5 Best No-Exam Life Insurance Companies of 2025
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Get $250k in Term Life Insurance for as Low as $13/month
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- Policies of up to $2 million in coverage start at around $32/month
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100% online process from start to finish for coverage up to $3M
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No-exam life insurance policies have a reputation for offering skimpy coverage at high prices. Recent innovations in data analytics, though, including the use of artificial intelligence (AI), has allowed companies to use technology to better estimate the risk profiles of individual customers. As a result, no-exam policies now feature higher levels of coverage along with competitive rates.
However, qualification requirements vary, and many of these high limit policies are only available to the healthiest applicants. Nevertheless, the best no-medical-exam life insurance policies of 2025 offer high coverage limits, multiple rider options, efficient online application processes and instant approvals.
Check out our list of the best no-exam life insurance coverage, which includes offerings with attractive features from innovative companies. We’ve also included a guide to no-exam life insurance to help you as you evaluate your life insurance options. Read on to learn more.
What to know about no-exam life insurance
- No-exam life insurance has typically been more expensive and offered lower coverage levels than traditionally underwritten policies that include a medical exam.
- Technology has allowed for alternatives to traditional underwriting processes, and some life insurance companies now feature instant approval policies with no exam.
- There are multiple kinds of no-exam life insurance, including guaranteed issue, accelerated and simplified underwriting. (For more detail, see the guide below our best no-exam life insurance picks.
How we chose our top picks
We evaluated life insurance companies as well as online agencies that provide quotes and policies from a variety of carriers. We evaluated costs and coverage limits, focusing on policies with affordable premiums and high levels of coverage. We looked for companies that offer a variety of coverage options, including riders and other add-ons. Companies with informative, transparent websites and those with high financial strength received extra credit. We also rewarded companies that made it quick and easy to get quotes, and those for which the application process can be conducted wholly online.
Read the full methodology to learn more.
Our top picks for best no-exam life insurance
- Nationwide — Best Overall
- Ethos — Best Online Agency
- L&GA — Best for High Coverage Amounts
- USAA — Best for Members of the Military
- Mutual of Omaha — Best for Final Expense Coverage
Best Overall: Nationwide
Pros- Multiple no-exam policies offered
- High customer satisfaction rating
Cons- Not all term policies can be converted
- •Not all policies can be purchased online
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HIGHLIGHTS- Policy types
- Term, universal, whole, variable
- Terms available
- 10, 15, 20 or 30 years
- Coverage amounts
- $100K to $5 m
Why we chose it: We chose Nationwide as best overall because of the variety of affordable no-exam policies it offers, with premiums that start at about $15 a month.
Nationwide's no-exam Life Essentials term policy is available for people between the ages of 21 and 55, with coverage levels from $250,000 to $1.5 million available.
Along with term life, Nationwide also has numerous types of permanent life insurance available, including whole, universal, indexed universal and variable universal. A large number of policy riders let customers tailor their policy to fit their specific circumstances.
The company says many customers are eligible to obtain policies other than Life Essentials without an exam. Eligible applicants include people in good health, age 18 to 50, applying for $100,000 to $5 million in coverage, and those 51 to 60 applying for up to $1 million. The company says 70% of clients meeting these criteria are able to obtain a policy without undergoing an exam, as the company employs an intelligent underwriting process that pre-screens individuals. This process pulls digital health records and allows the healthiest applicants to bypass the exam.
AM Best rates Nationwide as A+ in financial stability. The company also ranked in the top five in JD Power's 2024 Individual Life Insurance Study oF customer experience.
Read our full review of Nationwide Life Insurance.
Best Online Agency: Ethos
Our PartnerPros- A lot of coverage levels for both term and guaranteed issue policies
- Simple application process, same-day coverage available
- Free will- and estate-planning tools
Cons- Not available in NY
- Limited availability of policy riders
HIGHLIGHTS- Policy types -
- Term and permanent
- Terms available -
- 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 years
- Coverage amounts -
- $5K to $3 m; coverage range from Guaranteed Whole Life is $2K to $100K
Why we chose it: Ethos is an easy-to-use online life insurance agency that offers a variety of options for coverage and fast, streamlined service. Applicants can get quotes and apply for policies online, a process which can take as little as 10 minutes. Many customers can even get same-day coverage, the company says.
People age 20 to 65 are eligible to apply for no-exam term life insurance coverage through Ethos. Available policies have coverage levels between $5,000 and $3 million, and available terms range from 10 to 40 years, which gives customers choice and flexibility.
Ethos is an insurance agency, not a life insurance company. It sells policies from a number of insurance providers, including Legal & General America, TruStage, Ameritas Life Insurance Corp., John Hancock and Protective. All of these insurance carriers have high ratings for financial stability with AM Best, Moody’s and S&P. The company also offers free will- and estate-planning tools worth nearly $900.
Read our full review of Ethos Life Insurance.
Best for High Coverage Amounts: LG&A
Our PartnerPros- Up to $4 million in no-exam coverage
- Premiums start at $8/month
Cons- Not all customers qualify for no-exam coverage
- LG&A declined to provide information to assist with this report
HIGHLIGHTS- Policy types
- term, permanent
- Terms available
- 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35 and 40 years
- Coverage amounts
- Up to $4M
Why we chose it: LG&A offers eligible applicants up to $4 million in life insurance with no exam, making it our top pick for people looking for high-coverage no-exam life insurance. The company has a couple of different policy options (with some variations by state) for eligible customers age 20 to 60 to get life insurance coverage with no exam.
According to a spokesperson, 73% of term life applicants are approved with no exam necessary, and 42% of applicants receive an instant decision.
Rates are also affordable, with premiums for traditionally underwritten policies starting at $8 a month. Keep in mind, the premium you'll pay depends on physical factors like your age and health as well the coverage level and term duration you choose.
Best for Members of the Military: USAA
Pros- Available to military and non-military applicants
- Same-day decisions
Cons- No riders
- Rates increase annually
HIGHLIGHTS- Policy types -
- term and permanent
- Terms available -
- 10 – 30 years
- Coverage amounts -
- $100K to $10M
Why we chose it: USAA’s no-exam life insurance policy is designed for young, working adults and military members, but isn’t limited to active duty members. Anyone between the ages of 18 and 60, including civilians, can apply for this coverage.
USAA’s Eagle Express policy offers between $100,000 and $1 million in term life insurance for adults who are in good health, with a quick application process and the possibility of obtaining coverage the very same day.
If you need more coverage, USAA's traditionally-underwritten level term life policy offers coverage of up to $10 million for applicants between the ages of 18 and 70.
AM Best rates USAA as A++ for financial stability, its very highest rating, which reflects top-notch.
Read our full review of USAA Life Insurance.
Best for Final Expense Insurance: Mutual of Omaha
Our PartnerPros- Least expensive for guaranteed issue policies
- $2,000 to $25,000 coverage available
- Applicants age 45-85 eligible
Cons- Low maximum coverage for guaranteed issue insurance
- Different age eligibility in NY (50-75)
HIGHLIGHTS- Policy types
- term, whole and universal (guaranteed issue is a whole life policy)
- Terms available
- term policies are 10, 15, 20 and 30 years; guaranteed issue is not a term policy
- Coverage amounts
- $2K to $25K for guaranteed issue/final expense whole life coverage
Why we chose it: Mutual of Omaha is a well-regarded life insurance company that offers a wide range of policy types, including a flexible and relatively affordable guaranteed issue policy. We made it our top pick for guaranteed issue, which is sometimes called "final expense" coverage. (Read more about these policies below.)
The company's no-exam whole life policy is is available for people aged 45 to 85 (50 to 75 in New York). It offers coverage ranging from $2,000 to $25,000 ($5,000 minimum in Washington).
Because an applicant can't be rejected due to their health, guaranteed issue is the most expensive type of life insurance. We found that the monthly premium for a $5,000 policy for a 50-year-old woman was roughly $16 a month; for a $25,000 policy, roughly $75. This policy, like most guaranteed issue policies, has a graded death benefit — in which the full benefit is available only some years after the policy begins.
Other no-exam life insurance companies we considered
The life insurance market is competitive, and there are many options available. Here are a few other companies with offerings we deemed noteworthy.
Corebridge Direct
Pros- Coverage up to $10 million
- Flexible term lengths
- Wide variety of life insurance types and possibilities for customization
Cons- No-exam only available with guaranteed issue whole life
- Higher than average customer complaints
Why it didn’t make the cut: Though Corebridge Direct offers a wider array of life insurance products, the only no-exam policy the company has is a guaranteed issue whole life policy intended to cover final expenses.
Coverage is limited to $5,000 to $20,000, which is lower than our top pick for this category, and premiums start at $22 per month for women and $32 for men, higher than some competitors that offer similar products.
Why it didn't make the cut: Progressive had lower coverage maximums compared to some of its competitors, but it stands out for a unique one-year, no-exam life insurance product. While this particular policy is narrowly targeted, young and healthy adults who need life insurance for a short duration can get coverage starting at $11 a month.
Why it didn't make the cut: State Farm offers a simplified policy called Instant Answer that doesn't require a medical exam, but its terms — up to $50,000 in coverage, and you can't be over the age of 45 when you apply — weren't as good as some others we looked at. State Farm is unique, however, in that it lets customers bundle Instant Answer with an auto policy for a discount.
Why it didn't make the cut: Although TruStage has both a term and a whole-life policy that are no-exam, we found their terms not as favorable as some of its competitors. TruStage is the insurer behind many big credit unions’ life insurance offerings and has a good track record of customer satisfaction.
Life insurance guide
In this section we will explain everything you need to know about no-exam life insurance. We’ll explore what the product is, how it works, how to get it, and the benefits of this type of policy. We’ll also take a look at the different types of no-exam life insurance, as the product is available in term, permanent and other options depending on the issuer.
What is no-exam life insurance?
No-exam life insurance is a life insurance policy that does not require you to undergo a medical exam. Traditional life insurance policies are subject to medical underwriting, which typically entails a medical exam, blood work, blood pressure check, urinalysis and other health tests.
Life insurance issuers require these exams to protect themselves from insuring someone who may have a serious pre-existing medical condition. A no-exam policy incurs more risk on the insurers part, so no-exam coverage options vary widely by issuer. Some companies only offer final expenses coverage with no medical exam, while others employ third-party medical data to offer much higher coverage limits to the healthiest individuals.
How does no-exam life insurance work?
No-exam life insurance approval and coverage is usually quick, as you don’t have to submit to any health tests or medical exams to qualify. Instead, you’ll have to answer a series of questions about your health. Insurers will also make use of third-party data regarding your medical and prescription histories when making their decision whether or not to insure you. A growing number of companies are using algorithmic tools that incorporate AI to assist in evaluating applicants.
You must be completely honest in your responses to your health questionnaire. if your insurer finds any discrepancies — for example, you falsely claim that you don’t use tobacco products when you actually do — your policy could be voided.
Often, the policies can be purchased completely online and without speaking to an agent. No-exam life insurance can go into effect immediately, unlike traditional life insurance which can take three to six weeks while the insurance company reviews your information before underwriting.
Types of no medical exam life insurance
No-exam approval can technically be offered for any type of life insurance policy. It all depends on the company. Below you’ll find descriptions for different kinds of life insurance and how no-exam functions within these life insurance policies. The two primary categories of life insurance are term life insurance and permanent life insurance (different types of permanent life insurance include whole life insurance and universal life insurance). You can find both term and permanent (generally whole) life policies that are no-exam, but not all companies offer all types — and some big insurance companies don't offer no-exam life insurance at all.
Simplified issue
Simplified issue life insurance does not require a medical exam. Instead, you provide information about your health via a questionnaire, typically through the insurance company or agency’s website or mobile app. These policies have the advantage of being more convenient and less intrusive than traditionally underwritten life insurance policies that include a medical exam, and approval can be granted within days or even same-day. However, these policies also tend to be more expensive and may have lower maximum death benefits because insurers have less visibility into your health profile. In addition, approval is not guaranteed with simplified issue policies and eligibility might be limited to younger applicants. Term policies are more common with simplified issue policies. Certain medical conditions or even high-risk hobbies (e.g. skydiving) could lead to your application being denied.
Accelerated underwriting
Accelerated underwriting life insurance is similar to simplified issue in that it offers a faster and more efficient application and approval process and is often, although not exclusively, used for term policies. Simplified issue application is a streamlined process because insurers require less information about your health history than conventional underwriting requires. However, accelerated underwriting uses sophisticated data analytics and algorithmic tools, along with data from third-party sources, to serve as a proxy for a medical exam. Like simplified issue, the appeal of accelerated underwriting is that it offers a minimally-invasive, streamlined application process, one in which approval can be granted as quickly as same-day. However, like simplified issue, your age or other circumstances like a serious medical condition might make you ineligible for coverage.
Guaranteed issue
Guaranteed issue life insurance, sometimes called final expense insurance, is a type of whole life insurance wherein approval is guaranteed — with no medical exam required. This option is ideal for seniors, people with serious medical conditions and anyone who’s been denied life insurance coverage in the past.
The trade-off is that these policies tend to be more expensive — sometimes significantly so — and coverage levels tend to be meager, often $50,000 or less. The death benefits these policies offer is intended to pay for funeral and burial costs, and to pay off any debts that might otherwise pass onto your heirs.
Another important thing to know about these policies is that they usually feature a graded death benefit. This means that if you die before the waiting period (often two or three years), your beneficiaries will not receive the full death benefit.
Pros- No health exam or blood tests required
- Quick application and approval compared to traditional underwriting
- Application likely to be online
Cons- Low coverage limits
- Only the healthiest individuals may qualify for substantial coverage
- Higher premiums than traditional coverage
- Age restrictions
How to compare no-exam life insurance policies
Comparing no-exam life insurance options is much the same as comparing traditional life insurance options. Among other factors, customers should evaluate monthly premium costs, term lengths, available riders and the issuers' reputation and financial strength.
However, no-exam policies also present their own specific features that are different from traditional life insurance, which we will consider here.
Coverage limits - Depending on the insurer, no-exam policies can have significantly lower coverage limits than policies that require a medical check. Many companies only have the no-exam option to cover final expenses. Additionally, companies that do offer significant coverage may only do so for the healthiest applicants.
In these situations, approval will not only be contingent on answering medical questions, but also on an analysis of the applicant’s medical and prescription histories. In comparing companies, make sure you understand how much coverage they are prepared to extend to you without a medical exam. Also, be aware they will likely be diving into your medical history to determine whether or not they will cover you.
Costs - No-exam life insurance policies can have higher premiums than traditional life insurance. In all reality, you could get a better deal going the traditional route if you are fairly healthy.
Although the lowest rates will be reserved for those in optimal health, be sure to get life insurance quotes from multiple issuers as they all have different standards for who they will accept and what they will charge without a medical exam.
Term lengths - No-exam term lengths could be limited by your age. For example, if you are over 40, the maximum term you might expect could be 20 years. Compare the term lengths different issuers are prepared to offer you. Additionally, find out if you will be given the option to extend the term or convert to a permanent policy at the term's end.
Financial strength - Research the financial stability and reputation of the insurance company offering the policy. Look for ratings from independent agencies like AM Best, Standard & Poor's and Moody's to assess the insurer's ability to pay claims.
Alternatives to no medical exam life insurance
Although companies are beginning to offer no-exam policies with high coverage limits, as mentioned before, these are usually reserved for those applicants who pre qualify because of their age and optimal physical condition. Those who may not fall into this category and require higher coverage limits may choose to go the traditional route and opt for a fully underwritten policy.
The prospect of taking a medical exam may provoke anxiety, but there’s a possibility you may be offered a better premium and higher coverage limits with one, not to mention more policy flexibility when it comes to riders and designating beneficiaries.
Best No Exam Life Insurance FAQ
How much life insurance can you get without a medical exam?
You can get policies in the millions of dollars without a medical exam, however, these offers are usually reserved for the healthiest of applicants with unblemished medical records. For most people, no-exam policies are going to have lower coverage limits than traditional life insurance policies because they are riskier for the insurer. They also cost more.How long is the waiting period for no-exam life insurance?
Since you don’t have to submit to any health tests or medical exams to qualify, no-exam policies can be approved and go into effect relatively quickly. Some policies can be active immediately or within 24 hours, but it depends on the insurer.Can you get a whole life insurance policy without a medical exam?
Yes, it's possible to get a whole life insurance policy without a medical exam. One example is guaranteed issue whole life insurance, which typically provides enough to cover final expenses.Is a no-exam life insurance policy worth it?
A no-exam life insurance policy may be worth it — despite the possibility of paying a higher premium than a fully underwritten policy — if you want to avoid the hassle of a medical exam. A Guaranteed Issue policy with no medical exam, which is typically costlier than other kinds of life insurance policies, may also be worth it if you've been denied coverage in the past.How we chose the best no-exam life insurance
We followed comprehensive guidelines in our search for the best life insurance with no exam. We prioritized companies with the highest financial strength ratings and the best coverage options and rates. Read on to learn more about the methodology behind our choices for the best life insurance companies with no exam required.
Rates and cost
Life insurance rates are based on the applicant's health, age, policy type and coverage amount. We prioritized companies that have rate generators on their websites and used those tools to compare quotes. We gave additional points to companies that were transparent about policy details and premium increases.
Customer service and reputation
We looked at public feedback from third-party review sites and information available via the Better Business Bureau. If policyholder review ratings were poor, we also considered the number of reviews in relation to the ratings. Finally, we considered each company’s AM Best financial strength rating and eliminated companies rated B and below.
Coverage limits and amounts
No-exam policies often offer lower coverage amounts because of the higher risk for the insurance company. We prioritized companies offering over $100,000 in coverage (with the exception of our final expense category, where coverage limits tend to be lower) as well as riders or any other add-on options.
Summary of Money’s 5 Best No-Exam Life Insurance of 2024
- Nationwide — Best Overall
- Ethos — Best Online Agency
- L&GA — Best for High Coverage Amounts
- USAA — Best for Members of the Military
- Mutual of Omaha — Best for Final Expense Coverage
