Why is Medical Test Important While Buying a Term Insurance?

• 3rd May 2019
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These days, many insurance providers advertise a ’no medical test’ term plan. This surely attracts customers because they think not going through medical tests can help them save time and get better terms. However, that is a false notion. A medical test is a necessity when it comes to buying a term insurance plan. If you are wondering, what medical test is required for term insurance, you must know that the answer is subjective depending on the customer. The goal of the medical test is to find the exact condition of your health so that the policy provider can create the best plan for you.

However, every insurance applicant must take a few basic tests such as Complete Blood Count, Differential Count, Fasting Plasma Glucose, Cholesterol, HIV I and II, and urine test. The test depends on different factors such as your age, family medical history, and the kind of insurance policy you apply for.

What Does a Medical Test for Term Insurance Consist of?

The nature of medical tests varies from case to case. It largely depends on the declarations made by the applicant and can consist of the following in addition to other tests depending on your lifestyle habits, current illnesses, and medical history.

• Height and weight for determining the BMI (Body Mass Index).
• A blood or urine test covering various profiles, like CBC (Complete Blood Count), glucose etc.

When is a term insurance medical test mandatory?

A medical test is normally mandatory in either or both cases.

• If you are older than 35 years.
• If you pick a sum assured of INR 10 lakhs or more.

There may be some term insurance plans that do not require medical tests. However, pre-existing illnesses, family history, and hereditary conditions would require a medical test irrespective of the age or amount of sum assured.

Why Medical Test Is Required for Term Insurance Plan?

The main purpose of these medical tests is for the insurance company to know everything about your health so it can create a term plan that fits your needs perfectly. One single policy can never work for every policyholder as different families have varied requirements. For that reason, the policies that do not require any medical test can never be right for you. The terms of the insurance
plan are decided based on the results of the medical tests that the insurer asks you to take. Let’s take a look at some reasons as to why medical test is required for term insurance:

1. Premiums:

The primary goal of the insurer is to determine the amount of premium you need to pay for your term plan. The insurance business works based on risk perception. So, it is important for the insurance company to know your medical condition before they can decide how much premium you need to pay. If you are physically healthy then your premium will be lower. However, if you have pre-existing medical conditions the risk factor is higher, which will lead to a higher amount of premium.

2. Sum Assured

Another aspect of term insurance is the sum assured. The sum assured is the amount of money that your nominees are paid in case of an unfortunate event takes place during the tenure of the term plan. The medical test for term insurance helps the policy providers to know everything about your health condition. They can then offer you a higher amount of sum assured if you are relatively healthy. The term plans without any medical test offer a lower amount of sum assured, which, in most cases, are not adequate to financially cover your family.

3. Claim Rejection

If you think, you can get a good deal despite having a pre-existing condition by buying a term plan that does not require a medical test, you are wrong. In most cases, the insurers reject the policy claim if it is found that the policyholder’s death is a result of any pre-existing condition.

4. Low Coverage

If you are taking a term plan or life insurance policy without any medical checkup, then the policy is bound to provide lower coverage. This is because the insurer has to compensate for the risk linked with unknown medical issues that you may have which have not been revealed to the company.

You surely understand now that term insurance without a medical test cannot serve you as well as a term policy that requires a medical test. You might find the process a little grueling but it helps you in the long run. Your goal is to leave your family with enough money so they can maintain their lifestyle after you. Only the right plan can help you with that.

What are the benefits of having medical tests for term insurance done?

Here are some benefits:

• Reduced possibility of claim rejection - Any discrepancies in personal details at the time of buying the policy and while making a claim can result in the claim getting rejected. Medical tests serve as documentary evidence of the details submitted earlier and can thus support your claim.
• Reality check - The test reports give you insights on your medical conditions. This aids in taking preventive and remedial measures for leading a healthy life.
• Reasonable premium rates - Having a healthy body is rewarded by lower premium rates. You can thus enjoy modest savings through lower premium fees.
• Higher sum assured - Term insurance plans requiring medical check-ups normally offer a higher sum assured depending on the test results. This allows you to create a larger corpus for your family during unfortunate times.

How does your health affect your premium and coverage?

• There exists a direct correlation between premiums and mortality risk. The higher the mortality risk, the higher is the premium amount. Thus, your health conditions significantly affect the premium and coverage.
• Having said that, a lower premium must not be the sole criteria for selecting a term plan. Besides, the premium amount and coverage vary for each insurer. So, you must also take into account the creditability of the insurance company.

Kotak Life is a reputed name in the insurance industry that offers customised protection solutions at competitive premium rates. Kotak e-Term Plan is a pure life protection product that addresses the needs of your loved ones in your absence. The plan can offer financial support to your family during testing times.

FAQs

1. What is the need for medical tests for purchasing term insurance?

A medical test enables the insurer to evaluate your medical condition. A medical assessment is essential as it determines the probability of making future claims. Hence, an illness that can cause premature demise results in a higher premium or restriction on the sum assured amount. In some cases, the insurer may also refuse to offer you insurance if your medical tests are not satisfactory.

2. Does the insurance company staff conduct medical tests?

No, the insurance company staff does not conduct medical tests. The insurance company has a network of registered medical centres. You can visit any of these as per your convenience.

3. Do all term plans require medical tests?

The policy term and conditions can differ from insurer to insurer. A thorough health check-up enables the insurer to take into account the risk of unknown associated medical conditions and offer you suitable coverage. But all term plans do not require a medical test. However, such plans usually charge higher premiums and offer lower coverage.

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