Guide
No-exam life insurance
Who gets approved without an exam, how the process works, and what happens if you don't qualify.
Many carriers now use expedited underwriting: they decide using the application, prescription records, driving history and other data instead of a physical exam for people in certain age and amount brackets. Approvals can happen the same day. Each quote on this site shows whether an exam is needed, possibly needed, or not needed for that specific product.
What it changes
Skipping an exam doesn't mean skipping underwriting. Your statements get verified, and a policy issued on false information is open to cancellation in the first two years. The carrier may still request an exam or testing if their independent research raises concerns; you can decide then whether to proceed.
Who tends to qualify
Generally people under about 60 applying for amounts within the carrier's accelerated limit, with no significant health issues and no tobacco in the past year or more. Some carriers will accept results from a recent doctor's visit with lab work instead of a new exam.
Should an exam be necessary, it typically consists of a 20- to 30-minute visit at your Modesto residence or workplace, at no charge. For many healthy individuals, exam results can bump you into a better rate tier, so the exam is not inherently disadvantageous.