Paramedical exams are not as bad as some would have you believe (don't let the picture fool you!). In fact, they can be fairly simple, quick and painless ... almost. The following tips will help you achieve paramed nirvana.

1.       Fast for 8-12 hours prior to the exam.  This will help ensure more accurate blood chemistry results.

2.       Avoid exercise or excess activity prior to the exam. This will help keep your blood pressure and heart rate in a range that is typical for you.

3.       Make sure you are well hydrated. This will also help with your blood pressure and heart rate. Plus, it makes for a better urine sample.

4.       Avoid caffeine prior to the exam. A good reason to schedule in the evening!

5.       Schedule during the least stressful time of your day. For some it may be mornings and for others evenings. And for many, there may be no such thing!

6.       Schedule the exam for later in the week. Studies show Wednesday through Saturday tend to be the most stress free days of the week. Mondays, well ...

7.       Avoid alcohol for 24 hours prior to the exam. Alcohol tends to disrupt blood results also.

8.       Take all of your medications as normal and provide a list to the examiner. Make sure the examiner writes them all down, including the dosages.

9.       Reschedule the exam if you are sick. Your body will be out of whack. It's better to wait.

10.   Review the paperwork completely. Accidents can happen. Don't let them happen on your paramed exam. Review all measurements, answers and other information prior to signing.

That's it. Ten simple tips to help you cruise through your paramed exam and on your way to a lower term life insurance premium!

Your health and lifestyle play prominent roles in the life insurance underwriting process and ultimately, the rating class you are approved for. Therefore, we've added a new topic to our blog, appropriately titled 'Lifestyle.' Here you will find information on many health and lifestyle topics. Hopefully you will find the information useful to your overall health and possibly even use it to your benefit when applying for life insurance!

You may be wondering what a list of cholesterol lowering tips has to do with life insurance. Well, a lot actually. Cholesterol is a major factor considered by life insurance companies in determining the rating class and premium you will pay on your policy. Below is one example of the impact overall cholesterol can have.

(Sample information is from a typical life insurance company and is fairly representative of the industry. 45-yr old male, $500,000 coverage, 20-yr term)

Rating Class	Maximum Cholesterol	Annual Premium	Premium Difference
Preferred Plus	220	$640	-
Preferred	250	$805	+26%
Standard Plus	275	$1,050	+64%
Standard	300	$1,240	+94%

This table shows that a difference in total cholesterol of 80 points can cost a person 94% or more in premium; $600.00 in this example!

The following tips can help you get your cholesterol under control and hopefully into the Preferred rating class range or better.

1.       Don't Smoke

A no brainer. Smoking decreases levels of HDL (the good cholesterol) in
            the blood.

2.       Avoid Saturated Fat

Think vegetable oil, butter, lard, shortening, red meat, etc. Replace these with foods like canola oil, olive oil, lean meat and fish.

3.       Eat More Fiber

Soluble fiber acts like a sponge to absorb cholesterol. Good sources of soluble fiber include dried beans and oats (oatmeal,). Also add fruits, vegetables and whole grains to your diet.

4.       Exercise Regularly

This shouldn't come as much of a surprise. But what may be surprising is the amount of exercise you need. Some studies have shown as little as 30 minutes of walking a day may increase HDL cholesterol by 10%.

5.       Consider Medication

Medication should not be viewed as a last resort. In cases of very high cholesterol levels medication combined with lifestyle changes are usually recommended.

Term life insurance rates remain at historic lows. Recent legislative and regulatory changes have caused some life insurance companies to increase rates, but term life remains an outstanding value.

The following are three quick and easy ways you can save even more on your term life insurance policy:

      1.       Choose Your Life Insurance Company Wisely

Use a reputable online life insurance brokerage to comparison shop. There are a few really good ones out there (and one or two 'outstanding' ones!). Find one you like and check rates from all the companies they offer. Don't bother comparing one online broker to another for the same life insurance company. The life insurance company sets the premium rates; therefore, you will pay the same for Company XYZ regardless of which online broker you choose.

2.       Pay Your Premium Annually

This one is simple, but often overlooked. It's in your best interest to spring for the entire premium up front if possible. Here's why:

Example Policy: $500,000 / 10-yr term / Preferred Rating Class / 35 yr-old Female

You can see that paying in any other mode than annual will cost you more; up to five percent more if you pay monthly. Of course, the life insurance company charges a slight premium for the convenience of spreading your premium out over the course of the year. Keep that in your own pocket by paying annually.

3.       Prepare For Your Paramedical Exam

The paramedical exam (paramed) is really not the big deal many make it out to be. Sure, it's a bit of an inconvenience, but it could save you money in the long run if you prepare for it. If you are completely opposed to the paramed exam, check out Non-Medical Term Life Insurance. Otherwise, read on.

To pull off a stellar paramed exam, consider the following:

·         Fast for 8-12 hours. This will help ensure more accurate blood chemistry results (think cholesterol).

·         Avoid alcohol for 24 hours prior to the exam. This shouldn't require an explanation. But just in case, alcohol does funny things to your liver. Insurance companies want to know the condition of your liver. Give it a brief rest.

·         Avoid exercise or excess activity prior to the exam. The examiner will check your blood pressure and heart rate. You want these to be in the normal range. Intense activity may also cause a temporary elevation of liver enzymes (that darn liver thing again). Don't take chances.

·         Provide the examiner with a list of all medications. And make sure she notes these on the exam paperwork.

·         Review the paperwork completely.  Make sure your height, weight, blood pressure, etc. are all recorded correctly. Resolve any discrepancies before the examiner leaves.  Don't skip this step!

Of course, unexpected things can happen during the underwriting process and there are no guarantees until the life insurance company makes an offer. But if you follow these three simple tips you will be well on your way to saving money on your next term life insurance policy!

What exactly does a 'Free' term life insurance quote mean?

Life insurance quoting websites are ubiquitous today. A typical Google search currently returns over 61 million results including thousands of different quoting websites. Some belong to large companies with hundreds of agents in their call centers, while others are micro-businesses with little more than one or two people and a computer.

Regardless of size, most of these companies promote 'Free' term life insurance quotes on their websites. And we do the same on our website.

But what does free mean in the sense of these quotes? And do they actually come without a cost?
 
This past weekend I came across a banner advertisement on a local news website. The ad was from a large, well-known life insurance company with a solid rating and good reputation. In fact, I'd bet if I asked a group of people to name three life insurance companies for me, this company would be one of those named 90+ percent of the time.

The ad went something like this:

----------------------------------------------

                    REQUEST A FREE, NO OBLIGATION QUOTE NOW
*All Fields are Required

First Name: ________________________
Last Name: ________________________
Address:     ________________________
City, State & Zip: ___________________

Telephone: ________________________
Day or Evening: ____________________

E-mail: ____________________________


                                                GET FREE QUOTES!
                                                                                   

(And finally, at the bottom ... the kicker):

We respect your privacy.

--------------------------------------------

Oh, really? Hmm ... okay.

If the life insurance company respects your privacy so much, why do they feel compelled to 'require' your private and personal contact information just to give you a quote for term life insurance? Does your name influence the premium? Are the rates lower for those using Gmail or Hotmail accounts?

So these quotes are technically free because they don't cost you any money. However, they will cost you your name, address, telephone number, email, etc. That's some fairly valuable information you are providing, don't you think? And even if the company promises not to sell your information, surely they are going to do something with it, right? What do you suppose that is?

If you want a 'Free' quote for term life insurance, find a reputable online company that will provide one without collecting personal contact information from you. We happen to know a good one if you are looking, but I'm sure you can find a few others if you try.

Maybe.

Starting a family is one of the most exciting and rewarding experiences many of us will have, however right along with the pitter-patter of little feet comes the obligation to protect your new family financially. A term life insurance policy is one of the least expensive options to protect your family.

If you are pregnant or thinking about becoming pregnant and ready to purchase a life insurance policy, here are some tips to help you get through the process without a hitch.

• If you can, apply before you are pregnant or in the first or second trimester.

• See your personal doctor for a physical before you are pregnant or very early in your pregnancy to track your height and weight so the insurance company can see a pre-pregnancy weight measurement.

• It is a good idea to have a pre-pregnancy or early pregnancy cholesterol test done as well, as your cholesterol levels may be elevated during your pregnancy and while nursing. Some companies will be more lenient on cholesterol requirements, however some will need proof that your numbers are increased due to pregnancy or nursing. Some companies will not allow any exceptions at all, but either way it is better to be prepared with previous test results.

• If you have a high risk pregnancy or complications during pregnancy, keep in mind that the insurance companies may postpone until after delivery.

• Even if you are offered a policy that is more expensive than you hoped for, it is better to get a policy in force to protect your family as soon as you can, and then replace it in the future if and when you can qualify for a better rating class. Most companies will tailor the coverage amount to fit your budget needs as long as you do not go below their minimum required coverage amount.

• If you are concerned about any of the above, just call one of our licensed agents at 800-867-2404 to find the best company to apply with.

• 79 percent of consumers believe they are paying too much for auto insurance.
• 54 percent of consumers have tried to reduce their auto insurance premiums.
• 17 percent of consumers never re-evaluate their auto insurance coverage.

Another interesting finding was that nearly 40 percent of respondents indicated they do not consider auto insurance premiums a major factor when purchasing a new vehicle.

My question is this ... if 79 percent of consumers believe they are paying too much for auto insurance, does that mean 21 percent of consumers are happy with their auto insurance premiums? Please say it isn't so.


Source: LowerMyBills.com

• Confusion
• Dizziness
• Numbness
• Impaired Speech
• Impaired Sight
• Impaired Coordination
• Severe Headaches

According to the American Heart Association, approximately 33 percent of people who suffer a TIA will also suffer a stroke at some time in their lives. For that reason, life insurance companies consider medical history of TIA to be very serious.

If you have specific questions about TIA, medical history or any other underwriting criteria, please ask one of our licensed Account Managers here at QuickQuote.

1. Approximately 75 percent of U.S. households own some type of life insurance coverage.
2. LIMRA International estimates 68 million adult Americans have no form of life insurance.
3. The average person owns life insurance in the amount of 3.6 times their annual income. Most believe they should own 5.7 times their annual income in life insurance. Many experts believe that number should be even higher.
4. Life insurance companies paid out over $56 billion in death benefits in 2007.
5. 93 percent of Americans surveyed by the LIFE Foundation in 2008 stated they believe most people should have life insurance.

Term life insurance is very inexpensive and simple to acquire. New policies can often be purchased online or by telephone with no medical exam for amounts up to $750K in most cases. Please contact one of our licensed life insurance professionals for more information and quotes.

For example, the first rate band is usually the most expensive and in most cases, is used for coverage amounts from $100,000 to $249,999. The second rate band is slightly less expensive and is generally used for amounts of $250,000 to $999,999. The third rate band is commonly used for coverage amounts of $1 million and above. This band usually offers the lowest cost. There may be slight variations in the number of rate bands and their amounts from company to company.

Think of it like buying in bulk. If you buy a 6 pack of toilet paper you will likely be paying more for each roll than if you bought a 12 pack. The savings would likely be even greater if you bought a 24 or 36 pack. Life insurance works in a similar way with rate bands.

Let's look at a case study of a healthy, 40-year old male named John. At today's current rate, John would pay $139.25 annually for a 10-year term life insurance policy with a coverage amount of $175,000 from a top rated insurance company. Oddly enough, John can increase his coverage amount to $200,000 with the same company and his premium would actually decrease to $130.00 annually!

In another example, the same thing happens near the end of the second rate band. If John buys a 10-year term life insurance policy with $900,000 coverage, he will pay $371.00 annually. However, if he increases the coverage amount $1 million, the premium decreases to $365.00 annually. This is the power of rate bands and knowing how to use them to your advantage.

The lesson here is to run multiple quotes at different coverage amounts to ensure you get the most for your money. You can run as many quotes as you'd like with our Term Life Insurance Quoting System.

Please also note our system automatically provides two additional free quotes for different coverage amounts with every quote you request. This allows you to quickly compare the premium quote you requested with quotes for other amounts of coverage. 

As always, our licensed life insurance professionals are available to help with any questions at 800-867-2404.

2. Build (height/weight) - 11 percent

3. Blood Pressure - 10 percent

4. Family History - 10 percent

5. Abnormal Liver Enzymes - 6 percent

Here are some tips for preventing the dreaded top five from impacting your life insurance policy:

1. Cholesterol (total cholesterol, HDL, LDL, triglycerides). If you haven't been to your doctor for routine blood work in a few years, have it checked a few months before you plan to apply for life insurance. If you have higher than expected results you can consider lifestyle changes and/or medication options with your doctor. If your total cholesterol number is over 200, call one of our licensed life insurance agents for help finding the best company to apply with, as certain companies are more lenient than others with cholesterol guidelines. Also it is recommended you fast for at least eight hours prior to your exam to get the most accurate results on your blood tests.

2. Build (height/weight). Your home scale may be 5-10 pounds different from the paramed examiner's scale. Since you will be measured fully clothed, wear light clothing on the day of your exam and try to schedule an early morning appointment. Be sure the examiner measures your height correctly, as one inch can make a big difference if your weight measurement is borderline. If you have a short examiner, offer her a chair to stand on when measuring!

3. Blood Pressure. Avoid running up and down your stairs or working out right before your exam, and be sure you are in a calm, relaxed state before the measurements are taken.

4. Family History. This is not really something you can control, but if you have a family history of cancer, cardiovascular disease or diabetes in your parents or siblings, it is best to call one of our licensed life insurance agents to help choose the best company to apply with. Life insurance companies differ slightly on family history guidelines, so choosing the right company may mean the difference between a Preferred Best rating and a Standard rating!

5. Abnormal Liver Enzymes. These could be caused by certain medications, extreme physical exertion, an infection, illness or something more serious like hepatitis, heavy alcohol use or liver disease. If your test results come back showing abnormal elevations in GGT, ALT or AST, see your doctor immediately. To help get the best possible readings on your exam, put off your marathon training until the next day. And if you are sick, simply re-schedule your exam for a later date when you are better. You can also check with your doctor to be sure your medications are not causing abnormal readings.

As always, our licensed life insurance agents will be happy to assist you in choosing the best company! Call us at 800-867-2404, Monday through Friday, 7-5 PST.