Life insurance, to a certain degree, is self-explanatory. It insures a life. Insurance companies have their own best interests at heart, and are not interested in any more risk than is necessary. For this reason, nearly all providers require that potential policyholders undergo a health examination.
A good number of those who would like to purchase a life insurance policy feel that the requirement disqualifies them as candidates. They feel that their health at present or a preexisting condition eliminates the option of purchasing a policy altogether. For those people, it may only take a bit of searching the internet to find a life insurance company that does not require a medical examination before a policy is issued. There are, in fact, some companies that require nothing more than completing a questionnaire.
Buying a policy from one of the no-exam-required companies is costlier, though. In a life insurance evaluation, a list of general criteria is used to assess the possible policyholder, including height, weight and age. From there, the criteria become narrower as it delves into one's medical history. Without a certified current medical evaluation, insurance companies take a greater risk by relying on other, less dependable information.
The procedure a company uses to evaluate eligible policyholders is referred to as underwriting. When an insurance company considers underwriting a insurance policy for a person, they take into account age, gender and weight, among other factors. Higher numbers concerning age and weight will usually result in a higher premium, as well. Most companies require that an unbiased medical doctor perform a health examination. For a company to insure someone already in failing health increases the risk that they will have to make a maximum payout in the near future. The company can opt to either insure the person at a higher cost or not insure the person at all. With this in mind, a insurance company that does not require a health examination will almost assuredly recoup any potential future losses in the price of the policy to the insured, just to be on the safe side.