Completing a life insurance application the right way can be a lot of work. Sometimes, the application itself can be several pages or more, and most life insurance companies require other forms and documentation in addition to that. Applying for life insurance may even require a visit to your doctor!

With all these different pieces and parts, it can feel like you’ll never finish your life insurance application. However, the process is not as daunting as it sounds. Here are some tips and tricks to make sure your application gets finished and presents you in the best possible light to your life insurance company.

Make a Plan

Before you start the application process for life insurance, go through your application and write down everything you need. This will include the application itself, any documentation you need from your doctor or other medical provider, and any information that you will need to look up in order to complete the application.

Next, fill out as much of the application as you can. Be sure to highlight the parts you are unable to complete so you can find them again easily when you come back with the information.

Make any necessary appointments as early as possible in the process, so you don’t have to wait on that to complete you life insurance application packet. If you need photocopies of medical records, be sure to order those early, too.

Be Honest

Your application for life insurance will probably ask you all sorts of questions about your current health, medical history, family history, and lifestyle. You should answer these questions as honestly and straightforwardly as possible, because you don’t want to give your insurance company any reason to deny payment on your policy later.

On the other hand, there is no need to share more information on your life insurance application than is asked for. If the application asks about any trips you plan to take that are longer than six weeks, there’s no reason to mention shorter jaunts, even if they might be to dangerous parts of the world. Don’t give your insurance company any reason to assess you as a higher risk.

Send Your Application

When you’ve completed your life insurance application, put it together with any other required documentation or arrange for your doctor or medical provider to send that information independently. Make a photocopy of everything you send to the life insurance company, in case something gets lost in the mail. Ask anyone providing outside documentation to send you a copy as well, for the same reasons.

Send your application and any materials that go along with it via UPS, FedEx, or registered mail, so you can be sure to get notification when it is received. It can take a load off your mind to know that all of your hard work has reached the place it needs to go.

Once you know your application has arrived, you will have to wait several weeks for a response from the company. If you don’t hear anything after that time, contact your company, agent, or broker and ask about your application’s status.