The Life Insurance Paramed Exam: What to Expect and How to Prepare
Written and reviewed by Hans Goldstein, licensed insurance producer, NPN 20602398 · CA Insurance License #4273294Last reviewed · Published October 3, 2026
What happens at the exam
- Questions: a review of your medical history, medications and doctors.
- Measurements: height, weight, blood pressure (often taken more than once) and pulse.
- Blood draw: cholesterol and ratios, blood sugar markers, liver and kidney function, nicotine and drug screens.
- Urine sample: protein, nicotine and other markers.
- EKG or other tests: only for some ages and face amounts.
ExamOne describes the visit and what to expect (ExamOne). Plan on 20 to 60 minutes.
Video: The Life Insurance Paramed Exam in about 2 minutes
1 min 37 sec video. AI narration of this page, accuracy-checked against the review; the tables on this page are the current source. Education, not personal advice.
Video transcript
Today we are looking at something you definitely want to get right, preparing for a Life Insurance Paramed Exam. Short answer, a paramedical exam is a 20 to 60 minute visit, usually at your home or office, where an examiner records height, weight, blood pressure, and pulse, and collects blood and urine, sometimes an EKG for older or larger cases. Right, yeah. And I know that sounds like just a standard boring checkup, but the financial stakes are actually massive. Yeah, think of it like a pop quiz for your body. Oh, I like that. Thanks. It really is. They ask some questions about your medical history, do those basic measurements, then a blood draw for cholesterol, liver and kidney function, nicotine, and finally a urine sample. Wait, do I need to clear my whole day for this, like take off work? No, not at all. It truly is just 20 to 60 minutes. And they usually just come straight to you. Plus, it costs you nothing out of pocket. Okay, well, the convenience is great. But going back to that pop quiz idea, how strict are the numbers that move a class? Incredibly strict. Every carrier has its own grid, right? You miss one single item, you can drop a whole class. So that brings up the big question, exam or no exam? Because there is an honest trade off here. Full underwriting does not always cost more time for a better price. Right. If you qualify for accelerated underwriting, you get full underwriting prices without the visit.
The numbers that move a class
Each carrier has its own grid, and each item is a ceiling. Pacific Life's best class, for example, allows blood pressure to 135/85, BMI 18.5 to 30, a cholesterol ratio to 5.5 and total cholesterol under 300 (Pacific Life PLF4249); Prudential's Preferred Best allows 130/80 through age 49 and a ratio of 5 or less (Prudential). Miss one item and you can drop a class even if everything else is perfect. Carriers sometimes allow exceptions, but rarely (underwriting guides and SOA).
- Ask what fasting is required (often 8 to 12 hours) and schedule a morning appointment.
- Drink water the day before and the morning of; it helps the blood draw and the urine sample.
- Skip alcohol for 24 to 48 hours and heavy exercise for 24 hours, which can affect labs.
- Skip caffeine and nicotine before the exam; both raise blood pressure.
- Have your medications, doses and doctors' names ready.
- If you have white-coat blood pressure, ask the examiner to take a second reading after you sit quietly.
Prepping for an exam?
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After the exam
Lab results usually take days; the full decision can take a few weeks because the carrier may also order medical records. If you get a lower class than quoted, ask why: sometimes a single reading can be rechecked, or a different carrier's criteria fit you better. Your agent can shop the results. How health class changes cost.
Exam or no exam?
Full underwriting does not always cost more time for a better price. If you qualify for accelerated underwriting, you get full-underwriting prices without the visit. If you would land in simplified issue instead, the exam often prices better. Hans's rule of thumb for permanent coverage is in paramed vs no-exam IUL.
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Hans Goldstein · 213-414-2808 · NPN 20602398, independent licensed insurance producer
Frequently asked questions
Sources
- ExamOne: what to expect at a paramedical exam
- Pacific Life best class: BP 135/85, BMI 18.5-30, chol/HDL 5.5, total chol 300, 5+ yrs tobacco-free, no DUI/reckless 5-10 yrs, no alcohol/drug history ever; 2nd best BP 140/90, BMI to 33; 3rd best BMI to 35, BP 160/90 at 51+ (as of 2025)
- Prudential Preferred Best: BP up to 130/80 (to 49) / 140/85 (50+); chol under 300, ratio 5 or less with or without meds; BMI up to 29 (18-59); no parent/sibling death before 60 from CAD, CVD or cancer; no diabetes, prediabetes, cancer, hep C; no DUI/reckless 5 yrs, max 2 moving violations/3 yrs; nicotine-free 5 yrs; no substandard rating of any kind (as of 2026)
- 'Anything unusual (build, BP, labs, meds, history) drops a class' is supported directionally by carrier criteria grids: each criterion is a hard ceiling per class, and many guides require no substandard rating of any kind for best class. Some meds (statins, BP meds, mild anxiety) do not automatically drop a class at several carriers (as of 2026)
Hans Goldstein, CA Insurance License #4273294 · NPN 20602398 · Goldstein & Co. LLC dba Goldstein Insurance Services, CA License #6016830
Contact: hans@hansgoldstein.com · 213-414-2808
General education, not tax or legal advice. Tax treatment depends on your facts and on current law, which can change. Talk to your CPA or estate attorney. Guarantees are backed by the financial strength and claims-paying ability of the issuing insurance company. Guarantees apply only to the contractual terms of the policy. Caps, participation rates, loan rates, charges and dividends are not guaranteed and can change. Hans is paid a commission by the insurer if you buy a policy through him. For life insurance, ask and he will tell you what he earns on your specific policy. Product and company names are trademarks of their owners. Goldstein Insurance Services is an independent agency, not affiliated with or endorsed by any insurer named here. Life insurance requires underwriting; not everyone qualifies. This page describes products in general terms; read the policy and the insurer's disclosures before you buy.