The life insurance application process can take between four and six weeks from the time you apply to the time your coverage is active. During this time, the insurance company reviews your application through a process called underwriting. If you want to obtain life insurance faster, accelerated underwriting (AU) life insurance could get you approved for a policy in under two weeks or, with certain insurance companies, even one day.
What is accelerated underwriting?
Accelerated underwriting is a type of no-medical-exam life insurance that speeds up the typical underwriting process by eliminating requirements such as the medical exam and the attending physician statement (APS).
To verify your health status and lifestyle, you’ll have a medical interview over the phone and the insurance company will verify your application details.
This includes checking medical records through the Medical Information Bureau (MIB) , your motor vehicle report, and your prescription history.
If there are no concerns about the riskiness of your health or finances, you’ll likely be approved without needing to submit any additional information.
Some AU policies are classified as instant issue life insurance — meaning that you’ll get an application decision immediately after you submit your information to the insurer. Other times, you might get an approval within a few days.
Accelerated underwriting is different from simplified underwriting — or simplified issue life insurance — which doesn’t include a medical exam either, but is used for more costly burial insurance policies.
Who should get accelerated underwriting life insurance?
Accelerated underwriting policies are a good option if you:
Have few health conditions
Need coverage as soon as possible
Prefer to avoid blood tests
Prefer to avoid medical exams in general
Who qualifies for accelerated underwriting?
You’re not guaranteed to qualify for accelerated underwriting just because you’re in good health, but you’re more likely to be approved if you are:
Age 18 to 60
Generally healthy with no family history of serious medical conditions
In good financial shape with good credit and no recent history of bankruptcy
Clear of serious criminal charges, including felonies and moving violations
A U.S. citizen or permanent resident
Someone who has not been declined insurance coverage in the past
You may not be approved for an AU policy if you have:
A complex health profile or a serious condition
A heritable health condition in your family health history, like breast cancer
Your age can also impact the amount of coverage you’ll be able to buy without taking a medical exam. Some insurance companies still allow people age 50 to 60 to apply for an AU policy, but limit them to around $100,000 in coverage.
Being disqualified from accelerated underwriting doesn’t mean you can’t get life insurance. It just means you’ll have to go through traditional underwriting with a full medical exam.
→ Learn more about how life insurance works
Where can you buy accelerated underwriting life insurance?
You can get an accelerated underwriting life insurance policy through these five Policygenius partner insurers:
Legal & General America (which also does business as Banner Life and William Penn)
Here’s a quick comparison between all these AU life insurance options.
Life insurance company | Term lengths available | Age | Coverage amount limits |
|---|---|---|---|
Legal & General America: Horizon AU | 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35 & 40 years | 20 to 60 | $100,000 to $2 million |
Brighthouse: SimplySelect | 10, 20 & 30 years | 25 to 50 | $100,000 to $3 million † |
Prudential: FastTrack | 10, 15, 20 & 30 years | 18 to 60 | $100,000 to $3 million |
Transamerica: AU | 10, 15, 20, 25 & 30 years | 18 to 60 | $250,000 to $2 million |
Pacific Life: PAL+ | 10, 15, 20, 25 & 30 years | 18 to 60 | $50,000 to $3 million |
Methodology: Information is based on policies offered by Policygenius as of January 2024 and subject to change. For Brighthouse SimplySelect, coverage limits vary by risk class.
For a comprehensive overview of each insurer’s customer service record and financial standing, take a look at our life insurance company reviews.
Best accelerated underwriting policies in 2024
The right policy for you will vary depending on your individual circumstances. We recommend two options offered by our insurance partners, Brighthouse SimplySelect and Legal & General America Horizon AU, for their affordability and flexibility.
2024 Policygenius award winner
Brighthouse Financial
5.0
No-medical-exam option
Why we chose it
Brighthouse Financial offers competitive rates, comprehensive coverage, and application decisions in as little as 24 hours, making it a great choice for people who want to get life insurance coverage without having to take the medical exam.
Pros and cons
Pros
Extremely affordable
Instant-decision applications
Best-in-class no-exam option
Cons
Traditional term life not available in CA, IL, LA, ME, or NY
Term life applicants limited to ages 25-50
Brighthouse SimplySelect
Brighthouse SimplySelect offers some of the lowest life insurance rates for eligible AU applicants and some of the highest coverage amounts — up to $3 million. Most people receive an application decision immediately after their phone interview.
2024 Policygenius award winner
Legal & General America
4.9
30+ year terms
All 50 states
No-medical-exam option
Why we chose it
Legal & General America, which also does business as Banner Life and William Penn, has some of the longest term lengths — up to 40 years — and most competitive life insurance rates available, even for people with a history of medical conditions.
Pros and cons
Pros
Competitive rates for a variety of health conditions
Fast instant-decision option for qualifying applicants
Variety of term lengths up to 40 years
Cons
Application underwriting can take longer than average
Does not have the most competitive rates for older applicants
Legal & General America Horizon AU
Legal & General America has some of the cheapest life insurance rates available, even for people with some medical conditions. It offers the longest term available — 40 years — and has one of the quickest timelines for approval at eight days, on average.
Most people go from applying to having a policy in about a week — all without having to take a medical exam.
How much does accelerated underwriting life insurance cost?
A 30-year-old female who doesn’t smoke and has just one or two mild health conditions would pay around $23 per month for a 20-year AU term life insurance policy with a $500,000 payout. A 30-year-old male with the same health profile would pay around $29 per month for the same policy.
Below you’ll find more sample rates for AU policies, but your final rate will depend on your age, gender, health profile, and lifestyle habits.
If you want to get a life insurance quote for your personal situation, connect with a Policygenius agent. At Policygenius, our experts are licensed in all 50 states and can walk you through the entire life insurance buying process while offering transparent, unbiased advice.
Age | Gender | $250,000 coverage amount | $500,000 coverage amount | $1 million coverage amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
20 | Female | $15.01 | $22.65 | $33.63 |
Male | $19.18 | $30.20 | $47.51 | |
30 | Female | $15.17 | $22.98 | $36.90 |
Male | $18.19 | $29.32 | $48.89 | |
40 | Female | $21.66 | $35.27 | $60.65 |
Male | $25.39 | $42.94 | $75.24 | |
50 | Female | $43.92 | $78.29 | $139.50 |
Male | $56.69 | $102.50 | $188.29 |
Methodology: Average monthly rates are calculated for male and female non-smokers in a Preferred health classification obtaining a 20-year term $250,000, $500,000, or $1,000,000 term life insurance policy. Life insurance averages are based on a composite of policies offered through Brighthouse Financial, Foresters Financial, Legal & General America, Transamerica, and Pacific Life. Rates may vary by insurer, term, coverage amount, health class, and state. Not all policies are available in all states. Rate illustration valid as of 01/01/2024.
The bottom line
Accelerated underwriting can save you time on your life insurance application and money on premiums.
A Policygenius advisor will let you know if you qualify for a no-exam life insurance policy, an accelerated policy, or even instant life insurance during your initial phone interview.
If your accelerated application is not approved by the insurer for any reason, your agent will find the best alternative for your needs.
