Attending Physician Statement

What Does Attending Physician Statement Mean?

An attending physician statement is a report prepared by a physician, hospital, or medical facility that has treated or is currently treating a policyholder or an individual applying for insurance.

Insuranceopedia Explains Attending Physician Statement

An attending physician statement is a crucial tool for insurance and underwriting companies. It provides detailed information about the medical history of the insured or an applicant for insurance. When submitted to the insurance company, it serves as the basis for approving or rejecting an insurance application or settling an insurance claim. Most requests come from life insurance carriers, since underwriters at the best life insurance companies typically pull an APS when an applicant has a recent diagnosis, hospital stay, or ongoing treatment that needs to be priced into the policy.

Obtaining an attending physician statement can be costly and time-consuming, as physicians prioritize patient care over preparing such documents. This often leads to delays in the insurance process, as it may take weeks or even months before a physician is able to complete the statement. Even after the statement is issued, the insurance company still needs time to review and summarize the information provided. Applicants who want to avoid this delay sometimes look into no medical exam life insurance policies, which skip the APS requirement in exchange for higher premiums or lower coverage limits.