Guide
No-exam life insurance
Who gets approved without a medical exam, how the streamlined process works, and what happens if you don't qualify.
Many carriers now offer accelerated underwriting: for applicants in defined age and amount ranges, they approve based on the application, prescription history, driving records, and other records instead of asking for a paramedical exam. Some decisions happen within a day. This site notes for each quote whether an exam is required, possibly required, or waived.
What it changes
No exam doesn't mean no review. Your answers get verified; a policy issued on false information can be rescinded within the first two years. If the carrier's investigation raises red flags, you may still need testing or labs before approval.
Who tends to qualify
Usually applicants under about age 60, seeking amounts within the carrier's accelerated limit, with no serious health issues and no tobacco use in the past 12 months. Some carriers accept recent bloodwork from a doctor visit instead of a separate exam.
When an exam is needed, it typically runs 20 to 30 minutes with a paramedical examiner visiting your home or workplace in the San Carlos area, with no cost to you. For healthy applicants, an exam often results in rate-class improvement, so it's not always disadvantageous.