Life Insurance

Attending Physician Statement (APS)

An attending physician statement (APS) is a formal written request sent to the applicant's treating physician(s) asking for a narrative summary or copy of medical records for underwriting purposes, typically ordered when the application or paramedical exam flags a significant health condition.

Last reviewed: May 2026 · Editorial methodology

Definition

An attending physician statement is requested by the life insurance underwriter when the application, MIB report, or paramedical exam results indicate a health condition requiring more detailed clinical information—such as cancer, heart disease, diabetes, or psychiatric history. The APS may request a narrative from the treating physician or complete office notes, test results, and treatment records spanning several years. Processing an APS typically adds 2–6 weeks to the underwriting timeline and may cost the insurer $50–$200 per request, which is absorbed as an underwriting expense. Applicants authorize the release of medical records by signing a HIPAA-compliant authorization (typically Form APS-1 or the insurer's proprietary version) when completing the application; without this authorization, the insurer cannot request records. Common APS triggers include: cancer diagnosis in the past five to ten years; cardiac events such as a heart attack or arrhythmia; any mental health hospitalization; liver disease including hepatitis C; and applications for high face amounts—typically $1 million or more—even in the absence of identified health issues. The information in an APS can upgrade a tentative substandard rating to standard if the treating physician's notes show better disease control than suggested by the application.

Where this term matters

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Tip

Glossary definitions are educational. Always check your own policy language — insurers can define common terms differently from one another. When in doubt, request a written explanation from your agent.

Related terms

Paramedical ExamA paramedical exam is a simplified medical examination—typically 20–30 minutes, conducted at the applicant's home or workplace by a trained paramedical technician—used by life insurance underwriters to collect blood, urine, and vital sign data to assess the applicant's health and mortality risk.MIB Report (Medical Information Bureau)An MIB report is a coded record maintained by the Medical Information Bureau—now MIB Group—that contains information disclosed on previous life, health, and disability insurance applications, used by underwriters to detect application inconsistencies and potential non-disclosure.Contestability PeriodThe contestability period is typically the first two years of a life insurance policy during which the insurer has the right to investigate claims and deny payment—or rescind the policy—if the application contained material misrepresentations, fraud, or omissions.Substandard RatingA substandard rating is assigned to life insurance applicants whose health or lifestyle profile poses above-average mortality risk, resulting in premium surcharges—expressed as table ratings—to compensate the insurer for the elevated risk while still providing coverage.Table RatingA table rating is an underwriting designation applied to applicants who do not qualify for standard life insurance rates due to health impairments, resulting in premium surcharges typically expressed as a percentage of the standard rate or as a table letter (A–P) or number (1–16) corresponding to the severity of risk.

Related guides

Source: Cover Forge USA editorial team|Last verified: May 2026|Methodology
Definitions are educational and may be simplified. Always refer to your policy contract and consult a licensed agent for terms that affect coverage decisions.
CF

Cover Forge USA Editorial Team

Editorial Lead

This article was researched and written by the Cover Forge USA editorial team against federal sources (NAIC, CMS, FEMA, DOL, SSA, state DOIs) and standard policy forms. Bylines organize content by topic — they do not assert individual licensure. See our editorial-policy for details.

Reviewed June 2026

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