What is a Life Insurance Exam
Jason Stolz CLTC, CRPC
A life insurance exam is a short, nurse-administered screening that verifies your health and helps determine your final life insurance rate. The exam is free, convenient, and designed to confirm the information provided in your application. Results can qualify you for better rates—especially if you’re in excellent health.
Below, you’ll find details on what to expect during the exam, how to prepare, how it affects pricing, and when skipping it might make sense. At Diversified Insurance Brokers, we make this process simple—offering both traditional and no-exam life insurance from more than 100 top-rated carriers nationwide.
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What Happens During a Life Insurance Exam?
The process is simple, professional, and completely confidential. A licensed paramedical professional visits your home or office at no cost. Expect the following steps:
- Verification and vitals: ID check, height, weight, blood pressure, and pulse.
- Sample collection: A small blood draw and urine test for standard lab markers like cholesterol, glucose (A1C), and nicotine.
- Optional EKG: May be required for larger coverage amounts or older applicants.
- Health questionnaire: Confirms medications, conditions, and family history.
Most exams take 20–30 minutes. Once complete, results are securely sent to the insurance company for underwriting review.
Why Insurers Require Medical Exams
The life insurance exam helps carriers verify your health profile and offer accurate, risk-based pricing. Healthy applicants typically receive better rates, while the exam prevents overpaying for coverage you qualify for. Your results determine your rate class, such as Preferred Plus, Preferred, or Standard.
For details on how data and history play into underwriting, see our page on what MIB is in insurance.
How to Prepare for Your Life Insurance Exam
- Get a good night’s sleep — fatigue can affect vitals and blood pressure.
- Avoid caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol for at least 8–12 hours beforehand.
- Drink water to stay hydrated and make sample collection easier.
- Skip heavy workouts the day before—exercise can elevate enzymes and skew results.
- Eat light and low sodium if fasting isn’t required.
No-Exam Life Insurance Options
Some carriers allow you to skip the medical exam entirely. Instead, they rely on prescription records, motor vehicle reports, and digital health databases. No-exam coverage can be approved within days—ideal for healthy individuals who want quick protection without scheduling a nurse visit.
- Pros: Fast approval, no blood draw, no scheduling delays.
- Cons: Slightly higher premiums compared to exam-based rates.
If convenience matters most, explore our no-exam life insurance for young adults or specialized guides for smokers and diabetics.
Timeline: From Exam to Policy Approval
- Application submitted: You choose coverage amount and beneficiaries.
- Exam scheduled: We coordinate the nurse visit at your convenience.
- Underwriting review: Lab results and records are analyzed by the carrier.
- Offer issued: You receive your final approval and premium options.
- Policy delivery: Coverage activates once signed and placed in force.
Understanding Life Insurance Rate Classes
Your exam results determine your final rate class. Here’s how they typically compare:
| Rate Class | Health Profile | Premium Level |
|---|---|---|
| Preferred Plus | Excellent health, ideal BMI, no tobacco use | Lowest premiums available |
| Preferred | Minor health factors, good labs | Low premiums |
| Standard | Average build and health | Average premiums |
| Substandard (Table Rated) | Significant conditions or high-risk factors | Higher premiums |
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FAQs: Life Insurance Exams
How long does the life insurance exam take?
Most exams take 20–30 minutes, including paperwork, vitals, and sample collection. Add a few minutes if an EKG is required for larger face amounts.
Do I need to fast before the exam?
Not always. Some carriers prefer fasting for cleaner lab results. If fasting is recommended for your case, we’ll let you know when scheduling.
What do they test for?
Common labs include cholesterol, A1C, basic liver and kidney markers, nicotine/cotinine, and routine health indicators. The goal is to verify your health profile, not to diagnose conditions.
Will nicotine or marijuana use affect my rates?
Yes. Nicotine is usually rated as tobacco, which increases premiums. Marijuana treatment varies by carrier and usage pattern; we’ll guide you to the most favorable carrier.
Can I get approved without an exam?
Yes. Many carriers offer accelerated or no-exam underwriting using digital health data. These policies can be very fast, though exam-based policies may be cheaper for excellent risks.
Who pays for the exam?
The insurer pays. There is no cost to you for the nurse visit or standard labs.
Can I review my results?
Yes. You can request a copy of your lab results through the exam provider. We can help you interpret the basics and how they impact your rate class.
What if I’m sick on exam day?
Reschedule. Illness, dehydration, or poor sleep can temporarily raise blood pressure or affect labs. It’s better to test when you feel normal.
Will prescriptions or medical records be reviewed?
Often. Carriers may review prescription histories and request records from your physician to confirm control and stability of any conditions.
How quickly can I be approved?
No-exam cases can approve quickly. Exam-based underwriting often completes in a few weeks depending on medical records. We’ll keep things moving and shop carriers if needed.
