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Medical Tests for Term Insurance

Medical tests assess a potential policyholder’s fitness and overall health and enable the insurer to fix premiums and issue policies accordingly. It is always better to go in for a term insurance plan that includes medical tests before purchase.

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Term Insurance

Importance of Medical Tests for Term Insurance

March 04, 2024

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Term insurance plans that do not offer medical tests before issuing the policy often give lower coverage, because the insurance company has to cover for unknown health risks. Medical tests assess a potential policyholder’s fitness and overall health and enable the insurer to fix premiums and issue policies accordingly. It is always better to go in for a term plan that includes medical tests before purchase.

Claim rejection

A term insurance company can reject death, critical illness or terminal disease claim on certain grounds. These insurance policies are issued based on age, lifestyle, health and medical conditions, income and occupation of the policyholder. According to the stated rules and regulations, a claim can be rejected if any of the said information provided is found to be false, incomplete or undisclosed. In most cases of rejected claims, the same happens due to discrepancies in the medical history of the policyholder. This makes it critically important to have all the medical tests properly done before buying the policy. The risk of claim rejection is far lesser in the case of healthy individuals.

More premium: 

Term insurance premium amounts are decided based on a set of factors like age, gender, lifestyle, sleep cycle, tobacco and alcohol consumption, medical history, occupation etc. Premiums can be more for older policyholders. It can also be higher if his occupation, lifestyle, habits and medical history suggest a higher probability of future ailments. Thus, for a chosen sum assured, a policyholder will have to pay a higher premium if the said parameters indicate possible health conditions in the coming times. A thorough medical test and precautions thereafter hence can minimize the risk of paying bigger premiums for your policy.     

Low coverage:

If your medical record suggests you can be prone to diseases and health conditions due to your age, heredity, lifestyle, habits or occupational practices, it can lead to low coverage by insurance plans. In most cases like this, the insurer offers policies with lower coverage at a given sum assured, as the probability of paying death benefits is higher. A properly done medical check-up can be useful here to know beforehand, how long your insurance can cover you.

When is it required to have a medical test to buy a term insurance plan?

Not all term insurance plans need the policyholder to undergo medical tests for eligibility. Also, medical tests are often not required if the policyholder is young. Usually, insurance companies make it a mandate for buyers to get medical tests done above a certain age limit. If you are 40 or above, a medical test is required to buy a term insurance plan. The results of the test will be the prime determinant of the premium amount and coverage period of the policy. Healthy applicants are therefore considered eligible under the term insurance eligibility criteria for lower premiums, relatively longer coverage, and a pay-out of higher sum assured.

Which medical tests are required for term insurance?

Here are some of the most commonly required medical tests for term insurance that lend the insurance provider an insight into the applicant’s health condition:

  • Body Mass Index

BMI, or Body Mass Index, helps assess the physical fitness of the applicant. It compares the weight to height and indicates whether the person is obese or underweight.
The result of this test serves as a benchmark for other routine tests.

  • Urine Test

Diabetes or kidney ailments can lead to critical health issues in the future. Your urine sample is examined to detect these issues via a Urine test.

  • Blood Test

Accurate information about the applicant’s overall health is derived from this term insurance medical test. This test gives insight into conditions like diabetes, hypertension, and risk factors for cardiovascular diseases.

  • Complete Blood Count

Abnormal levels of haemoglobin, platelets, and white and red blood cells can lead to anaemia, leukaemia, infections, etc. A complete blood count test provides detailed information about the levels of these components.

  • Blood Sugar

Blood sugar tests in the term insurance medical test list measure the extent of glucose in the bloodstream. It helps diagnose diabetes and other glucose metabolism-related issues. It gives an idea of blood sugar management and overall health.

  • Kidney Function

Urine and blood samples are used to conduct this test. It denotes the levels of creatinine, urea, and electrolytes in the blood that determine kidney functioning. Malfunctioning of kidneys is a warning sign of future health issues.

  • Liver Function

Effective liver function is as important as kidney function. A liver function test measures the levels of enzymes and proteins in the blood and evaluates liver health. It helps diagnose issues like hepatitis and is also an indicator of your lifestyle habits.

  • Lipid Profile

Lipid profile helps in assessing blood cholesterol levels. Abnormal cholesterol levels are warning signs for future medical conditions like cardiovascular disease.

  • Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Test

HIV in your bloodstream causes Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome. This test is to detect the presence of HIV. It also helps determine the infection stage. HIV test is not mandatory and has to be done only if the insurance provider insists on it.

  • Chest X-Ray

This is one of the medical tests for term insurance that ascertains the functioning of your heart, lungs, and bones. It is an imaging test that uses radiation beams to detect any issue. This test gives a comprehensive evaluation of overall health.

  • Ultrasonography

This test ensures the health condition of major organs. It is generally done to detect tumours that could be cancerous.

  • Comprehensive Trail-Making Test

The comprehensive trail-making test determines cognitive function. Various scanning sequences and tasks are done to detect any brain injury.

  • Treadmill Test

The treadmill test is a stress test that evaluates the heart function. It monitors the heart rate, blood pressure, and ECG changes while you walk or run on the treadmill. It is primarily used to detect coronary artery disease.

Why is it beneficial to have a medical test for your term plan?

The following are the benefits of medical tests for term insurance:

  • Prevent Claim Rejection

    • Medical tests are the channel to assess your overall health condition. Any existing illness is detected with these tests, and the coverage is provided accordingly. With the help of medical tests, any objections in your claim process can be overcome, as there is no scope for undisclosed personal health information.

  • Evaluate the Client's Risk of Death

    • Risk evaluation is done to assess whether there is any chance of the applicant dying from a pre-existing underlying issue. It is done on the basis of the test results gathered after the term insurance medical test. It helps insurance providers to offer suitable coverage with fair terms and avoid future financial loss.

  • Low-Cost Premiums

    • A medical test for term insurance helps give the insurer a clear picture of their health, influencing the insurance premium. Applicants who are healthy and fit indicate longer no-claim periods and a lesser scope of frequent hospitalisation. As a result, the premium is low. However, if any health issue is detected, the insurance premium tends to increase, considering the possibility of frequent future claims. This makes the insurance expensive.

  • Changes in Coverage

    • Many times, medical tests help identify changes in health in a timely manner. This forms the basis of adjusting your coverage accordingly. If your health improves, you might be eligible for better rates or increased coverage, enhancing your financial protection.

  • Better Policy Customisation

    • Health evaluations provide detailed information, enabling insurers to offer riders and add-ons that suit your needs. Whether it is a critical illness rider or additional benefits, a customised policy offers appropriate and wholesome protection.

  • Quicker Claim Process

    • Any undisclosed information regarding medical history can be a reason for rejections or undue delay in the claim process. When you undergo medical tests before buying a term insurance plan, you are able to provide a clear picture of your health to the insurer, preventing delays and rejections.

Importance of Term Insurance Medical Test

To buy a term life insurance plan, in most cases, the applicant needs to do mandatory medical tests to ascertain his eligibility for the same. The medical check-up and the results thereby are essential for both the insurer and the insured to determine how the policy should work and the advantages it would bring to the table. The medical records thus obtained form the basis for the calculation of the premium rate, sum assured and coverage period to be offered to the individual. Moreover, in case of a claim settlement, the medical record of the policyholder is the foundation which determines the pay-out of the sum assured.

Procedure for medical test for term insurance cover

After applying for a specific term insurance policy, the applicant is requested to undergo a list of medical tests by the insurer. The company coordinates with the individual, schedules an appointment and provides the list of health check-up centres nearby as well as the test at home facility. The applicant can choose according to their convenience and get themselves tested. The expense of the medical examinations is borne by the insurance company.

Legal and Ethical Considerations of Medical Testing

While conducting a medical test for term insurance, the insurance company must consider several legal and ethical aspects. This is to protect the interest of the prospective policyholder.

Legal aspects before a term insurance medical test involve the following:

  • Adhering to healthcare regulations while conducting the tests.
  • Ensuring that the tests are appropriate and necessary.
  • Obtaining the applicant’s informed consent.

Ethical considerations are as important as legal obligations in medical testing. They include:

  • Maintaining utmost secrecy of the test results obtained.
  • Making the information available to only authorised personnel.
  • Avoiding discrimination of test results, i.e., rejecting claims unjustly based on the results.
  • Honouring the applicant’s rights to know the test results and the utilisation of the results.
  • Using the test results fairly for risk assessment.

Understanding Risk Perception

Risk perception is recognising the possibilities of potential risks. A medical test for term insurance gives a complete assessment of the overall health of the prospective policyholder. It also serves as a benchmark for deciding the premiums.

Insurers' risk perception depends on the medical test results, lifestyle habits, etc., that predict the applicant’s life expectancy. The coverage period, premiums, and policy terms are all based on these predictions.

The factors you should keep in mind as a term insurance buyer are:

  • You can avail of maximum coverage with the lowest premiums if you undergo a medical test before buying the term insurance plan.
  • Policies issued without a medical exam assume the maximum risk, and the coverage provided will be considerably low.
  •  An insurance policy without medical tests will not serve the purpose of investing in a term insurance plan,

Maintaining good health is the primary concern of every individual. We go to any extent to remain fit and healthy. Insurance providers reward this effort with lower premiums for insurance aspirants with robust health.

All insurance providers expect you to declare pre-existing health conditions and family medical history while filling out the application form. Providing honest information helps in getting appropriate coverage and avoids rejection of claims.

Factors affected by term insurance medical test

The results of the medical tests affect certain factors of the term insurance policy term. They are -

Claim rejection: Medical tests determine if the applicant has existing conditions or the possibility of ailments. Based on that, a claim against the policy can get rejected if the death or critical illness is a result of his pre-existing disease or medical conditions.

More premium: If certain body conditions or ailments are traced in the medical examinations, the applicant is asked to pay a higher premium amount for a given sum assured.

Low coverage: If the medical check-ups identify pre-existing diseases or risk of certain illnesses, the insurer usually offers an insurance plan with a low coverage period. This is because of the higher probability of untimely death of the applicant.

What Is a Video or Phone Medical Check-Up for Term Insurance?

Video or phone medical check-up for term insurance is a process devised to avoid any infection to medical personnel. This process of health examination was introduced during the Covid-19 pandemic and has been re-introduced. Video medical check-ups involve a recorded video interview with the applicant to gather personal information and family medical history. If the same process is conducted over the telephone, it is termed a telemedical or phone medical check-up.

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Francis Rodrigues Francis Rodrigues

Francis Rodrigues has a decade long experience in the insurance sector, and as SVP, E-Commerce and Digital Marketing, HDFC Life, manages the online sales channel, as well as digital and performance marketing. He has had hands-on experience in setting up sales channels and functional teams from scratch over a career spanning 2 decades.

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Vishal Subharwal Vishal Subharwal

Vishal Subharwal heads the Strategy, Marketing, E-Commerce, Digital Business & Sustainability initiatives at HDFC Life. He is responsible for crafting and ensuring successful implementation of the overall organisation strategy.

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