With most life insurance purchases, you’re required to have a medical exam as part of the application process. That’s because your personal health status is one of the key factors used to determine how much you’ll pay for your policy. If you think about it, that makes sense. If you’re in perfect health, your odds of living a long life are much greater than someone your age who is in poor health, and you should be rewarded in the form of lower premiums. Conversely, someone in poor health should be required to pay more than you because there’s a greater chance, statistically, that the insurance company will have to pay a claim for that person. The exams usually take no longer than 20 minutes and are conducted by paramedical companies that come either to your home or office, at a time that’s convenient for you.