You can apply for life insurance online, but in most cases, you still have to complete a phone call to finish a life insurance application before the life insurance company can approve you for coverage. This is true with most insurers, even if you apply for a no-medical-exam or instant decision life insurance policy.
The life insurance interview questions are used to verify and confirm your application details. This phone call can also be a great opportunity to get some of your questions answered and help you find the right coverage amount.
Key takeaways
A phone interview is almost always required by life insurance companies as part of the application process.
The call usually takes between 15 and 30 minutes. You’ll be asked about your health history, lifestyle factors, and finances.
This call with a licensed agent helps ensure you’re buying the right amount of life insurance coverage for your needs.
Why do you need a life insurance phone interview?
The insurance industry in each state is regulated by a state insurance board. While some boards don’t require a phone call to be part of the life insurance application, some others do.
The phone call connects you to a licensed agent and helps verify your identity and the information you provide. The interview questions help the insurer assess your risk and gather all the necessary information. It’s the first step to buying a life insurance policy.
Misrepresentations of your health, hobbies, or lifestyle on your life insurance application could be considered insurance fraud. The phone interview adds an extra layer of protection for you, the insurance company, and your beneficiaries to ensure you’re purchasing the right type of policy.
Sometimes life insurance paperwork can be confusing and include industry jargon. The phone call with an agent helps ensure the information is all entered correctly and that you have a quick and seamless application process. It also leads to a higher likelihood that your quote will match your final life insurance premiums — the actual dollar amount you’ll be paying each month or year.
Finally, the life insurance phone call gives you the opportunity to ask any questions you have about the process.
Once you get started online, one of our licensed agents will give you a call to confirm your information and look at your policy options. From there, you can apply for the coverage you need. At Policygenius, we’re committed to helping you get covered with confidence.
How to prepare for your life insurance phone interview
The easiest way to get through your phone screening quickly is to have all the information you need at the ready. The call usually takes between 15 and 30 minutes, so it won’t take up much of your day. Plus, if you know what to expect and come prepared, it’ll be even faster.
Identification and financial information
Your driver’s license number
Your Social Security number
Citizenship documentation (read more about life insurance for non-U.S. citizens)
Financial information, including your income and net worth (a rough estimate of assets minus liabilities is fine)
Policy numbers and face values of other life insurance policies, if you have them (insurers want to verify you aren’t over-insured)
Health history and medical information
Dates of surgeries, diagnoses, procedures, and treatments you’ve had, especially in the last 10 years
Medication names and dosages for your current prescriptions
Your current weight and a record of any fluctuations of more than 10 pounds in the past year
Name, addresses, and phone numbers for your current doctors and specialists, if applicable
Details about your family’s health history, including major diagnoses and causes of death, if applicable
Your habits and hobbies
Details about any hobbies or sports you play, mainly extreme sports like hang gliding, scuba diving, or racing, or piloting planes
Smoking habits — including cigarettes, vaping, and marijuana. If you recently quit using nicotine products, make sure you know the date you quit.
Up-to-date personal calendar (for scheduling medical exam)
One piece of the typical underwriting process is the medical exam, which you’ll typically schedule at the end of your initial phone call. Having your current calendar handy will allow you to make your medical exam appointment without potential conflicts or unnecessary delays to your application.
The medical exam is like your standard physical: A technician takes body measurements like height, weight, and blood pressure, and you’ll give a blood and urine sample. The exam is paid for by the insurance company and takes about 30 minutes. You can schedule it at your home or office.
If you’re applying for a no-medical-exam life insurance policy, you’ll likely just answer a few additional health questions over the phone instead. The life insurance agent you’re working with will be able to tell you if you have any no-medical-exam policy options available to you based on your profile.
What kinds of questions are you asked in the life insurance phone interview?
Your life insurance phone interview will start with verification of some basic personal and financial information, including your name, age, date of birth, height and weight, annual income, and how much coverage you’re looking for.
Your life insurance agent will ask you additional questions about your health and habits. This part of the interview process helps the insurance company determine how risky you are to insure so they can complete the underwriting process and set your rates.
You’ll answer questions about your health history, your family’s health history, and any dangerous hobbies you partake in, such as racing, scuba diving, mountain climbing, skydiving, or hang gliding. You’ll also be specifically asked about aviation hobbies.
The health history questions might include:
Whether you’ve recently lost or gained weight recently, quit smoking, or if you have a history of cancer
Your medical history information, including diagnoses, treatments, procedures, and any prescription drugs
Your family’s health history, to see if any hereditary diseases might play a role in your future health
Everything that’s said during the phone interview is confidential (you can read up on HIPAA laws for more detail) so there’s no need to fear your personal information being leaked or sold.
The insurance agent you’re working with will then ask questions about your job, assets, and financial obligations to get an idea of why you’re applying for life insurance, and whether the amount you’re applying for makes sense with your financial situation.
For example, if you’re applying for a $1 million death benefit, but you’re unemployed and have no assets, the life insurance company will want to learn more.
You’ll need to provide two forms of identification, too — your Social Security Number, and your driver’s license — to protect against fraud and validate your identity on your application.
Last, keep in mind who you’re listing as your beneficiary. Your agent will likely ask for their name, date of birth, and relationship to you to put down on your application.
Ready to shop for life insurance?
The life insurance phone interview is relatively quick. Although some questions might seem invasive, they’re necessary to get you the right coverage. By knowing what to expect and coming prepared, you’ll be one step closer to signing your policy and getting the financial protection you need.
What kinds of questions should you ask the life insurance agent?
Applying for life insurance for the first time can be daunting — the phone call provides a great opportunity for you to learn more about the process. If you’re still not sure about the type of policy or coverage amount that’s best for you, you can ask for advice, too.
What benefits are guaranteed with this life insurance policy?
Life insurance is a contract that holds that the insurance company will pay the death benefit to your beneficiaries in exchange for you paying premiums while the policy is active.
Your phone call with a licensed agent can help you understand the benefits of life insurance, as well as what exactly you’re paying for.
What if I need more or less life insurance coverage in the future?
If you need more life insurance coverage in the future, the easiest way is to buy a supplemental life insurance policy.
If you need less life insurance coverage as time goes on, many insurance companies will let you decrease your coverage amount after the policy has been active for a number of years. Your agent will be able to tell you the guidelines for the specific company you’re applying with.
For example, one company may let you decrease coverage after one year, and another company may let you decrease coverage after five years.
Should I have the same life insurance company as my spouse?
You can apply with the same life insurance company as your spouse if you’d like to, but your life insurance agent will be able to tell you which life insurance company is best for each of your individual profiles.
There’s no real benefit to applying with the same company unless it’s the best or most affordable for each of your individual circumstances — including your age, gender, health conditions, and lifestyle habits. Sometimes, the same company is the best fit for you and your spouse — your agent will be able to let you know.
When does my coverage start? Does this insurance company offer temporary coverage?
It’s important to know when exactly you’re covered under the insurance company you’re applying with. Some companies offer temporary coverage while you wait for your final policy to be approved — but that temporary coverage may activate at different times.
For example, you could be covered after signing your application, or after you take your medical exam. Your agent will be able to tell you exactly when you’re covered.
Life insurance phone interview FAQs
What questions do they ask when you apply for life insurance?
Most life insurance applications ask about your medical history, driving record, medications/prescriptions, age, hobbies, job, and history with drugs and alcohol. The answers you provide on your application are confirmed during the phone interview.
Can I skip the life insurance phone interview?
In most cases, no — you’ll need to have a phone interview with a licensed agent in order to get life insurance coverage. A few select products don’t require you to get on the phone at all, but your options might be more limited.
How do I prepare for a life insurance interview?
Have your driver’s license, medical records, names, and contact info for your doctors, net worth, and current weight and height readily available before you jump on the phone so you don’t have to scramble for specific information.
