older who are applying for face amounts of at least $1 million. For applicants age 70 and older who are applying for $2 million policies and higher, MetLife forgoes the paramedical exam and requires an exam by an M.D. chosen by MetLife (not your own doctor). The doctor will ask the same medical questions as a paramedical and get your height, weight, blood pressure and pulse, plus do a brief medical exam such as listening to your heart.

Jacki Goldstein, Vice President of Life Underwriting at MetLife, emphasizes that this is not a comprehensive medical exam and does not include sensitive issues, such as a breast exam for women. Goldstein also stresses that the M.D. life insurance exam is not a substitute for good routine medical care.

When age and face amounts get higher, a treadmill test may be required. MetLife requires treadmill tests for applicants who are at least 50 and applying for over $10 million in insurance or applicants 76 and older applying for $5 million or more.

If you're applying for a low face value policy, you may not even be asked to do a paramedical exam. For example, if you're age 40 and applying for $50,000 of life insurance, MetLife requires no specific tests or measurements. And for some cases MetLife asks for a "simple paramed" exam, encompassing the basic measurements and blood and urine work but without the paramedical question list. Guidelines for tests will vary among life insurers.

What are they looking for?

The insurance company wants to know if you have any health condition that could shorten your life — and increase the company's risk. When samples of blood, urine are collected, the insurer will test for the presence of antibodies or antigens to the HIV virus; cholesterol and related lipids; liver or kidney disorder; diabetes; antibodies to hepatitis; prostate specific antigen (PSA); and immune disorders. The urine sample might go through routine analysis, plus screening for certain medications, cocaine and other drugs.

There are two ways your blood can be drawn: through a finger prick or with a needle. A younger person might be asked for a finger-prick blood sample. If you're buying a large amount of life insurance, you might have to submit to a full blood profile.

Continued: After the results

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