What is medical underwriting, and why must I answer health questions?
When you apply for individual insurance or for more than the guaranteed amount of group insurance, you need to provide satisfactory evidence to the insurance carrier that you are insurable (a good risk). A medical underwriter reviews an applicant’s answers to health questions and considers factors such as current physical condition, height and weight, gender, tobacco status, etc. to determine if the person meets the company’s acceptance standards for the type and amount of insurance requested. Many group applications can be processed using only the health information provided by the applicant. For most individual coverage and some group coverage, a physical examination is needed. The basic physical examination includes height, weight, pulse, blood pressure and a medical history questionnaire. The examination may include special testing such as a blood test, urinalysis and an EKG. Your medical records are kept confidential, and information from the exam is not released to anyone else wi
