Insurance physical - What can I expect?

Bree124, BSN, RN · Oct 30, 2009

I had one of those a few years back for my life insurance policy, just got weighed, had my vitals done, filled out some forms, and I think that was it...

dannyc12 · Oct 30, 2009

In my experience you get a mini-physical including VS, weight, and a UA.

One guy I know got an ECG in his living room as part of his.

TnPatient · Oct 30, 2009

VS and UA? I would guess the UA is urinary analysis but what is VS?

floatRN · Oct 30, 2009

VS=vital signs

Chelle79 · Oct 30, 2009

I had to have one a few yrs back and it's really nothing. Like others stated, she just checked vitals, height & weight, and also took some blood. Rather simple.

I too...really healthy, no problems. So I was shocked when they called and told me I was being denied but they couldn't tell me why until someone else called me. I called back repeatedly trying to reach the person I needed to speak with and than worried ALL weekend that something was terribly wrong with me and I had not known about it. I finally got in touch with the lady at my insurance company and told her that I wanted her to attempt to find out the reasoning if she could, etc.

Can you believe I was being denied because they said I was underweight??? Talk about angry!! I had been small my whole life but was completely healthy. So if I were over weight, and stood a greater risk of health problems than that would be okay???? Needless to say, I got to the bottom of it and I was insured in the end for the lower price even.

Anyway.....again, rather simple. Sorry...had to vent. Sometimes these companies really irritate me.

TnPatient · Oct 30, 2009

Chelle79 it is strange that someone could be underweight but I guess that is possible. I've read that in some situations a company will use BMI when evaluating a person's health. BMI 18 to 25 is supposed to be "normal". Anything over 25 is overweight and anything under 18 is underweight. If I calculated mine right I am slightly over the 25 number. If I weighed 6 to 7 pounds less I would be under 25.

I've been told that this screening can make a BIG difference in rates. I assume that the weight would be taken "fully clothed". Do you think the nurse would be offended if I start removing clothing until I get under the magic number? I don't think I wold mind suffering a little exposure to a person I will probably never see again if I can pay less in insurance rates for the next 20 years! There's not much I can do to increase my height.....

Chelle79 · Oct 30, 2009

Tn....LOL.....What the heck, you can give it a try and see if it works. I too had never thought that they would tell someone they needed to gain weight in order to get health insurance. At the time I was not sure how they calculated their rates, etc. But based on what I had been told prior to my insurance, things had sure changed. When my BMI is calculated, I do fall just under 18 but I am healthy and I eat like you wouldn't believe...LOL.

TnPatient · Oct 30, 2009

Lucky you on the eating part! Most of us aren't that fortunate. The only other thing that might cause less than perfect score on the physical is BPH. I have a normal PSA but like a lot of guys my age that one darn little organ is an overachiever. Do you think there will be a DRE? I would guess not so if it's not on the questionnaire, I may slide by that one.

TnPatient · Nov 1, 2009

Ok, one last question and I'll leave you guys alone :) What level of nursing will the examiner be? If they take blood I would assume that they are licensed to do so. Wouldn't want an amateur poking around on my arm.

Thanks for all your help....