Congratulations on making the smart decision to protect yourself and your loved ones through the purchase of one of the many great insurance options available today.
What is the underwriting process?
Before an insurer can complete their review of your insurance application, they may impose one or more medical requirements.
(Which requirements you are asked to complete depend on a number of factors, including age and coverage amount applied for.)
Once your application has been submitted, you can expect a representative to contact you to schedule an appointment to complete these medical requirements at your earliest convenience.
Medicals are a regular part of the insurance application process and the examination process is paid for by the insurance company.
Commonly Requested Medicals
Blood Collection (approx. 15 minutes) – What to Expect
Urine Collection (approx. 15 minutes) – What to Expect
Tele-Interview (approx. 20 – 25 minutes) – What to Expect
Stress ECG (approx. 45 minutes) – What to Expect
Resting ECG (approx. 30 minutes) – What to Expect
Paramedical Exam (approx. 45 minutes) – What to Expect
To learn a little more about the medical requirements follow the ‘What to Expect’ link
If you have not heard from the nurse to schedule an interview within 7 business days, you should reach out to your advisor so that they can inquire with the provider about the delay.
You’ll find outlined below a few ‘Medical Prep Tips’ to help you look your best when you see the nurse. Tired of reading? Follow this LINK to watch a short TIPS video.
A few Tips for looking your best
- Get a good nights sleep and drink plenty of water- before bed and the exam
- Avoid alcohol consumption 8 hours before your exam.
- Avoid Caffeine for several hours before your exam.
- If you are on prescribed medications, make sure you have the dosage and name of the medication available
- Avoid strenuous exercise before your exam
- Make sure you will have a comfortable level of privacy for your appointment as you will be asked to disclose your confidential health history.
- If fasting is required – water is the only beverage you can drink during this period
- Avoid vitamins and supplements for 24 hours prior to your exam, unless prescribed by a doctor. If prescribed, ensure you disclose this medication to the nurse
- Make sure you have photo identification available and contact details for your health professional or health facilities visited in the last 5 years.
Once you’ve seen the nurse and completed the medical requirements, the insurer may request additional information in the form of an Attending Physician’s Statement (APS).
This is a fairly standard request in which the insurer contacts your doctors office directly and officially requests the report.
Attending Physician Statement (APS) – What to Expect
While we do not have control over the timeline here, your advisor may reach out to you and ask that you contact your doctor directly to verify the request has been received and is set to be completed.
Once the insurer is satisfied that they have the health history and medical information that they need to make a properly informed decision regarding your application, they will reach out to your advisor with an offer for insurance.
From there, your advisor will reach out to you to collect a few remaining signatures and deliver the physical policy for your personal records.
If you have any questions or concerns during this process, do not hesitate to reach out to your advisor.