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.
The medical insurance company uses your habits and your hobbies to penalize you may seem unfair. But people expect to be rewarded for their good behavior so why would it be fair to have the rates the same for a dare devil and a minister? The insurance companies gather all your details and analyze them to determine your high risk rating. Things such as smoking and excessive drinking will create more medical problems and extreme sports such as sky diving and rock climbing will have possibilities for more injuries.
Previous conditions or undiagnosed medical problems will be found at the medical exam. Some insurance companies will not cover existing conditions. You will find that the policy on this varies from insurance company to insurance company. Some will allow existing conditions if they have not been diagnosed or treated prior to the exam, some will allow them regardless. Be sure to know the medical insurance companies policy on this before you allow the medical exam to happen. If they do not cover existing conditions and find one during examination it could hurt your chances of finding a company that will.
Medical exams for the medical insurance industry are extremely necessary. It would be irrational for the insurance companies to believe that everyone who applied for the policies were in great health with no dangerous or high risk behaviors. The medical exam helps to determine the high risk individuals from the lower risk ones. The exam is also in place to protect the insurance company from fraud. There are those who would only obtain the insurance policy once they knew they were ill or sustained an injury. With this protection it in turn saves the insurance company money which will lead to better coverage as well as better rates for you. You are rewarded for good behavior and not only penalized for the bad. If you stop smoking or are no longer drinking excessively the insurance policy can be re-evaluated and your rates lowered.
Susan Reynolds is a content coordinator for a leading South African Insurance Provider that specialises in Medical Insurance Policies.
Tags: Health Cover, health insurance, insurance, Medical Aid, Medical Cover, medical insurance