Brighthouse Financial, Legal & General America, Pacific Life, Mutual of Omaha, Transamerica, and Protective all make our list of the best no-medical-exam life insurance companies..
By
Katherine MurbachKatherine MurbachEditor & Licensed Life Insurance AgentKatherine Murbach is a licensed life insurance agent and a former life insurance and annuities editor and sales associate at Policygenius. Previously, she wrote about life and disability insurance for 1752 Financial, and advised over 1,500 clients on their life insurance policies as a sales associate.&Rachael BrennanRachael BrennanSenior Editor & Licensed Insurance ExpertRachael Brennan is a licensed auto insurance expert and a former senior editor at Policygenius. Her work has also been featured in MoneyGeek, Clearsurance, Adweek, Boston Globe, The Ladders, and AutoInsurance.com.
Edited by
Jennifer GimbelJennifer GimbelSenior Managing Editor & Home Insurance ExpertJennifer Gimbel is a senior managing editor at Policygenius, where she oversees all of our insurance coverage. Previously, she was the managing editor at Finder.com and a content strategist at Babble.com.
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Reviewed by
Patrick Hanzel, CFP®Patrick Hanzel, CFP®Certified Financial Planner ™ & Advanced Planning ManagerPatrick Hanzel, CFP®, is a certified financial planner and former advanced planning manager at Policygenius. His expertise has been featured at Lifehacker, Consumer Affairs, Authority Magazine, Thrive Global, and Fatherly.
Updated|4 min read
Expert reviewedExpert reviewedThis article has been reviewed by a member of ourFinancial Review Council to ensure all sources, statistics, and claims meet the highest standard for accurate and unbiased advice.Learn more about oureditorial review process.
No-medical-exam life insurance policies are a good fit for people who want to skip the medical test and get coverage quickly, people who are afraid of needles, or for people who might have trouble being approved for traditional term life insurance for health reasons.
We analyzed the best no-exam life insurance companies on the market based on their underwriting rules, price, policy options, customer satisfaction, and financial strength, to identify the top no-exam insurers for you. Depending on your needs and personal circumstances, these companies will approve you without having to take the medical exam and offer you the best price.
Best no-exam guaranteed universal life: Protective
Methodology
Why you can trust our rates
Our recommendations are based on internal and external expert analysis, as well as our Policygenius Life Insurance Price Index, which uses real-time data from leading life insurance companies to determine pricing trends. When reviewing a life insurance company, our editorial team uses a proprietary scoring rubric with five factors — price, policy details, financial strength, transparency, and customer experience — to assign an unbiased rating between one and five stars. These ratings are also taken into consideration as part of our company recommendations. We don’t get paid for our reviews.
The traditional term life insurance rates in the chart above are from Corebridge Financial, Haven Life, Legal & General America, Lincoln, Mutual of Omaha, Pacific Life, and Protective. The no-exam term life insurance rates are from Everly, Foresters, and Lincoln.
Our reviews and recommendations can help you find a reliable insurer for your family’s financial protection, but the best life insurance company for you depends on multiple factors. A licensed agent at Policygenius can support you during the application process to ensure you get the right coverage for your circumstances at the most competitive price.
Best overall no-exam life insurance: Brighthouse Financial
2024 Policygenius award winner
Brighthouse Financial
Policygenius rating
Our proprietary rating methodology takes multiple factors into account, including customer satisfaction, cost, financial strength, and policy offerings. See the "methodology" section for more details.
5.0
AM Best rating
AM Best is a global credit rating agency that scores the financial strength of insurance companies on a scale from A++ (Superior) to D (Poor).
A
Cost
Using a mix of internal and external rate data, we grade the cost of each insurance company's premiums on a scale from least expensive ($) to most expensive ($$$$$).
$
$
$
$
$
No-medical-exam option
Why we chose it
Brighthouse Financial offers competitive rates, comprehensive coverage, and application decisions in as little as 24 hours, making it a great choice for people who want to get life insurance coverage without having to take the medical exam.
Pros and cons
Pros
Extremely affordable
Instant-decision applications
Best-in-class no-exam option
Cons
Traditional term life not available in CA, IL, LA, ME, or NY
Brighthouse Financial offers an instant decision application process that can help you get term life insurance coverage for up to $3 million without having to take a medical exam. Instead, you’ll answer a series of medical questions over the phone, and you could get approved on the same phone call.
If you have a minor health condition like anxiety, high blood pressure, ADHD, or even sleep apnea, you’re more likely to get a better rate with Brighthouse Financial than with other insurers.
Cheapest no-exam life insurance: Legal & General America
2024 Policygenius award winner
Legal & General America
Policygenius rating
Our proprietary rating methodology takes multiple factors into account, including customer satisfaction, cost, financial strength, and policy offerings. See the "methodology" section for more details.
4.9
AM Best rating
AM Best is a global credit rating agency that scores the financial strength of insurance companies on a scale from A++ (Superior) to D (Poor).
A+
Cost
Using a mix of internal and external rate data, we grade the cost of each insurance company's premiums on a scale from least expensive ($) to most expensive ($$$$$).
$
$
$
$
$
30+ year terms
All 50 states
No-medical-exam option
Why we chose it
Legal & General America, which also does business as Banner Life and William Penn, has some of the longest term lengths — up to 40 years — and most competitive life insurance rates available, even for people with a history of medical conditions.
Pros and cons
Pros
Competitive rates for a variety of health conditions
Fast instant-decision option for qualifying applicants
Variety of term lengths up to 40 years
Cons
Application underwriting can take longer than average
Does not have the most competitive rates for older applicants
Legal & General America, which also does business as Banner Life and William Penn, offers cheaper policy options than some of its competitors regardless of your health profile.
People who are 20 to 60 years old can apply for coverage between $100,000 and $2 million by completing a medical interview over the phone. Legal & General America will then review your application and determine if an in-person medical exam is needed or not, depending on your overall profile.
Best no-exam term life insurance: Pacific Life
2024 Policygenius award winner
Pacific Life
Policygenius rating
Our proprietary rating methodology takes multiple factors into account, including customer satisfaction, cost, financial strength, and policy offerings. See the "methodology" section for more details.
4.8
AM Best rating
AM Best is a global credit rating agency that scores the financial strength of insurance companies on a scale from A++ (Superior) to D (Poor).
A+
Cost
Using a mix of internal and external rate data, we grade the cost of each insurance company's premiums on a scale from least expensive ($) to most expensive ($$$$$).
$
$
$
$
$
All 50 states
No-medical-exam option
Why we chose it
Pacific Life offers some of the lowest rates for term life insurance across age brackets. It also has the most competitive rates for many health conditions and builds.
Pros and cons
Pros
Extremely affordable across age brackets
Affordable guaranteed universal life insurance option for people who need lifetime coverage
Favorable underwriting for many health conditions
Cons
Traditional term life not available in NY
There are better carriers for active duty military, people who have a history of alcohol abuse, and people who have been through bankruptcy
Pacific Life offers some of the most flexible rules for people age 18 to 70 applying for term life insurance, which is the most affordable type of life insurance for most people because it only provides financial protection during the period of your life when you have the biggest expenses. You can apply for coverage between $50,000 and $3 million.
If you’re under the age of 60, you’ll complete a health interview to determine if you can get accelerated approval without a medical exam. The insurer will review your profile to confirm — if you don’t have many health conditions or risk factors, you likely won’t have to take an exam.
If you’re between age 60 and 70 or you have additional medical conditions, Pacific Life will likely request an attending physician statement (APS) to evaluate your health first and determine if you can get approved without an exam.
Best no-exam life insurance for seniors: Mutual of Omaha
Mutual of Omaha
Policygenius rating
Our proprietary rating methodology takes multiple factors into account, including customer satisfaction, cost, financial strength, and policy offerings. See the "methodology" section for more details.
4.5
AM Best rating
AM Best is a global credit rating agency that scores the financial strength of insurance companies on a scale from A++ (Superior) to D (Poor).
A+
Cost
Using a mix of internal and external rate data, we grade the cost of each insurance company's premiums on a scale from least expensive ($) to most expensive ($$$$$).
$
$
$
$
$
No-medical-exam option
Why we chose it
Mutual of Omaha is a reputable company that offers a variety of life insurance products — including a no-medical-exam option — so that you can select the type of life insurance that best suits your needs.
Mutual of Omaha offers multiple no-exam policies for seniors. Its options include a term life insurance policy with coverage up to $300,000 for people age 50 and below, up to $250,000 for people age 60 and below, and up to $150,000 for people age 70 and below.
Mutual of Omaha also offers permanent life insurance policies with lower coverage amounts — up to $40,000 — to cover final expenses, like a funeral or medical bills. This is a popular option for people who might not be eligible for traditional term or permanent coverage due to health issues. These policies don’t require medical exams, either. You have to be between age 45 and age 85 to qualify.
Best no-medical-exam life insurance for young adults: Transamerica
Transamerica
Policygenius rating
Our proprietary rating methodology takes multiple factors into account, including customer satisfaction, cost, financial strength, and policy offerings. See the "methodology" section for more details.
4.6
AM Best rating
AM Best is a global credit rating agency that scores the financial strength of insurance companies on a scale from A++ (Superior) to D (Poor).
A
Cost
Using a mix of internal and external rate data, we grade the cost of each insurance company's premiums on a scale from least expensive ($) to most expensive ($$$$$).
$
$
$
$
$
No-medical-exam option
Why we chose it
Transamerica is one of the oldest and largest life insurance companies, with over 12 million active accounts today. It offers affordable rates for almost every age, and you can even skip the medical exam if you fall under a certain age or coverage amount.
Pros and cons
Pros
Competitive rates for term life insurance
No-medical-exam available for qualifying applicants, including smokers and people between 60 and 70, which is rare
One of the fastest turnaround times in the industry for traditionally underwritten term policies
Cons
Term life not available in New York
Not a good option for people with a history of cancer, alcohol abuse, or asthma
Transamerica offers no-exam policies for adults as young as 18 years old and a simple application process — including a health questionnaire that can be filled out online or over the phone.
Transamerica has flexible financial justification guidelines for graduates and undergraduates applying for life insurance to plan ahead for their new income, offering coverage amounts of up to $500,000. The company also offers smaller coverage amounts — up to $50,000 — for young adults seeking coverage options to pay for final expenses in a worst-case scenario.
Best no-medical-exam guaranteed universal life insurance: Protective
Protective
Policygenius rating
Our proprietary rating methodology takes multiple factors into account, including customer satisfaction, cost, financial strength, and policy offerings. See the "methodology" section for more details.
4.8
AM Best rating
AM Best is a global credit rating agency that scores the financial strength of insurance companies on a scale from A++ (Superior) to D (Poor).
A+
Cost
Using a mix of internal and external rate data, we grade the cost of each insurance company's premiums on a scale from least expensive ($) to most expensive ($$$$$).
$
$
$
$
$
30+ year terms
Why we chose it
Protective has some of the most affordable and comprehensive life insurance options available.
Pros and cons
Pros
Competitive rates for all ages and health classifications
Good for people with mental health conditions, kidney conditions, and some cancers, including prostate cancer
Term lengths up to 40 years
Cons
Not available in New York
Not great for people who have had bankruptcy, marijuana users, or visa holders
Guaranteed universal life insurance is a type of permanent life insurance that comes with fixed premiums and a fixed death benefit, so you know what you’ll pay every month and exactly how much the policy will pay out when you pass away. These guarantees make it one of the most affordable and convenient ways to get lifelong coverage.
Protective can offer up to $1 million in coverage for their Lifetime Assurance GUL policy for people age 18 to 45, and up to $500,000 in coverage for people age 46 to 60 without requiring a medical exam. Protective will evaluate your health profile to confirm if you’re eligible for this kind of no-exam coverage.
If you’re looking for lifelong coverage over $50,000 at a lower cost when compared to other permanent policies, GUL may work for you.
No-medical-exam life insurance exclusions
Just like standard whole life insurance coverage, no-exam life insurance policies will deny or exclude coverage in certain circumstances. For example, if you pass away while participating in a dangerous hobby like scuba diving or bungee jumping, your loved ones may not be able to collect the death benefit.
One of the biggest concerns for people buying life insurance without a medical exam is avoiding accidental fraud. Not having a current medical exam on file potentially makes you a higher risk for your insurance company and they will do their research if your beneficiary files a claim. Make sure to disclose all pertinent medical details to avoid having a claim denied in the future.
Compare the best no-medical-exam life insurance companies
Katherine Murbach is a licensed life insurance agent and a former life insurance and annuities editor and sales associate at Policygenius. Previously, she wrote about life and disability insurance for 1752 Financial, and advised over 1,500 clients on their life insurance policies as a sales associate.
Rachael Brennan is a licensed auto insurance expert and a former senior editor at Policygenius. Her work has also been featured in MoneyGeek, Clearsurance, Adweek, Boston Globe, The Ladders, and AutoInsurance.com.
Jennifer Gimbel is a senior managing editor at Policygenius, where she oversees all of our insurance coverage. Previously, she was the managing editor at Finder.com and a content strategist at Babble.com.
Patrick Hanzel, CFP®, is a certified financial planner and former advanced planning manager at Policygenius. His expertise has been featured at Lifehacker, Consumer Affairs, Authority Magazine, Thrive Global, and Fatherly.