Navigate the life insurance underwriting process including medical exams, application requirements, and approval timelines. Get approved faster.
Underwriting is the process insurers use to evaluate your risk and determine your premium rates. It's how insurance companies decide whether to approve your application and at what cost. Understanding this process helps you prepare for a smooth application experience.
The underwriter acts as a risk assessor, analyzing your health, lifestyle, occupation, and financial information to determine your life expectancy and the likelihood of a claim being made during the policy term.
The underwriting process follows a systematic approach to evaluate your application:
Complete the initial application with personal, health, and financial details
Undergo a physical exam and lab tests (for most policies)
Insurer requests and reviews your medical history from healthcare providers
Underwriter analyzes all information to determine your risk classification
Application is approved, rated (higher premium), or declined
Most life insurance policies require a medical examination conducted by a paramedical professional. The exam typically includes:
For larger policies: Additional tests may include ECG (electrocardiogram), stress tests, or more comprehensive blood panels depending on the coverage amount and your age.
After evaluation, you'll be assigned a risk classification that determines your premium rate:
Best rates for those in excellent health with no risk factors. Non-smokers with ideal weight, no medical conditions, and healthy family history.
Very good health with minimal risk factors. May have minor health issues that are well-controlled or slight deviations from ideal health metrics.
Good health but with some risk factors. Average rates for typical applicants with controlled conditions or minor health concerns.
Average health with some manageable risk factors. May include smokers or those with well-managed chronic conditions.
Higher risk due to health conditions, dangerous occupation, or risky hobbies. Premiums increase with each table rating (Table 1-10 or A-J).
Underwriters evaluate multiple aspects of your life to determine risk:
Older applicants face higher premiums due to increased mortality risk
Current conditions, past illnesses, surgeries, medications, and family medical history
Smoking, alcohol consumption, drug use, diet, and exercise habits
Dangerous jobs (mining, construction, aviation) increase risk
High-risk activities like skydiving, scuba diving, or motor racing
Multiple violations or DUIs indicate higher risk behavior
Maximize your chances of a favorable underwriting outcome with proper preparation:
Improves blood test accuracy for cholesterol and glucose levels
Drink plenty of water before the exam (but avoid excessive amounts)
These can temporarily elevate blood pressure and affect test results
Rest well the night before to ensure optimal blood pressure readings
Strenuous workouts can affect blood pressure and protein levels in urine
Having documentation ready speeds up the process
If you're not in the preferred category, consider these long-term strategies to improve your underwriting outcome for future policies:
Pro tip: If your health improves significantly, you can often request a policy review or reapply for better rates after 2-3 years of documented improvement.
Not all policies require the same level of underwriting. Understanding your options helps you choose the right approach:
Complete medical exam, lab tests, and comprehensive review of medical records.
Best for: Healthy individuals seeking the lowest rates
Coverage limits: Typically KES 5M+ available
Timeline: 4-8 weeks
No medical exam required. Only a health questionnaire with a few questions.
Best for: Those wanting faster approval with minor health issues
Coverage limits: Usually limited to KES 1-3M
Timeline: 1-2 weeks
Tradeoff: Higher premiums than fully underwritten policies
No health questions or medical exams. Approval is guaranteed regardless of health.
Best for: Seniors or those with serious health conditions
Coverage limits: Very limited, often KES 500K or less
Timeline: Immediate approval
Tradeoff: Highest premiums, often with graded death benefit (limited payout in first 2-3 years)
The contestability period is a critical timeframe that every policyholder should understand to protect their beneficiaries.
The first 2 years after your policy is issued. During this time, the insurer can investigate claims and potentially deny coverage if material misrepresentation or fraud is discovered on the application.
Even small omissions can lead to claim denial during contestability
Claims cannot be denied based on application misstatements (except fraud)
Most policies won't pay for suicide deaths within the first 2 years
The underwriting timeline varies based on several factors:
Young, healthy applicants with straightforward medical history
Some health conditions that require additional medical records review
Multiple health issues, large coverage amounts, or incomplete documentation
Application denial isn't the end of the road. Understanding your options is crucial:
Request a detailed explanation. Common reasons include recent serious diagnosis, uncontrolled chronic conditions, dangerous occupation, or high-risk lifestyle.
Different companies have different underwriting guidelines. What one insurer declines, another might approve (possibly at a higher rate).
Look into simplified issue or guaranteed issue policies, group life insurance through employer, or accidental death insurance.
If declined due to controllable factors, address the issues and reapply in 6-12 months with documentation of improvements.
Insurance brokers know which companies are more lenient with specific conditions and can guide you to the right insurer.
In Kenya, genetic testing is not commonly required, but if you've had genetic testing done voluntarily, you may need to disclose results. Laws vary by jurisdiction regarding genetic discrimination.
Yes, absolutely. Non-disclosure can void your policy. Insurers will find out through medical records review, and claims can be denied during the contestability period.
List all medications. Well-controlled conditions with proper medication management often receive standard or preferred rates. The insurer evaluates what the medication treats and how well the condition is managed.
Possibly, depending on cancer type, stage, treatment success, and time since remission. Many insurers require 5+ years cancer-free for standard rates, though some may offer coverage sooner at higher premiums.
In some markets, insurers may use credit-based insurance scores as one factor, though it's not typically a primary consideration in Kenya. Financial stability may be reviewed for large policies.
You can still apply, but some insurers may postpone the final decision until after delivery if it's a high-risk pregnancy. Normal, healthy pregnancies typically don't affect rates significantly.
Get personalized insurance advice and find the perfect coverage for your needs.