Guide
No-exam life insurance
What qualifies someone for expedited underwriting, how the procedure functions, and how things work differently if you don't qualify.
Many insurers have implemented expedited underwriting choices: for candidates meeting certain age and coverage thresholds, they can make determinations using your application, medication history, driving record and other information sources rather than requiring a clinical exam. Some results arrive within hours. The quotes presented on this website display whether each company requires an exam, may require one, or doesn't require one for that particular product.
What it changes
Skipping a medical exam doesn't mean avoiding underwriting. Information you provide gets confirmed, and policies issued based on false information can be challenged during the first two years. If something in the carrier's records needs clarification, they may still order testing; you'll get the chance to decide whether to move forward.
Who tends to qualify
Generally people under about age 60 requesting amounts within the carrier's accelerated limit, without significant health concerns and with no recent tobacco or nicotine consumption. Some carriers will use recent medical lab results from your doctor instead of requesting a new exam.
When an exam is required, you typically meet with a nurse or paramedic for 20 to 30 minutes at your San Mateo home or workplace—at no expense to you. The results can sometimes move you to a more favorable rate tier if you're in good health, so testing isn't necessarily a negative outcome.