New ExamOne Risk Assessment Lab Report Shows that Applicants Seeking Lower Insurance Coverage Present Greater Underwriting Risks

Findings Support Need for Greater Vigilance in Testing Lower Coverage Applicants

A new ExamOne risk assessment laboratory report being released this month demonstrates a  connection between lower insurance coverage applications and positive test results for hepatitis C, HIV, cocaine, nicotine, and amphetamines/methamphetamines.  The 2010 report is based on data collected from a sample of 3.9 million individuals in the U.S. and Canada participating in lab tests for applications between January and December 2009 related to life insurance, health insurance and disability income. 

Other highlights of the report are:

• Overall positive test results increased among male applicants for HIV, nicotine and amphetamines/methamphetamines between 2008 and 2009.
• Positive HIV rates trended upward in men applying for life insurance in 2009 over 2008, while HIV positive rates in women were flat to slightly lower.  The largest HIV segment to test positive was between the ages of 40-49, and applied for insurance amounts between $25,000-$50,000 (4.17 per 1,000 people tested).
• Amphetamine/methamphetamine positive rates in men and women increased by nearly 58 percent between 2008 and 2009, while cocaine positive rates continued to trend downward from 2006-2009 in the population applying for insurance.  Notably, the number of amphetamine/methamphetamine positive tests in women rose 72 percent between 2008 and 2009. 
• Cotinine (a metabolite of nicotine, detected most commonly from tobacco use) positive rates continue to be much higher, approaching 24 percent, at lower face amounts of insurance, than at higher face amounts (4.87 percent at $500,000+).   
• In hepatitis testing, the highest positive antibody rate was seen in male insurance applicants ages 50-59, followed by those 60 years of age and older.  

Click here to Request a Copy of the Report

About Insight Report 2010:
The Insight report is compiled and published as a service to the insurance industry and is designed to provide insurers insights on emerging trends as it relates to risk profiles and potential further testing needs.  The information is categorized by age, geographic region and amount of insurance coverage requested and compared to previous years.