Why the health questions matter so much
Final expense insurance skips the medical exam, but that does not mean health is ignored. Instead of blood work, insurers use a short list of yes or no questions, and many also check your prescription history and medical records. Your answers decide which type of plan an insurer can offer and what it will cost.
Because every insurer writes its own questions, the same history can mean a full benefit with one company and a waiting period with another. That is the main reason a North Carolina shopper gains from seeing more than one insurer before choosing.
What many insurers ask about
Questions differ from one insurer to the next. For example, many insurers ask about:
Answer each one fully and honestly. The insurer may compare your answers with its records, and a mismatch can lead to a different offer.
- When a condition was first diagnosed
- Treatment or hospital stays in the last 2 to 5 years
- Medications you take, including insulin
- Complications from a condition you already have
- Oxygen use and whether you need help with daily activities
- Tobacco or nicotine use
Talk to a licensed agent: (949) 807-3995
How your answers sort into plan types
Answers that fit an insurer's level benefit plan usually mean the full benefit is paid from the first day. Some histories, such as a recent hospital stay, may lead to a graded or modified plan instead. On those, a natural-cause death in the first two or three years pays a reduced benefit, such as a percentage of the face amount or the premiums paid plus interest.
A guaranteed issue plan asks no health questions at all within its eligible ages. In exchange, the benefit is limited if death from natural causes happens in the first two years, face amounts are usually smaller and premiums higher. Accidental death is usually covered in full from the start on plans with a waiting period.
Health questions on the call
The agent reads each health question the way the insurer words it and notes your answers, so nothing is guessed. Then quotes from several insurers are compared, showing where your history may fit a level plan and where it would mean a waiting period. If one makes sense, you can apply by phone on the same call. The quote is free and you are never obligated to buy.
Have your medication list handy. If you are calling for a parent or spouse, the person being insured must agree and usually answers the questions and signs the application. Many people also like to have a face amount in mind; the National Funeral Directors Association's 2023 General Price List Study put the national median funeral with viewing and burial at $8,300, before cemetery and marker costs.
Licensing and calling hours for North Carolina
Eterna is an independent agency, not an insurer. Its licensed agents help North Carolina residents compare plans from several insurers, and plans, prices and availability vary by state, insurer, age and health. You can reach them every day, 9am to 9pm Eastern time.
To check an agent's license or ask a consumer question about insurance, go to the North Carolina Department of Insurance at https://www.ncdoi.gov/.
