No-Exam Life Insurance: How It Works and Who Needs It
There are three types of no-exam life insurance: instant, simplified issue and guaranteed acceptance. These convenient life insurance options allow more people to qualify for coverage, even with pre-existing conditions.
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By Mandy Sleight
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Licensed Insurance Agent
Mandy Sleight is a licensed property, casualty, life and health insurance agent with 20 years of experience in the industry. She has worked for major insurance companies like State Farm and Nationwide, and most recently as the Operations Coordinator for a startup employee benefits company. Sleight holds a business administration and management degree from the University of Baltimore and a master's in business administration from Southern New Hampshire University. She uses her vast knowledge of insurance and personal finance to create easy-to-understand and engaging content to help readers make smarter choices with their budgets and finances.
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Edited by Rae Osborn
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Dr. Rae Osborn is a MoneyGeek content editor with over seven years of editing experience and over 20 years of experience in publishing and writing science content. She also works as a science researcher, writer and editor and a professional reviewer for Science Reviews and Advances in Entomology.
Contributions by 6+ experts
MS
By Mandy Sleight
MS
Licensed Insurance Agent
Mandy Sleight is a licensed property, casualty, life and health insurance agent with 20 years of experience in the industry. She has worked for major insurance companies like State Farm and Nationwide, and most recently as the Operations Coordinator for a startup employee benefits company. Sleight holds a business administration and management degree from the University of Baltimore and a master's in business administration from Southern New Hampshire University. She uses her vast knowledge of insurance and personal finance to create easy-to-understand and engaging content to help readers make smarter choices with their budgets and finances.
RO
Edited by Rae Osborn
RO
Dr. Rae Osborn is a MoneyGeek content editor with over seven years of editing experience and over 20 years of experience in publishing and writing science content. She also works as a science researcher, writer and editor and a professional reviewer for Science Reviews and Advances in Entomology.
Contributions by 6+ expertsUpdated: July 9, 2024
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Whether you have pre-existing conditions or are hesitant to complete a medical exam, you can still get fast and affordable life insurance coverage. No-exam life insurance refers to life insurance that does not require a medical exam for approval. A no-physical life insurance policy is easier to qualify for and is ideal for people with a challenging medical history.
Depending on the no-medical exam policy, you may still have to answer health questions as part of the application. By learning more about the no-exam life insurance process, the benefits, where to buy non-medical exam life insurance and who it’s the best fit for, you can find the right policy for your needs.
No-exam life insurance can save you time. It's convenient and covers even the most high-risk individuals.
Life insurance with no exam required can be more expensive than traditional life insurance since your current health profile is not used to determine the rate.
If you’re young and healthy, you may get a better life insurance rate if you complete the medical exam instead of getting a no-physical life insurance policy.
No-exam life insurance is a policy that doesn’t require a medical exam or physical. Life insurance with no exam required is an attractive option for some people and usually is easier and faster to get than life insurance using traditional methods.
If you want to buy no medical exam life insurance, you can choose between no-exam term life insurance and whole life insurance without a medical exam. Policies like simplified issue or instant life insurance typically ask health questions, but they are life insurance policies without medical exams. You can also get guaranteed acceptance life insurance with no medical questions or exams, often called guaranteed issue or guaranteed acceptance whole life insurance.
With no-exam life insurance, you bypass the medical exam used in the traditional life insurance process. Instead, you apply for coverage, answer a few health questions depending on the policy type and receive a decision. Once approved and you pay your first premium, your no-exam life insurance policy goes into effect immediately.
An instant life insurance application asks health questions similar to a traditional life insurance application. The company uses third-party data and algorithmic technology to check motor vehicle and medical databases instead of a medical exam to determine your risk. This method allows instant life insurance rates to be similar to fully underwritten life insurance policies.
Depending on the carrier, you typically have to answer a few health questions to get simplified issue life insurance, but not as many as an instant answer policy requires. With fewer personal and health data points to determine risk, simplified issue insurance is usually more expensive and may limit how much coverage you can buy.
A life insurance medical exam consists of a physical with health questions about blood pressure, height, weight and blood and urine sample assessments. A doctor or a nurse in your home or office can conduct the exam.
Life insurers use medical exams to assess your mortality risk and overall health, which also helps determine your premium. Not all insurers require an exam, and certain people—like the young and healthy—can bypass it because they have a low mortality risk. Here are the factors life insurers look at when assessing your health.
DescriptionUsed with weight to determine whether you are a healthy weight for your height
Used with height to determine if you are overweight based on insurance company guidelines
Determines if you’re at risk for heart disease or other health concerns that could increase your mortality risk
Checked to see that your heart is functioning with no irregularities that could indicate heart issues
Blood tests screen for a host of health concerns, such as HIV/AIDS, high blood sugar, liver or kidney issues and other health factors
Urine is processed to check for nicotine, drugs, abnormal levels of hemoglobin, red and white blood cells, bilirubin, glucose and creatinine
Life insurers use medical exams to help them price your policy appropriately. The greater your chances of dying before your life expectancy, the more likely the insurance company will have to pay your death benefit sooner and the higher your premiums will be.
Besides health issues, smoking is one of the primary health concerns that drive up life insurance premiums. Life insurance for smokers can cost as much as three times what a nonsmoker will pay for the same coverage.
While a medical exam is helpful for the insurance company, it can be tedious and feel invasive to the customer. Exams can waste time, especially with many no-exam life insurance options available.
You have three options when choosing non-medical exam life insurance. You can get a no-physical or guaranteed life insurance without medical questions or exams. As you can see in the table below, each policy type has different underwriting criteria or none at all.
Policy Type No Medical Exam Accelerated Underwriting No Health QuestionsInstant Life Insurance
Simplified Issue Life Insurance
Guaranteed Acceptance Life Insurance
Instant life insurance is gaining popularity because it doesn’t require a medical exam, and you get an instant decision. This type of life insurance uses accelerated underwriting, or data technology, to check medical databases and motor vehicle records to determine your risk.
This method can make your price more competitive than a simplified policy, which doesn’t typically use risk factors but does ask health questions. With guaranteed issue insurance, your provider will accept you regardless of any health issues. Therefore, you get instant approval, but at the highest cost.
Instant answer life insurance is often confused with simplified issue. However, an instant answer policy can often be cheaper than a simplified issue because your risk factors can be more clearly defined. Some simplified issue policies offer an instant decision, but others take a day or two to make a decision. A guaranteed issue policy is an excellent option for high-risk and unhealthy individuals but comes at the highest cost and with low coverage.
Ensure you’re getting the best rate for your life insurance. Compare quotes from top providers to find the most affordable life insurance coverage for your needs.
Life insurance with no exam required may not be ideal for everyone. It may not be the right fit if you need a high amount of coverage or want to keep costs within a specific budget. Consider the table below to determine who should get each type of no-exam life insurance.
Policy TypeInstant Life
Insurance
Simplified Issue
Life Insurance
Guaranteed Acceptance
Life Insurance
No medical exam life insurance allows you to secure life insurance coverage without completing a medical exam. While it offers certain advantages, it's not without its drawbacks. Here's a look at the pros and cons of this type of insurance.
You can purchase no-exam life insurance from various sources, including traditional insurance companies, online insurers and insurance brokers. Many insurance companies offer no medical exam life insurance options alongside traditional policies. Online insurers specialize in streamlined, digital-first experiences, often making the process faster and more convenient. Insurance brokers can provide quotes from multiple insurers, helping you compare options.
When choosing a company for no-exam life insurance coverage, consider the insurer's reputation, financial stability and customer service. Look for companies with high ratings from independent agencies like AM Best, which assesses financial strength, or J.D. Power, known for customer satisfaction ratings.
Also, consider the specifics of the policy. While life insurance without medical exams or health questions is convenient, it often comes with higher premiums and lower coverage limits. Some may have waiting periods before full benefits apply. Be honest in your application. Insurers may access medical records or other databases even without a medical exam. Misrepresentation could lead to policy cancellation or denial of a claim.
Ensure you’re getting the best rate for your life insurance. Compare quotes from top providers to find the most affordable life insurance coverage for your needs.
Some aspects of no-exam life insurance can be confusing. By understanding the answers to some common questions about life insurance without medical exams or health questions, you can best determine if this type of policy is right for you.
Is it possible to get life insurance without undergoing a medical exam?Yes, you can get life insurance without a medical exam. You should still expect to answer some health questions unless you choose guaranteed issue life insurance, a type of life insurance without a medical exam or health questions involved.
Should I get no-exam life insurance?You should get no-exam life insurance if you have serious health issues or have been previously turned down for life insurance. Life insurance without a medical exam usually costs more than traditional life insurance, so it may not be the best option for healthy people.
Which life insurance policy types allow you to get coverage without a medical exam?Three life insurance policy types allow you to get coverage without a medical exam: instant, simplified issue and guaranteed acceptance.
What is the difference between instant, simplified issue and guaranteed acceptance life insurance?Instant and simplified issue life insurance typically require health questions but no medical exam. Guaranteed acceptance coverage is life insurance that does not require your medical history, health questions or a medical exam.
