Guide
No-exam life insurance
Which applicants skip the exam, what happens during the faster approval process, and what to expect if the carrier decides you need one.
Many carriers today use accelerated underwriting: for applicants who fit certain age and amount criteria, they make a decision based on your application, past prescriptions, driving record and similar information, without sending an examiner. Some decisions arrive within hours. Our quotes tell you for each product whether an exam is required, might be required, or definitely not required.
What it changes
No exam does not mean no underwriting—carriers verify your answers against medical records and other data. A policy can be questioned if it was issued based on wrong information, and this can happen for two years after issue. If the carrier uncovers something that raises a red flag, they may request an exam or blood work anyway, and you choose whether to proceed.
Who tends to qualify
Usually people under about 60, applying for coverage below what the carrier considers a large amount, with no significant past medical events and no tobacco, qualify for no exam. If you have seen a doctor recently and they did lab work, several carriers will use those results rather than ordering a new exam.
If an exam becomes necessary, plan on 20 to 30 minutes with a nurse visiting your home or workplace in the Pleasanton area, with no charge to you. A strong exam result often improves your rate class, making the exam beneficial rather than a setback.