Your Life Insurance Examination

Life insurance underwriting is done on the basis of your medical history and your current examination results. The examination should not be taken lightly, but it should not make you nervous either. Relax and get a good night’s sleep.

1. Morning appointments: Morning examinations are probably best since people tend to me more relaxed in the morning.
2. Fasting or eating: It is probably a good idea to fast for 12 hours prior to having your blood drawn. Results of non-fasting work can produce abnormal results on certain studies. If you must eat prior to an examination, avoid caffeine, alcohol, sugar, butter, cream, and fatty foods.
3. Salt: Salt causes fluid retention which in turn raises blood pressure. Watch your salt intake for several days prior to the exam.
4. Smoking: Smoking cigarettes raises your blood pressure. Advising smokers to cut down or quit is usually futile, but trying to moderate consumption prior to your exam.
5. Exercise: You should not exercise for 48 hours prior to examination. Workouts, jogging, or weight-lifting can adversely affect both blood and urine results.
6. Medical history: To the very best of your knowledge, give your complete medical history. Be certain that the examiner correctly lists names, locations, and dates of doctors and hospitals. The insurance company may contact these people. Do not try to hide or distort any of your medical history.
7. Over-the-counter medication: Medications including mega-dose vitamins, Tylenol or diet supplements should be avoided as these can affect blood results.
8. Urine specimen: A urine specimen may be taken as part of the examination. You may wish to encourage the examiner to allow the urine to be done first before the exam begins. The elimination of fluids tends to lower blood pressure. Protein in the urine is the most common abnormal finding. This is usually the result of exercising prior to lab testing. See “Exercise”
9. Blood: Several tubes of blood may be drawn and sent to a laboratory. These results are available to you and will be sent to your attending physician upon written request to do so.
10. Timing: You should allow at least 30 minutes for a full examination, and a little more if EKGs are involved. If you are driving to an examination location, plan to arrive early as a period of relaxation does wonders to ease traffic tension.