No-Exam Life Insurance: What It Is, How It Works and Who It's For

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 is usually easier and faster to get than life insurance using traditional methods. The availability of and requirements for these policies depend on the insurer. These policies typically trade the convenience of skipping the medical exam for higher premiums, as insurers take on more risk without detailed health information.

Generally, you have three options for non-medical exam life insurance. 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. The table below shows how each type of life insurance policy with no medical exam has different underwriting criteria or none at all.

Instant answer life insurance is often confused with simplified issue. However, an instant answer policy is usually 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 it comes at the highest cost and with low coverage.

The table below highlights the main characteristics of each type of no-exam life insurance to help you understand their differences.

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 one. 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 also 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.

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.

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 no medical test life insurance.

• Speedy Approval: The traditional method of buying life insurance with a medical exam can take weeks from the time you apply to get to a decision. If a physician's statement is required, it can take even longer. When you buy life insurance without a medical exam, you can often get an instant decision or only have to wait a few days.
• Ease and Comfort: You don't need a medical check-up to get coverage, making the process of getting life insurance less intrusive and more comfortable.
• Coverage for Those with Health Issues: People with high-risk medical issues or risk factors in their personal history, like DUIs, can find getting approved via the traditional route challenging. No matter how risky you are, you can purchase life insurance without a medical exam.

• Higher Premiums: Insurers often charge higher premiums for these policies to offset the risk of not having a full medical history. For instance, the most expensive option is buying life insurance without questions, commonly called guaranteed issue insurance.
• Limited Coverage Amounts: The coverage amounts are typically lower than those traditional life insurance policies offer. You may also be limited in how much coverage you can buy and which carrier you can use if you purchase life insurance that does not require a medical history.
• Possible Rejection: Insurers may reject applications based on health information disclosed in the application process, despite no medical exam.

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.

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 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. That said, not all insurers require an exam, and certain people, like the young and healthy, can bypass it because they have a low mortality risk.

Understanding the different underwriting methods can help you decide whether life insurance without a medical exam is the right option. Each method has different requirements and implications for coverage speed, privacy and cost.

1. Full Underwriting: Full or traditional underwriting involves an extensive review of your health through medical exams and historical health records. This method provides pricing that reflects your actual health risk. Although it's the most time-consuming option, often taking weeks, it can lower premiums for those in good health.
2. Accelerated Underwriting: Accelerated underwriting speeds up the process by using digital data, possibly including information from wearable devices, for quicker health evaluations. Decisions can be made within days or even minutes, making it a good option for those needing prompt coverage without the depth of full underwriting.
3. Automated Underwriting: This method relies on algorithms to assess risk based on data inputs. Automated underwriting offers immediate decisions but may lead to higher premiums if the algorithm deems you a higher risk due to the lack of a detailed personal health analysis.
4. Simplified Underwriting: Simplified underwriting requires fewer health questions and no medical exams, which speeds up the application process. However, the premiums might be higher as the insurer assumes more risk due to the limited health information provided.
5. Guaranteed Underwriting: Guaranteed issue life insurance is typically available without any health questions or medical exams. It's particularly appealing for older adults or those with health issues who might not qualify for other policies. The trade-off is higher premiums and typically lower coverage amounts due to the increased risk to the insurer.

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.

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-medical-exam life insurance, also known as no-physical life insurance, is easier to qualify for and is ideal for people with a challenging medical history.

In this guide, we explored what it is, how it works and who it's best for to help you determine whether it's the right fit for you. By learning more about the no-exam life insurance process, the benefits and where to buy non-medical exam life insurance, you can find the right policy for your 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