Since 1994
By the Termco teamLicensed life insurance agents since 1994Updated
Three ways insurers underwrite
| Type | Exam? | How it works | Typical trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fully underwritten | Yes (paramedical exam, blood and urine) | Health questions plus exam results and records | Takes longer, but can earn the best classes, especially if you have a condition you can show is well controlled |
| Accelerated underwriting | Usually no | Health questions plus database checks; the insurer decides whether an exam is needed | Same prices as fully underwritten for those who qualify; some applicants are moved to an exam |
| Simplified issue | No | A shorter set of health questions and database checks | Faster and easier to qualify, but usually more expensive and lower maximum amounts |
Guaranteed issue policies (no health questions at all) also exist, but they are generally small whole life policies for final expenses with waiting periods, not term life.
What insurers check instead of an exam
Skipping the exam doesn't mean the insurer takes your word for everything. With your authorization, accelerated programs commonly review:
- Prescription history, which reveals conditions through the medications you've filled.
- The MIB, an industry database of information from previous insurance applications. (You can request your own MIB file.)
- Motor vehicle records for DUIs and serious violations.
- Medical records or electronic health data, depending on the insurer.
- Sometimes public records and other data the insurer is permitted to use in your state.
Answer every question honestly. Policies are usually contestable for the first two years, and a misstatement found after a claim can lead to a denied claim.
Who usually qualifies for no-exam approval
Accelerated programs favor applicants who are younger, healthy, at a healthy weight, nicotine-free and asking for an amount within the insurer's limits. Each insurer sets its own age and coverage limits for skipping the exam, and those limits change. Common reasons to be routed to an exam include a recent diagnosis, several prescriptions, a high build, or simply being selected at random for verification.
Does no-exam cost more?
With accelerated underwriting, if you're approved without an exam you generally pay the same as you would with one. With simplified issue, you usually pay more for the convenience, because the insurer knows less about you. In Termco's estimate model, a simplified-issue, no-exam profile is the highest-priced of the six we show: for a healthy 35-year-old man, $500,000 for 20 years ranges $25.36–$32.67/mo across profiles, and the simplified-issue profile sits at the top of that range. (Termco estimate, not an insurer quote.)
When the exam is worth taking
If you have a condition that's well managed, such as blood pressure or cholesterol on medication, lab results can prove it. A no-exam program may assume the worst and offer a lower class, or move you to an exam anyway. See our guides on high blood pressure and diabetes. The exam is free, takes about 30 minutes, and an examiner can usually come to your home or office.
How Termco helps
We ask a few questions up front and point you to insurers whose programs fit your profile, so you aren't surprised by a decline or a lower class. Start with your estimates.
About the prices on this page. Every price shown is an example estimate from Termco's own pricing model, the same one behind our quote tool. It's calibrated to typical published term rates from insurers rated A- or better, but it is not a quote from any insurer, not an offer of insurance, and not a guarantee. Your actual rate depends on the insurer and its underwriting of your full application.
See estimates for your age and health
Eight quick questions, no account needed. A licensed Termco agent confirms your exact rate before you apply.
Frequently asked questions
Can I really get term life insurance with no medical exam?
Yes. Many insurers offer accelerated underwriting that can approve healthy applicants without an exam, using your application answers and database checks. Approval isn't guaranteed, and some applicants are asked to take an exam.
Is no-exam life insurance more expensive?
Accelerated underwriting usually costs the same as a fully underwritten policy if you're approved without an exam. Simplified issue policies, which never require an exam, generally cost more.
What do insurers check if there's no exam?
Commonly your prescription history, MIB records from past applications, driving record, and sometimes medical records or electronic health data, all with your authorization.
How fast can I get covered without an exam?
Accelerated decisions can come within days, sometimes the same day. Fully underwritten policies typically take several weeks because of the exam and records review.
Related guides
- What's the Best Term Length for Life Insurance? 10, 20 or 30 Years
- Term Life Insurance for Smokers: Rates, Vaping, Cigars and Quitting
- Converting Term Life Insurance to Permanent: How It Works
- Term Life Insurance After 50: What It Costs and How to Buy
- Term life insurance by state
This page is general information, not medical, legal, tax or underwriting advice. Underwriting decisions are made by each insurer and vary by insurer and individual.