Life Insurance Exams - What you need to know

There are countless life insurance companies and policy choices available to people today all catering to different people with various needs, conditions, and lifestyles. All of the various choices are both a blessing and a curse. It's great to have a lot of options available but it also makes it difficult to choose the right option for your family.

On the other side of the equation are the insurance companies. They want to make sure that issuing a policy to you is a good idea for them. So, many insurance companies require potential policyholders to undergo medical exams before issuing a policy.

The medical exam will normally be performed by a licensed health care professional known as a paramedical. A paramedical is usually an independent contractor hired by the insurance company. A paramedical carries with them the tools and supplies they need to perform the exam, therefore, most exams performed by a paramedical can be conducted in your home or office and normally take just a short time, from 15 to 30 minutes.

A life-insurance exam will usually consist of a review of your medical history, measurements of your height and weight, blood pressure, and blood and urine specimens. If you're older, have certain risk factors, or are applying for a very high dollar value policy, you may be required to go in for a treadmill test also known as a stress test. A treadmill test is a test designed to determine your overall cardiovascular health. You would begin walking on a treadmill at a slow rate that is gradually increased while certain vitals are measured such as heart rate, breathing, and blood pressure. On the other hand if you are applying for a low dollar value policy you may not even be required to have a paramedical exam.

When preparing for your medical exam you should try to stick to a healthy diet for several days before the exam. It's also a good idea to not drink any alcohol for 72 hours prior to the exam. The day before the exam you should avoid caffeine as caffeine can elevate blood pressure. You should also avoid using nasal decongestants. It's also a good idea to avoid strenuous exercise a day before your exam because strenuous exercise can elevate protein levels in your urine. You should fast for 8 to 10 hours prior to the exam drinking only water and you should get a good nights sleep the night before.