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Most applicants for life insurance can expect to be accepted.
However, you may, or may not, have to pay more than what you are expecting. It all depends on what risk category the insurance company assigns to you.
Unless the applicant has had a recent wellness preventive physical exam checkup, the result of the paramedical exam is most often the reason for an unanticipated higher premium.
The most common causes of unexpected higher premium charges are previously undiagnosed high blood pressure, high cholesterol, hypoglycemia/diabetes, or high alcohol consumption that the applicant thinks is "normal" but is great enough to cause a high liver enzyme count.
If such readings are way too high, indicating an uncontrolled or significantly life-shortening situation, the application may be completely declined.
Even if an accurate picture of the applicant's health profile is known, it is still not possible to predict with 100% certainty what the insurer will do. All predictions are at best an educated guess.
The best strategy is to apply to the insurance company that is most likely to produce the most favorable result for your likely risk category.
Contrary to what some ill-informed individuals will maintain, the assignment of a class lower than the one hoped for is not a 'bait and switch' tactic of insurance companies. You just do not know for sure what your rate class will be with any particular insurer until the underwriting decision is made.
• Current health status and past health history including medications prescribed.
• Age and gender. Women live about 8 years longer than men.
• Past and present tobacco use.
• Past and present alcohol consumption and drunk-driving convictions. Excessive alcohol consumption can lead to liver disease, cancer of the esophagus, larynx, mouth, and pharynx, and may be linked to liver, breast, and colorectal cancer. It also increases the risk of fatal injury from automobile accidents and other unintentional injury, depression, suicide, heart problems, hypertension, and blood and nervous system conditions.
• Any hazardous activities, e.g., convictions for reckless driving, recreation more dangerous than the average like being a student pilot, rock climbing, hang gliding, vehicle racing, scuba diving and so on. Planned travel to dangerous parts of the world or military service may cause a decline.
For some applicants, especially those who may have borderline readings, it may be an advantage to have the paramedical exam performed first thing in the morning before breakfast. Blood pressure is likely to be lower and cholesterol level is likely to be better.
In the days leading up to the exam, try to avoid salty or sugary food. Abstain from alcohol and caffeine, and if possible, minimize drug usage including ibuprofens and Tylenol. A lot of running exercise can cause sugars to be off, so cutting back before the exam may help. Definitely do not exercise the same day before the exam and go to bed early the night before.