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.
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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 2026-06-14
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