When you first decide to obtain medical insurance coverage you may be asked to have a medical exam first. The reasons for this vary from insurance company to insurance company. The medical exam is used to determine your current health status. Depending on how your health is rated this can determine the cost of your medical insurance. If you are in perfect health and do not participate in anything deemed dangerous by the insurance company you will receive the best rates possible. There are many things the insurance company may frown on such as smoking, drinking, or even participating in extreme sports. Your occupation can also place you in a higher risk category and raise your medical insurance cost.

The medical exam will be thorough and all information will be sent back to the insurance company. The insurance company will evaluate your exam results to determine the coverage policy that suits you with the rate that suits them. You can expect that if you are a smoker you will pay more than a non smoker. If you have a dangerous job you may get a break on rates if your company covers all work related injuries through workers comp. Your hobbies and recreational activities will be considered as well. If you spend time parachuting from airplanes you may be considered a high risk. You can be turned down for medical insurance coverage for many reasons.

Your habits and hobbies may seem irrelevant to how the insurance companies rate you. Think about the others who do not participate in anything dangerous or unhealthy; is it fair they pay the same rate as you? The medical insurance companies use specific details to analyze your rating and come up with the fairest cost for you and for them. Extreme sports can result in more injuries just as smoking can lead to lung cancer and excessive drinking lead to liver damage.

Your medical exam will also be used to gather information about previous conditions. Some medical insurance companies will not allow coverage for existing medical problems. Some will allow them if they were not previously diagnosed by another physician others will not. You may find some medical insurance companies will allow existing conditions even when they have been treated by another physician. If you have or believe you have any medical condition you should ask the insurance company about their policies before agreeing to the medical exam. If an insurance company who does not allow existing conditions examines you and finds one it may create a problem in finding one that will.

A medical exam may seem extreme but it is quite necessary. The insurance companies cannot take your word for it that you do not have a pre-existing medical condition. It would be ridiculous for the medical insurance industry to believe that everyone is in great health and requires no medical attention. The medical exam is in place to protect the insurance companies from fraud. This greatly reduces the rates that they can offer to you. The better they evaluate a potential client and determine appropriate rates the better chance you have at receiving the best possible coverage for your money. If you quit smoking or drinking or your hobbies change you will receive a discount on your policy. The fact that you are more likely to need medical attention makes you a higher risk, so if you can do anything to lower your risk rating it will save you money.