The best no-exam life insurance companies in 2025 are Pacific Life, Lincoln Financial, and Nationwide.
Find out if you're overpaying for life insurance below.
Updated: December 12, 2025
Advertising & Editorial Disclosure
Pacific Life is the best no-exam life insurance provider, with up to $3 million in no-exam coverage.
Lincoln Financial offers the most affordable rates for life insurance without a medical exam and is also the best option for overweight people.
Nationwide leads in customer satisfaction for no-exam life insurance with an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau and placing 5th overall in J.D. Power’s customer satisfaction survey.
Why You Can Trust MoneyGeek
We analyzed 30 insurance companies offering no-exam term life insurance and guaranteed acceptance whole life insurance to create our list, scoring the best options based on affordability, customer experience and coverage options. MoneyGeek maintains editorial independence and doesn't receive compensation from insurance companies for life insurance rankings or recommendations. For more information, read our full methodology.
No-exam life insurance lets you skip medical tests and get approved in minutes. We analyzed premium rates, coverage limits, riders and customization options, customer experience, and financial stability to identify the best companies.
Pacific Life is the top provider for life insurance without a medical exam, but other providers may be better for your unique situation. Compare leading options to determine the right choice for your needs:
Best For | Company | Avg Monthly Rate (Term) * | Ages Supported | Max No-Exam Coverage | MoneyGeek Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pacific Life | $39 (Female), $47 (Male) | 18-60 (Term) | $3 million (Term) | 4.5 | |
Lincoln Financial | $31 (Female), $38 (Male) | 18-60 (Term) | $1 million (Term) | 4.4 | |
Nationwide | $45 (Female), $56 (Male) | 18-55 (Term) | $1.5 million (Term) | 4.2 | |
Gerber Life | $46 (Female), $52 (Male) | 18-70 (Term) | $1 million (Term) | 4.2 | |
Assurity | $45 (Female), $55 (Male) | 18-65 (Term) | $1 million (Term) | 4.1 | |
Ethos | $54 (Female), $71 (Male) | 18-69 (Term) | $3 million (Term) | 4 |
* Rates are based on 40-year-old non-smokers with $500,000 in coverage on a 20-year term. Rates are examples only and may not reflect your actual premium. Your rates will vary based on your health, lifestyle, coverage amount, term length, and state of residence. Request quotes from insurance providers to get your personalized estimate.
Avg. Monthly Rate (Term) *
Max No-Exam Coverage
Ages Supported
Avg. Monthly Rate (Term) *
Max No-Exam Coverage
Ages Supported
Avg. Monthly Rate (Term) *
Max No-Exam Coverage
Ages Supported
Avg. Monthly Rate (Term) *
Max No-Exam Coverage
Ages Supported
Avg. Monthly Rate (Term) *
Max No-Exam Coverage
Ages Supported
Avg. Monthly Rate (Term) *
Max No-Exam Coverage
Ages Supported
No-exam life insurance lets you get coverage without a medical exam. Instead of scheduling appointments with a nurse, you answer health questions online or over the phone. The insurer uses your answers plus data from prescription databases and driving records to assess risk and approve you in days instead of weeks. Term life insurance is the most common type of policy offered without an exam, but some companies also offer whole life insurance. No-exam policies aren't the cheapest life insurance, because companies are taking on greater perceived risk.
Consider the benefits and drawbacks of no-exam plans before purchasing. This information helps you manage the downsides while maximizing the advantages of your policy:
Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
Quick application process: Apply online or by phone and get your policy within days instead of weeks | Higher monthly costs: Premiums run higher than fully underwritten policies since insurers accept more risk without your complete health picture |
Simpler approval: Pre-existing medical conditions won't automatically disqualify you from coverage | Smaller death benefits: Payout amounts typically stay lower than what fully underwritten policies deliver |
Flexible options: Choose from various coverage amounts and policy types to match your budget and needs | Coverage caps: Most guaranteed-issue policies max out between $500,000 and $1 million, less than traditional policies allow |
If you're budgeting for no-exam life insurance, several factors will influence your cost, including your age, gender, and coverage amount. While these policies offer the convenience of skipping the medical exam, they often cost more than traditional policies that require medical screening, sometimes 10% to 30% higher, depending on the provider. Use the table below to assess average life insurance cost for no-exam policies at different coverage levels:
Company | Age 25 | Age 40 | Age 60 |
|---|---|---|---|
Lincoln Financial | $18 (F), $23 (M) | $31 (F), $38 (M) | $163 (F), $230 (M) |
Assurity | $25 (F), $30 (M) | $45 (F), $45 (M) | $229 (F), $330 (M) |
Pacific Life | $26 (F), $30 (M) | $39 (F), $47 (M) | $221 (F), $314 (M) |
Gerber Life | $29 (F), $38 (M) | $47 (F), $53 (M) | $395 (F), $548 (M) |
Ethos | $31 (F), $42 (M) | $54 (F), $54 (M) | $359 (F), $510 (M) |
Nationwide | $32 (F), $41 (M) | $45 (F), $56 (M) | N/A |
* Rates are based on 20-year terms at $500,000 coverage for non-smokers with average health, height, and weight. Your actual rates may vary. Request quotes from multiple insurance providers to get personalized estimates. Note that Nationwide only offers coverage to people under 55 years old, so there are N/A values for 60 years old in the table above.
No-exam life insurance falls into three categories based on how insurers evaluate your application.
No-exam life insurance provides a convenient way to secure coverage without medical testing. After evaluating numerous life insurance companies and their no-exam policy options, MoneyGeek identified the top performers in this category. Pacific Life, Lincoln Financial, and Nationwide offer the best life insurance without a medical exam today.
Understanding the differences between traditional life insurance policies and those that don't require a medical exam is challenging. Get answers to some of the most frequently asked questions to help you determine if a life insurance policy with no medical exam is right for you:
Your policy choice determines whether you need an exam. No-exam policies provide immediate coverage without medical questions or waiting periods. Traditional term life insurance policies require exams but reward healthy applicants with higher coverage amounts and lower premiums.
Yes, you can be denied no-exam life insurance. Insurers review your application, medical history, prescription records and sometimes conduct phone interviews. They may deny coverage based on serious health conditions, risky occupations, dangerous hobbies or incomplete application information, though approval rates are generally high for healthy applicants.
No-exam life insurance works well for healthy people who need coverage quickly or want to avoid medical appointments. You'll pay slightly higher premiums than with traditional policies, but the convenience and fast approval could justify the cost difference for people with straightforward coverage needs under $1 million.
No-exam life insurance uses accelerated underwriting, reviewing your medical records, prescription history and application answers instead of requiring a physical exam. Traditional underwriting includes blood tests, urine samples and physical examinations. Policies without a medical exam offer faster approval (days vs. weeks) but have lower coverage limits and higher premiums.
Our Research Approach
People needing quick coverage or dealing with health conditions that complicate traditional underwriting turn to no-exam life insurance. Higher premiums and tighter coverage limits make choosing the right insurer critical for your long-term financial protection.
MoneyGeek analyzed 30 insurers providing no-exam term life and guaranteed acceptance whole life policies. Premium quotes, customer satisfaction metrics, financial stability ratings and product details shaped our evaluation. All information reflects 2025 updates.
How MoneyGeek scored each insurer:
Affordability (50%): Premium costs matter most when insurers skip medical underwriting. You'll pay more without an exam, and those differences multiply over ten, 20 or 30 years. MoneyGeek compared pricing across all reviewed companies to identify the most competitive rates.
Customer Experience (30%): Claims processing speed and service quality determine whether your beneficiaries get paid promptly. Customer feedback, J.D. Power ratings and complaint data from state insurance departments revealed which insurers deliver reliable support.
Coverage Options (20%): No-exam policies typically cap coverage lower than traditional term life and restrict rider availability. Product variety, policy customization and maximum coverage amounts separated flexible insurers from limited ones.
Why affordability weighs heaviest: Skipping medical exams raises insurer risk, driving premiums up across the board. Small monthly differences compound dramatically over policy lifespans. A $20 monthly premium gap costs you $4,800 over 20 years, making competitive pricing essential for budget-conscious applicants.
About Mark Fitzpatrick
Mark Fitzpatrick, a Licensed Property and Casualty Insurance Producer, is MoneyGeek's resident Personal Finance Expert. With over five years of experience analyzing the insurance market, he conducts original research and creates tailored content for all types of buyers. His insights have been featured in publications like CNBC, NBC News and Mashable.
Fitzpatrick holds a master’s degree in economics and international relations from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree from Boston College. He's also a five-time Jeopardy champion!
He writes about economics and insurance, breaking down complex topics so people know what they're buying.
