What is No-Medical-Exam Life Insurance?

No-exam life insurance skips the medical exam and physical required by traditional policies. You complete a health questionnaire instead of undergoing medical testing, making approval faster and easier for applicants with health concerns.

No-exam policies cost 20% to 40% more than traditional coverage because insurers accept higher risk without medical verification. The extra premium makes sense if you need coverage quickly or have health issues that complicate traditional underwriting. Each insurer sets different availability requirements and coverage limits.

No-exam life insurance policies provide identical death benefit protection as traditional policies. Your beneficiaries receive the full payout whether you die from accident or illness, subject to any waiting periods. Major insurers offer both traditional and no-exam coverage using different underwriting approaches.

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:

Three main types of no-exam coverage exist: simplified issue, instant approval and guaranteed acceptance life insurance. Simplified issue and instant policies require health questionnaires but skip medical exams. Guaranteed acceptance policies require no health questions or medical testing. The table below compares underwriting requirements for each option.

Instant answer life insurance differs from simplified issue and guaranteed acceptance coverage in underwriting approach and pricing. Instant policies cost less than simplified issue because data-driven risk assessment provides more accurate pricing than health questionnaires alone.

Simplified issue policies range from instant decisions to two-day approval timeframes. Guaranteed issue policies accept all applicants regardless of health but offer the lowest coverage limits at the highest premiums.

The table compares the main characteristics of each no-exam life insurance type:

No-exam life insurance bypasses the medical exam required in traditional life insurance underwriting. Applicants complete an application, answer health questions based on policy type and receive approval decisions. Coverage begins immediately after paying your first premium. Guaranteed acceptance policies include two to three year waiting periods covering only accidental death, while instant and simplified issue policies provide full coverage from day one.

Instant life insurance applications require health questionnaires similar to traditional policies. Insurers use third-party data and algorithmic technology to review motor vehicle and medical databases instead of conducting medical exams. Data-driven underwriting allows instant life insurance rates to match fully underwritten policy pricing.

Simplified issue life insurance requires fewer health questions than instant policies but more than guaranteed acceptance coverage. With limited health data for risk assessment, simplified issue policies cost more than instant coverage and restrict maximum coverage amounts.

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. The table helps you determine who should get each type of no-exam life 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 life insurance quotes without a medical exam 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.

Comparing quotes from multiple providers can help you find the best and most affordable life insurance with no medical exam based on your needs. You can use our online quote tool below to get instant quotes without providing personal information.

Rates shown are estimates based on MoneyGeek's 2025 analysis of major insurers and may not reflect current pricing. Actual rates depend on individual circumstances, health status and state regulations.

By assessing your personal health, coverage needs and financial goals, you can determine whether buying life insurance with no medical exam and no waiting period is the right strategy or if a different approach might better suit your circumstances.

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. Here are the factors life insurers look at when evaluating your health:

Life insurers use medical exams to price your policy based on mortality risk. Higher chances of dying before your life expectancy mean insurers pay death benefits sooner, resulting in higher premiums. Some insurers skip medical exams for young, healthy applicants who present low mortality risk.

Five main underwriting methods determine coverage speed, cost and approval requirements.

1. Full Underwriting: Full underwriting reviews your complete health history through medical exams and health records. Full underwriting takes several weeks but provides the lowest premiums for healthy applicants because pricing reflects actual health risk.
2. Accelerated Underwriting: Accelerated underwriting uses digital data and wearable device information for faster health evaluations. Decisions arrive within days or minutes, providing quick coverage without extensive medical review.
3. Automated Underwriting: Automated underwriting uses algorithms to assess risk based on data inputs. Automated systems provide immediate decisions but charge higher premiums when algorithms identify elevated risk without detailed health analysis.
4. Simplified Underwriting: Simplified underwriting requires basic health questions without medical exams. Simplified policies approve faster but cost more because insurers assume higher risk with limited health information.
5. Guaranteed Underwriting: Guaranteed issue life insurance accepts all applicants without health questions or medical exams. Guaranteed coverage appeals to older adults or people with health issues but carries the highest premiums and lowest coverage limits due to increased insurer risk.

While no-medical-exam life insurance policies, such as simplified and guaranteed, offer quick and accessible options, they are not available from all insurers. Not everyone will qualify for life insurance without a medical exam, particularly if looking for high coverage amounts or lower premiums.

Pre-existing conditions and medical exam concerns don't prevent you from securing life insurance coverage. No-medical-exam life insurance provides faster approval and easier qualification for people with challenging medical histories.

No-exam policies offer multiple coverage options through simplified, instant and guaranteed acceptance underwriting. Compare quotes from traditional insurers, online companies and brokers to find competitive rates that match your health profile and coverage needs.

Understanding the answers to frequently asked questions about life insurance without medical exams or health questions can help determine if this type of policy is right for you.

Why Trust MoneyGeek?

We analyzed customer satisfaction, financial stability reports, product offerings and more to determine the best no medical exam life insurance companies for a variety of needs. 

Recency

Coverage costs and company information for life insurance providers were updated in 2025.

Methodology

MoneyGeek created a scoring system to compare 14 life insurance companies across five categories and ranked them based on their scores. We chose to review these companies based on their broad national coverage and ability to provide an online quote.

MoneyGeek’s Scoring System

In our unique scoring system, companies can earn up to five points in each of five categories. We then use these category scores to calculate an overall MoneyGeek score out of 100. We applied the following weightings to score insurers: 

• Product Diversity: 35%
• Financial Stability: 25%
• Customer Satisfaction: 20%
• Buying Process: 20%

Affordability was not included in this category since we do not have quotes for no-medical-exam life insurance policies.

Each company’s score incorporates:

• Financial strength ratings from AM Best and number of years in business
• Customer satisfaction data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) customer complaint index (we reviewed annual complaint data from 2020 to 2022, the most recent year available)
• Availability of tools to aid in the buying process, such as online product materials and multiple payment options
• Diversity of life insurance products offered