Guide
No-exam life insurance
What qualifies you for fast underwriting, the process if approved, and your options if you do not qualify.
A growing number of carriers now offer accelerated underwriting: applicants in specified age and amount brackets may be approved using application answers, pharmacy records, driving history, and other sources instead of a physical exam. Approvals can arrive within hours. Every quote here notes whether exams are required, conditional, or waived.
What it changes
Forgoing an exam does not mean forgoing underwriting review. Your statements are checked, and policies based on misstatements can be challenged in the first two years. If the carrier uncovers concerning information, they may still request an exam or tests; you then choose whether to move forward.
Who tends to qualify
Usually applicants age 60 or younger, requesting coverage within the carrier's streamlined limits, with no significant health issues and no tobacco use for at least a year qualify. Some carriers will substitute recent doctor visit bloodwork results for an exam.
Should you require an exam, it normally involves a 20 to 30-minute visit from a paramedic at your home or workplace in the greater Sacramento region, paid for by the carrier. Strong results frequently lead to a better rate class for healthy applicants, making an exam potentially beneficial.