When I was in my early twenties, with two young children at home, a good friend of mine was diagnosed with terminal cancer. He had a wife and two young children of his own. Of course, everyone was devastated by the tragic news, but it made me consider my own mortality and what would happen to my family in similar circumstances. The decision to buy life insurance is not something to be taken lightly. And it is not as simple as running into the convenience store to buy milk or pick up something easy for dinner. I didn’t know anything about qualifying for Life Insurance. It is, however, a necessity for assuring the well-being of the ones you love in the case of a tragedy.
Once you have decided on the amount of insurance you need, as well as the type of coverage that suits you best, you must actually qualify for the policy. And of course, you will want to get the best possible rates and we want to give them to you. There is not a one size fits all price for life insurance. Understanding the process for getting life insurance can help you get the plan that suits you best at a price you can afford.
The first step in qualifying for life insurance is filling out the application that covers basic information such as height, weight and date of birth. You will also be required to give information about your finances and your lifestyle. While it may be tempting to fudge a little, make sure you are honest when it comes to giving information such as weight or other health conditions. If you get caught not being honest your premium could increase or your coverage could be dropped. We want to know about the things you do on a day to day basis that might make you a riskier candidate. Do you mountain climb or sky-dive? Do you drive long distances for work? Are you employed in a dangerous environment? These initial questions will help us determine if you qualify for standard rates or even the preferred rates (the best available!) It is possible to be turned down for life insurance so it is important to be prepared to qualify.
An in-person medical exam is almost always required when qualifying for life insurance. These are generally performed by someone who comes to your house or even your place of employment. Sometimes you can even go to a pre-approved clinic for your exam. During the exam you can expect the following:
- Questions about your medical history
Again, it is important to be brutally honest here. You will be asked about current conditions, any medications you take and about surgeries you may have had.
- Your family medical history
Has anyone in your family had a heart condition or been diagnosed with cancer? What about diabetes or any other type of disease? Do your homework and know the facts.
- Lifestyle habits
Do you smoke? Drink alcohol in excess or take recreational drugs? What about exercise? These are all things that will come up for review during your exam.
- Basic medical tests
These will include blood pressure, blood tests and you will be asked to give urine. Depending on your age and other risk factors, or even the type of policy you want, you might also be asked to have an EKG, take a treadmill test or any other test as deemed necessary.
Obviously, you want to get the best possible results from your health exam. And while you need to be 100% honest, you can make sure you get the best results from your tests by following these easy tips:
- Fast for 12 hours
Not eating before your test can help make your results more accurate. In fact, eating right before can sometimes hurt you by affecting your blood sugar or even cholesterol results.
- Avoid caffeine
Try not to partake in consuming caffeinated beverages for up to two days before your test. Your blood pressure can up after a good jolt of caffeine!
- Avoid alcohol
Try to steer clear for about two days prior to your exam.
- Steer clear of cigarettes
For at least three hours before your exam try to avoid smoking a cigarette.
After your health exam, you may be surprised to learn that some of your results came back differently than what you expected. First, do not panic. Hopefully, you followed the directions of the examiner correctly, but if you didn’t, you may have false results. In this case, it is important to re-test to get accurate results. If the tests are indeed accurate, you may simply need to make some lifestyles changes that will improve your overall well-being. If you smoke, stop. If you don’t exercise, start. If you are overweight, make better food choices and control portion sizes. Obviously, consult your doctor for specific advice.
Getting Affordable Life Insurance
When you apply for life insurance, it’s important that you get the cheapest coverage that you can find. There are several ways that you can lower your insurance premiums. Making a few simple lifestyle changes can help you save hundreds of dollars on your coverage.
The first thing that you should do is eliminate any tobacco that you currently use. If you’re listed as a smoker on your insurance application, you can expect to pay much higher premiums versus what a non-smoker is going to pay for the same amount of coverage. If you want to get the most affordable life insurance plan, you’ll need to kick the bad habit once and for all.
The next thing that you should do is start getting regular exercise. Before you are accepted, the life insurance company is going to require that you undergo a medical exam, and the results of the exam are going to play a major role in how much you have to pay in premiums. Getting exercise is a great way to help lose weight, lower your cholesterol, and reduce your risk of being diagnosed with other health complications. It’s time to lace of those running shoes and hit the gym.
Calculating Your Life Insurance Needs
Before you apply for coverage you’ll need to determine what your life insurance needs are. Not having enough life insurance is one of the worst things that you could do for your family. When you’re adding up your life insurance needs, there are several different factors that you’ll need to account for.
The first number that you should look at is your debts and final expenses that you would leave behind to your loved ones. Your life insurance plan is the best way to ensure that your family has the money that they need to ensure that they have they have the money that they need. Add up all of your mortgage, car payments, student loans, and any other bills that your family would be responsible for.
The next number that you should look at is your annual income. The secondary goal of your life insurance is to give your family the money that they need to replace your salary if something tragic were to happen to you. If you’re the primary source of income, your family will struggle financially, especially if you have young children, but that’s where your life insurance comes inn. It gives them the money to pay for necessary expenses, without having to sacrifice their standard of living.
If you have any questions about life insurance or about getting the best rates available, please contact one of our agents today. We would be happy to answer those questions and ensure that you’re getting the best plan to meet your needs. We know that finding the perfect policy can be a frustrating and overwhelming experience, but it doesn’t have to be. Our agents have years of experience helping clients get quality insurance at an affordable price.
Because you never know what’s going to happen tomorrow, you shouldn’t wait another day to get the insurance protection that your family deserves. Contact us today and we would be happy to connect you with the best plan.
Qualifying for life insurance while getting the best possible rates is not something to be taken lightly. We are here to help you navigate the process however and make it as painless as possible. When my friend’s husband died she was devastated. However, her burden was lightened by the fact that her husband had enough life insurance to take care of her and her two small children. Let us help you gain the peace of mind that being covered provides. Use our calculator on the left of this page to see how affordable life insurance is. You can always give us a call at 1-800-712-8519 to discuss your situation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What can I expect during an insurance medical exam?
There will be questions about your medical history, family history, and life style habits. Basic medical tests include blood pressure, urine, and blood samples. The insurance carrier will look at these items to determine how you will qualify for life insurance.
How can I prepare for my insurance exam?
You will want to fast for 12 hours, avoid caffeine and alcohol as well as nicotine prior to your exam. Doing this can provide more accurate results from the tests that are run. An independent life insurance agent can answer questions you may have about an insurance exam and qualifying for life insurance.
What are some things that affect me when qualifying for life insurance?
Your general health, build, age, and whether or not you are a nicotine user are a few. You can contact an independent life insurance agent to get your questions answered.
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