Life Insurance medical examination

Legacy_user

My DH and I recently applied for new joint term assurance via the Moneyworld comparison site. Norwich Union was the cheapest and we completed the medical questionaire and gave permission for them to contact our GP as necessary.

We indicated that it was not necessary for them to show us our GP's report as we are both in good health except for being a little overweight and having a few aches and pains which have not necessitated any time off work due to sickness.

However Norwich Union have now written to me asking me to attend a medical and indicated that the additional tests they want beyond the usual height, weight, blood pressure and urine test are a blood sample and a saliva specimen to confirm my non-smoker status.
I don't mind attending the medical however I'm really stunned at them querying my non-smoker status as I have never, ever smoked in my life. I know a saliva test will prove that but I'm wondering why they are asking for that test.

Is this usual or do you think my GP has made a mistake in his report? I can't see how he could have as there is a huge non-smoker sticker on the front of my medical file.

dunstonh

but I'm wondering why they are asking for that test.

They do random checks. So, it could be one of those. Or it could be that they are asking for it as its easy to do at the same time as the other checks.

Is this usual or do you think my GP has made a mistake in his report?

Have NU written to the GP or have they gone straight to the tests? (your broker/adviser would confirm this for you if you used one)

When applying for life assurance it is normal for clean applications to go through without any checks more often than not. However, when there are small declarations, you are more likely to get a test requested.

hels14

I work for Norwich Union and the medical exam you've been asked to go for is a standard one. The smoking status part is just a normal part of the test - they will not be assuming that you are lying about your smoking status!
Did NU go for a report from your doctor? Because sometimes if they don't go for a GP report it is easier to go for a medical because doctors surgeries usually take ages to get the report done! Medicals are quicker and when you haven't got any major health problems they get the information the insurance company need quicker and easier!

Hope that helps!

System

I rang NU during the week to check on progress and they confirmed that they had only written to my GP about me and that the report had been returned. I thought the letter about the medical was as a result of that report.

On my original questionaire I confirmed my weight etc and that my younger brother had had a heart attack 7 years ago when he was 36 years old. He is a very highly strung/stressed person but has not had any further attacks or symptoms and it does not run in my family. My father is 74 years old and my mum died from a Berry Aneurism at 66 years of age.