It is not unusual that a medical exam is needed before you can start your medical insurance coverage. The reason for the exam will be different between each insurance company. Your health will be evaluated during the medical exam. Your health status can determine the rate of your policy. A good bill of health and not participating in anything the insurance company deems to be dangerous or high risk will fetch you a great rate. Depending on what insurance company you are dealing with the list of dangerous and high risk activities may vary. Smoking, drinking or extreme sports are usually the most common complaints from medical insurance companies. You may find that if you work in a dangerous job your occupation can affect your rates as well.
Medical exams are given to anyone seeking medical insurance coverage. The information gathered at the medical exam will be returned to the insurance company. It will then be scrutinized for any details that they may consider high risk or dangerous. Habits such as smoking and drinking can fetch you a higher rate for coverage. Hobbies such as rock climbing, parasailing, or dirt biking may get you denied for coverage or if they accept you can expect to pay a much higher rate.
Even though it seems unfair for the insurance companies to use your habits and hobbies to deem you a high risk, it may seem unfair to someone else who does nothing unhealthy or participates in nothing dangerous and would be given the same rate as you. People expect breaks for their good behavior so you can expect that bad behavior will bring penalties. The insurance companies use your details on the medical exam to determine your risk rating. Smoking can create more medical problems as can excessive drinking so you should expect that extreme sports will cause more possibilities for injury.
Pre existing medical conditions are placed on the report of your medical exam. Depending on the insurance companies policy you may or may not receive coverage for any existing conditions that are found. Some companies will allow coverage if they were not previously diagnosed or treated by any medical physician while others will allow them regardless. You should be sure to ask about this policy before allowing a medical exam to be performed by the medical insurance company. If they choose to deny you coverage on a condition that they were the first to find you may not find another company that will very easily.
It is necessary for the medical insurance company to require a medical exam. They cannot believe that everyone who applies for their coverage is in excellent health and partakes in no dangerous or high risk behaviors. The examination is used to determine the current health as well as any previous or pre-existing conditions the patient may have. This helps the insurance company avoid fraud where people only ask for coverage when they become ill or suffer an injury. This type of behavior can raise the costs of the coverage for everyone. By requiring a medical exam the insurance company can reduce the costs on coverage and also offer better coverage policies. If you do change your behaviors you will be rewarded with lower rates.
Susan Reynolds is the webmaster for a leading South African Insurance Provider who specialises in Medical Insurance.
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