Life Insurance✓ Verified · outline & fact-checked · Sep 2026Difficulty 1/5
An attending physician's statement (APS) is obtained during underwriting to:
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Answer & full 3-part explanation (select an option above, or peek)
Why A is correct
When an application or the medical exam reveals a condition that needs further review, the insurer requests an attending physician's statement — medical records and history from the applicant's personal doctor. Release of the records requires the applicant's authorization under privacy law. The APS helps the underwriter evaluate the severity of a condition and assign the correct risk class, supplementing rather than replacing the application.
Why the other options are wrong
- B) The application remains the basis of the contract; the APS only supplements it with medical detail.
- C) The APS does not guarantee approval; it is an evidence-gathering step in the underwriting decision.
- D) Beneficiary designation is made by the applicant on the application, not in the physician's statement.
Memory hook
APS = the doctor's file, unlocked by the applicant's signature, so the underwriter can see the real history.