When applying for life or health insurance, you will almost always be asked to provide a medical history that shows your current health status and any medical conditions or illnesses you have had in the past.

This information helps insurers determine your risks and the premiums you would need to pay.

However, what happens when you purchase insurance and must start paying monthly premiums? Will your insurer continuously keep tabs on your medical history or will they request a recheck under certain circumstances?.

What is a Medical History Recheck?

A medical history recheck is a process where an insurance company investigates further into your medical status after you have already been enrolled and are paying premiums for your insurance coverage.

It usually involves a fresh round of medical tests or examination by a healthcare professional, which the insurer can use to evaluate your current health and update your risk class if they identify any changes since you first took the policy.

A medical history recheck can occur at any time; however, it is generally unlikely to happen unless specific situations warrant it. Your insurer may require one of these rechecks if some of the following factors apply to you:.

Lifestyle Changes That Affect Your Health

Any significant lifestyle change that could adversely impact your health or put you at risk of developing a chronic condition could trigger a medical history recheck.

For instance, stopping medication or drug use, quitting smoking, losing a substantial amount of weight, or modifying your diet to include healthier or riskier foods may require a re-evaluation of your health risks.

Pregnancy or Childbirth

If you are pregnant or have recently given birth, your insurance company may request a medical history recheck to assess any changes in your health status.

This could include evaluation of your blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and other factors like diabetes risk, all of which can be affected by pregnancy or childbirth.

Change in Your Coverage Plan

If you alter your insurance policy to either add or eliminate insurance coverage plan features, your insurer may require a recheck of your medical history.

This is because some coverage options may require different risk classification than the one you had previously, which could mean revised insurance premiums.

Change in Job or Work Status

Often, your job or work status affects your lifestyle and health, and as such, any significant changes to these could warrant a medical history recheck.

Examples of such changes could include job loss, retiring, starting a new job, or moving into a different industry that may pose unique health risks.

What Happens during a Medical History Recheck?

A medical history recheck typically involves the following steps:.

Notification: Your insurance company will inform you of their decision to request a recheck, outlining what specifically they want to reevaluate.
Choose a Doctor: You will be required to choose a healthcare professional or clinic from a pre-approved list provided by your insurer.
Health Screening: Your professional healthcare provider will conduct an extensive medical checkup that could include blood work, urinalysis, and other diagnostic tests aimed at collecting information that will aid in re-evaluating your health status.
New Risk Assessment: The results of the tests will then be evaluated by your insurer’s risk analysis team, who will determine any changes to your risk classification.
Notification of Result: You will receive an official communication from your insurer with a revised quote for your insurance premiums based on the new assessment.

Conclusion

A medical history recheck may occur under a few different circumstances, including significant lifestyle changes that affect your health, pregnancy or childbirth, changes in your coverage plan, or changes in your job/work status.

Understanding when and why your insurer may request a medical history recheck can help you prepare better and make informed decisions regarding your coverage.