Best no-exam life insurance in 2024

Legal & General America and Lincoln Financial are the best no-exam life insurance companies, according to our analysis. These companies both offer competitive rates and important coverage features, like the option to convert the policy to permanent coverage.

Legal & General America is a particularly good option if you want term coverage for a long period of time, as it’s the only insurer in our analysis to offer a 40-year term. Lincoln Financial is a good option if you’re shopping on a budget. Its rates are often the lowest for a range of coverage terms and amounts.

^{*Approval and eligibility vary}

Best no-exam life insurance companies

Best for long coverage terms

Legal & General America

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Policy analyzed

OPTerm

Term lengths available

10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35 or 40

Median time to approval

1-2 days after interview is complete

Why it’s the best

Underwritten by Banner Life and William Penn Life Insurance Company of New York, Legal & General America’s OP Term no-exam life insurance policy is the best option if you want a longer coverage period. It is the only policy in our analysis that offers a 40-year term. Eligible applicants can purchase up to $1 million of life insurance coverage without a medical exam.

If you do qualify for its lab-free term life insurance, you can expect the same plan and rates available to those who undergo the traditional application process.

Pros and cons

Pros

• Up to $1 million of no-exam life insurance.
• Second lowest overall average rates among no-exam policies we analyzed.
• Convertible to a universal life insurance policy.
• Instant approval is available to qualifying applicants.

Cons

• Policy conversion is limited to the first five years for policyholders age 66 and older.
• At the end of the selected term, the policy may be renewed but with a reduced death benefit and a higher premium.

Rates

Example rates for a 20-year term policy

Gender/age	$500,000 policy	$1,000,000 policy
Female, 30	$192	$290
Female, 40	$285	$511
Female, 50	$652	$1,205
Male, 30	$227	$395
Male, 40	$350	$620
Male, 50	$830	$1,556

^{Example rates reflect those for nonsmoking male and female candidates in excellent health.}

Riders available

• Accelerated death benefit.
• Children’s rider.
• Term riders.
• Waiver of premium.

Best for cheap no-exam life insurance

Lincoln Financial

Policy analyzed

TermAccel

Term lengths available

10, 15, 20 or 30 years

Median time to approval

5 days

Why it’s the best

Lincoln Financial has the most competitive no-exam life insurance rates among the companies we analyzed, making it the best company for cheap no-exam life insurance. Its no medical exam life insurance policy TermAccel also has a high eligible age for those looking to secure the maximum amount of coverage.

Pros and cons

Pros

• Lowest overall rates among insurers we analyzed.
• Ability to convert to a permanent life insurance policy.
• Up to $2.5 million in coverage is available to applicants up to 60 years old.
• Instant approval available to certain applicants.

Cons

• If converting after the first seven years, policy options are limited.

Rates

Example rates for a 20-year term policy 

Gender/age	$500,000 policy	$1,000,000 policy
Female, 30	$192	$290
Female, 40	$285	$483
Female, 50	$652	$1,133
Male, 30	$227	$360
Male, 40	$340	$577
Male, 50	$830	$1,556

^{Example rates reflect those for nonsmoking male and female candidates in excellent health.}

Riders available

• Accelerated benefit.
• Children’s level term insurance.
• Waiver of premium.

Great for high-coverage policies

Brighthouse Financial

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Policy analyzed

SimplySelect

Term Term lengths available

10, 20 or 30 years

Median time to approval

Same day

Why it’s the best

Brighthouse Financial’s no-exam life insurance is great for high-coverage policies. It offers eligible applicants up to $3 million in coverage without a medical exam, the highest among the insurers we analyzed. Its high-coverage policies are also competitively priced.

Pros and cons

Pros

• Up to $3 million in coverage, which is high for life insurance without a medical exam.
• Same-day approval for qualifying applicants.

Cons

• Policies purchased after the age of 65 can only be converted within the first 5 years.
• Fewer term length options when compared to other no-exam products we reviewed.

Rates

Example rates for a 20-year term policy

Gender/age	$500,000 policy	$1,000,000 policy
Female, 30	$190	$290
Female, 40	$285	$490
Female, 50	$680	$1,240
Male, 30	$240	$390
Male, 40	$340	$590
Male, 50	$885	$1,710

^{Example rates reflect those for nonsmoking male and female candidates in excellent health.}

Riders available

• Acceleration of death benefit.

Great for low-coverage policies

Transamerica

Policy analyzed

Trendsetter Super

Term lengths available

10, 15, 20, 25 or 30 years

Median time to approval

12 days

Why it’s the best

Transamerica is one of the only insurers in our analysis to offer policies with as little as $25,000 in coverage, making it a great no-exam life insurance for a low-coverage policies.

Transamerica offers two options for buying life insurance without a medical exam, but its Trendsetter Super policy has extremely competitive pricing. It also offers multiple term lengths for its no medical exam life insurance policies, ranging from 10 to 30 years.

Pros and cons

Pros

• No-exam life insurance coverage from $25,000 to $2 million.
• Coverage can be renewed up to age 100 — the highest we’ve seen in our analysis.

Cons

• Policies can be converted up to age 75 but only to a product of TransAmerica’s choosing.
• Maximum age for the highest coverage available is 45, the youngest age among the policies we analyzed.

Rates

Example rates for a 20-year term policy

Gender/age	$500,000 policy	$1,000,000 policy
Female, 30	$195	$290
Female, 40	$320	$570
Female, 50	$655	$1,140
Male, 30	$230	$360
Male, 40	$410	$680
Male, 50	$855	$1,580

^{Example rates reflect those for nonsmoking male and female candidates in excellent health.}

Riders available

• Accidental death benefit.
• Children’s benefit.
• Disability waiver of premium.
• Income protection option.
• Terminal illness accelerated death benefit (automatically included).

Best for quick decisions

Ethos

Policy analysis

Ethos Term Life

Term lengths available

10, 15, 20 or 30 years

Median time to approval

Instant

Why it’s the best

Ninety-five percent of eligible Ethos applicants are instantly approved for coverage, according to the insurer, making it a great no-exam life insurance option if you want a quick decision. It also offers four terms with coverage for up to $2 million.

Pros and cons

Pros

• No medical exam life insurance policies up to $2 million available.
• Instant no-exam life insurance approval.

Cons

• Can’t convert to permanent life insurance policy.

Rates

Example rates for a 20-year term policy

Gender/age	$500,000 policy	$1,000,000 policy
Female, 30	$192	$300
Female, 40	$324	$576
Female, 50	$792	$1,488
Male, 30	$240	$432
Male, 40	$420	$732
Male, 50	$984	$1,848

^{Example rates reflect those for nonsmoking male and female candidates in excellent health.}

Riders available

• Accelerated death benefit.

What is no-exam life insurance?

No-exam life insurance is a type of coverage that doesn’t require you to undergo a medical exam as part of the application process. This is in contrast to other life insurance products that require a medical exam with lab work, such as blood work, a urine sample and blood pressure check.

No-exam life insurance generally:

• Features a quick application process, with some companies offering same-day or instant approval for eligible applicants.
• Is well suited for younger, healthier applicants, though older or high-risk applicants may be eligible for small, guaranteed-issue policies that also don’t require a medical exam for approval, such as burial or end-of-life insurance.
• Is becoming increasingly common as insurers gain access to advanced risk analysis tools and data to assess a candidate’s risk without medical exams.

How much does no medical exam life insurance cost?

The average cost of a $500,000, 20-year term no-exam life insurance policy is $230 per year for a 30-year-old, healthy female and $281 for a male of the same age and health status.

How much you pay for life insurance without a medical exam life insurance will depend on various factors, including:

• Age. 
• Gender.
• Health. 
• Coverage amount.
• Policy type and length.
• Insurer.
• Underwriting process (accelerated, simplified or guaranteed).

Editor’s expert take:

In the past, life insurance without a medical exam was more expensive than policies that relied on a traditional underwriting process — lab work and all. But as companies gain access to better risk analysis tools, including AI, we’re seeing rates that more closely align with those for products that use a traditional underwriting process. No-exam products are also more plentiful, as more companies adopt these new risk-analysis tools.

If you are shopping for life insurance, don’t assume that a no-exam life insurance policy will be more expensive. I recommend you get several quotes, including some from companies that offer coverage without the exam component. That way you can assess a range of options and potentially skip the hassle of scheduling and undergoing a physical exam.

Jennifer Lobb, Deputy Editor of Insurance, USA TODAY Blueprint

Average annual cost of no-exam life insurance — 20-year term

^{Average rate is for non-smoking individuals in excellent health.}

Average annual cost by company – $500,000 20-year term – Female

^{Average rate is for non-smoking individuals in excellent health.}

Average annual cost by company – $500,000 20-year term – Male

^{Average rate is for non-smoking individuals in excellent health.}

Pros and cons of no-exam life insurance policies

Not sure if a no-exam life insurance policy is best for you? Here are some pros and cons associated with this increasingly popular life insurance product.

Pros

• No exam. No-exam life insurance lets you skip bloodwork and other lab requirements commonly associated with a traditional application process, known as underwriting.

• Faster approval. If you’re eligible for no-exam life insurance, you could secure it quickly, with some insurers in our analysis offering instant or same-day approval.

• Potentially similar rates. Depending on your age, health, desired coverage amount and the insurer you choose, you may find that no medical exam life insurance policies that use accelerated underwriting are priced similarly to those that rely on traditional underwriting.

Cons

• Health conditions affect eligibility. Most no-exam life insurance policies are best suited for healthy, young applicants. If you’re not in one of those two categories, you may find that you’re ineligible for coverage or that you’re subject to a higher rate.
  
  Guaranteed issue life insurance policies are often available to individuals with health conditions, but they’re often much more expensive per dollar of coverage.
  
  
• Coverage may be limited. Though some companies offer higher coverage amounts for life insurance policies without a medical exam, that’s not always the case — especially if you’re applying for a guaranteed issue or simplified issue policy. If you’re looking for a high coverage amount, a no-exam life insurance policy may not be the best option.

• Age limits apply. Most life insurance companies have caps on the age at which they’ll issue a policy, but that age is generally much lower for standard, term life insurance policies without a medical exam.
  
  Generally, no medical exam coverage is best suited for those who are 50 or younger, but some companies, like Lincoln Financial, that offer this type of life insurance to older individuals.

How to shop for and compare no-exam life insurance policies

Here are a few easy steps you can take to find the best no-exam life insurance company and policy to meet your individual needs.

1. Determine how much coverage you need. The coverage amount you choose should reflect the reason you are purchasing a policy. Common reasons include replacing income, covering a mortgage, paying for a child’s schooling, or helping a loved one manage ongoing expenses.

2. Understand your health. Many no-exam life insurance policies are best suited for individuals in good health. If you apply for coverage and have some health issues, the insurer may deny coverage or require you to undergo an exam to complete the process.
   
   Recognizing any impediments to approval can help you examine your options and prepare for the potential health exam requirements.

3. Be honest. You may be tempted to leave out important information, like a recent health diagnosis or tobacco usage, but doing so can create big problems for you and your beneficiaries.
   
   If your insurer determines you lied during the application process, they can deny you coverage or cancel your policy. Further, if your untruths are uncovered after you die, and you’ve passed during what’s known as the contestability period, the insurer can deny the claim, leaving your beneficiary without a death benefit.

4. Get multiple insurance quotes. Whether you’re purchasing life insurance, car insurance or homeowners insurance, one of the best things you can do is get multiple quotes to compare. Doing so can ensure you’re getting the best rate for the type and amount of coverage you want.

5. Evaluate policy features. While cost is an important factor, it’s a smart idea to look beyond that to consider what you need or what benefits and features, such as an accelerated death benefit, may be available to you for a similar cost.

6. Have a backup plan. Life insurance without an exam may be your first choice, but not everyone is eligible for coverage. Depending on your age, health and other factors, you may find that you’re denied or that the insurer requires additional information or steps, such as a health exam, before it will issue coverage.
   
   Don’t give up as there are other options, such as purchasing a policy that uses a more traditional underwriting process or looking for a guaranteed issue policy, which will provide coverage regardless of your health.

Different types of no medical exam life insurance

No medical exam life insurance is a broad term that includes any type of life insurance that doesn’t require a medical exam as part of the application process. Under that umbrella, there are three main types of coverage, each varying by how the insurers assess risk and determine rates.

Accelerated underwriting life insurance

During accelerated underwriting, the insurer takes information from your application to collect personal data that’s used to determine your level of risk. The exact information an insurer uses can vary, but the National Association of Insurance Commissioners identifies multiple third-party sources from which an insurer may collect data:

• Credit reports.
• Digital health records.
• Medical Information Bureau (MIB) data.
• Motor vehicle records.
• Prescription drug history.
• Public records.

After gathering your information, the underwriter will use AI technology, predictive models and algorithms to determine if you’re eligible for life insurance without an exam and, if so, your premium, or how much you’ll pay.

Accelerated underwriting tools allow insurers to create a comprehensive risk analysis that’s similar to that achieved through traditional underwriting with a medical exam.

As such, rates for eligible applicants may be similar to those determined during a traditional underwriting process. They are also likely to be lower than those obtained through a simplified issue or guaranteed issue life insurance — and coverage amounts are also usually higher.

Simplified issue life insurance

Simplified issue is considered a type of burial insurance. Its goal is to help cover end-of-life expenses, such as funeral or medical bills.

Simplified issue life insurance doesn’t require a medical exam, but applicants are usually required to submit answers to a health questionnaire. Traditionally, simplified issue coverage relied on limited third-party information, but as access to information increased, industry practices have evolved.

Today, a simplified issue underwriting process will likely pull in information from the MIB, motor vehicle records, prescription drug history and, in some cases, credit reports.

Still, simplified issue underwriting isn’t as in-depth as accelerated underwriting and therefore doesn’t always capture an applicant’s risk. That means applicants often face a trade-off: quicker application periods in exchange for higher rates and lower coverage limits.

Guaranteed issue insurance

There are no medical exams or health questionnaires required for guaranteed issue life insurance, and if you apply, you’re “guaranteed” to be approved. Because you can’t be denied, this type of coverage may be the best option if your health or age prevents you from being approved for other types of coverage.

However, because you’re guaranteed approval, and the insurer doesn’t have the information required to make a proper risk assessment, policies are much more expensive than other types of life insurance and offer lower maximum coverage amounts. Guaranteed issue policies are also considered a type of burial insurance.

Guaranteed-issue life insurance policies typically have graded death benefits. A graded death benefit means that if you pass away within the first two to three years of opening your policy, your beneficiary won’t receive the plan’s full death benefit amount.

Instead, they’ll be refunded the premiums you’ve paid on the policy in addition to interest — typically between 10% and 30%. There’s one exception: If you die due to an accident, such as a vehicle accident, your beneficiary will receive the death benefit in full.

Though guaranteed life insurance is considered a type of “no-exam” life insurance, we did not include this type of product in our scoring of the best no-exam life insurance companies.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Is no-exam life insurance only available for term life insurance?

Life insurance policies that don’t require a medical exam are available for both term and whole life insurance, but all the policies scored in our no-exam life insurance analysis are for term life insurance.

Term life policies typically offer more coverage at a lower price. no medical exam whole life insurance policies, in contrast, may only offer low coverage amounts and generally have higher rates in relation to the amount of coverage received.

Can you borrow money from no-exam life insurance?

If you have whole life insurance, you may be able to borrow money from your life insurance policy if it has a cash value.

However, if you have a no medical exam term life insurance policy, it won’t have a cash value, so you won’t be able to borrow against the policy.

How much life insurance can you get with no-exam life insurance?

Some no medical exam term life insurance policies offer as much as $1 million or $2.5 million in coverage, while a no-exam whole life insurance policy will have much lower coverage maximums, such as $25,000.

The amount of life insurance coverage you can get with no-exam life insurance will vary based on factors like the insurer and policy you choose and your age.

Shopping for high coverage? How much does a $1 million life insurance policy cost?

How long does a no-exam life insurance policy last?

A no-exam term life insurance policy will lock in your rate for the duration of a specific term, such as 30 years. When the term ends, you can usually renew your policy annually, but you’ll pay a higher premium each year.

If you purchase a whole life insurance policy that doesn’t require a medical exam, your policy will usually last your lifetime, as long as you continue to make your premium payments.

Can you get life insurance without a medical exam?

Yes, you can get a life insurance policy without a medical exam.

Some no medical exam life insurance policies, such as those that use accelerated underwriting, are available with instant or quick decisions and offer rates and coverage limits similar to traditional life insurance policies.

Other no-exam life insurance policies, like guaranteed issue life insurance, are generally more expensive but you can’t be turned down. These policies are typically best suited for individuals who have had trouble getting coverage due to their age or health.