Life Insurance Basics
What is no-medical-exam life insurance?
No-medical-exam life insurance (also called no-med or no-exam life insurance) uses a proposed insured’s (PI) past health records instead of a physical exam to assess their health and set their premiums. No-medical-exam life insurance can be purchased in as little as a couple of days, which is much faster than the couple of months it takes to buy a traditional insurance policy. Because these types of policies are contactless, they've become more popular as people continue to practice social distancing during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
The 2022 Policygenius Trend Report shows that the COVID-19 pandemic caused a surge in no-medical exam policy availability, and people are biting. “Even when no-med policies are slightly more expensive, say $5 to $10 more per month, customers are still opting for those because of the quicker turnaround time,” says Eloise Spinello, associate director of Partner Success at Policygenius Pro.
Even when no-med policies are slightly more expensive, say $5 to $10 more per month, customers are still opting for those because of the quicker turnaround time
Eloise Spinello, Associate Director of Partner Success, Policygenius Pro
Questions or want to learn more?
Types of no-med
The most common type of no-medical-exam life insurance is a term life policy with accelerated underwriting. Instead of an exam, an underwriter uses a PI’s medical history, previous labs, prescription history, and any past diagnoses to set their premiums.
Term life insurance with no medical exam
Term life policies without a medical exam offer the same robust protection as a fully underwritten policy. They offer riders and millions in coverage — all at a competitive price. The key difference is that without a medical exam, the PI gets a policy decision much quicker.
Because term policies without a medical exam are so similar to traditional life insurance policies, anyone who is eligible should consider applying.
No-medical-exam life insurance: Quick comparison
Term no-medical-exam life insurance has some pros and cons when compared to a traditional policy:
Pros
- Comparable in pricing (if not cheaper) than a fully underwritten policy
- Application decisions can take as little as a few days
- Comes with riders and robust death benefit coverage
Cons
- Does not provide for wealthy candidates who need a very large death benefit
- People who are of old age or in poor health may not be eligible
- If a PI’s application is rejected, they will have to take the medical exam
Policy Details |
Traditional term life |
No-med term life |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | $ | $ |
| Waiting period | Average | Fast |
| Coverage | $25,000 to $10 million | $25,000 to $3 million |
| Term | Up to 40 years | Up to 40 years |
| Ages | Up to 80 | Up to 70 |
Based on policies offered through Policygenius in 2022. Individual policy options may vary based on your individual profile or location.