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Life insurance policies that don’t require a medical exam
Yes! It's possible to get a life insurance policy without the medical exam or blood test.
Traditional life insurance policies require a medical exam. However, if you don’t want to take a medical exam for whatever reason, you have options. Depending on your provider, you may just have to answer a health questionnaire, or you could get coverage with no questions asked. But no-exam policies are expensive, and coverage is limited.
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Learn more about no medical exam life insurance
How does no medical exam life insurance work?
No medical exam life insurance works the same way as a regular policy, but it lets you skip the process of getting a medical examination and instead assesses your health via a simple questionnaire.
What’s on the questionnaire?
With no medical life insurance, there’s usually minimal medical underwriting when you apply. Generally, you’re required to answer questions relevant to your health — details like if you’re a smoker or heavy drinker, your height and weight, and your recent medical history.
For the most accurate rate, it’s important to answer all questions as best as you can. And be honest – if your insurer discovers you lied on an application, they may deny your beneficiaries’ claim later on.
Questions you might be asked
- Who’s your primary care doctor?
- When was the last time you saw your doctor?
- Are you currently taking any medication?
- Have you ever been hospitalized, had surgery, or had a prolonged illness?
- Do any health conditions run in your family?
- Do you ever have chest pain or trouble breathing?
- Has your doctor ever said your blood pressure or cholesterol levels were too high?
- Are you prone to anxiety or depression?
- Are you allergic to any medications?
- Have you recently noticed any skin rashes or moles?
- Do you drink alcohol? If so, how frequently?
- Do you smoke? If so, how much?
What if I have a pre-existing medical condition?
If you have a pre-existing medical condition, most insurers will exclude it automatically. However, some policies may allow you to undertake additional medical tests in order to further examine your current health condition and determine whether or not they can cover you.
What are the different types of no medical exam life insurance?
More on instant-approval term life insurance
The goal of instant-approval term life insurance is to make the buying process as quick and easy as possible. After you answer a few questions about your health and lifestyle, providers pull your data from public records (with your permission). They might look at prescription databases and DMV records. They then use complex algorithms to calculate your risk. The technology is sophisticated, so in most cases, this gives the provider the information they need to make an informed decision.
Once you submit the application, you’ll immediately find out if you’re approved.
The features of no-medical exam policies
| Guaranteed approval |  |
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| Can qualify even if you have a health condition | |
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| Requires health questionnaire | |
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| Assesses your personal data, like medical records | |
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| Capped at small coverage amounts | |
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| Potential to buy larger policies | |
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| Issued immediately (if approved) | |
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Pros and cons of no-medical exam life insurance
Pros
- Short approval. No-medical exam policies are typically issued within hours or days. To compare, traditionally underwritten policies can take between three and eight weeks.
- Convenient application. Depending on the policy, you may not need even need to fill out a health questionnaire, which cuts down on the application time.
- Option to forgo medical exam. If you don’t want to undergo a medical exam for whatever reason, you can go with a guaranteed acceptance policy.
Cons
- Expensive. Without a complete picture of your health, insurers are taking a risk – so they charge higher rates to compensate for that.
- Limited to small amounts. No-medical exam policies are usually capped at low amounts, like $50,000 – which may leave you underinsured.
Who should consider a no-medical exam policy?
If these situations apply to you, a no-medical exam policy might make sense:
- You need life insurance right away – for example, to satisfy a court order.
- You have a serious health condition that may otherwise disqualify you for coverage, like cancer.
- You have a chronic health condition that you’re not managing well, like diabetes or high blood pressure.
- You simply want your policy to pay for your funeral and end-of-life expenses.
- You’re uncomfortable around doctors or needles.
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Bottom line
No-medical exam policies are ideal for people who have a serious health condition working against them, as well as those who need coverage quickly or don’t want to see a doctor. While these policies can be issued within hours or days, the coverage is capped and you can expect to pay a much higher premium.
Before buying coverage, compare life insurance providers and policy features.
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