Tim Fuller

President, SRS Inc.

Tim Fuller is President of SRS Inc., a full-service IMO (Independent Marketing Organization) and BGA (Brokerage General Agency) that has connected independent financial professionals with life, annuity, disability income, and long-term care solutions from 60+ carrier partners for more than 50 years. Tim and the SRS team specialize in impaired-risk underwriting, advanced case design, and helping advisors place the cases other IMOs turn away.

Life InsuranceImpaired RiskLong-Term CareDisability IncomeAdvanced MarketsUnderwriting

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Family History of Cancer Doesn’t Have to Cost Your Client the Best Rate Class

September 23, 2026May 20, 2022 by Tim Fuller

Active older man hiking a mountain trail, representing impaired risk life insurance clients living fully

A client in excellent personal health can still get pushed out of the best rate classes over something they have no control over: a parent’s or sibling’s cancer diagnosis. Here’s why that doesn’t have to be the case.

Key takeaways

Most carriers limit rate-class eligibility based on family cancer history, regardless of the applicant’s own health.
Some carriers disregard opposite-gender family cancer history entirely.
It’s worth checking a second carrier before assuming a client’s best rate class is off the table.

A couple of A+ carriers don’t underwrite family cancer history at all — meaning a client can still qualify for Best Class rates elsewhere, even with an adverse family history.

Why family cancer history usually hurts an offer

Family history of cancer can have an adverse impact on underwriting decisions, even when a client’s own personal health history is excellent. Most carriers limit which rate classes a client is eligible for when there’s a family history of cancer, regardless of how healthy the applicant themselves is.

Where the opportunity is

That’s not universal, though. A couple of A+ carriers don’t underwrite family cancer history at all, which means a client with a family history of cancer can still qualify for the full range of Preferred rate classes, including Best Class, with those carriers. Other carriers go a step further and disregard family history of opposite-gender cancers entirely — for example, a male applicant whose mother died of uterine cancer, or a female applicant whose father died of prostate cancer, wouldn’t be penalized for that history at all with those carriers.

Why this is worth checking before you quote

If a client’s family cancer history is automatically knocking them out of your default carrier’s best rate class, it’s worth checking whether a different carrier would treat that same history very differently, or ignore it altogether.

Let our underwriting team help you get the best offers for clients with a family history of cancer. Call us today.

Frequently asked questions

Can a client with a family history of cancer still qualify for Best Class rates?

Yes, with the right carrier. Some A+ carriers don’t underwrite family cancer history at all, meaning it has no impact on rate class eligibility, including Best Class.

Does family history of cancer in the opposite-gender parent still count against an applicant?

With some carriers, no. Certain carriers disregard family history of opposite-gender cancers entirely, such as a male applicant’s mother’s uterine cancer or a female applicant’s father’s prostate cancer.

50+ Years in Business60+ Top-Rated Carriers★★★★★ Rated by Advisors

Reviewed by Tim Fuller on 2026-09-23

Tim Fuller

President, SRS Inc.

Tim leads SRS Inc., a full-service IMO (Independent Marketing Organization) and BGA (Brokerage General Agency) connecting independent financial professionals with life, annuity, disability income, and long-term care solutions from 60+ carrier partners — with the impaired-risk and complex-case expertise to place business other IMOs and BGAs turn away.

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Not All High Cholesterol Cases Underwrite the Same Way

September 23, 2026May 13, 2022 by Tim Fuller

Doctor and patient reviewing a health chart on a tablet, representing health impairment underwriting

A total cholesterol reading in the 260-275 range sounds like an automatic underwriting problem. In two recent cases, it wasn’t. Here’s what carriers actually look at beyond the headline number.

Key takeaways

The cholesterol/HDL ratio is often more informative to underwriters than total cholesterol alone.
Some carriers now overlook total cholesterol levels between 150 and 300 entirely.
Two real cases with cholesterol in the 260-275 range both qualified for favorable rate classes.

A total cholesterol of 275 with a 6.0 cholesterol/HDL ratio still came back Preferred — because the ratio, not the headline number, is what matters most to today’s underwriters.

What the numbers actually mean

The liver produces all the cholesterol the body needs on its own; dietary cholesterol from food causes the liver to send even more into the bloodstream on top of that. High cholesterol can lead to fatty buildup in the arteries, raising the risk of heart disease and stroke. But “cholesterol” isn’t one number — HDL is the “good” cholesterol that helps clear out LDL, the “bad” cholesterol, and triglycerides are another form of fat in the blood. The cholesterol/HDL ratio, calculated by dividing total cholesterol by HDL, is often more informative than total cholesterol alone: the higher the HDL, the lower the ratio, and the better that looks to an underwriter.

Underwriting has gotten more nuanced

In the past, carriers looked strictly at total cholesterol levels when underwriting a case. Today, some carriers can overlook total cholesterol levels between 150 and 300 entirely, and Preferred classes are available with favorable cholesterol/HDL ratios even when the total cholesterol number looks high on paper.

Two cases that prove the point

One client had a total cholesterol of 275 with a cholesterol/HDL ratio of 6.0, and was taking a prescribed cholesterol medication. That case came back Preferred. A second client — a 52-year-old male, non-smoker, seeking $500,000 of term coverage — had a total cholesterol of 260 with a ratio of 7.0, also on medication. That case still came back Non-Smoker Plus, a strong outcome despite the elevated numbers.

The takeaway

A cholesterol number in the 260-300 range doesn’t automatically mean a lower rate class. The ratio, the medication response, and which carrier is underwriting the case all matter more than the total cholesterol figure alone. Our life underwriting department has a heart for finding the best possible outcomes on cholesterol cases. Give us a call.

Frequently asked questions

Can a client with high total cholesterol still get a Preferred rate?

Yes. Some carriers can overlook total cholesterol between 150 and 300, and Preferred classes are available with a favorable cholesterol/HDL ratio even when the total cholesterol number is elevated.

Why does the cholesterol/HDL ratio matter more than the total cholesterol number?

The ratio accounts for how much “good” HDL cholesterol a client has relative to their total cholesterol. A higher HDL lowers the ratio, which underwriters generally view more favorably than the total cholesterol number on its own.

50+ Years in Business60+ Top-Rated Carriers★★★★★ Rated by Advisors

Reviewed by Tim Fuller on 2026-09-23

Tim Fuller

President, SRS Inc.

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Closing the Income Protection Gap for High Earners

September 23, 2026May 11, 2022 by Tim Fuller

Professional working confidently at her desk, representing disability income protection

Traditional disability carriers do a reasonable job replacing income for low- and middle-income earners, then quietly fall short the moment a client’s income crosses roughly $150,000. Here’s why that gap exists, and how to close it.

Key takeaways

Percentage-based caps and flat dollar maximums leave high earners underinsured relative to their actual lifestyle needs.
Stacking supplemental coverage on top of a traditional policy closes that gap without disrupting existing coverage.
The underlying need doesn’t change with income level — only the size of the gap does.

Traditional disability carriers meet the 65% income-replacement target for most earners, then consistently fall short the moment a client’s income crosses roughly $150,000.

Why carriers underinsure high earners

Modern disability insurers are cautious, sometimes overly so, about accidentally over-insuring their clients, and that caution shows up most with highly compensated clients. In the past, the income replacement percentage was often left to a particular carrier underwriter’s subjective judgment. More recently, the Council for Disability Awareness has pushed to modernize that approach with a statistical analysis suggesting clients need to replace at least 65% of their income to maintain their standard of living through a disability.

Where the gap shows up

Traditional carriers often meet, and sometimes surpass, that 65% target for low- and middle-income earners. They consistently fall short for clients earning more than $150,000, where percentage-based caps and flat dollar maximums leave a widening gap between what the policy pays and what the client actually needs to sustain their lifestyle.

The solution: stacking supplemental coverage

Whether a client earns a modest income or a high one, the underlying need is the same: adequate income protection to sustain their or their family’s lifestyle during a period of non-productivity or severely diminished cash flow from a short- or long-term disability. For higher earners, stacking additional income protection on top of what traditional carriers provide turns “maintaining their current lifestyle through a disability” from a hope into something they can actually count on.

Contact your dedicated DI specialist today to learn more about how you can offer your clients a complete income protection plan, regardless of how high their income runs.

Frequently asked questions

Why do high-income earners often end up underinsured for disability?

Traditional DI carriers cap benefits well below what’s needed to replace a high earner’s actual income, largely out of caution about over-insuring. That leaves a gap between what a policy pays and the roughly 65% income replacement clients generally need.

How can advisors close the income protection gap for high-income clients?

By stacking supplemental disability coverage on top of a traditional carrier’s policy, specifically designed to cover the portion of income that falls outside standard carrier caps.

50+ Years in Business60+ Top-Rated Carriers★★★★★ Rated by Advisors

Reviewed by Tim Fuller on 2026-09-23

Tim Fuller

President, SRS Inc.

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Case Placement: Super Standard Non-Tobacco for a Client With Pre-Diabetes

September 23, 2026May 6, 2022 by Tim Fuller

A borderline blood sugar reading two years ago could easily read as a red flag on an application. For this client, it turned into a Super Standard Non-Tobacco offer, with a path to Preferred. Here’s how.

Key takeaways

Roughly one in three American adults has pre-diabetes, and it’s often reversible with lifestyle changes.
Carriers weigh the trajectory since diagnosis, not just the diagnosis itself.
Documented lifestyle changes after a pre-diabetes finding can materially improve the underwriting outcome.

A borderline blood sugar reading from two years ago came back Super Standard Non-Tobacco, with a path to Preferred, once diet and exercise changes were documented.

Understanding pre-diabetes

In the years before Type 2 diabetes develops, most people pass through an asymptomatic condition called pre-diabetes, marked by slightly elevated fasting blood sugar and sometimes other metabolic signals like high triglycerides, low HDL cholesterol, and excess abdominal fat. Roughly one in three American adults has pre-diabetes, and when it’s caught early, diet changes and weight loss can often head off the progression to full Type 2 diabetes entirely. One of our A+ carriers underwrites favorably on pre-diabetes cases that show a stable, well-controlled condition.

The case

Our client was a 55-year-old male, non-smoker, seeking personal coverage. He had a history of hypertension, well-controlled with medication and exercise. Two years earlier, a routine annual check-up revealed a blood sugar reading higher than normal. Follow-up testing confirmed pre-diabetes, and the client responded by adopting new diet and exercise habits.

Why this case improved

Since making those lifestyle changes, his condition had not progressed, putting him at lower risk of developing diabetes in the years ahead, provided he maintains the new habits. That trajectory, not just the diagnosis, is what carriers weigh most heavily in pre-diabetes cases.

The result

The potential underwriting outcome came back at Super Standard Non-Tobacco, with room for further improvement to Preferred through this carrier’s Healthy Lifestyle crediting program — a strong result for a case that started with a borderline blood sugar flag two years earlier.

Call our life underwriting team to discuss your client’s medical history today, and let’s work on your next success story.

Frequently asked questions

Can a client with pre-diabetes still qualify for a favorable life insurance rate?

Yes, particularly when the condition is stable and well-controlled through diet and exercise. In this case, a client with pre-diabetes and well-controlled hypertension qualified for Super Standard Non-Tobacco, with a path to Preferred.

What do underwriters look for in a pre-diabetes case?

They look at whether the condition has progressed since diagnosis, and whether the client has made lifestyle changes, like diet and exercise, that reduce the risk of developing full Type 2 diabetes. A stable or improving trajectory is viewed far more favorably than the diagnosis alone.

50+ Years in Business60+ Top-Rated Carriers★★★★★ Rated by Advisors

Reviewed by Tim Fuller on 2026-09-23

Tim Fuller

President, SRS Inc.

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How DI Retirement Security (DIRS) Actually Works

September 23, 2026May 4, 2022 by Tim Fuller

Clients who’ve maxed out their disability insurance coverage often assume there’s nothing left to add — but their retirement contributions could still be left completely unfunded if they got sick or hurt. Here’s how DI Retirement Security (DIRS) closes that specific gap.

Key takeaways

Retirement contributions themselves aren’t required to qualify for DIRS.
Benefits are non-taxable when the client pays the premium themselves.
Elimination periods of 180 or 365 days and benefit periods to age 65 or 67 make DIRS flexible to a client’s existing DI structure.

DIRS pays up to 15% of earned income toward retirement contributions during a disability — available to anyone earning at least $76,000 in a qualifying occupation class, even on top of maxed-out individual DI.

Who qualifies

DIRS provides coverage that helps individuals continue making retirement contributions if they become unable to work due to disability. Since retirement contributions themselves aren’t required to qualify, any individual in a qualifying occupation class (Class A through 5A Select) earning at least $76,000 per year can apply. Coverage doesn’t diminish eligibility for regular individual DI insurance either — a client can qualify for DIRS even if they already carry a regular individual DI policy up to the maximum issue and participation limits.

How the benefit is structured

If the insured becomes disabled beyond the policy’s elimination period, DIRS pays into a trust rather than directly to the client, and at the end of the benefit period, trust assets are distributed to the insured per the trust agreement’s terms. Benefits are non-taxable if the insured pays the DIRS premium themselves; they’re taxable if an employer pays the premium and it isn’t treated as income to the employee.

Key features

Coverage provides a maximum benefit up to 15% of earned income, subject to a monthly benefit cap that’s periodically updated, with a minimum benefit requirement of $1,000 per month. Available elimination periods are 180 or 365 days, and benefit periods run to age 65 or 67, with “Your Occupation” periods of two years, five years, age 65, or age 67. Optional riders include Future Benefit Increase, Cost-of-Living Adjustment, and a Mental/Nervous Substance Abuse Disorder limitation.

If DIRS is written as a stand-alone policy with no other DI coverage applied for or in force, simplified underwriting guidelines can apply, making it a straightforward addition even for clients who haven’t gone through full DI underwriting.

For more information, including current benefit caps and case design for a specific client, contact your disability income insurance specialist today.

Frequently asked questions

Who is eligible for DI Retirement Security?

Any individual in a qualifying occupation class, Class A through 5A Select, earning at least $76,000 per year, regardless of whether they already carry a regular individual DI policy.

Are DIRS benefits taxable?

Benefits are non-taxable if the insured pays the premium themselves. They’re taxable if an employer pays the premium and it isn’t treated as income to the employee.

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Reviewed by Tim Fuller on 2026-09-23

Tim Fuller

President, SRS Inc.

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One-Way Disability Buy-Out: Succession Planning for Sole Business Owners

September 23, 2026April 27, 2022 by Tim Fuller

Most sole business owners have never thought through who would actually run their business if they became disabled tomorrow — and a spouse or relative stepping in is rarely the answer they’d choose if given the option. Here’s a coverage built specifically for that gap.

Key takeaways

Most sole owners haven’t decided who would run the business if they became disabled tomorrow.
A One-Way Buy-Out lets a key employee fund a disability buy-sell agreement rather than a family member stepping in.
The structure protects both sides: the disabled owner gets bought out, and the key employee gets the funding to do it.

Business owners are roughly eight times more likely to become disabled during their working years than to pass away — making disability, not death, the more probable trigger event to plan for.

The problem this solves

The average business owner isn’t prepared to have a spouse or relative step into the business if they become unable to work. Given the choice, most owners would rather pass responsibilities to someone who already understands the business and knows how to keep it profitable — typically a key employee, not a family member.

What a One-Way Buy-Out actually is

A disability buy-sell option called a One-Way Buy-Out gives a key employee the flexibility to purchase Disability Buy-Out (DBO) insurance, funding a buy-sell agreement between the employee and the sole owner of the business. The mechanics are similar to a life insurance policy funding a traditional buy-sell agreement, with one important difference: business owners are roughly eight times more likely to become disabled during their working years than to pass away, which makes disability, not death, the more probable trigger event to plan for.

Why this structure benefits both sides

The disabled business owner is protected because the key employee purchaser is obligated to buy out the owner’s interest. The key employee purchaser is protected because the policy provides both the opportunity and the funding to purchase the disabled owner’s interest, rather than having to come up with the money on short notice. Together, this prevents the sole owner from having to scramble to find a buyer while totally disabled, and it provides a smooth transition of ownership. Benefits are paid tax-free, though premiums are not deductible.

Contact your disability insurance specialist for more information on how to properly develop a Disability Buy-Sell Agreement between a business owner and a key employee.

Frequently asked questions

Why is a One-Way Buy-Out different from a standard buy-sell agreement?

A standard buy-sell agreement is usually funded by life insurance and triggered by death. A One-Way Buy-Out is funded by Disability Buy-Out insurance and specifically addresses disability, which for business owners is roughly eight times more likely to occur during their working years than death.

Who benefits from a One-Way Disability Buy-Out arrangement?

Both parties. The disabled owner is guaranteed a buyer for their interest in the business, and the key employee purchaser gets the funding needed to complete the purchase without having to find the money on their own.

50+ Years in Business60+ Top-Rated Carriers★★★★★ Rated by Advisors

Reviewed by Tim Fuller on 2026-09-23

Tim Fuller

President, SRS Inc.

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Case Placement: Standard Rate After Lap Band Surgery for Obesity

September 23, 2026April 22, 2022 by Tim Fuller

A history of obesity and bariatric surgery might sound like a table-rated case before you even open the file. This one moved from Table 2 all the way to Standard. Here’s the credit stack that got it there.

Key takeaways

U.S. obesity rates are among the highest in the world, but bariatric history alone doesn’t determine the final rate class.
Underwriting credits — blood pressure, A1c, driving record, tobacco status — can move a case significantly from its initial work-up.
The initial Table 2 assessment wasn’t the final word on this client’s offer.

A history of obesity and lap band surgery moved from an initial Table 2 all the way to Standard once optimal blood pressure, a favorable A1c, and other credits were applied.

The situation

Obesity has been increasingly cited as a major U.S. health issue in recent decades, and while many industrialized countries have seen similar increases, U.S. obesity rates are among the highest in the world. Lap band surgery — laparoscopic adjustable gastric band, an inflatable silicone device placed around the top of the stomach — is one of several bariatric procedures designed to slow food consumption and treat obesity. One of our strategic carrier providers looks favorably on this type of surgery and, with the right credits applied, will make a favorable offer.

The case

Our client was a 32-year-old female seeking $500,000 of 10-year term life insurance. Her history included a build of 5’6″ and 212 pounds, blood pressure of 120/76, and a lap band procedure two years earlier. The initial underwriting work-up came back at Table 2.

Why the offer improved

From there, several underwriting credits were applied: optimal blood pressure, lifetime non-smoker status, regular preventative care, an A1c test below 5.7, and a preferred driving record.

The result

After those credits, the final offer came back Standard — a significant improvement from the initial Table 2 assessment, and proof that a history of obesity and bariatric surgery doesn’t have to define the final rate class when the rest of the clinical picture supports a better outcome.

Our underwriting team is here to help with all of your impaired-risk cases. Contact us today — we’ll help you make the sale.

Frequently asked questions

Does a history of bariatric surgery hurt a life insurance application?

Not necessarily. Some carriers look favorably on bariatric procedures like lap band surgery, especially when combined with other favorable factors like optimal blood pressure, non-smoker status, and good A1c results.

How much can underwriting credits improve an initial table rating?

Significantly, in the right case. This client’s initial Table 2 assessment improved all the way to Standard once credits for blood pressure, non-smoker status, preventative care, A1c results, and driving record were applied.

50+ Years in Business60+ Top-Rated Carriers★★★★★ Rated by Advisors

Reviewed by Tim Fuller on 2026-09-23

Tim Fuller

President, SRS Inc.

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It’s Not Disability Insurance — It’s Income Protection

September 23, 2026April 20, 2022 by Tim Fuller

The word “disability” evokes hospital beds and incapacity — which is probably why nobody calls life insurance “death insurance.” Reframing disability income insurance as income protection changes how clients hear the pitch, and it changes how willing they are to have the conversation at all.

Key takeaways

The word “disability” triggers a defensive reaction before a client even hears what the coverage does.
A handful of simple questions about savings and income exposure open the conversation naturally.
Many clients already want this protection — they just don’t know they can buy it individually.

Leading with “income protection” instead of “disability” puts the conversation on the client’s terms — protecting something they already value, rather than insuring against something they’d rather not think about.

Why the language matters

DI insurance is really income protection: affordable, simple coverage that helps clients cover their bills if illness or injury keeps them from working. Leading with “disability” puts clients in a defensive, alarmed mindset before they’ve even heard what the coverage does. Leading with “income protection” puts the conversation on their terms — protecting something they already value, rather than insuring against something they’d rather not think about.

Conversation starters that work

A few questions open this conversation naturally: How would you protect your income if you were unable to work due to illness or injury? How much do you have in savings? Do you have enough set aside to make ends meet for several months if you’re off work? Where will the money come from once your savings runs out? These work because they get the client thinking about their own real financial exposure, not about a product.

What’s next

Simply letting clients know you’re in the income protection business often does most of the work — many of them already want this kind of protection, they just don’t know where to get it, and they’d rather buy it from someone they already know and trust. Many clients also don’t realize they can purchase an individual income protection plan at all; most assume they’re limited to whatever their employer offers, if anything.

We have numerous options available and can help you get the word out. Contact your income protection specialist today for more information.

Frequently asked questions

Why call it “income protection” instead of “disability insurance”?

The word “disability” tends to evoke incapacity and hospital beds, which can make clients defensive before they understand what the coverage actually does. “Income protection” frames it around something clients already value, making the conversation easier to start.

Do clients know they can buy individual income protection outside of an employer plan?

Often not. Many clients assume income protection is only available through an employer-sponsored plan and don’t realize individual policies exist, which is an easy opportunity for advisors to raise.

50+ Years in Business60+ Top-Rated Carriers★★★★★ Rated by Advisors

Reviewed by Tim Fuller on 2026-09-23

Tim Fuller

President, SRS Inc.

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Final Expense Insurance: The Supplemental Sale Clients Actually Need

September 23, 2026April 18, 2022 by Tim Fuller

Happy family of four laughing together on the couch, representing life insurance protection

Advisors are usually focused on products that meet an immediate need or a long-term planning objective — which is exactly why final expense insurance often doesn’t come up until a client’s later years, when premiums are far more expensive than they needed to be.

Key takeaways

Final expense coverage gets meaningfully more expensive the longer a client waits to address it.
Dying without earmarked funds can force a grieving family into real financial sacrifices just to cover a funeral.
This isn’t a big-ticket sale individually, but it complements existing coverage and rounds out a client’s plan.

Adding a $15,000-$20,000 child rider to a term policy covers final expenses for both parent and children — without asking a younger client to think about their own mortality before they’re ready to.

Why this coverage gets overlooked

If a client dies without funds earmarked for final expenses, their surviving family and friends can be put in a genuinely difficult position, sometimes forced into lifestyle sacrifices just to cover a proper burial. Losing a loved one is already hard to manage; making sure the funeral costs aren’t an added burden is one of the more meaningful things a policy can do, even if it’s not a large sale on its own.

Why it’s worth raising earlier, not later

These aren’t big-ticket sales individually, but collectively they create a solid supplemental line that complements existing offerings, and they get meaningfully more expensive the longer a client waits to address them. For younger clients who already have kids, final expense coverage may not feel like an immediate need — in that case, adding a child rider for $15,000 to $20,000 to a term policy is an affordable way to provide coverage on both the parent and any children, without asking the client to think about their own final expenses before they’re ready to.

Contact us today if you’d like to learn more about final expense planning and the solutions available in your state or states of operation.

Frequently asked questions

Why should final expense coverage come up earlier rather than later in a client’s life?

Premiums for final expense coverage increase significantly with age, so raising it earlier gets clients a more affordable rate and avoids leaving family members to cover funeral costs unexpectedly.

What’s an alternative for younger clients who don’t see final expense as an immediate need?

A child rider, typically

Why should final expense coverage come up earlier rather than later in a client’s life?

Premiums for final expense coverage increase significantly with age, so raising it earlier gets clients a more affordable rate and avoids leaving family members to cover funeral costs unexpectedly.

What’s an alternative for younger clients who don’t see final expense as an immediate need?

A child rider, typically $15,000 to $20,000, added to a term policy, provides affordable coverage on both the parent and any children without requiring the client to purchase a standalone final expense policy.

5,000 to $20,000, added to a term policy, provides affordable coverage on both the parent and any children without requiring the client to purchase a standalone final expense policy.

50+ Years in Business60+ Top-Rated Carriers★★★★★ Rated by Advisors

Reviewed by Tim Fuller on 2026-09-23

Tim Fuller

President, SRS Inc.

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Using Existing Exam Requirements

September 25, 2026April 15, 2022 by Tim Fuller

Underwriter reviewing medical and financial data with a client during risk assessment

A client already went through paramed exams for one policy — does a second application really mean starting from zero? Not always. Several carriers let you reuse recent exam results instead of putting your client through the process twice.

Key takeaways

A recent exam doesn’t automatically need to be repeated for a second application or a different carrier.
Reuse windows run up to 12 months for clients age 70 and under, and up to 6 months for clients 71 and over (with EKGs sometimes valid to 12 months).
Any medical declaration or health statement still has to fall within 90 days of the policy’s issue date, regardless of how old the exam itself is.

Paramed, blood, and urine results can carry over for up to 12 months on most clients age 70 and under — no new exam required.

When a recent exam can carry over

Carriers commonly allow reuse if a client recently applied for coverage and is now applying for more, or if they didn’t receive the rate class they wanted and want to try a different carrier. Whatever the reason, if the results are current enough, most underwriting requirements — the paramed exam, blood and urine specimens, and EKG — don’t have to be repeated.

How long the results stay valid

For several carriers, ages 0–70 keep paramed, blood and urine specimens, and EKGs valid for up to 12 months. Ages 71 and over keep paramed and blood/urine specimens valid for up to 6 months, with EKGs sometimes valid up to 12 months. Current medical declarations or a good health statement must still fall within 90 days of the policy’s issue date.

Why it’s worth asking before ordering a new exam

Reordering exams costs time, and it can cost the client’s patience too. Asking the Underwriting Team to check the age of existing results first, before scheduling anything new, can save weeks on a case that doesn’t need to start over.

Frequently asked questions

Can a client’s exam from a declined application still be reused?

Often, yes — carriers care about how recent the exam is, not what the previous outcome was. Check with the Underwriting Team before ordering a new one.

Does reusing an exam actually speed up the new application?

Yes. Skipping a repeat paramed exam removes one of the biggest scheduling bottlenecks in underwriting, often saving a week or more.

50+ Years in Business60+ Top-Rated Carriers★★★★★ Rated by Advisors

Reviewed by Tim Fuller on 2026-09-25

Tim Fuller

President, SRS Inc.

Tim leads SRS Inc., a full-service IMO (Independent Marketing Organization) and BGA (Brokerage General Agency), connecting independent financial professionals with life, annuity, disability income, and long-term care solutions from 60+ carrier partners.

Connect on LinkedIn →

Tim Fuller

Why family cancer history usually hurts an offer

Where the opportunity is

Why this is worth checking before you quote

Frequently asked questions

Tim Fuller

We’re Here to Help

What the numbers actually mean

Underwriting has gotten more nuanced

Two cases that prove the point

The takeaway

Frequently asked questions

Tim Fuller

We’re Here to Help

Why carriers underinsure high earners

Where the gap shows up

The solution: stacking supplemental coverage

Frequently asked questions

Tim Fuller

We’re Here to Help

Understanding pre-diabetes

The case

Why this case improved

The result

Frequently asked questions

Tim Fuller

We’re Here to Help

Who qualifies

How the benefit is structured

Key features

Frequently asked questions

Tim Fuller

We’re Here to Help

The problem this solves

What a One-Way Buy-Out actually is

Why this structure benefits both sides

Frequently asked questions

Tim Fuller

We’re Here to Help

The situation

The case

Why the offer improved

The result

Frequently asked questions

Tim Fuller

We’re Here to Help

Why the language matters

Conversation starters that work

What’s next

Frequently asked questions

Tim Fuller

We’re Here to Help

Why this coverage gets overlooked

Why it’s worth raising earlier, not later

Frequently asked questions

Why should final expense coverage come up earlier rather than later in a client’s life?

What’s an alternative for younger clients who don’t see final expense as an immediate need?

Tim Fuller

We’re Here to Help

When a recent exam can carry over

How long the results stay valid

Why it’s worth asking before ordering a new exam

Frequently asked questions

Tim Fuller

We’re Here to Help

Tim Fuller