No Exam Life Insurance

No-exam life insurance covers your beneficiaries with a death benefit without requiring a paramedical exam as part of the application. Instead of a physical, carriers evaluate risk through health history questions, prescription database records, and the Medical Information Bureau (MIB). Depending on the policy type, approval can come within minutes (instant issue), 24 to 48 hours (simplified issue), or without any health evaluation at all (guaranteed issue). The right type depends on your health profile, the coverage amount you need, and how quickly you need coverage in place.

Generally, yes — though the gap varies by carrier, policy type, and applicant profile. Because the carrier is accepting some underwriting risk without a full medical picture, premiums run higher than a fully underwritten policy at the same coverage amount. For healthy applicants, the difference may be modest. For applicants with health conditions, no-exam simplified issue policies can sometimes come in more competitively than a fully underwritten policy where the exam reveals a rateable condition. As an independent broker, we compare both options so you can see the actual cost difference for your profile before deciding.

It depends on the policy type. Simplified issue policies from top-rated carriers typically offer coverage up to $500,000 to $1,000,000 or more for qualified applicants. Instant issue policies often cap at lower amounts. Guaranteed issue policies are generally limited to $25,000 to $100,000 and are designed for final expense coverage rather than income replacement. Your specific approval amount depends on your age, health history, and which carriers are quoting you.

Instant issue policies can return a decision in minutes. Simplified issue policies typically take 24 to 48 hours. In either case, coverage goes into effect as soon as your application is approved and your first premium is paid — meaning you can have a policy in force within the same week you apply.

Eligibility varies by carrier and policy type. For simplified issue policies, most carriers accept applicants up to age 60 to 65 in reasonably good health. Some carriers extend eligibility to age 70 or 75 for certain products. Guaranteed issue policies are available to a broader age and health range with no medical questions required. If you've been declined before or have a complex health history, working with an independent broker who can shop multiple carriers gives you the best chance of finding a policy that works.

Often, yes. No-exam underwriting guidelines vary significantly across carriers — a condition that triggers a decline or a high rate at one company may be acceptable at another. Simplified issue underwriting evaluates your health history through questions and data sources rather than a physical exam, which means some managed conditions that would complicate a paramedical exam may have less impact on your application. Guaranteed issue policies are available regardless of health history for applicants who don't qualify elsewhere.