Life Insurance And Disclosing Medical Information
How Important Is It?
In order to give you and your loved ones peace of mind when purchasing life and serious illness cover, it is vital that you disclose all medical information upon application. The more information you provide, the easier it is to process your application in a timely and accurate manner.
You pay your premiums and the insurance company wants to pay your claims, but it is important to understand that you play a big part in ensuring that this happens. Every year, almost 5% of life and serious illness claims submitted are not paid due to customers failing to disclose all of their relevant medical facts.
TOP 3 REASONS TO ANSWER HEALTH QUESTIONS TRUTHFULLY
Insurers Want To Pay Your Claim
Insurers want to pay all valid claims as quickly and efficiently as possible. By providing full details of any medical history when you are making an application for cover, you alleviate any question that your claim will be paid due to non-disclosure.
You Want Your Insurance To Pay Out
The last thing your family needs in the event of your passing or diagnosis of serious illness is to deal with the hassle of the insurance company questioning the validity of the claim. If the insurance company finds that you did not disclose all medical information upon application, they may not be able to pay your claim. Giving all of your medical information upfront avoids all of the hassle, and gives you and your loved one's peace of mind.
The Vast Majority Of Applicants Are Accepted For Insurance
Most importantly, the disclosure of medical conditions and/or history does not necessarily mean you will be declined for cover. Underwriting processes do vary between insurance companies, but every effort will be made to provide cover where possible. Again, the more information you provide about your medical history upon application, the more you’ll help the underwriters make the most informed decision with regard to your cover, and find the best level of cover to suit your individual needs. Any medical issues or updates can often be found during a life insurance medical exam, which you can be called for when you take out cover.
LIFE INSURANCE MEDICAL EXAMS
Do you have an upcoming life insurance medical exam with your GP and you’re unsure of what happens next? Below we take a look at some of the things you can expect from a life insurance medical exam and we provide tips on how to pass.
What Is A Life Insurance Medical Exam?
When it is time for your life insurance medical exam, your GP will receive a questionnaire from your insurer with some of the following questions:
- Family history
- Personal details
- Medical history
- General wellness (Has your GP any reason to suspect that the daily consumption of alcohol or tobacco or any drugs as stated by you may be understated?)
- Measurements
- Respiratory system
- Gastrointestinal tract
- Nervous system
- Urinary system
These questions should be answered truthfully by your GP after the necessary tests are carried out.
How To Pass A Life Insurance Medical Exam
Adopt A Healthier Diet
If you know that the reason the insurer has called for a medical exam is because of your weight or lifestyle, then it is recommended to schedule your medical exam for a few weeks in the future. Your diet could be the difference between your application being accepted and declined, so it is important to set weight loss targets in the months leading up to your medical exam. The first step should be to change your diet plan by limiting your salt and sugar intake, eating more whole grain foods and cutting down on alcohol consumption. Don't forget if you have any concerns about how to make changes to your diet, simply speak to your GP.
Avoid Stressful Situations
In the days leading up to your exam, it is important to remove as much stress from your life as possible. Whether it is going for a light walk or reading a book, do whatever is possible to maintain an optimum blood pressure level. Making sure you get plenty of sleep is an easy way to make sure you are more relaxed, so getting your 8 hours a night has a big role to play!
Eating And Drinking
As we have already touched on, changing your diet plan and reducing alcohol consumption is important. Try to maintain a healthy balanced diet in the days/weeks leading up to your exam. Also, on the day, it is important to avoid any caffeine, in particular coffee, tea or any fizzy drinks.
Blood Pressure Test
If for whatever reason you are nervous before or during your medical exam, ask your GP to take your blood pressure at the end of the exam. If you are nervous, your blood pressure may rise above its normal range showing a higher reading than normal on your results.
We hope that this information proves useful and ensures you have peace of mind when taking out a life insurance policy. If you need any further information, or if you would like to speak to a member of our friendly team, give us a call on 01 4003400.
