Guide
No-exam life insurance
Who qualifies for expedited decisions, what happens when you do, and what occurs if expedited review is not available.
Most large carriers have adopted expedited underwriting: for people within their age and coverage limits, they make decisions using your application, pharmaceutical records, driving history, and similar information, skipping the in-person exam. Decisions may arrive within hours or a single day. Every quote on this page tells you whether a physical examination is needed, might be needed, or is not required for that specific product.
What it changes
Going without an exam does not skip the review process. Your information is checked for accuracy; if a policy is issued and it was based on incorrect information, it may be contested for the first two years. If the carrier finds any reason to investigate further, it may order an exam or request lab results—and you can make a choice then.
Who tends to qualify
Generally people below age 60, seeking coverage up to each carrier's limit for expedited review, with a clean medical history and no recent tobacco use. A number of carriers will substitute recent lab results from a doctor visit in place of a new exam.
Should an exam be ordered, it is usually a visit lasting 20 to 30 minutes with a trained paramedic who comes to your home or workplace in the Manhattan Beach area, at no charge. For applicants in good health, exam findings often lead to a better rate tier, so the exam can actually work in your favor.