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Did You Study for Your Urine Test?

Did You Study for Your Urine Test?

Growing up in the mountains of East Tennessee I heard a lot of interesting expressions. One of my favorites is the boy is so dumb he had to study to take a urine test. Little did I know I was going to be a life insurance broker when I grew up and there was actually a bit of truth to the expression. When you apply for life insurance you usually have to take a paramed exam. You will not need to study, but you certainly will want to prepare for it. I will share the secrets of getting your best results. So what is a paramed exam and what about urine test?

A paramed exam is performed by an independent company contracted by life insurance companies to collect samples for underwriting. Typically a nurse will set up a visit to your convenience to perform the exam. They will ask health questions and record them. They will usually measure your height and weight, get a blood pressure reading and collect samples. Depending on age, health and amount of life insurance applied for they will collect urine and possibly blood samples just like you were having a physical with your physician. You do not need to study but you will want to prepare for this exam to get the best results possible. The better your results, the better your premiums or cost of your new life insurance policy will be.

There are a few things the examiner will tell you to do to prepare for her exam. These will include get a good night’s sleep, don’t eat or drink anything eight hours before your exam, avoid tobacco, caffeine or alcohol one hour prior and drink a small glass of water one hour before her arrival so you can give a urine sample.  They will also ask you to have your medical history handy including your doctor and hospital information and dates of treatment.

Here are some things the examiner usually will not tell you that you need to do in your preparation. In addition to their list above here are a few other things to help if your samples are on the edge.

Definitely be well rested and fast for at least 8 hours prior 

Don’t exercise 12 hours prior to exam–rest

Avoid alcohol, salt, caffeine, or heavy amounts of carbohydrates and sugar 24 hours prior to exam

Try to lower your stress level by meditating, praying, relaxing, reading 24 hours prior to exam

If you occasionally smoke cigars, hookah or e-cigs avoid them for 14 days prior to exam for possible non tobacco rate.

Certainly nothing is fool proof and if you have bad health not much will change your samples. However, I have seen many cases where doing these things prior to an exam can get one rate class better and can save a client thousands of dollars over many years of paying life insurance premiums. Good luck with your next exam.

“Eat healthily, sleep well, breathe deeply, move harmoniously.”Jean-Pierre Barral

 Image by Master isolated images at www.freedigitalphotos.net

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Tim Wilhoit is owner/principal of Your Friend 4 Life Insurance Agency in Nashville, TN. He is a family man, father of 3, entrepreneur, insurance agent, life insurance broker, salesman, sales trainer, recruiter, public speaker, blogger and team leader with over 27 years of experience in sales and marketing in the insurance and beverage industries.

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