Preparing for A Life Insurance Paramed Exam

Increasing Your Odds of Getting The Best Life Insurance Rate

The amount of money you will pay for life insurance, or whether it will be issued in the first place is determined by your health status, and life insurance companies determine this by issuing an exam called a paramed.  If you are considering buying life insurance, or if you have already scheduled a paramed, what you do immediately before your paramed test could have a significant influence on the outcome.  To increase you chance of getting the best rate, read the following:

What is the single most important thing I can do to prepare for the paramed?

The paramed will likely consist of a fasting blood sugar test.  Hopefully your agent didn't forget to tell you about this and how to prepare for it because if he did and the paramed professional shows up and you haevn't prepared properly, you will probably need to reschedule the exam.

What is a fasting blood sugar test, and why is it needed to be approved for life insurance?

Life insurance paramed tests often require a person to "fast blood sugar".  This simply means that for eight hours you cannot eat anything, and the only thing you can have to drink is water.  The reason life insurance companies insist on a fasting blood sugar test in many cases before issuing a life insurance policy is because it is considered one of the most accurate ways to determine whether someone is a diabetic or prediabetic.  It is crucially important, however, that you abide by the guidlines for a paramed test because if you have anything at all to eat before the test, there is a very good chance that you will have unfavorable results even though you might not have diabetes at all.  It might be possible to sort all of this out, but it will take a good deal of your time.

What else do I need to know to prepare for a life insurance paramed exam?

Since your health is being assessed, make sure you feel relaxed and rested.  Don't smoke before the exam (even if you are a smoker) since this can raise your blood pressure and even cause less than optimal EKG readings if this test test is performed.  Try to be well rested, don't drink caffeine before the test, and try not to be under any stress.  Truth to tell, the best way to prepare for a life insurance paramed exam is weeks in advance.  If you know what the parameters are for the various rating classes, do your own test.  If you qualify for the something less than the best rating class, (like most people) modify your diet and exercise.  Consult with your doctor, of course, before starting any kind of regimen such as this, but this is something you shoould do anyway.  You will be surprised who quickly you bring cholesterol readings and the like to within a very agreeable range. 

Don't be discouraged by your paramed results!

Practically everyone overestimates their health.  A life insurance paramed exam is, for most people, a sobering reality check.  But don't be discouraged if you don't initially qualify for the rating class you hoped you would.  To a very large degree your health status is something you do have control over, so do something about it.  Let the life insurance paramed exam be the beginning of a healthier you.