Life insurance policy provides financial security to your family after your demise. The process of purchasing this important product involves going through a health examination. This exam often involves testing for different health conditions that can hinder you from getting an insurance cover or influence the amount of premiums you pay. Though, different companies test for different conditions, there are others that are tested by almost all companies. Here is a look into some of the things that are tested for life insurance.
#Life Insurance Health Examination
*Tobacco and Other Drugs
One of the first things that life insurers will test for during the health test is tobacco, its products as well as other drugs; regardless of whether the drugs are legal or illegal. Using tobacco through chewing tobacco, smoking cigarettes or cigars, increases the risk of lung cancer and other life-threatening diseases. Additionally, drug prescriptions, vitamin and mineral supplements are also ascertained. The insurer will also perform a drug tests to determine if you’re using illegal drugs.
*Total Protein
The total protein in your body is measured by analyzing globulin and albumin. These two proteins occur naturally in the blood stream but abnormal levels of either globulin or albumin can be an indication of underlying health disorders. If your total protein level is extremely high or low, the insurer will follow up the issue with your doctor and ascertain your health condition. In this case, your insurer might ask for your medical history.
*Enzymes
There are various enzymes produced by the liver but your insurance company focuses on three enzymes; GGT, SGOT and SGPT. Abnormally high or low levels of enzyme indicate a life-threatening liver disease or an underlying chronic disorder. Such situations call for further analysis and testing to ascertain the root cause of the abnormal enzyme levels. In addition to that, the insurer might also test the level of alkaline phosphate in your body. Alkaline phosphate is found in the liver and bones and its levels indicate the condition of your liver and bones.
*Blood Urea Nitrogen
Kidney failure is a very common disease and in most cases, patients succumb to this condition. As such, the life insurance company will test the functionality of your kidneys by testing the blood urea nitrogen. Additionally, the company will determine the level of creatine in your body. High levels of creatine or blood urea nitrogen indicate low kidney function which further indicates kidney disease or kidney failure.
*Glucose, A1C and Frustosamine Glycated Albumin
All these tests are basically supposed to show the level of glucose in your body. A simple glucose test is used to ascertain your blood sugar level at that particular time. On the other hand, a glycated albumin frustosamine test will determine what the blood sugar level was, two or three weeks before. The A1C test will determine the level of sugar in your blood over the last four to six weeks. An erratic or high blood sugar level definitely points towards diabetes.
Numerous life insurance companies advise people to purchase the policy when they are still young, energetic and healthy. The insurer will rate you if you have an underlying disease; your premiums will be higher than what the agent quoted originally. On the other hand, if you’re using illegal drugs, you’ll be denied the policy.
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