Life insurance can help you to plan for the care of your family when you are no longer here to do it. It can provide financial security and make it easier on your family after your death.

Having life insurance is a smart financial move, but it can be a hassle to get. For many policies, you will need to undergo a medical exam. These exams can range from cursory to intensive. If you do not want to mess with that process or you know you have health problems that could impact your ability to get life insurance, you may want to consider getting a no medical exam life insurance policy.

The Market For No Medical Exam Life Insurance

Not every company offers no medical exam life insurance, but here are five of the best options on the market. These are all well-known names in the industry that you can trust for excellent coverage and products.

1. Colonial Penn

Colonial Penn Life Insurance Company is a part of CNO Financial Group. It’s located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The no medical exam life insurance option from Colonial Penn is the guaranteed acceptance life insurance plan.

The company says it starts offering policies under this plan at $9.95 a month and prices lock in with no increase for the life of the policy. The company will also never drop your policy due to age or other details as long as you stay current on your payments.

The guaranteed acceptance life insurance plan is available to those ages 50 to 85. The company offers it in most states. You get a two-year limited benefit period with lifetime coverage. The benefits will vary depending on your location, age, and gender, but coverage is up to $50,000.

This is a true no medical exam life insurance option as it has no exam and no medical questions you must answer. The company offers you a 30-day full refund and flexible payment options.

Pros

• Live chat customer service available
• No medical questions
• No premium increases

Cons

• Benefits are often low
• May not be available in all states

2. Globe Life

Globe Life and Accident Insurance Company is in McKinney, Texas. It offers nationwide insurance coverage and is part of Globe Life. Globe Life regularly receives high ratings for financial stability and dependability from top rating agencies.

The company offers up to $100,000 coverage under a guaranteed policy plan. There is no medical exam or waiting period. You can get coverage for just $1 for the first month. After that, premiums depend on your age and the type of coverage you choose, starting at $2.17 a month.

Globe Life does not cancel or reduce your benefits for the life of the policy as long as you stay current on your premiums. It also offers a money-back guarantee.

Pros

• Coverage from day one
• High AM Best rating
• High coverage amounts

Cons

• Monthly premiums can be high
• Requires answering health questions

3. AARP/New York Life

AARP is a known name for being an advocate and source of information and products for seniors. The AARP Life Insurance Program is from New York Life Insurance Company.

New York Life has been around since 1845. It is a high-ranking insurer with financial stability and strength. There are three policy options for no medical exam life insurance through the AARP program.

Level benefit term life insurance offers coverage up to $100,000. It provides coverage up to age 80. Your rates will increase over time. You do not have to have a medical exam, but the company does require answering medical questions and access to medical information.

Permanent life insurance provides up to $50,000 in coverage. It is a lifelong policy with no rate increases as long as you continue to pay your premium. You do have to answer medical questions and provide additional health information on request.

Easy acceptance life insurance is available for up to $25,000 in coverage. It provides you with limited benefits for the first two years. The coverage period is lifelong with an exception for terminal illness. This policy does have no rate increases or medical exam requirements. You only answer one medical question to secure coverage.

Pros

• High AM Best ratings
• Excellent customer service scores
• Does have a guaranteed acceptance option

Cons

• Higher benefits are not lifelong and have rate increases
• Does require medical questions and access to medical information

4. Transamerica

Transamerica is one of the top ten largest life insurance companies in the country. It began business in 1904. This company has high AM Best ratings for financial strength, making it a dependable option for your life insurance needs.

The company offers a couple of term life insurance options that have no medical exam required. But to qualify for no medical exam options you must meet specific age requirements and answer medical questions that will either qualify or disqualify you from this coverage option. Because these are term life policies, they will only last up to a maximum of 30 years.

The first option is Trendsetter Super. This plan offers up to $10 million in coverage. Whatever coverage amount you choose will remain valid for the life of the policy as long as you maintain your premiums. You will get the option at the end of the policy term to convert it to a whole life policy. However, you will have to undergo a medical exam to do this.

Trendsetter LB is the other policy option. It provides you with up to $2 million in coverage for death benefits. The policy also provides living benefits that allow you to collect on the policy while still alive if you have a qualifying event, such as a terminal illness.

Pros

• Highest coverage amounts
• Excellent financial strength
• Provides living benefits as an option

Cons

• Strict qualifications for no medical exam policies
• No medical available only for term life insurance

5. State Farm

State Farm is a highly recognizable name in the insurance industry. The company’s headquarters are in Bloomington, Illinois. It has various locations nationwide and provides life insurance through State Farm Life Insurance Company and State Farm Life and Accident Assurance Company.

State Farm offers a no medical exam life insurance option in its Instant Answer Term Insurance. While there is no exam, you will have to answer health questions, which will determine if you qualify for coverage.

You can get benefits of up to $50,000. Coverage is available for you from ages 16 to 45 with coverage available to age 50 with some limitations. You can apply for and secure a policy in minutes, which makes it one of the easiest and quickest life insurance options.

Pros

• Top ratings from AM Best
• Fast application process
• Local offices are easy to find

Cons

• Not available in all states
• Many limitations on coverage

FAQs

Choosing life insurance policies can be confusing since there are many options. It can help to gather additional information beyond just recommendations for the best companies offering no medical exam life insurance.

Here is a look at some frequently asked questions that should help you understand life insurance options better.

Why Do Insurers Require Medical Exams?

According to U.S. News and World Report, life insurance companies will require a medical exam so they can properly assess the risk associated with offering you a policy.

As you have probably deduced, companies want to give policies to people who won’t die for a very long time because then they can collect premiums for years or decades before they must payout on the policy. A medical exam can uncover health issues that could put you at risk for premature death.

Why Should I Consider a No Medical Exam Policy?

Because the insurer has no way to fully assess how risky it is to cover you with a no medical exam policy, it will usually charge you higher rates for the policy. This might make you wary of getting this type of policy, but there are many benefits.

One of the most common reasons why anyone gets a no medical exam policy is to save time and get the policy fast. Since you don’t have to go through an extensive underwriting process, you can often secure coverage very quickly. Some companies will do it within an hour of your application.

It is also much easier to get this type of policy since you won’t have to go through a physical exam, which includes blood draws and hooking you up to monitors. The various tests can take a long time, and it’s not always easy to schedule the exam in your daily life.

It is also a nice option if you do have medical issues. If you know you will not do good in the medical exam, then you may skip the hassle and frustration of an exam by getting this type of policy.

Finally, it is often much easier to figure out how much a no medical exam policy will cost than one that does require a medical exam. Companies will usually set general rates based on age, which makes it simple to see how much it will cost you so that you can budget for it.

Are There Reasons Not to Choose a No Medical Exam Policy?

For some people, a no medical exam policy may not be the best choice. If you are a generally healthy person and are under the age of 50, you may get better rates and policy options by choosing a policy that requires a medical exam.

No exam policies often cost more because the company cannot fully evaluate your risk. Also, companies will not offer a wide range of no-exam policies. You will have fewer options, and usually, these options include low coverage levels. You also usually have to take what you can get with no or few rider options. Finally, these policies typically have a waiting period before they will payout.

You should carefully weigh your options. Make sure you look at both types of policies before you make a decision. You want to choose what makes the most sense for your situation and needs.

What Medical Questions May an Insurer Ask?

While a policy may not require a medical exam, an insurer will still need to gather some information to get a general idea of what risk group you fall into. To do this, they will ask you medical questions.

If you’ve never applied for life insurance before, you may have no idea what types of questions they will ask. In general, insurers try to get an idea of your health history and behaviors that could lead to premature death.

Questions may include asking about your exposure to HIV, previous hospitalizations, and current health conditions. They may ask about your habits, such as how much your drink and if you smoke. Other questions might be to try to determine risk factors, such as whether you’ve ever had a suspended driver’s license or been in drug addiction counseling.

You agree to be completely truthful in your answers. Some companies may request access to personal records to verify the information you provide. If a company discovers you were not truthful, it probably will not offer you coverage. Dishonest answers could also cause your loved ones issues collecting on the policy if the worst comes to pass.

Why Might I Not Qualify for a No Medical Exam Policy?

Besides not being truthful with your answers to questions on your application, there are other reasons why a company may decide not to extend you coverage. Typically, these are all related to the health questions you answered as part of your application.

Companies will not usually offer a no medical exam life insurance policy to anyone with a terminal or critical illness, such as cancer or HIV. If you have certain diseases that have a high likelihood of shortening your lifespan, you also may not qualify. This includes conditions such as diabetes and kidney disease.

Risky behaviors may also end with a denial of coverage. If you have a history of drug or alcohol abuse, an insurer may see you as too high of a risk. In fact, this is a common reason for denial for any type of life insurance, not just no medical exam policies.

What Is the Difference Between Term and Whole Life Insurance?

Most no medical exam life insurance policies are term life insurance. There are two general options of life insurance: term and whole. It can help you to decide if no medical insurance is a good choice for you by understanding the difference between the two options.

According to CNN, term life insurance provides coverage for a set time. Typically, companies will offer intervals, such as 10, 20, or 30 years. You have coverage only for the term and it's possible you could outlive the term. If you do not die within that term, your policy ends and you lose all the money you paid into it. Your heirs also will receive nothing upon your death after the end of your policy term.

Companies may set up term life insurance policies that gradually reduce in value as you get closer to the end of the period. However, a term life insurance policy may also maintain the same coverage throughout the policy life.

Whole life insurance is lifelong coverage. It begins when you set up the plan and lasts until you die. With this type of policy, you can guarantee your heirs will receive a payoff upon your death.

Whole life policies also will build cash value. You can borrow against the policy if you need to. It’s like having a line of credit at your fingertips. However, when you borrow from your policy, it reduces the payout to your heirs.

Another perk of this type of policy is that it will usually have premiums that lock in when you first sign up. Your premium will never go up.

When comparing the two, whole life insurance will usually cost more than term life in premiums. It also costs more in the long term. It is easier to get term over whole life insurance as well. Most companies offer no medical exam as term policies because of the lower risk to them.

How Do I Know if I Should Get No Exam Insurance?

Choosing a life insurance policy is a personal decision. Nobody but you can decide if a no medical exam policy is a good choice for you or not. However, there are some things you may want to consider.

First, no medical exam life insurance is often best for someone who expects to have a hard time getting a policy requiring a medical exam. If you have health issues, then you may find it is easier to get a no exam policy.

Second, a no medical exam option will usually have lower coverage than options requiring a medical exam. If you want a high coverage policy, you may have no choice but to go through a medical exam.

Third, no medical exam policies are faster to get. If you need to get life insurance as soon as possible, you can start with a no medical exam policy and get a traditional policy later.

Lastly, you will usually pay more for a policy that doesn’t require a medical exam. If cost is a huge concern, then you may want to go with a policy that requires a medical exam.

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