life insurance-if i switch to another one, will i still be covered instantly?

[cutekids]

we have a life-insurance which-to cut a long story short-isn't that good anymore---not that we want to have to use it anyway but you know what i mean! If we decided to go with another company, would we still be instantly covered? (The old life insurance is in ireland.)

anyone?

thanks SW. do they always require you to have a medical? i'm overweight so a little sensitive to these things. plus hubbie smokes.

thanks, again.