Guide
No-exam life insurance
Eligibility for rapid underwriting, the underwriting mechanics, and underwriting paths when you don't qualify.
Numerous carriers now provide rapid underwriting: applicants in specific age and amount bands are approved using application details, medication lists, driver records and related information instead of a medical examination. Several carriers provide decisions within hours. Each quote on this site notes whether testing is mandatory, discretionary, or waived for that offering.
What it changes
Skipping a medical exam does not avoid underwriting review. The carrier verifies answers you provide, and policies based on inaccurate information are contestable within the first two years. If the carrier's data review raises concerns, they may still order testing; you choose whether to proceed.
Who tends to qualify
Generally, applicants under age 60 applying for benefits within the carrier's expedited limits, with no serious health conditions and no tobacco consumption in at least the past twelve months qualify. Some carriers honor recent medical lab results from your doctor visit in place of a new exam.
A typical exam runs 20-30 minutes with a paramedic or nurse, conducted at your Paramount home or workplace, free of charge. Positive results often boost your rate class, so an exam is not necessarily unfavorable.