Types of evidence
To help us make a fair and accurate assessment of your client's application we may need additional information. Where possible we will ask your client for this, but there will be circumstances where your client does not have the information we require, or we may need to ask for medical evidence from another source.
This page outlines the types of information we may ask for and what’s involved.
General practitioner's report
There are three different types of doctors reports we can request; a General Practitioner’s Report (GPR), a Medical Questionnaire and a Targeted General Practitioner’s Report (TGPR).
A GPR is a report completed by your client's doctor from their medical records. It provides us with information about your client’s current health and past medical history.
A Medical Questionnaire is completed by your client's doctor from their medical records about a specific condition. We use medical questionnaires for a limited number of medical conditions.
A TGPR is a report completed by your client's doctor from their medical records about a specific condition that is not covered by one of our medical questionnaires.
We may ask for a GPR, Medical Questionnaire or TGPR:
- If there is insufficient information on the application to allow us to make an accurate underwriting assessment and your client is unable to provide the additional information that we require.
- If your client has a complex medical history or the application breaches our medical underwriting limits for the type of cover applied for.
Miniscreen, Paramed and Doctor’s Examination
We may ask for a Miniscreen, Paramed or Doctor’s Examination:
- If the application breaches our medical underwriting limits for the type of cover applied for.
- For certain occupations or medical disclosures that require a physical examination to make an accurate underwriting assessment, for example customers who work with asbestos or who have a high Body Mass Index (BMI).
We use a third-party medical provider who will contact your client directly. They will then arrange with your client a convenient time and place for a miniscreen, paramed or doctor’s examination to take place.
How quickly will this happen?
The third-party medical provider will contact your client within two days of us speaking to them, but we can arrange to fast-track urgent cases.
About the Miniscreen
A miniscreen involves your client being visited by a nurse from one of our third-party medical providers. The nurse will perform a small number of physical checks for example your client’s height, weight, blood pressure and urine.
About the Paramed
A paramed involves your client being visited by a nurse from one of our third-party medical providers. The nurse will ask your client some questions about their medical history, family history and lifestyle habits and perform a number of physical checks for example height, weight, blood pressure and urine.
About the Doctor's Examination
A more detailed physical examination carried out by a qualified doctor through one of our third-party medical providers. The doctor will also ask your client questions about their medical history, family history and lifestyle habits.
Medical tests
Blood test
There are different types of blood test that we may request including full blood count, HIV, liver function, renal function and lipid profile.
We may ask for a blood test:
- If the application breaches our medical underwriting limits for the type of cover applied for.
- In other limited situations, for example where there has been a history of excess alcohol consumption, we may ask for a liver function test or if your client has lived in an area with a high prevalence of HIV infection in the last 2 years, we may ask for an HIV test.
Cotinine test
A cotinine test provides an indication of whether products containing nicotine have been used.
We may ask for a Cotinine test:
- If your client has answered no to the smoking question on the application form and is asked to attend a miniscreen, paramed or Doctor’s examination.
Exercise Electrocardiography (ECG)
An exercise ECG is a test that can provide information about how a person’s heart is working when they are exercising. The test is performed using a treadmill.
We may ask for an Exercise ECG:
- If the application breaches our medical underwriting limits for the type of cover applied for.
Genetic test results
If your client has had a predictive genetic test for Huntington’s disease, they only have to tell us the results if their application, when added together with any cover they have of the same type, is for more than £500,000 of Life Cover.
However, if they’ve had any genetic test and the results are in their favour, they can choose whether to tell us the results or not. They must tell us however, if they think they’re having treatment for, or are experiencing symptoms of a genetic condition.
See Genetic Testing for more information, or you can visit the Association of British Insurers (opens in a new window).
Lifestyle Questionnaires
Information about recreational activities, with an increased risk of death or serious injury, will usually be collected during the online application journey. However where this doesn’t happen, or if a paper application has been submitted, we may ask your client to complete an additional questionnaire.
Financial Evidence
Please refer to our Underwriting Limits document for information on our financial evidence requirements.