When you apply for life insurance for more than $1mil of death benefit and/or disability insurance for more than $10k/month, the insurance company wants to know exactly who they are insuring and the risks involved. Essentially, you’re entering into a contract with them, where they promise to provide a financial benefit to your beneficiaries if you pass away while your policy is in force. To assess the risk, your chosen carrier will usually arrange for a medical professional to conduct a life insurance physical exam at your home or business. The exam is also referred to as a paramedical exam.
The company is primarily testing for: AIDS, nicotine, cholesterol, liver enzymes and protein in your urine.
Taking this medical exam seriously is crucial, as the results can directly affect your rate classification and, in turn, your premiums. While you can’t drastically change your lifestyle — like your diet, weight, or exercise habits — in the days leading up to your exam, there are several short-term steps you can take to ensure your body is in the best possible condition when the paramedical examiner arrives. Here are some practical tips to help you prepare:
1. Eat Healthy
During the life/disability insurance physical, the examiner will take a blood sample and check your blood pressure and pulse. Your diet can significantly impact your blood work, which is why individuals with high cholesterol are often advised to consume fewer animal products like cheese and beef. For optimal results, avoid processed foods high in sugar, salt, and fat before the exam. Instead, focus on eating more vegetables, particularly leafy greens. Avoid eating high cholesterol foods within 2 days of the exam.
2. Stay Hydrated
In the days leading up to your life insurance exam, avoid alcohol, as it can dehydrate you and affect your liver enzymes, which are detected in blood tests. Instead, increase your water intake. Start drinking eight glasses of water a day the week before your exam to help flush out toxins that could show up in your blood or urine samples. Additionally, staying hydrated makes it easier to draw blood during the exam.
3. Consider Fasting
When you schedule your insurance physical, ask the examiner if fasting is necessary for eight hours before the exam. Just as some labs require fasting before a cholesterol test, it may be beneficial to fast before a life insurance exam to ensure accurate results. Eating beforehand can affect not only your cholesterol but also your glucose levels.
4. Skip the Gym
For 24 hours before your paramedical exam, it’s best to take a break from exercise. Intense physical activity, particularly cardio workouts, can raise your pulse and blood pressure, negatively affect your cholesterol levels, and increase protein levels in your urine — all of which could lead to a retest.
5. Get a Good Night’s Sleep
Your body’s vital signs, such as pulse and blood pressure, are typically more stable after a good night’s sleep. Make sure to get enough rest the night before your exam to help your body present its best self.
6. Wear Lightweight Clothing
If you typically weigh yourself wearing minimal clothing, choose lightweight clothing for your life insurance exam. Your weight can affect your rate classification, so you’ll want it to be as accurate as possible.
Conclusion: A Little Preparation Can Lead to Big Savings
The results of your paramedical exam can impact how much you’ll pay for your policy, so it’s in your best interest to do what you can to achieve the best possible results. By making a few simple adjustments to your lifestyle in the days leading up to your exam, you could see healthy savings over the life of your policy. And if you make some of these changes permanent, like eating more vegetables and fruits and reducing your intake of high-fat and high-salt foods, you could also enjoy long-term health benefits.
At the end of your paramedical exam, be sure to ask the examiner for a barcode or instructions to download the results. The insurance company pays for the exam but you are entitled to the results.
