I'm about to buy a new health insurance policy. My recent health check-up showed a few borderline findings. Could these lead to higher premiums, exclusions or a rejection?
1 Answers
They can. Underwriters look at specific markers, not just whether you feel healthy. Findings that commonly affect a new policy:
- Fatty liver on ultrasound combined with high cholesterol or triglycerides. Together these can be read as early metabolic syndrome, leading to a premium loading or a waiting period, even if your liver function tests are normal.
- An ECG flagged "abnormal" by the machine. Often clinically meaningless, but it can slow the application or trigger a request for a cardiologist's clearance.
- Blood sugar, blood pressure or thyroid values outside the normal range.
How to approach it:
- Answer the proposal form fully and truthfully. If it asks about past investigations, abnormal results or ongoing conditions, disclose them. Non-disclosure is the biggest cause of claim rejections later, and it's far worse than a loading now.
- Get supporting evidence for borderline findings: a doctor's note that an ECG variant is benign, or a repeat test after lifestyle changes. This can reduce or remove a loading.
- Expect the insurer's own medical tests above certain ages or sums insured. Their results carry weight too.
- If you get a loading or exclusion, compare insurers. Underwriting differs a lot between them, and a counter-offer from one doesn't bind another.
Know your rights as a policyholder before and after you buy: BimaFiles: your rights.
