By Webster Tilton Did you know that life insurance isn’t something you can just…buy? You have to apply for it. You have to be screened for it because when insurance agencies want to bet on your life they want to make sure you’re a good investment. And it makes a certain amount of sense when yo...

By Webster Tilton

Did you know that life insurance isn’t something you can just…buy? You have to apply for it. You have to be screened for it because when insurance agencies want to bet on your life they want to make sure you’re a good investment. And it makes a certain amount of sense when you think about it. They’re taking a risk on you and they want to assess whether they’re likely to turn a profit with you paying in far more than you’ll receive. In any case, here’s what the insurance company will ask you about on the application:

Health information such as height, weight, lifestyle habits (smoking, diet, exercise)

Financial information including your level of income and approximate net worth

Where you live and what kind of work you do.

There’s always a medical exam also. During the exam the physician will

• Take a medical history
• Ask about your family’s medical history
• Take your blood pressure
• Check your height and weight
• Draw blood
• Take a urine sample
• Ask about lifestyle habits

Be honest with them. It’s better to pay a higher premium than get caught in a lie and have your benefits denied. If the premium they offer you isn’t to your liking, shop around and find one that is. There is no shortage of options and usually you can find one that meets your needs without too much trouble. This is something that everyone needs to think about doing, even if you don’t have any direct dependents. There may still be causes or organizations that you wish to provide for.