Life insurance without a medical exam available in August 2024.

Life insurance policies exist that do not necessitate a medical exam.

Several types of life insurance exist, including group policies from employers, guaranteed issue policies for funeral expenses, simplified issue policies with higher premiums, and accelerated underwriting policies with limited coverage. These policies may require health questions and medical record checks.

We evaluated life insurance companies that provide no-medical-exam policies and identified the top five based on cost, coverage, customer service, and other factors. Our methodology explains how we arrived at these conclusions.

Shop for the best life insurance policy

Best for affordability

This is for whom? Amica offers budget-friendly policies starting at $11.67 per month for a 20-year term and a $250,000 death benefit.

Amica offers a level term life insurance policy that allows applicants in good health to skip the medical exam. Additionally, you may receive a bundling discount of up to 10% if you have car or homeowners insurance through the brand.

Best for seniors

No-exam term life policies are ideal for seniors as Ethos offers them until age 65, and they can keep them until they're 80.

Ethos offers no medical exam policies that provide up to $2 million in coverage in terms of 10, 15, 20, or 30 years. Additionally, adults aged 66 to 85 can qualify for a final expense whole life policy with a payout of up to $30,000.

Best for quick approval

The completely digital application process of Ladder means you could get approved in as little as five minutes, which is a big win if you want to cross it off your list quickly.

The company offers no-exam policies that pay out up to $3 million, but you'll still need to answer some health questions.

Best for higher coverage amounts

This program is for healthy applicants who may be approved for up to $5 million in coverage without an exam, which is the most of any provider we reviewed.

A Life Essentials term life policy provides a death benefit of up to $1.5 million without a medical exam, and the application process is entirely online, taking just 30 minutes to complete.

Best for customer service

If customer service is your top priority, State Farm is a winner. It topped J.D. Power's 2023 Individual Life Insurance Study and has an A+ from the Better Business Bureau. Additionally, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, State Farm receives far fewer complaints than other providers.

You can purchase a State Farm policy and pay your premiums monthly or annually on the same day.

Amica

Since 1907, Amica has been offering life insurance policies in all 50 states. You can obtain term life quotes online and save up to 30% by bundling life insurance with Amica's auto, home, and umbrella policies.

Term lengths available

10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 years

Age limits

18 to 75 (for online term life insurance)

Amount of coverage available

$100,000 to over $1 million

Ethos

Ethos offers online life insurance policies from top carriers such as Ameritas, TruStage, Mutual of Omaha, and Legal & General America, along with free will templates and other estate planning tools.

Term lengths available

10 to 30 years

Age limits

20 to 85

Amount of coverage available

Individuals aged 21 to 50 may earn between $20,000 to $2 million, while those aged 50 to 85 can expect to make between $20,000 to $500,000.

Ladder

In all 50 states and Washington, DC, Ladder operates and underwrites policies through various insurance companies, including Allianz Life Insurance Company of New York, Amica Life Insurance, Fidelity Security Life Insurance Company, Ladder Life Insurance Company, and S. USA Life Insurance Company.

Term lengths available

10 to 30 years

Age limits

20 to 60

Amount of coverage available

An exam is not required for a loan amount ranging from $100,000 to $3 million, but it can increase the loan amount to up to $8 million.

Nationwide

You can quickly obtain no-exam insurance from Nationwide online, with approval available in a matter of minutes. This insurance company was ranked second in JD Power's 2023 Individual Life Insurance Study and received an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau.

Term lengths available

10 and 20-year terms

Age limits

Individuals aged 18 to 50 can earn between $100,000 to $5 million, while those aged 51 to 60 can earn between $100,000 to $1 million.

Amount of coverage available

$100,000 to $5 million

State Farm

State Farm provides rate estimates online and offers nationwide policies. Their Instant Answer term life insurance plan pays out up to $50,000, while their guaranteed issue final expense plan provides up to $25,000.

Term lengths available

10-year-term or age 50, whichever is longer

Age limits

Up to age 50 Instant Answer term life insurance

Amount of coverage available

Up to $50,000 for Instant Answer term life insurance

What is no medical exam life insurance?

Some life insurance policies do not require a medical exam, but this may result in a smaller death benefit and higher premiums due to the limited information providers have.

There are several types of no-exam life insurance.

Life insurance coverage through your company is typically smaller than a standalone policy and terminates upon job departure.
Guaranteed issue life insurance offers coverage without requiring medical information, but the premiums are typically higher and the coverage level is smaller. Guaranteed issue final expense insurance can cover funeral and burial expenses.
Life insurance without a full exam requires answering health and medical history questions.
Instead of a medical exam, accelerated underwriting life insurance utilizes third-party data about your health and lifestyle, such as your driving record and prescription medication history.

Pros and cons of no medical exam life insurance

Pros of no medical exam life insurance

A guaranteed issue policy can be beneficial if you have preexisting conditions
Faster underwriting time
Don't have to disrupt your schedule
Can avoid disclosing personal health information

Cons of no medical exam life insurance

You'll pay more if you're in good health
Coverage amount may be more limited
Stricter age restrictions
Few if any riders

Why trust CNBC Select?

Our goal at CNBC Select is to deliver top-notch service journalism and in-depth consumer advice to our readers, enabling them to make well-informed decisions when it comes to their finances. Each insurance review we publish is the result of thorough reporting by our team of expert writers and editors, who possess extensive knowledge of insurance products. At CNBC Select, we are committed to maintaining our journalistic standards and ethics, even though we earn a commission from our affiliate partners on many offers and links.

Our methodology

CNBC Select analyzed numerous life insurance providers to identify the best options that offer exam-free policies for a diverse range of customers.

We took into account CNBC Select audience data, including demographics and engagement with our content and tools, when possible.

To determine the best insurance companies, we evaluated cost, customer satisfaction data from J.D. Power and the Better Business Bureau, and financial strength ratings from A.M. Best. We then ranked our recommendations based on affordability, coverage for seniors, quick approval, higher coverage amounts, and exceptional customer service.

Life insurance companies' premiums and policy structures vary based on their specific policies.

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