Life Insurance Medical Exam: What You Need to Know

• A life insurance medical exam is a short health check used to assess risk and set premiums.
• The exam usually includes questions, vitals, blood and urine samples, and sometimes an EKG.
• You can’t technically “pass or fail,” but results can affect pricing or eligibility.
• Following healthcare provider instructions (like fasting, hydrating, and resting) can help you feel prepared on exam day.

When you apply for coverage, most insurers want a clear picture of your health. That’s where the life insurance exam comes in. It’s similar to a quick physical and usually handled by a nurse or paramedical professional. The process is free to you, arranged by the insurance company, and can be scheduled at home or at a local exam office.

The purpose isn’t to catch you off guard, it’s simply to confirm your current health, medical history, and lifestyle habits so the company can accurately price your policy.

Why Is a Medical Exam Important?

A medical exam helps insurers understand your overall health and the risk of insuring you. The results directly influence your premium. Better health usually means lower rates, while serious conditions can raise costs or limit options. For applicants with chronic conditions like high blood pressure, the exam can be a chance to show how well you’re managing your health. Health conditions that are well-controlled may lead to more affordable coverage offers.

The exam itself is straightforward and usually takes less than an hour. A nurse or paramedical professional gathers health information through questions, vitals, and lab work.

How Long Does the Exam Take?

Most exams take 20–30 minutes. The process starts with paperwork and health questions, followed by a vitals check and any required lab work. If the insurer has requested extra screenings, like an EKG or chest measurement, it could run closer to an hour. Still, the appointment is generally quick compared to a doctor’s visit.

What Tests are Included?

The examiner will check your height, weight, blood pressure, and pulse. Collecting saliva, blood and/or urine samples is common, and these are used to screen for conditions such as diabetes, high cholesterol, or kidney disease. In some cases, an EKG test may be added to look at heart health. The examiner also asks about your prescriptions, medical history, and lifestyle choices.

How Do Results Affect Premiums?

Your results go directly to the insurer’s underwriting team. Applicants with healthy vital signs and excellent lab results often qualify for preferred or super-preferred rates, which means lower premiums. If issues show up, such as high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol, or markers of nicotine use, you may face higher costs or more limited policy options.

Read: Understanding Life Insurance Waiver of Premium Rider

You can’t technically pass or fail a life insurance medical exam. It’s more of an assessment of your overall health, and the results are used to place you in a risk category.

If your results reflect overall good health paired with healthy habits such as proper diet and exercise, avoiding tobacco, and abstaining from excessive alcohol, you may qualify for lower premiums. If health issues are found, the insurer may raise your rates, limit the policy amount, or in some cases even decline coverage.

What If You Get a Poor Outcome?

A less-than-ideal result on your medical exam doesn’t mean you’re out of options. As part of the underwriting process, insurers will use your health exam results to assign you to a risk class, which affects your premium. Even if your life insurance rates are higher, you may still qualify for coverage.

If your application is declined, you can explore alternatives. Some insurers offer simplified issue or guaranteed issue policies, which don’t require an exam but provide smaller death benefits. Others may let you reapply after addressing health concerns, such as improving blood pressure or cholesterol.

Read: How does a life insurance payout work?

Accelerated Underwriting vs. Standard No-Exam Policies

It’s important to distinguish accelerated underwriting from no-exam options like guaranteed or simplified issue. With accelerated underwriting, insurance companies still review your health history, prescriptions, and other records, but you can skip the physical exam and lab work. Guaranteed issue and simplified issue types of life insurance, by contrast, don’t require detailed health review, but they usually cost more and offer lower coverage amounts.

When to Wait and Reapply if Your Health Improves

If your medical exam results aren’t ideal, it may be worth waiting to reapply. Insurers often look closely at health markers like blood pressure, cholesterol, and weight. Improving these numbers, along with showing consistent results at your next checkup, can help move you into a better risk class. Bigger lifestyle changes like quitting smoking can make an even greater difference, since tobacco use dramatically increases premiums.

Life insurance companies use medical exams to better understand your health and lifestyle. The results help them estimate risk, which directly affects the premium you pay. Healthier applicants are usually rewarded with lower rates, while those with medical concerns may see higher costs or limited policy options.

The exam also verifies information you provide on your application. By combining self-reported details with lab results, insurers can offer policies that are both fairly priced for you and financially sustainable for them.

Preparing for a life insurance medical exam is simple. The goal is to make sure your results reflect your everyday health, not temporary changes caused by stress, food, or lack of sleep. A few easy steps leading up to the exam can help you feel more comfortable and confident on exam day.

• Get good rest: Aim for a full night’s sleep before your appointment.
• Eat light and healthy: Avoid salty or fatty foods that can temporarily raise blood pressure or cholesterol.
• Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of water so it’s easier to provide a urine sample and keep your blood pressure steady.
• Limit caffeine and alcohol: Both can affect your vitals.
• Skip strenuous exercise: Heavy workouts 1-2 hours before the exam can cause elevated blood pressure and heart rate.
• Bring documentation: Have a list of your medications, doctors, and recent health history handy.

Taking these steps won’t change underlying health conditions, but they can prevent temporary factors from skewing your results.

Read: Reasons Life Insurance Won't Pay Out

Yes. Insurance companies offer three main ways to get coverage that don’t require a medical exam. Each of these options vary in how much health information you need to provide, and also vary by insurer availability:

Alternatives to Life Insurance Medical Exams

• Accelerated underwriting: You answer health questions, and insurers review records such as prescriptions or past medical visits. No physical exam or lab work is required.
• Simplified issue: A short health questionnaire replaces the exam. Coverage amounts are usually smaller than traditional policies.
• Guaranteed issue: Approval is automatic, with no health questions asked. Premiums are higher and coverage amounts are limited. Can be a good option for people with more serious medical conditions.

These choices are helpful for people who want fast approval, have health concerns, or simply prefer to avoid the medical exam process.

Ethos offers no medical exam options, you just need to answer a few health questions during the application process. It’s easy to get started, and the application process is quick and simple.