Guide
No-exam life insurance
Learn which applicants qualify for expedited underwriting, how the process works, and what to expect if you don't qualify.
Many carriers provide accelerated underwriting: for applicants in target age and coverage ranges, decisions are made using the application, medication records, driving history and other information without a physical exam. Approval can arrive within a day. Each quote on this site indicates whether an exam is required, may be required, or is not required.
What it changes
Skipping the exam does not mean skipping verification. Your responses get checked, and a policy issued with false information can be contested in the first two years. If data triggers questions, the carrier may request an exam or lab testing; you can choose whether to move forward.
Who tends to qualify
Usually younger than 60, seeking amounts within the carrier's accelerated limit, with no serious health events and no tobacco use in the past year. If you've had recent blood work from a doctor's appointment, certain carriers will use those results rather than requiring a new exam.
If needed, the exam is typically 20 to 30 minutes with a paramedic who visits your Novato home or office, at no charge to you. For applicants in good health, exam results sometimes lead to better rate classifications, so it is not necessarily detrimental.