*Updated May 11th, 2026
If you are trying to get the best rates possible on your life insurance, you’ll need to plan ahead for your life insurance medical exam. Many life insurance companies require applicants to complete a medical exam for life insurance as part of the life insurance application and underwriting process.
Don’t make the mistake of assuming you are in good health and skipping preparation. One “red flag” during your life insurance exam could lead to higher life insurance premiums and increased overall insurance costs.
Whether you’re applying for term life insurance, whole life insurance, or another type of life insurance, taking time to prepare for your life insurance exam can help improve your exam results and potentially help you qualify for lower life insurance rates.
Use the following tips to prepare for your life insurance physical and improve your chances of getting affordable insurance coverage.
Eat Healthy and Drink Water Before Your Life Insurance Medical Exam
During the week or two leading up to the exam, make sure you drink plenty of water and focus on healthy eating habits. While this won’t erase existing medical conditions or change your full medical history, it can help certain readings appear more stable during the medical exam process.
Many insurance companies require a medical evaluation that includes checking your blood pressure, cholesterol, and collecting blood and urine samples. What you eat and drink before the appointment can temporarily affect those readings.
Namely, avoid consuming these in excess:
- Sugar
- Salt
- Alcohol
- Fatty foods
Too much of any of these items can negatively affect your overall health readings and may even raise your blood pressure. Certain foods and drinks can also impact what may show up in your blood or blood or urine testing.
Healthy habits in the days leading up to your exam can help the insurance company get a more accurate picture of your health and life expectancy.
Don’t Exercise Right Before the Life Insurance Exam
This may seem counterintuitive, but strenuous exercise immediately before your life insurance medical exam can affect your test results.
Exercise can temporarily increase your blood pressure and pulse, which may concern the examiner if those elevated numbers appear abnormal. A hard workout may also increase protein levels in your urine sample, which could trigger additional questions during the application process.
If you plan to take a life insurance medical exam, it’s usually best to avoid intense exercise on the day of the exam, especially right before the appointment.
Many life insurers often recommend scheduling your exam in the morning after a normal night’s sleep and before beginning your regular daily routine.
Stay Calm Before and During a Life Insurance Physical
Stress can affect more than just your mood. Anxiety can temporarily cause high blood pressure, digestive issues, and other symptoms that may impact your medical exam results.
Part of a life insurance medical exam includes checking your pulse and blood pressure, so staying relaxed can help produce more accurate readings.
During the week or two before your appointment, try to:
- Get enough sleep
- Stay hydrated
- Avoid excess caffeine
- Practice stress management
- Take walks or spend time relaxing
These small steps to improve your health can help support better results during your health exam.
If you feel nervous on the appointment day, let the medical professional know. Some people experience elevated readings simply because they are anxious during appointments.
Don’t Eat Right Before the Medical Exam for Life Insurance
Your insurance agent or examiner will usually explain how long you need to fast before the appointment. Most life insurance policies require fasting for about 8 to 12 hours before testing.
Eating beforehand could affect your blood sample, cholesterol readings, blood sugar levels, and other lab work. Since many insurance policies require a medical evaluation that includes blood and urine testing, fasting helps provide more accurate information about your health.
To prepare for your medical exam, avoid eating the morning of the appointment unless instructed otherwise.
What to Expect During a Life Insurance Medical Exam
If you’ve never completed a medical exam during the application process before, you may wonder what happens during the appointment.
Most medical exams are fairly quick and can often be completed at your home or office. During the exam, the examiner may:
- Ask health questions
- Review your health history and family health background
- Record your height and weight
- Check your blood pressure and pulse
- Collect a blood sample
- Collect a urine sample
The goal is to help the life insurance company evaluate your overall health to determine risk and pricing eligibility.
Do All Life Insurance Policies Require a Medical Exam?
No. Not all life insurance policies require a medical evaluation.
Some life insurance options allow you to skip the exam entirely. These may include:
- No-exam life insurance
- Simplified issue life insurance
- Guaranteed issue life insurance
- Certain group life plans through employers
- Some instant term life policies
However, policies without exams may come with:
- Higher premiums
- Lower coverage amounts
- More limited underwriting
Because of this, many people still choose traditional life insurance plans with full underwriting in order to secure lower long-term costs.
Be Honest During the Life Insurance Application Process
Most importantly, be honest throughout the life insurance application and exam process.
If you already know about certain medical conditions or have a list of medical conditions you’re being treated for, disclose them accurately. Trying to hide information could lead to denied claims or policy issues later.
An experienced life insurance agent can help you compare life insurance options and identify which providers may work best for your situation.
For example, some life insurance companies are more flexible than others when it comes to:
- High blood pressure
- Diabetes
- Prescription medications
- Certain health concerns
- Family medical history
Different insurance companies may also offer specialized products like final expense insurance, permanent life insurance, or a whole life policy depending on your goals.
Final Thoughts on Preparing for a Life Insurance Exam
Preparing for a life insurance exam doesn’t guarantee perfect results, but it can help you avoid temporary issues that might affect your eligibility or pricing.
Taking simple steps like eating healthy, staying hydrated, avoiding stress, and fasting properly can help the insurance company get a more accurate picture of your health.
Since the longer your life expectancy, the lower your life insurance costs may be, it’s worth taking the time to prepare for the life insurance exam carefully before you buy life insurance.
If you’re ready to get life insurance or compare life insurance coverage options, start by requesting a life insurance quote and speaking with a trusted professional about the best policy for your needs.