What Does the Life Insurance Medical Exam Test For?

Life insurance is a wonderful way to protect your loved ones and give you peace of mind.

Your life insurance provides money that can offset funeral costs and the sudden loss of income for your family. It can also help pay off any debts you may have left behind.

Depending upon your family’s financial needs, there are a number of coverage options you can choose from. Just make sure to go with a fair and reliable company for your life insurance policy.

Getting life insurance is easy. You can even request quotes online from most insurance providers.

Once you narrow down to the company you want to insure you, the next step is a life insurance medical exam test.

The life insurance exam can seem intimidating. But don’t worry, we’re breaking it down so you know what’s coming and can feel fully prepared.

Looking to compare life insurance policies? We can help. Enter your ZIP code to get free quotes from multiple insurers.

What to Expect from a Life Insurance Medical Exam Test

In many cases, the life insurance medical exam test can be tailored to your convenience. The examiner will meet you at home, office, or place of business, or you can go to the exam office.

The examiner will start by recording the basics such as your height, weight, and blood pressure. They will also ask about your primary care physician and any other doctors.

For older clients or for clients looking to get a large amount of life insurance coverage, an EKG will usually be required. This is a test that measures the activity of your heart.

They will also take a urine sample and a blood sample. Let’s break down what those tests are looking for.

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What are blood and urine tests looking for?

Blood and urine tell a lot about the human body. Generally speaking, the tests will show the presence of any medication, drug use, or indications of unhealthy organs. To get more specific, we’ve divided it up by the main organs of the body.

Heart (Cardiovascular System)

These are some of the things they want to know about your heart:

• Cholesterol – a fatty substance in your blood. There are both good and bad types of cholesterol. If you have too much bad cholesterol in your blood it can stick to your arteries and cause a dangerous blockage which can lead to a heart attack or stroke. Life insurance companies vary in how much total cholesterol is allowed.
• HDL – High-Density Lipoprotein or “good” cholesterol protects your body from bad cholesterol (LDL). You want to have as much HDL as possible to prevent heart disease.
• LDL – Low-Density Lipoprotein is “bad” cholesterol that accumulates in arteries leading to blockage. You want to have as little LDL as possible.
• Triglycerides – another type of fat or lipid found in the blood. Obesity, diabetes, and alcohol consumption can all increase triglycerides. Too many triglycerides put you at risk for heart disease and other health problems.
• Diuretic In Urine – this is an indicator of high blood pressure medications.

Kidneys and Bladder

These are some of the things they want to know about your kidneys and bladder:

• Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) – A high BUN score can be an early sign of kidney disease, bladder disease, and other health concerns.
• Hemoglobin Screen – checks for an infection or disease of the kidney, bladder, or urinary tract.
• Creatinine – High levels point to possible kidney disease.
• Proteinuria (a protein found in urine) –high levels may point to the presence of kidney disease.
• Urine Creatinine –  creatinine in urine can point to kidney disease. This is usually affected by the use of supplements.
• Protein/Creatinine Ratio –  urine protein/creatinine ratio (UP/CR) tests the function of the kidney on its own.

Liver / Pancreas

These are some of the things they want to know about your liver and pancreas:

• Alkaline Phosphatase – an enzyme in your blood, too much of which can be a sign of liver or bone disease.
• Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) – high levels of this enzyme may indicate liver, muscle, or heart disease.
• Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT) – created by disorders or diseases such as an inflammation of the liver.
• Total Bilirubin – high bilirubin can signal gall bladder or liver disease.
• Urine Glucose – urine glucose levels can indicate the presence of diabetes.
• Fructosamine – a measurement of blood sugar levels over the past two to three weeks.

Other Testing Results

In addition, every life insurance medical exam tests for other major factors like:

• Serum HIV – shows the presence of the antibody indicative of HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.
• Cotinine – an indicator of nicotine. Nicotine usually shows up in urine tests for 1-3 days, but it can be longer depending on how much you smoke.

Throughout your life insurance exam, medications and drug presence are tested for. Make sure you are thorough and honest on your application to make the process speedy and as easy as possible.

What About No Medical Exam Options?

No medical exam insurance exists from a few insurance carriers and can be convenient. No exam insurance is generally an option if you are in good health and don’t need coverage over $500,000. However, you will pay a higher premium for this needle-free convenience.

Opting to take a life insurance medical exam test can save you money. And now that you know what they’re looking for, you can spend some time getting yourself in tip-top health to ensure the best insurance.

In Conclusion

The things tested in your life insurance exam are affected by your health, diet, exercise levels, genetic makeup, weight, age, and gender. It is a good idea to hydrate thoroughly, eat well, and exercise before taking your exam.

There is no across-the-board solution for everyone when it comes to life insurance. Chances are, you’re going to want to shop around for the right fit.

The average funeral costs $7000. Protect your family from financial stress with an excellent life insurance policy today.

Thankfully, there are excellent services out there like ours to help you navigate the plans available to you.

Check out our blog for other great posts such as “Term Life Insurance vs. Whole Life Insurance: The Key Differences, Outlined.

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