Our editorial team follows a strict methodology for reviewing life insurance companies.
Many life insurance policies require applicants to take a medical examination as part of the application and underwriting process — but this is not the case with every insurer. So-called “no-exam” or “no-medical exam” life insurance policies waive this requirement for applicants.
We at the MarketWatch Guides team created this guide to no-exam life coverage to help you navigate the options available to you. Learn more about Mutual of Omaha and our other top picks for the best no-exam life insurance providers and policies in 2025. We’ve also included advice on how to decide whether no-exam coverage is right for you and how to select the best plan for your needs.
The listings that appear are from companies from which this website may receive compensation, which may impact how, where and in what order products appear. Not all companies, products or offers were reviewed in connection with this listing.
Best No-Medical Exam Life Insurance Providers of 2026
Check out our list of the best no-exam life insurance providers in the table below. We determined average costs by requesting term life insurance quotes for sample male and female applicants between 35 and 55 years old considered tobacco-free and in good health.
- Mutual of Omaha Best for No-Exam Coverage
- State Farm Best for Customer Satisfaction
- Transamerica Best for Included Living Benefits
- Lincoln Financial Best for Long-Term Care
- Fidelity Life Best for Seniors
How We Chose the Best No-Exam Life Insurance Companies
We ranked and reviewed the best no-exam life insurance companies based on our rating methodology. This included researching the no-exam policies offered by each company and considering other factors such as coverage riders or add-ons, average cost and brand trustworthiness. We supported our research with responses to our August 2024 survey of 2,000 life insurance policyholders nationwide, with a focus on people with no-exam policies. Finally, we reviewed financial strength ratings from the credit rating agency AM Best and evaluated customer satisfaction using data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) and J.D. Power studies.
Our expertise is backed by:
- A survey of 2,000 life insurance policyholders nationwide
- Rating almost 40 life insurance providers using our in-depth methodology
- Over 40 years of combined life insurance experience between our writers and editors
- Gathering more than 60,000 life insurance quotes using 150 different applicant profiles from 60 providers nationwide
Best Companies for No-Exam Life Insurance
We’ve included key details about our picks for no-exam life insurance below to help you find the best option for you. You can read our detailed reviews for more information about each company.
Mutual of Omaha tops our list for offering whole life insurance plans that do not require a medical exam, including options for people with health conditions.
Offers no-exam whole life plans, unlike competitors such as Prudential
Ranked above-average in the J.D. Power 2024 U.S. Individual Life Insurance Study, which looks at customer service
Offers instant no-exam coverage via its Term Life Express products
Highest coverage limit for no-exam whole life policies is only $25,000, lower than what some other companies offer
Our team had trouble finding information about rider availability online
Mutual of Omaha offers no-exam coverage for both term life insurance and whole life insurance policies. Comparatively, some companies only provide exam-free options for term life policies — not whole life insurance. Term life insurance offers coverage for a specific set of years, whereas whole life coverage lasts the policyholder’s lifetime. The company’s guaranteed issue whole life insurance plan doesn’t consider an applicant’s health, offering an attractive option for older people with pre-existing health conditions. Or, the company offers an instant term life insurance option for people seeking quick coverage.
Mutual of Omaha also received the highest brand trust rating of any provider based on our methodology. This is emphasized by the company ranking at No. 6 overall in the J.D. Power 2024 U.S. Individual Life Insurance Study, which measures customer satisfaction.
State Farm is a good option for those looking for no-exam coverage from a customer-focused provider, earning the top spot in our 2024 life insurance survey and the latest J.D. Power study.
Holds the highest-possible financial strength rating from AM Best
Offers online estimates for no-exam life insurance coverage
Earned the highest ranking in the J.D. Power 2024 customer satisfaction study
No-exam coverage options may vary by state
Despite offering online estimates, may require talking to an agent for an actual quote
State Farm’s reputation for customer service earned it a spot on our list of best no-exam companies. The company has over 100 years of experience and over 19,000 agents nationwide who can help guide customers through the process of obtaining coverage. Plus, it earned the top spot on the J.D. Power 2024 customer satisfaction study and our August 2024 survey of 2,000 life insurance policyholders nationwide.
Applicants have no-exam options that include the Instant Answer term life insurance policy, with up to $50,000 in coverage the same day customers apply at an agent’s office. State Farm also offers guaranteed issue final expense coverage, which can cover end-of-life expenses such as burial costs. The company will not deny seniors with health problems coverage under the final expense plan, which offers instant online quotes.
Transamerica offers up to $2 million in term life insurance coverage without a medical exam and includes living benefits for terminal, chronic or critical illness at no extra cost.
Has a large selection of coverage add-ons available for policy customization
Can convert no-exam term life insurance to permanent policies with higher coverage limits
Offers below-average rates for term life insurance policies, according to quotes we requested
Has a customer complaint index three times higher than average for a company of its size, based on data from NAIC
Ranked poorly in J.D. Power 2024 customer satisfaction study
Transamerica stands out for offering no-exam term life insurance products — specifically the Trendsetter LB and Trendsetter Super plans — that include living benefits at no extra cost. Living benefits allow policyholders to access a portion of their death benefit while still alive if they experience a terminal, critical or chronic illness. Comparatively, some companies only offer this coverage as an add-on for an extra price.
The company features no-exam plans with generous financial protections, including term life insurance with up to $2 million in coverage. Transamerica also offers convertible policies, or the ability to convert term life insurance to permanent life insurance, which allows customers to adjust their coverage needs over time.
Our team reached out to Transamerica for comment on its lower-than-average NAIC and J.D. Power scores but did not receive a response.
Lincoln Financial Group
Lincoln Financial offers a $2.5 million maximum coverage amount for its no-exam plan options, including a plan that offers long-term care benefits.
Customers can get up to $2.5 million in coverage with no exam, a larger amount than with some providers
Offers a term life plan that customers can apply for entirely online with coverage in as few as two days
Received an above-average score in the 2024 J.D. Power customer satisfaction study
Does not offer a whole life policy option, which could limit coverage options for some people
Applicants older than age 60 must take a medical exam
Lincoln Financial earned a place in our review for offering up to $2.5 million without a medical exam for qualified applicants. This amount is one of the highest we’ve found among the providers with no-exam plans we’ve researched. Lincoln Financial is also our pick for long-term care benefits. One of the company’s no-exam options is a universal life insurance policy that allows policyholders to use a portion of their death benefit to pay for long-term care while still alive. Plus, other products such as Lincoln Financial’s TermAccel Level Term plan offer a fully electronic, exam-free application process that can offer coverage quickly — sometimes within two days.
Fidelity Life has several no-exam coverage options for all applicants, including people between 50 and 85 years old — offering an especially strong option for seniors.
Provides an option to get online premium estimates, which not every company offers
Has a RAPIDecision line of life insurance products that allows fast buying process without a medical exam
Specialty RAPIDecision Senior Term Life products provide a range of options for older applicants
Has limited riders available compared to some competitors
Was not included in the 2024 J.D. Power life insurance study on customer satisfaction
We did not find many life insurance providers that offer the amount of no-exam options for senior applicants as with Fidelity Life. The company has term life, whole life and final expense policies for seniors. Notably, the RAPIDecision Senior Term Life policy offers no-exam coverage for seniors with coverage limits ranging from $10,000 to $150,000, depending on the applicant’s age. But the company’s coverage does not stop at seniors — other products under its RAPIDecision line offer applicants of all ages various no-exam options.
What Is No-Medical Exam Life Insurance?
No-exam life insurance policies do not require a medical evaluation as part of the underwriting process. Most insurance products, notably permanent life insurance, include medical exams as a standard requirement when applying for coverage. However, many providers now offer no-exam versions of life insurance coverage as an option — but often at higher premiums.
Medical exams for life insurance policies are similar to an annual physical at your doctor’s office. These exams typically involve a doctor taking your blood pressure, recording your height and weight, asking questions about your medical history, and taking blood samples for cholesterol levels and other health markers. Life insurance providers use this information to assess your risk as an applicant and how much to charge you for coverage as a result. Generally, people considered unhealthy or with certain health conditions pay more for coverage.
No-Exam Life Insurance Pros and Cons
Life insurance policies that don’t require a medical exam have a few major advantages compared to policies with this requirement. However, there are also some significant drawbacks.
Not taking a medical exam can speed up the underwriting process
Limits the number of parties with access to your private medical information, although companies may still request your medical records
Applicants with pre-existing health conditions can qualify instantly for guaranteed issue no-exam plans
Sometimes costs more than policies with medical exam requirements
Opting for no-exam may limit policy and coverage options
Serious conditions or illnesses may still appear in medical records, which can impact costs
Why Would You Want Life Insurance Without a Medical Exam?
There are a few reasons why people would want to avoid a medical examination when applying for a life insurance policy. In this section, we cover three of the most common reasons based on our research.
Existing Medical Conditions
One of the reasons people avoid medical exams for life insurance policies is to prevent serious illnesses or other medical conditions from impacting their ability to qualify for coverage. Conditions that could shorten one’s life, such as cancer or heart disease, can substantially increase premiums or make it difficult to get coverage altogether. Choosing a no-exam policy makes it less likely that such conditions impact an insurance provider’s underwriting decisions — notably to deny coverage.
Discomfort With Examinations
Some people have anxieties around evaluations and other interactions with medical professionals. These people may find life insurance medical exams invasive or otherwise difficult. A no-exam life insurance option allows people to skip what can feel like a stressful part of the application process.
Simplifying the Life Insurance Process
For some people, no-medical exam life insurance policies offer a logistical benefit. Scheduling and attending a medical evaluation takes time and coordination that some people may not want to deal with or have time for. Going with a no-exam policy option can make the buying process simpler and faster. Additionally, many insurers now employ an accelerated underwriting process to approve younger, healthier applicants more quickly than with traditional underwriting.
“In today’s market, many carriers are offering ‘no-exam’ life insurance,” said Michael Silverman, the founder and president of Silver Lining Insurance Agency in New York. “Post-COVID there has been a change in underwriting for younger clients. Many carriers will offer underwriting without a medical examination but will still secure medical information from the potential insured’s doctor.”
No-exam policies may still use your health records. Choosing a no-exam life insurance policy can prevent companies from seeing the results, but you may still have to answer health questions or submit medical records. Certain conditions may show up in these records and therefore factor into the cost of your life insurance policy.
No-Medical Exam Life Insurance Alternatives
You can always choose a more traditional policy that involves a medical evaluation as part of the life insurance buying process. However, if you want another option that allows you to skip the exam, you can consider what’s known as instant life insurance. These rapid-approval policies use advanced algorithms that draw from massive datasets to determine premiums and eligibility. Tech-forward life insurance companies such as Ethos, TruStage and Lantern provide fully online applications and can offer decisions within minutes.
Should You Buy No-Exam Life Insurance?
Life insurance policies that don’t require a medical exam can offer benefits for many people, such as those with health issues or aversions to the doctor’s office. However, no-exam policies may not present the right option for everyone. These policies have downsides to consider — such as an increased cost in some cases.
We suggest considering a no-exam life insurance policy if:
- You have one or more serious medical conditions that could drive up your life insurance premiums.
- You want to avoid a potentially lengthy and complicated part of the life insurance buying process.
- You have fears or anxieties around medical visits and procedures.
- You want to keep your medical information private for any other reason.
Ultimately, choosing a no-exam life insurance policy versus a more traditional policy is a personal decision. We recommend carefully weighing the costs and benefits of each option. Once you decide which is right for you, take the time to get quotes from multiple insurers to find a policy and provider that fits your needs and preferences.
Frequently Asked Questions About No-Medical Exam Life Insurance
We chose Mutual of Omaha as the best life insurance provider for no-exam coverage. The company has multiple options for life insurance without needing a medical exam, including whole life plans, and offers instant coverage. However, life insurance is highly personalized so we suggest looking at multiple providers before making a decision.
The “catch” for no-exam life insurance is that policies tend to cost more than those involving a full evaluation. You may also find fewer policy options that do not require a medical exam compared to traditional policies.
The amount of life insurance coverage you can get without an exam varies by provider. The highest coverage limit we found in our 2024 study and market research for no-exam life insurance is $3 million, offered by John Hancock.
Methodology: Our System for Rating the Best Life Insurance Companies
Our team researches and ranks life insurance companies using an in-depth scoring system that considers the factors most important to consumers like you. Our analysis includes a comprehensive review of each provider we feature based on available coverage, customizability, availability, customer service and company reputation. Here are the factors we take into consideration when rating life insurance providers:
- Brand trust (40%): Life insurance payouts can exceed $100,000 or more, which makes choosing a reputable and trustworthy insurance provider important. To assess brand trust, we use J.D. Power and Associates customer satisfaction surveys, AM Best credit rating scores and the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) complaint index. The higher a company scores in each area, the more points it receives.
- Coverage (33%): The more policy options a life insurance company offers, the more opportunities you have to obtain the right coverage for your specific needs. For this reason, we give companies the most points for offering multiple types of life insurance, including various term, permanent and no-exam options.
- Availability and ease of use (19%): Since life insurance coverage options can be complex, we consider the ways a customer can reach a company — and how easy communication is. For this category, we research how many communication channels a company offers for general customer support, claims processing and the application process. Companies earn the most points for offering various ways to interact with an agent, both in-person and online.
- Riders (8%): Companies offering various life insurance riders or endorsements allow policyholders to better customize their coverage. In this category, we determine how many riders a company offers and award the most points to providers with more than 10 options.
We use our rating system to compare and contrast each company against key factors to help us determine the best life insurance companies in the industry. To learn more, read our full life insurance methodology for reviewing and scoring providers.
