Prepare for a Life Insurance Paramedical Exam
It is often strategically advantageous (and much more convenient!) to apply for life insurance without having to submit to a paramedical exam, blood profile, and urine specimen. Some highly rated brand name carriers now offer $5,000,000 – $65,000,000 of life insurance to younger healthy applicants without a physical. Other insurers still order paramedical exams. Their priority is to uncover early (or undiagnosed) medical conditions – and to screen for tobacco, drug, and excessive alcohol use. High blood pressure, elevated liver functions, and abnormal glucose levels are among the more common findings, leading to premium increases, postponements, or declinations. If testing is unavoidable, applicants can reduce the risk of introducing unfavorable underwriting variables with a few behavioral adjustments. Help your clients prepare for a life insurance paramedical exam!
Skewing Paramedical Exam Results in the Applicant’s Favor
The following tips skew paramedical exam results in the applicant’s favor, qualifying them for the best possible underwriting class, resulting in the lowest premium. Minor inconveniences leading up to the exam can lower premiums significantly. For optimal results, consider scheduling the exam for a Thursday morning, before the consumption of food, coffee, tea, or soda – and that early start to the weekend!
2- 3 Days Prior to the Exam
- Minimize alcohol consumption
- Don’t eat everything bagels with poppy seeds or betel (areca) nuts
- Eliminate or decrease the use of tobacco products
- Avoid extreme exercise and strenuous activities
- Minimize foods high in salt and fats
- Take all medications as prescribed
- Get plenty of restful sleep
24 Hours Prior to the Exam
- Don’t consume alcohol
- Avoid processed foods with high salt and fat content
- Minimize the consumption of sweets, high sugar drinks
- Drink plenty of water throughout the day
- Avoid intimacy (decreases risk of abnormal lab findings)
- No extra strenuous workout (no heavy weights, marathons)
- Arrange for a restful night prior to a morning fasting exam
Very Important: If, just prior to the exam, you feel sick, are dehydrated, or experienced a stressful event, call the examiner to reschedule.
Final Hour Before the Exam
- Void bladder, then drink 1 – 2 glasses of water
- Avoid any form of tobacco to lower blood pressure
- Make yourself comfortable; relax
Tips to Speed up the Examiner’s Visit
- Have a picture ID handy (Valid Driver’s License)
- Have a list of all prescription medications, dosage, how often they are taken, time last taken
- Provide name, address, and phone numbers for all doctors and other health care providers seen in past 5 years; recall what you saw them for
- Disclose prescription and non-prescription medications taken in the hours and days prior to the exam; they can explain certain odd lab results
- If you use tobacco products or marijuana, disclose the type and the date and time last used
Opportunities for Financial Advisors
Do you want to make it super-easy for your clients to apply for life insurance without exposing them to the risks that come with unnecessary and inconvenient paramedical exams? Connect with your CPS Advantage Representative to learn more about these intelligent underwriting strategies, or request a callback via email. We look forward to providing you with the easiest solutions through which your clients can acquire significant amounts of quality life insurance without unnecessary risk and hassle!
