Life insurance • Underwriting
Life Insurance Medical Exam: What to Expect, How to Prepare, and What Happens Next
A life insurance medical exam is a short health check, usually 30 to 45 minutes, that the insurer pays for and schedules at your home, office, or a local clinic. A medical examiner records your measurements, takes blood and urine samples, and reviews your health history. The insurer uses the results to decide your rate.
This guide covers what’s tested, how to prepare, what happens after the exam, and options if you’d rather not have one.
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What the exam includes
- Health questionnaire: medical and family history, medications, and lifestyle questions.
- Measurements: height, weight, and blood pressure.
- Lab work: a blood sample, a urine sample, and a nicotine (cotinine) test.
- Extra tests for some applicants: an EKG for older applicants or larger amounts, and sometimes cognitive or stress tests.
Source: MoneyGeek, updated August 2026.
Exam requirements by age and coverage amount
Insurers set exam requirements by age and coverage amount. Younger applicants buying smaller amounts may qualify without labs, while older applicants or larger policies may need an EKG, often for applicants over 50 or coverage above $1 million, and sometimes cognitive tests for applicants over 70 (MoneyGeek). Ask your agent what your application will require before you schedule.
How to prepare
- Avoid strenuous exercise for 24 hours before; hard workouts can affect some lab results.
- Fast if asked; many insurers ask for about 8 hours before blood work, water allowed. Book early in the morning.
- Skip caffeine and alcohol beforehand, and keep taking prescribed medicines.
- Bring a photo ID, a medication list with doses, and contact details for your doctors.
Tips summarized from MoneyGeek.
Special situations
- Recent illness: a cold or flu can raise some readings; ask to reschedule if you’re sick.
- Pregnancy: some insurers postpone exams or weigh results differently during pregnancy; ask before you schedule.
- “White coat” blood pressure: tell the examiner, and ask for more than one reading.
- Medications: keep taking prescribed medicines and list them; underwriters look at how well a condition is controlled.
What happens after the exam
Results usually reach the insurer within a few business days. Underwriters also review MIB reports, prescription history, and driving records, and fully underwritten applications commonly take two to six weeks (MoneyGeek). Some exam companies, such as ExamOne, offer online access to lab results when the insurer participates (ExamOne). If a result looks wrong, ask whether a retest is possible.
The insurer then assigns a rate class. Conditions like high blood pressure don’t always mean a decline.
What the results mean for your rate
Underwriters compare your results with their guidelines for build, blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, and other markers. Results within their ranges may qualify for the best classes; results outside them can mean a standard or table rating rather than a decline. See life insurance rate classes.
Your records and rights
Options if you want to skip the exam
Many insurers offer accelerated underwriting that uses data instead of an exam for healthy applicants, and simplified-issue policies that ask health questions only. Guaranteed issue coverage asks no health questions but has low limits and waiting periods. See no-exam life insurance and guaranteed issue life insurance.
Medical exam FAQs
What do they test for in a life insurance exam?
Typically blood pressure, height and weight, blood and urine samples, and nicotine; some applicants also get an EKG.
How long does a life insurance medical exam take?
Usually about 30 to 45 minutes.
Who pays for the life insurance medical exam?
The insurer usually pays.
Can I get life insurance without a medical exam?
Often, yes, through accelerated, simplified-issue, or guaranteed issue policies, though limits and pricing differ.
Can I reschedule a life insurance exam if I’m sick?
Yes. Rescheduling can give more accurate results.
Can I see my life insurance exam results?
Often, yes, through the exam company or by asking the insurer to send them to your doctor.
Will a bad result mean I’m declined?
Not necessarily. Many results lead to a different rate class rather than a decline.
Related guides
Important information
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Underwriting varies. Each insurer sets its own underwriting rules, and approval and rates depend on your full application. This page is general information as of November 2026, not medical or legal advice.
Availability. Coverage, prices, discounts, and eligibility vary by insurer, state, and applicant, and are subject to underwriting. The issued policy controls.
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