Your Life Insurance Medical Exam

While some of the Iowa life insurance providers in our network may offer policies that do not require medical exams, most companies still require one. These exams are important for determining your physical condition and could affect your insurance premiums. With so much riding on it, we know taking your medical exam can be a stressful situation, but there are some things you can do to help your cause. Here's a look at some useful tips for taking your life insurance medical exam!

• One of the best ways to prepare for your exam is to know what to expect. In most cases, you'll probably be required to have blood drawn, have your blood pressure read, and take a drug test. Also, there will almost certainly be a litany of invasive medical questions, so make sure you're comfortable answering them.
• In the days leading up to your exam, try avoiding caffeine at all costs. Caffeine is notorious for increasing your blood pressure and a high blood pressure rate could lead to higher premiums. If you can't manage to give up the coffee or soda for long, at least go without it on the day of your exam.
• Another thing you should avoid before your exam - salt or sodium. Almost everyone eats salt in some shape or form these days, but try to stay away from foods that are especially high in sodium for awhile. It may not make a huge difference in your blood pressure, but every little bit helps.
• You might be tempted to try and drop a few extra pounds the day before your exam, but it would probably be smart to avoid any strenuous activity. You need to stay relaxed before your exam, not out working a sweat.
• Obviously, smoking and drinking will never lend themselves to your health. For the sake of your body and your life insurance policy's premiums, try to avoid both of these for at least a week before taking your exam. At the bare minimum, don't smoke or drink the day before or the day of the exam.
• When scheduling your medical exam, try to shoot for something in the morning, but not earlier than you're used to waking up. It's recommend that you do not eat the day of your exam, as this will result in more accurate blood tests, and taking it in the morning will probably be easier on you. Just don't schedule it too early, as a lack of sleep could hurt your results.
• Finally, do your best to stay relaxed! While the outcome of your tests can potentially affect your life insurance premiums, stressing yourself out over it will only hurt your results. Do yourself a favor and get a good night's sleep. As long as you follow these tips, you should have no problem getting approved for a great Iowa life insurance policy at a low rate!