Free Quote Hotline: 1-800-586-3072

• FAQs
• About Us
• Education Center
• Request a Quote

Affordable Term Life Insurance

Tips for the Cholesterol Screening and Getting the Lowest Possible Life Insurance Rates!

Cheap term life insurance goes to people in good health. Demonstrating healthy cholesterol is part of this, so accurate test results are important. In fact, accuracy can mean the difference between cheap term life insurance and higher term life insurance rates.

Cholesterol can fluctuate due to many factors. If your numbers are temporarily high, it can negatively impact your term life insurance rates. Here are ways to help get accurate test results, and ideally the most affordable term life insurance rates!

7 Tips to help secure affordable term life insurance

1. Follow Fasting Instructions
   Many test instructions say to fast for nine to 12 hours. Water is fine, but nothing else. Some foods and beverages can spike cholesterol levels. Earning affordable term life insurance could be as simple as fasting!
   
   
2. Ask About Medications
   Some medications can raise cholesterol (and in the process, raise term life insurance rates). According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), these medications include some anti-depressants, beta blockers, birth control pills, corticosteroids, some diuretics and estrogen. ¹
   
   Ask your doctor if you should stop taking any medications prior to the test. (Never stop medications without consulting your physician.)
   
   
3. Inform the Examiner of Illness
   Illness such as flu and fevers can dramatically impact lipoprotein levels (which the cholesterol test measures). Tell the examiner if you've been sick recently. You might want to reschedule your exam, or have a second test done if your cholesterol is high. ²
   
   
4. Sit Quietly
   The Harvard Medical School recommends sitting quietly for at least five minutes before the cholesterol test, and remaining seated during it. ²
   
   
5. Avoid Alcohol for at Least 24 Hours
   Alcohol can raise cholesterol levels. The Harvard Medical School recommends avoiding alcohol for 24 hours before the test, and ideally several days before. ²
   
   
6. Maintain a Steady Diet and Weight for Two Weeks
   Cholesterol can be impacted by dieting and by eating excessive calories, saturated fat and foods with cholesterol. Excess alcohol can raise levels, too. Try to schedule the test after maintaining a steady diet and weight for two weeks. ³
   
   
7. Advise the Examiner About Pregnancy
   It's common for cholesterol to temporarily elevate during pregnancy. If you are or might be pregnant, or recently had a baby, inform the medical examiner. It can take up to a year to return to pre-pregnancy numbers. ³
   

Affordable Term Life Insurance Starts With Good Health!

Affordable term life insurance can be as simple as accurate tests. Many people don't realize they have some control in this. A few steps can mean a lifetime of savings in cheap term life insurance.

If you feel your cholesterol test numbers are inaccurate, or have improved since your last test, talk to an agent. It's possible to lower term life insurance rates. The main thing is to get covered. You can always review your term insurance and see if you qualify for more affordable term life insurance. 

1. National Institutes of Health, Medline Plus, "High Cholesterol and Triglycerides," www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000403.htm

2. Harvard Health Publications, Pri-Med Patient Education Center, "Your Cholesterol Test," www.patientedu.org/aspx/HealthELibrary/HealthETopic.aspx?cid=HC0806&p=5

3. Discovery Fit & Health, "Cholesterol Tests Accuracy," Dr. Neil Stone http://health.howstuffworks.com/medicine/tests-treatment/cholesterol-tests7.htm