Guide
No-exam life insurance
Eligibility for accelerated underwriting, the process, and what happens if you do not qualify for it.
A growing number of carriers provide accelerated underwriting: qualified applicants within age and benefit thresholds can be approved based on their application, prescription and driving history, and other data—no paramedical exam required. Approval decisions for many candidates come through within a day. When you get your quotes, each one specifies whether an exam is required, conditional, or not needed.
What it changes
Skipping an exam does not bypass the underwriting process. The carrier will verify your answers, and any policy issued based on false information may be challenged for two years following issuance. Should the carrier discover inconsistencies, it may request an exam or additional lab work; you retain the right to proceed or decline at that point.
Who tends to qualify
Usually applicants under age 60 applying for amounts under the carrier's acceleration threshold, with no significant health conditions and with no tobacco use for at least a year. Some carriers will also accept results from recent medical appointments including blood work in place of a new exam.
If an exam is required, it typically involves a 20- to 30-minute appointment with a paramedical examiner, either at your Montebello-area home or workplace. There is no charge to you. In many cases, exam results help improve your health rating, so undergoing an exam can actually work in your favor.