Guide
No-exam life insurance
How accelerated underwriting works, which applicants qualify, and what you should expect if you don't fit the fast-track rules.
A lot of insurers now offer accelerated underwriting: applicants who fit the carrier's age and amount guidelines skip the physical exam and get decisions based on form answers, pharmacy records, driving history and other background data alone. In some cases you'll hear back within hours. Each quote shows you whether the product requires a test, might order one, or skips it completely.
What it changes
Skipping an exam is not the same as skipping the review process. Answers go through verification, and any policy issued on false information can be challenged during the first two years. If the carrier spots anything questionable in their review, they may request labs or an exam—and you can decide whether to move forward.
Who tends to qualify
Generally, people under about 60, requesting amounts within the carrier's fast-track limits, with no serious medical history, and who haven't used tobacco in a year or longer. Some insurers will use recent bloodwork from your doctor's office instead of ordering new tests.
If required, exams usually take 20 to 40 minutes and are done by a paramedic at your workplace or home in the Norwalk region, paid for by the insurer. When results are positive, they often move applicants into a better rate tier, so the exam isn't necessarily a negative.