Life Insurance Medical Questions 2022: Know What To Expect

Unless you are purchasing a guaranteed issue policy, your life insurance application will definitely ask you questions about your health.

Life insurance companies look into your health to see if you are healthy enough to qualify for coverage.  By asking about your medical history, current health, and family medical history, the insurer can better understand your overall health and determine whether you are likely to pass away within the policy term.

What Is Asked

For whole life insurance policies, you can expect to be asked about your medical history, including any conditions you have been treated for and whether you have any ongoing health issues.

You will also be asked about your family medical history, which can predict your health risks.  The insurer may also ask about your current fitness and lifestyle, which can also affect your health.

How To Prepare

There are a few things you can do to make the process of applying for life insurance easier and less stressful.

First, it is helpful to understand your medical history and the conditions you have been treated for.

Second, be prepared to answer all of the insurer’s questions honestly and to the best of your knowledge.

Finally, make sure you have all relevant documentation ready, including copies of your medical records, proof of identity, and proof of residence.

Knockout Questions

1. Is the proposed insured currently confined to a hospital, or a psychiatric, nursing, or correctional facility or receiving
   home health care or receiving or been advised to receive hospice care?
2. Does the proposed insured currently use a wheelchair or require assistance with activities of daily living such as taking
   medications, bathing, dressing, eating, or toileting?
3. Has the proposed insured:
   • a) Within the past 12 months, used or been advised to use oxygen equipment to assist in breathing or had dialysis?
   • b) Within the past 12 months, been advised to have a diagnostic test, surgery, home health care, or hospitalization which has not yet been started, completed, or for which results are not known?
   • c) Ever been diagnosed with Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) or AIDS Related Complex (ARC) or tested positive for Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)?
   • d) Ever received or been advised to receive an organ or tissue transplant?
   • e) Ever been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), or a terminal illness*?

Terminal illness is defined as any illness diagnosed that would reasonably be expected to cause death within 12 months.

Part B

If a ‘Yes’ answer in Part B, select Foresters PlanRight (With a modified death benefit) in Section 6.  If all ‘No’ answers, complete Part C.

1. Has the proposed insured:
   • a) Within the past 12 months, had treatment or counseling for alcohol, drug, or substance abuse or addiction?
   • b) Within the past 2 years, had heart or circulatory surgery, or had or been diagnosed as having a heart attack, congestive heart failure, cardiomyopathy, stroke, Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA), aneurysm, or a brain tumor?
   • c) Within the past 2 years, been diagnosed with or had treatment for insulin shock, diabetic coma, or had an
     amputation due to complications of diabetes?
   • d) Within the past 3 years, been diagnosed with or had treatment for cancer (excluding basal skin cancer)?

Part C

1. Within the past 2 years, has the proposed insured been diagnosed with, prescribed medication for, or had or been advised to have treatment for:
   • a) Parkinson’s disease or Systemic Lupus (SLE)?
   • b) Cirrhosis of the liver, chronic hepatitis or other liver disorder, kidney failure, or other chronic kidney disease?
   • c) Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) or emphysema?

1. Are you currently hospitalized, confined to a nursing facility, a bed, or a wheelchair due to chronic illness or disease, currently using oxygen equipment to assist in breathing, receiving Hospice Care or home health care, or had an amputation caused by disease, or do you currently have any form of cancer diagnosed by a licensed medical professional (excluding basal cell skin cancer) or do you require assistance (from anyone) with activities of daily living such as bathing, dressing, eating or toileting?
2. Have you had or been medically advised to have an organ transplant or kidney dialysis, or have you been diagnosed by a licensed medical professional as having congestive heart failure (CHF), Alzheimer’s, dementia, mental incapacity, Lou Gehrig’s disease (ALS), liver failure, respiratory failure, or any terminal illness or end-stage disease?
3. Have you tested positive for exposure to the HIV infection or been diagnosed as having ARC or AIDS caused by the HIV infection or other sickness or condition derived from such infection?
4. Have you been diagnosed or treated by a licensed medical professional for complications of diabetes, including insulin shock, diabetic coma, retinopathy (eye), nephropathy (kidney), neuropathy (nerve damage/pain), or used insulin prior to age 50?
5. Have you been diagnosed or treated by a licensed medical professional or taken medication for renal insufficiency, kidney failure, chronic kidney disease, or more than one occurrence of cancer in your lifetime (excluding basal cell skin cancer)?
6. Within the past 2 years, have you had any diagnostic testing (excluding tests related to Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)), surgery, or hospitalization advised by a licensed medical professional which has not been completed or for which the results have not been received?
7. Within the past 2 years, have you:
   • a. been diagnosed or treated by a licensed medical professional for angina (chest pain), stroke or TIA, cardiomyopathy, systemic lupus (SLE), cirrhosis, Hepatitis C, chronic hepatitis, chronic pancreatitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), emphysema, chronic bronchitis, or required oxygen equipment to assist in breathing?
   • b. been diagnosed or treated by a licensed medical professional for a heart attack or aneurysm or been advised to have any type of heart, brain, or circulatory surgery (including, but not limited to, a pacemaker insertion, defibrillator placement), or any procedure to improve circulation?
   • c. been diagnosed by a licensed medical professional, treated, or taken medication for any form of cancer (excluding basal cell skin cancer)?
   • d. used illegal drugs, had or been recommended by a licensed medical professional or licensed counselor to discontinue the use of alcohol or drugs or to have treatment or counseling for alcohol or drugs?
8. Within the past 3 years, have you been diagnosed or treated by a licensed medical professional or hospitalized for:
   • a. stroke, angina (chest pain), heart attack, aneurysm, heart or circulatory surgery, or any procedure to improve circulation?
   • b. or taken medication for any form of cancer (excluding basal cell skin cancer), emphysema, chronic bronchitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), ulcerative colitis, cirrhosis, Hepatitis C, or liver disease?
   • c. paralysis of two or more extremities or any neuromuscular disease or disorder (including, but not limited to cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, seizures, or Parkinson’s disease)?

Below are the health questions from Prosperity Life’s final expense insurance application:

Part A

1. Is the Proposed Insured currently or in the last 30 days been: hospitalized, committed to a psychiatric facility, confined to a nursing facility, receiving hospice or home health care, confined to a wheelchair due to a disease, or waiting for an organ transplant?
2. Does the Proposed Insured currently require human assistance or supervision with eating, dressing, toileting, transferring from bed to chair, walking, maintaining continence or bathing?
3. Within the past 12 months has the Proposed Insured:
   • a. been advised by a member of the medical profession to have a diagnostic test (other than an HIV test), surgery, home health care or hospitalization which has not yet started, been completed or for which results are not known?
   • b. used or been advised by a member of the medical profession to use oxygen equipment for assistance in breathing (excluding CPAP or nebulizer)?
   • c. had or been advised by a member of the medical profession to have Kidney Dialysis?
4. Has the Proposed Insured ever been diagnosed or treated for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) and/or Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection by a licensed member of the medical profession?
5. Has the Proposed Insured ever been diagnosed or received treatment by a member of the medical profession for Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, Lou Gehrig’s/Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), Cirrhosis of the Liver (Stage C)?
6. Has the Proposed Insured ever been diagnosed by a member of the medical profession with more than one occurrence of the same or different type of cancer or is the Proposed Insured currently receiving treatment (including taking medication) for any form of cancer (excluding basal cell skin cancer)?

Part B

1. In the past 2 years, has the Proposed Insured been diagnosed or received treatment from a member of the medical profession, or other practitioner, or been hospitalized for any of the following:
   • a. the use of alcohol or drugs; or been advised by a physician, practitioner, health facility or counselor to restrict the use of alcohol or drugs?
   • b. complications of diabetes such as diabetic coma or insulin shock or had an amputation due to complications of any disease?
   • c. heart attack, angina (chest pain), congestive heart failure, cardiomyopathy stroke, transient ischemic attack (TIA), or aneurysm or had heart or circulatory surgery?
2. In the past 3 years, has the Proposed Insured been diagnosed, treated, or prescribed medication by a member of the medical profession for: internal cancer, including but not limited to, malignant brain tumor, malignant melanoma (but excluding basal/squamous cell skin cancer), leukemia, or multiple myeloma?
3. In the past 2 years, has the Proposed Insured had more than 1 conviction for reckless driving or for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs (DUI or DWI)?

Part C

1. Has the Proposed Insured ever been diagnosed, treated, or prescribed medication by a member of the medical profession for:
   • a. Parkinson’s disease, Systemic Lupus (SLE) or sickle cell disease?
   • b. Cirrhosis (Stage A or Stage B) of the liver, chronic hepatitis or other liver disorder, kidney failure or other chronic kidney disease?
   • c. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), which includes emphysema, black lung disease or tuberculosis?
   • d. Bipolar Disorder or Schizophrenia or been hospitalized in the past 2 years for any mental or nervous disorder?

Below are the questions from Liberty Bankers’ SIMPL line of final expense insurance products:

Part A

1. Have you ever had, or been diagnosed with:
   • Congestive heart failure (CHF), cardiomyopathy, memory loss, Alzheimer’s, senile dementia, dementia, heart defibrillator implant, two or more instances of internal cancer(s) or terminal illness?
   • Organ transplant (other than corneal), untreated Hepatitis C, kidney failure or dialysis, amputation due to diabetic complications, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, mental retardation, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) or Lou Gehrig’s disease, Downs’s syndrome, cystic fibrosis or Huntington’s disease?
   • Diabetes at age 9 or younger?
   • AIDS, AIDS Related Complex, tested positive for HIV virus or any other disorder of the immune system?
2. Within last 2 years have you had, or been diagnosed with, or received or been advised to receive treatment or medication for:
   • Uncontrolled diabetes or uncontrolled high blood pressure?
3. Within the last year have you:
   • Been confined to a hospital, been advised to have surgery or hospitalization, used oxygen due to a medical condition, been unable to care for yourself or been bedridden at home or in a nursing home, hospice, long-term care or assisted living facility? Definition of assisted living: requires help in at least one area of skills considered necessary for living and caring for oneself (feeding, dressing or bathing)

Part B

1. Have you, by a member of the medical profession, within the prior 2 years, been diagnosed with, or received, or been advised to receive treatment or medication for:
   • a. Angina (chest pain), any type of heart or circulatory surgery, heart attack, or received a pacemaker or stent?
   • b. Stroke (excluding Transient Ischemic Attack / TIA / mini-stroke) or paralysis?
   • c. Lymphoma, leukemia or any form of cancer or received or been advised to receive chemotherapy or radiation for cancer (the term “cancer” includes melanoma, but excludes basal cell skin cancer)?
   • d. Aneurysm, brain tumor, or sickle cell anemia?
   • e. Complications of diabetes such as nephropathy (kidney), neuropathy (nerve, circulatory), retinopathy (eye) diabetic coma, or insulin shock?
   • f. Chronic hepatitis, Hepatitis C, cirrhosis of the liver, chronic pancreatitis, kidney disease, or Systemic Lupus (SLE)?
   • g. Multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, or required the use of a walker, wheelchair, or electric scooter due to chronic illness or disease?
2. In the last two years, have you:
   • plead guilty to or been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor or do you have such a charge currently pending against you?

Part C

1. Have you by a member of the medical profession, ever been diagnosed with, or received, or been advised to receive treatment or medication for:
   • a. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), chronic bronchitis, emphysema, irregular heartbeat, atrial fibrillation, peripheral vascular disease or peripheral artery disease?
   • b. Insulin use before age 25?
2. Have you, by a member of the medical profession, within the prior 2 years, been diagnosed with, or received, or been advised to receive treatment or medication for:
   • a. epileptic seizures or a Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA/Ministroke)?

It is important to remember that the medical questions asked for whole life insurance policies are just standard questions that the insurer asks all applicants. By answering these questions honestly and to the best of your knowledge, you can ensure that your application is processed as quickly as possible. If you have any concerns or questions about the medical questions asked for whole life insurance policies, you can contact the insurer directly for more information.

We hope you get what you were looking for from this whole life insurance primer!  If you have any additional questions, please don’t hesitate to leave a comment or send us an email.

Warm Regards,
The GetSure Team