Sometimes life insurance companies need to see your medical records or hear from your doctors before they can offer you a life insurance policy. This is called an APS (attending physician statement) request, and while it can mean a delay in getting your application approved and your policy active, your team at Policygenius will do everything we can to get the insurer what they need and get you covered quickly.
Learn more about attending physician statements (APS)
Why did this happen?
Insurance companies request an APS if there’s something in your application or med exam results that the underwriter needs more information about, like a diagnosis or procedure. About one-third of life insurance applications will require an APS.
Do I have to do anything?
Not right now. Part of your medical exam included signing several forms, including a HIPAA authorization, which will be used by the insurance company to request the APS from your doctors. Some doctors may want to confirm with you that you have authorized this request and will contact you themselves — please check your voicemails and emails in the next few days in case they need to get in touch.
Later, the insurance company might have additional questions based on your records and APS. For example, if your primary care physician referred you to a specialist, the insurer will want to know whether you’ve gone and what the results were, or may postpone your application until after the test has been completed.
How long is this going to take?
Regulations allow doctors’ offices a 30-day window to respond to the APS request, so it can take up to 45 days for the records to be delivered. Again, we’ll do everything possible to get this done quickly, but sometimes it can help if you call your doctor’s office directly and ask them to expedite the request — after all, they don’t know us, but they do know you.
Does this mean my rates are going to be higher?
When we submit your application, we work hard to quote accurately for your health based on the information you give us. If you’ve been forthcoming, then your medical records and physician statements should confirm your application and your quoted rates should be approved. But if your medical records reveal a different health picture than the one on your application, it’s possible that your health class and rates may change.