Non-Medical Exam Life Insurance Guide

What is the difference between no-exam life insurance, accelerated underwriting, and simplified issue life insurance?

Life insurance companies offer three different underwriting options.

  1. No-Exam Life Insurance
  2. Accelerated Underwritten Life Insurance
  3. Simplified Issues Life Insurance.

So what's the difference?

What is no-exam life insurance?

The insurance company does not require you to conduct a medical exam to qualify for a policy. Furthermore, the insurance company will review your medical history and available prescription history.

What is accelerated underwritten life insurance?

This type of underwriting, allows you to skip the medical exam. Based on your age, medical history, current health, and the coverage amount, you may be able to qualify for the best life insurance rates without the need for a physical exam.

What is simplified issue life insurance?

These options do not require a medical exam. The main difference between simplified issue vs. no-exam and accelerated underwritten life insurance is that these options do not allow discounted rates.  This means the lowest rate you can obtain is "Standard Rate" while the other two options above offer "Preferred Rates" or discounted rates.

What you need to know about accelerated underwriting.

Accelerated underwriting means you can still get the lowest rates available without having to complete a physical exam. To qualify, you must meet certain requirements.

The requirements are based on an interview and background check. Furthermore, not everyone will qualify.  It is at the discretion of the insurance company to determine if an exam is needed. Lastly, if the carrier requests an exam, it does not limit you from obtaining the best rate.

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Accelerated Underwriting Product Comparison

Allianz

Accelerated
Underwriting

Policy Type

Permanent Life Insurance

Rate Class

Preferred Plus NT
Preferred NT

Death Benefit

Up to $1,500,000

Issue Ages

Age 25 -Age 60

Underwriting

Phone Interview
Motor Vehicle Record
Prescription History
MIB History
American National Logo

American National

Accelerated
Underwriting

Policy Type

Term Life Insurance
Permanent Life Insurance

Rate Class

Preferred Plus
Preferred
Standard Plus
Standard

Death Benefit

Up to $1,000,000
Up to $500,000

Issue Ages

Up to Age 50
Up to Age 60

Underwriting

Phone Interview
Motor Vehicle Record
Prescription History
MIB History
Legal & General America Logo

Legal & General (Banner)

Accelerated
Underwriting

Policy Type

Term Life Insurance

Rate Class

Preferred Plus
Preferred
Standard Plus
Standard

Death Benefit

Up to $1,000,000
Up to $750,000
Up to $500,000

Issue Ages

Up to Age 40
Up to age 45
Up to Age 50

Underwriting

Phone Interview
Motor Vehicle Record
Prescription History
MIB History
Global Atlantic Logo

Global Atlantic

Accelerated
Underwriting

Policy Type

Permanent Life Insurance

Rate Class

Preferred Plus
Preferred
Standard Plus
Standard

Death Benefit

Up to $1,000,000
Up to $500,000
Up to $250,000

Issue Ages

Up to Age 50
Up to Age 55
Up to Age 60

Underwriting

Phone Interview
Motor Vehicle Record
Prescription History
MIB History
John Hancock Logo

John Hancock

Accelerated
Underwriting

Policy Type

Term Life Insurance
Permanent Life Insurance

Rate Class

Super Preferred
Preferred
Standard Plus
Standard

Death Benefit

Up to $3,000,000

Issue Ages

Up to Age 60

Underwriting

Phone Interview
Motor Vehicle Record
Prescription History
MIB History
Lincoln Financial Group

Lincoln Financial

Accelerated
Underwriting

Policy Type

Term Life Insurance
Permanent Life Insurance

Rate Class

Preferred Plus
Preferred
Standard Plus
Standard

Death Benefit

Up to $1,000,000

Issue Ages

Up to Age 60

Underwriting

Phone Interview
Motor Vehicle Record
Prescription History
MIB History
Mutual of Omaha Logo

Mutual of Omaha

Accelerated
Underwriting

Policy Type

Term Life Insurance
Permanent Life Insurance

Rate Class

Preferred Plus
Preferred
Standard Plus
Standard
Preferred Tobacco
Standard Tobacco

Death Benefit

Up to $2,000,000

Issue Ages

Up to Age 55

Underwriting

Phone Interview
Motor Vehicle Record
Prescription History
MIB History

Quote & Compare Term Life Insurance

Run your own term life insurance quote comparison, then apply with the best option.

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Nationwide Logo

Nationwide

Accelerated
Underwriting

Policy Type

Term Life Insurance
Permanent Life Insurance

Rate Class

Preferred Plus NT
Preferred NT

Death Benefit

Up to $2,000,000
Up to $1,000,000

Issue Ages

Up to Age 50
Up to Age 60

Underwriting

Phone Interview
Motor Vehicle Record
Prescription History
MIB History
North American Logo

North American

Accelerated
Underwriting

Policy Type

Term Life Insurance
Permanent Life Insurance

Rate Class

Preferred Plus
Preferred
Standard Plus
Standard

Death Benefit

Up to $1,000,000

Issue Ages

Up to Age 50

Underwriting

Phone Interview
Motor Vehicle Record
Prescription History
MIB History
Pacific Life Logo

Pacific Life

Accelerated
Underwriting

Policy Type

Term Life Insurance
Permanent Life Insurance

Rate Class

Preferred Plus
Preferred
Standard Plus
Standard

Death Benefit

Up to $1,000,000

Issue Ages

Up to Age 69

Underwriting

Phone Interview
Motor Vehicle Record
Prescription History
MIB History
Principal Financial Logo

Principal Financial

Accelerated
Underwriting

Policy Type

Term Life Insurance
Permanent Life Insurance

Rate Class

Super Preferred
Preferred
Super Standard
Standard NT

Death Benefit

Up to $2,000,000

Issue Ages

Up to Age 60

Underwriting

Phone Interview
Motor Vehicle Record
Prescription History
MIB History
Protective Life Logo

Protective Life

Accelerated
Underwriting

Policy Type

Term Life Insurance
Permanent Life Insurance

Rate Class

Preferred Plus
Preferred
Standard Plus
Standard

Death Benefit

Up to $1,000,000
Up to $500,000

Issue Ages

Up to Age 45
Up to Age 60

Underwriting

Phone Interview
Motor Vehicle Record
Prescription History
MIB History
Prudential Logo

Prudential

Accelerated
Underwriting

Policy Type

Term Life Insurance
Permanent Life Insurance

Rate Class

Preferred Best
Preferred
Standard Plus
Standard

Death Benefit

Up to $3,000,000

Issue Ages

Up to Age 60

Underwriting

Phone Interview
Motor Vehicle Record
Prescription History
MIB History
Securian Financial Logo

Securian Financial

Accelerated
Underwriting

Policy Type

Term Life Insurance
Permanent Life Insurance

Rate Class

Preferred Select
Preferred
Standard Plus
Standard
Standard Tobacco

Death Benefit

Up to $2,000,000
Up to $1,000,000

Issue Ages

Up to Age 50
Up to Age 60

Underwriting

Phone Interview
Motor Vehicle Record
Prescription History
MIB History

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What you need to know about no-exam life insurance.

Some insurance companies offer no-exam life insurance. These options guarantee the insured doesn't have to conduct a medical exam. Furthermore, these policies are available for lower death benefit amounts and younger ages.

On the other hand, these policies are usually not the most competitively priced options. We advise exploring accelerated underwritten life insurance to see if you can qualify for the lowest rates while still avoiding the need for a medical exam.

Exam-Free Life Insurance Product Comparison

Assurity Life Insurance Logo

Assurity

Exam-Free
Life Insurance

Policy Type

Term Life Insurance

Rate Class

Preferred Plus
Preferred NT
Standard NT
Preferred Tobacco
Standard Tobacco

Death Benefit

Up to $500,000
Up to $350,000

Issue Ages

Up to Age 50
Up to Age 65

Underwriting

Phone Interview
Motor Vehicle Record
Prescription History
MIB History
Sagicor Insurance Logo

Sagicor

Exam-Free
Life Insurance

Policy Type

Term Life Insurance
Permanent Life Insurance

Rate Class

Preferred
Standard NT
Preferred Tobacco
Standard Tobacco

Death Benefit

Up to $500,000

Issue Ages

Up to Age 65

Underwriting

Phone Interview
Motor Vehicle Record
Prescription History
MIB History
SBLI - LOGO

SBLI

Exam-Free
Life Insurance

Policy Type

Term Life Insurance
Permanent Life Insurance

Rate Class

Preferred NT
Standard Non-Tobacco
Preferred Tobacco
Standard Tobacco

Death Benefit

Up to $500,000

Issue Ages

Up to Age 60

Underwriting

Phone Interview
Motor Vehicle Record
Prescription History
MIB History

What you need to know about simplified issue life insurance.

A simplified issue life insurance policy means the insurance company will offer a policy without requiring a medical exam. As a result, these products only offer a "standard" rate, meaning no discounts are available for above-standard health.

To qualify, you must complete a phone interview and a background check. In other words, if you are healthy we advise you to try obtaining an accelerated underwritten policy first.

Simplified Issue Life Insurance Product Comparison

Mutual of Omaha Logo

Mutual of Omaha

Simplified Issue
Life Insurance

Policy Type

Term Life Insurance
Permanent Life Insurance

Rate Class

Standard NT
Standard Tobacco

Death Benefit

Up to $300,000
Up to $250,000
Up to $150,000

Issue Ages

Up to Age 50
Up to Age 60
Up to Age 70

Underwriting

Phone Interview
Motor Vehicle Record
Prescription History
MIB History
Transamerica Logo

Transamerica

Simplified Issue
Life Insurance

Policy Type

Term Life Insurance

Rate Class

Standard NT
Standard Tobacco

Death Benefit

Up to $250,000

Issue Ages

Up to Age 60

Underwriting

Phone Interview
Motor Vehicle Record
Prescription History
MIB History

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