Guide
No-exam life insurance
Which applicants can skip the medical exam, how the process works, and what to expect if you cannot.
A lot of carriers now offer expedited underwriting: for applicants in certain age ranges and benefit amounts, they approve using the application, prescription data, driving history and other records instead of a paramedical exam. Some approvals happen the same day. Every quote shows whether an exam is expected, might be needed, or is not needed.
What it changes
Skipping an exam is not the same as skipping underwriting. The application answers get checked, and a policy created with false answers can be denied during its opening two years. If the carrier's background search raises issues, they may ask for an exam or tests anyway; that's when you choose what to do next.
Who tends to qualify
Generally applicants younger than around 60, applying for amounts within the carrier's fast-track limit, with no significant health problems and no tobacco in the past year or longer. If you had lab work done at a recent doctor visit, some carriers will take those results instead of an exam.
When an exam is required, expect a 20- to 30-minute appointment with a paramedical examiner, typically at your home or workplace, at no charge. For applicants in good health, the exam results frequently move you into a better rate class, so the exam process usually works in your favor.