Before the medical exam

What typically happens

The specifics vary by insurer and by the coverage amount, but generally it involves:

• Height, weight, and blood pressure
• A blood sample and a urine sample
• A health history questionnaire, repeating some application questions
• For larger policies, sometimes additional testing

Sensible preparation

Being rested and hydrated makes for a smoother appointment and more representative readings. Morning appointments suit most people, and insurers often ask you to fast beforehand — follow whatever instruction you're given.

Have a list of your medications, dosages, and your doctors' contact details ready. It saves follow-up requests later.

What not to do

There's a genre of advice about gaming the exam. Skip it. Beyond the fact that a one-day change doesn't alter a blood panel much, misrepresenting your health is the thing that gets claims denied during the contestability period.

The exam is not a test you pass or fail. It's information used to price a contract accurately, and an accurately priced contract is the one that pays out.

If results come back unexpected

Exams sometimes surface something the applicant didn't know about. That can affect your offer — and it's also genuinely useful health information you now have.

An offer that isn't what you hoped for isn't necessarily final. Insurers assess conditions differently, and a licensed professional can tell you whether it's worth looking elsewhere.