We independently evaluate all of our recommendations. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation.

Best No-Medical-Exam Life Insurance Companies

By
Yasmin Ghahremani
head shot of Yasmin Ghahremani
Full Bio
Yasmin Ghahremani is a full-time Associate Editorial Director at Investopedia, where she oversees educational content about insurance, banking, and other financial products. Yasmin has over two decades of journalism experience and is an expert on personal finance topics, including insurance, banking, and credit cards. At Investopedia, she provides strategy and operations leadership around educational content designed to help consumers make the best financial choices for their needs. She earned her bachelor's in advertising from the University of Texas at Austin and a master's in international affairs from Columbia University.
Learn about our editorial policies
Updated March 20, 2025
Fact checked by
Shanker Narayan
Shanker Narayan
Fact checked by Shanker Narayan
Full Bio
See More

Shanker Narayan has over two years of experience conducting research across multiple industries. Shanker is a former Research Analyst for Investopedia's financial product reviews team, formulating evaluation criteria for various financial product categories. He oversaw the data collection, verification, and analysis processes for financial product reviews. Shanker holds a bachelor's in Applied Statistics from the University of Virginia.

Learn about our editorial policies

No-medical-exam life insurance lets you bypass the physical exam and bloodwork normally required with a life insurance application. These policies, which use accelerated underwriting, could cost more, but might be the right choice for young, healthy people who place a premium on convenience or people with health issues that could keep them from getting a fully underwritten policy.

Investopedia experts found Penn Mutual to be the best no-exam life insurance company because it offers accelerated underwriting on all of its products and has the highest coverage amounts we saw. We made that choice after conducting extensive research on 45 life insurance companies, combing through details related to 70 criteria such as coverage options, financial strength, and customer satisfaction.

Best No-Medical-Exam Life Insurance Companies

  • Best Overall, Best for High Coverage: Penn Mutual
  • Best for Instant Decision, Best for Burial Insurance: Nationwide
  • Best for Financial Stability, Best for Customer Satisfaction: Thrivent

Tip

Compare life insurance quotes with our partner Covr Financial from multiple providers before buying.

Best Overall, Best for High Coverage Penn Mutual

Penn Mutual

Penn Mutual
  • Financial Strength Rating: A+
  • Complaints: Far fewer than expected for company size

Best Overall

Penn Mutual was a shoe-in for this award because it will waive the exam requirement for eligible applicants who apply for $10 million or less in coverage, including people 65 or younger and those who want a permanent life insurance policy. The company also has one of the highest financial strength grades available from credit rating agency AM Best and one of the lowest customer complaint rates of the providers we researched. Our experts gave it strong marks, too, for its long history of paying dividends to eligible policyholders at a high interest rate. 

Best for High Coverage

Penn Mutual’s coverage limit for accelerated underwriting is $10 million, the highest by far among the companies we reviewed—and double the $5 million coverage amount for runner-up Nationwide. This allows more applicants to get the coverage they need without having to take a medical exam. 

Pros

  • Up to $10 million in coverage with no exam

  • People 65 and under are eligible for no-exam policies

  • Offers a variety of term and permanent policies 

  • Superior financial strength grade

  • Very few customer complaints to state regulators, given its size

Cons

  • Few riders available with term policies

  • Limited online information for customers

  • No self-service online quotes

If you’re not yet 66, in good health, and want a death benefit of up to $10 million on an individual life insurance policy, Penn Mutual may allow you to skip the medical exam. 

Note

Penn Mutual’s no-exam coverage is available in all states except New York. 

Qualifying for accelerated underwriting doesn’t guarantee an exam won’t be required, but if you’re approved, you can complete the entire process online with the help of a Penn Mutual insurance professional. 

Part of what makes Penn Mutual stand out is its wide range of policy types available with accelerated underwriting. They include term, whole, and universal life insurance policies, including convertible and non-convertible term policies; indexed universal and variable universal policies; and a few different whole life insurance policies with optional riders. 

However, rider options for the company’s term policies are more limited. And you won’t find accelerated death benefits, which let you use some of your death benefit while you’re alive if you get a serious illness. 

Penn Mutual earned the second-best financial strength rating (A+) from AM Best, indicating the company has a superior ability to meet its claims-paying obligations. Customers seem pretty happy with Penn Mutual. Its National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) Complaint Index shows they filed far fewer complaints to state regulators than expected for a company of its size. Penn Mutual ranked above average in the 2024 J.D. Power U.S. Individual Life Insurance Study, coming in eighth out of 21 large insurers.

Penn Mutual has paid dividends to eligible policyholders for 175 straight years, and its 2025 dividend interest was the highest we saw among companies offering no-exam life insurance. On top of that, Penn Mutual rates for term life insurance are competitive relative to industry average rates. 

The biggest downside to applying for a Penn Mutual no-exam policy is that you’ll need help from an insurance agent. The company’s website doesn’t provide a quote tool or application and has scant information about policy options, so you’ll need to call for more details. That said, Penn Mutual does offer an online portal that existing policyholders and beneficiaries can use to make payments or start a claim. 

Founded in 1847, Penn Mutual is based in Horsham, Pennsylvania, outside of Philadelphia. 

Best for Instant Decision, Best for Burial Insurance Nationwide

Nationwide

Nationwide
  • Financial Strength Rating: A+
  • Complaints: Far fewer than expected for company size

Best for Instant Decision

Nationwide can give you an instant decision on 10- or 20-year term life insurance applications if you’re between 21 and 55 years old and applying for coverage of $1.5 million or less. For people who want a convertible policy with living benefits, the company also offers accelerated underwriting for up to $5 million in coverage, which allows healthy applicants to get a policy without an exam. 

Best for Burial Insurance

If you’ve got Nationwide auto or home insurance, you may qualify for a whole life insurance policy with simplified underwriting, meaning you may be asked medical questions but won’t have to undergo a full medical exam. However, simplified underwriting is not available for term policies. 

Pros

  • Instant decisions available on some term life insurance applications

  • Up to $5 million in no-exam coverage is available

  • Few customer complaints to state regulators relative to its size

  • Ranked #5 out of 21 by J.D. Power for customer satisfaction

  • Wide selection of riders with most policies

Cons

  • Only existing home or auto policyholders can apply for burial insurance

  • Many policies are not available for online purchase

Besides the instant-decision term insurance Nationwide sells, it also offers accelerated underwriting on several term, whole, and universal life insurance products with face values starting at $100,000. If you’re healthy and between 18 and 50 years old, you can qualify for up to $5 million in coverage without a medical exam. If you’re 51 to 60, you can get up to $1 million.

Penn Mutual’s coverage caps and application requirements for no-exam policies are less limited, but most Nationwide policies include three living death benefit riders at no extra cost. And Nationwide’s wide range of other riders may appeal to qualifying applicants who want more customization options. 

The company also offers a final expense policy to existing auto or home insurance policyholders. It requires you to answer a handful of health questions but you don’t have to take a medical exam.

Nationwide is a great company overall, which is why it tops Investopedia’s list of the best life insurance companies. It excels at pleasing customers, ranking fifth in the J.D. Power 2024 U.S. Individual Life Insurance Study and receiving far fewer complaints than expected for a company of its size, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). AM Best gave Nationwide an A+ financial strength rating, which means it has a “superior” ability to meet future insurance obligations.

But if you’re applying for anything other than the instant-decision 10- or 20-year term policy, you’ll need to contact an insurance agent. You can’t do that online yourself. The company does have an online portal and an app for existing policyholders, though. 

Based in Columbus, Ohio, Nationwide was founded in 1926. 

Best for Financial Stability, Best for Customer Satisfaction Thrivent

Thrivent

Thrivent
  • Financial Strength Rating: A++
  • Complaints: Far fewer than expected for company size

Best for Financial Strength

Thrivent earned an A++ from AM Best, the highest financial strength grade available. This indicates that Thrivent has a superior ability to pay claims to policyholders, which is particularly important for a life insurance company. 

Important

Thrivent is a member-owned organization for Christians. It asks that only Christians or their spouses apply.

Best for Customer Satisfaction

While all the companies on this list have very good NAIC complaint indexes, Thrivent’s is superior—it’s the lowest of all no-medical-exam life insurance companies we reviewed. Customers are making far fewer complaints to state regulators than expected for a company of Thrivent’s size. Only Christians and their spouses can become members, but people who qualify may appreciate the company’s community outreach and extra member benefits. 

Pros

  • Highest financial strength grade from AM Best

  • Best NAIC complaint rating of the companies Investopedia reviewed

  • No-exam decision possible for up to $3 million in coverage

Cons

  • Only available to Christians and their spouses

  • Few available riders

  • No online application

Thrivent may be a fit for Christian applicants seeking term insurance without a medical exam from a company that outshines most competitors in terms of financial strength and customer satisfaction.

Healthy applicants ages 18 to 60 may qualify for up to $3 million in term life insurance without a medical exam. Your premiums will stay fixed for the length of your term (10- to 30-year terms are available). You can convert the policy to a permanent policy during the first five years (or later with the extended term conversion rider). And when your term ends, you can renew it annually at rates that increase. Thrivent also offers a children’s whole life policy that doesn’t require a medical exam. 

If you’re willing to take a medical exam, you can apply for one of Thrivent’s adult whole, universal, or variable universal life insurance policies, but the coverage limits on those policies are not disclosed. Thrivent’s whole life insurance is available to applicants up to age 90, the highest maximum issue age of the providers we reviewed. However, its universal and variable universal policies have a lower maximum issue age. 

Most policies include an accelerated death benefit rider for terminal illness, but the only other rider is the extended term conversion rider, which you’ll need to buy if you’re interested. 

To buy a policy, you must apply for membership. Members get access to benefits, including caregiver resources, out-of-pocket health discounts, $10,000 in life insurance for uninsurable children, and more. There are also programs that let you get involved with community organizations such as Habitat for Humanity. 

While you’ll need help from an agent to apply, Thrivent offers an online portal and mobile app for policyholders, as well as online claims for beneficiaries. 

Thrivent’s origins date back to 1902, and the company is headquartered in Minneapolis.

Compare the Best No-Medical-Exam Life Insurance Companies

Company Best For AM Best Rating NAIC Complaint Index Maximum no-medical-exam coverage amount
Penn Mutual Best Overall, Best for High Coverage A+ (0.109) Much better than expected for company size $10 million
Nationwide Best for Instant Decision, Best for Burial Insurance A+ (0.372) Much better than expected for company size $5 million
Thrivent Best for Financial Stability, Best for Customer Satisfaction A++ (0.073) Much better than expected for company size $3 million

Why You Should Trust Us

Investopedia staff experts curated this list of the best no-medical-exam companies after analyzing data related to dozens of criteria from 45 companies. The criteria include each company’s no-exam policy options, coverage limits, financial stability, and other features. Our analysis allowed us to make objective evaluations of each company to help you choose the best provider for you.

Investopedia has been a trustworthy source of financial information since 1999 and has been reviewing life insurance companies since 2020. 

How Does No-Medical-Exam Life Insurance Work?

With no-medical-exam life insurance, applicants can get approved for a life insurance policy without undergoing a medical exam, which may involve lab work—like a blood test and a urine sample—and a physical examination. 

However, with these policies, insurance companies may still require applicants to complete questionnaires regarding their family medical history and lifestyle. They may also evaluate records like your driving history. These policies may be more expensive than fully underwritten policies and provide less coverage because insurance companies have less insight into an applicant’s health status.

No-exam policies are typically approved faster than fully underwritten policies, too, because there’s less time involved in underwriting, or the process that an insurance company uses to analyze an applicant’s risk. Life insurance companies may offer no-exam permanent life or term life insurance policies.

Types of No-Medical-Exam Life Insurance

Depending on the type of no-medical-exam life insurance you opt for, the underwriting process, cost, and product selection may differ. 

Guaranteed Issue Life Insurance

With guaranteed issue life insurance, applicants won’t have to answer any health questions or complete a medical exam. You qualify regardless of your health status and pre-existing conditions. Because of this, these policies charge higher premiums and offer lower coverage amounts. The typical guaranteed issue life insurance policy might only offer between $25,000 to $50,000 of coverage.

While approval is typically fast and coverage begins immediately or soon afterward, these policies typically have a graded death benefit. This means that there’s a waiting period of two to three years. If a policyholder dies during that period, their beneficiaries—or the people they’ve designated to receive the money—won’t receive the death benefit. Instead, the insurance company may pay the beneficiaries the premiums the policyholder has already paid along with interest. 

If a policyholder dies after the waiting period is over, beneficiaries receive the full death benefit. Guaranteed life insurance is a type of whole life insurance that offers lifelong coverage and can include cash value you can take out while alive. 

Simplified Issue Life Insurance

Simplified issue life insurance also does not require a medical exam. Instead, applicants for simplified issue life insurance policies complete only a short questionnaire about their health status and lifestyle.

Because insurance companies require less information, approval can occur instantly and coverage can start immediately. However, applicants aren’t guaranteed approval. If you have pre-existing health conditions, you could still be rejected for a simplified-issue life insurance policy. The insurer would likely suggest you try again by applying for coverage with a medical exam.

Simplified issue life insurance typically charges lower premiums and offers higher coverage limits than guaranteed issue life insurance. However, it charges more than life insurance requiring a medical exam. There are simplified issue term and permanent policies.

Simplified issue life insurance could make sense if you are in an urgent rush to set up coverage or if you are worried about a health issue and don’t want to take a medical exam.

Accelerated Underwriting Life Insurance

Insurance companies can also use an accelerated underwriting process for their life insurance policies, especially for younger, healthier applicants. 

Insurers still think carefully about whether someone qualifies and at what rate, but the process does not include a medical exam. Instead, the insurer requires a detailed health questionnaire and closely reviews the applicant's medical, prescription, driving, and criminal records. 

Accelerated underwriting life insurance offers far more coverage options than guaranteed and simplified issue life insurance. What’s available depends on the insurer. Some allow you to apply for all their term and permanent policies first with accelerated underwriting and only ask for a medical exam if they need more information. 

Some insurers may charge higher premiums on accelerated underwriting policies while others charge the same rates that they would on medical-exam policies. Insurers may set a maximum age limit, such as accelerated underwriting being only available until age 60. There could be a maximum limit on coverage. However, these policies can have death benefits going up to six or even seven figures, far higher than guaranteed and simplified issue.

Who Is No-Medical-Exam Life Insurance Good For?

No-medical-exam life insurance is best for those who want to purchase a life insurance policy quickly, don’t want to go through the hassle of completing a medical exam, or who have health pre-existing conditions that could disqualify them from getting a traditional policy. 

Since no-medical-exam life insurance policies may charge higher premiums and offer lower coverage than fully underwritten policies, they may not be the best option for healthy people, who could be eligible for lower premiums and greater coverage with a traditional policy. Ask your insurance agent about possible drawbacks when applying for no-medical-exam life insurance before deciding. 

How We Review the Best No-Medical-Exam Life Insurance Companies

Investopedia editors started work on this list of the best no-exam life insurers by first paring down the universe of hundreds of U.S. life insurance companies. We surveyed hundreds of recent life insurance buyers and consulted market share intelligence and other indicators of company relevance, ruling out providers who didn’t meet Investopedia standards for online transparency, financial strength, and customer complaint ratings. 

For the 45 companies we were left with, Investopedia researchers collected 3,150 data points related to 70 criteria between May 20 and July 3, 2024. The data came from company webpages, media representatives, rating agencies (AM Best, NAIC, and J.D. Power), and customer service calls. That helped us narrow down the list of providers even further to 37 that offer policies that don’t require a medical exam.

Then, staff editors and research analysts created a quantitative model that scored each company based on five major categories. We weighted the categories as follows:

  • Application and Online Service Features: 51%
  • Coverage: 20%
  • Customer Satisfaction: 12%
  • Financial Stability: 11%
  • Policy Types and Riders: 6%

For more information, read our full methodology explanation.

person in wheelchair applies for no medical exam life insurance using tablet
Investopedia / Mira Norian.
Article Sources
Investopedia requires writers to use primary sources to support their work. These include white papers, government data, original reporting, and interviews with industry experts. We also reference original research from other reputable publishers where appropriate. You can learn more about the standards we follow in producing accurate, unbiased content in our editorial policy.

  1. J.D. Power. “Life Insurers Miss the Mark on Clarity of Information and Personalization—Particularly Among Younger Customers, J.D. Power Finds.”

  2. Nationwide. “Nationwide Guaranteed Level Term.”

  3. AM Best. “Guide to Best’s Financial Strength Ratings.”

  4. Nationwide. “What Is No-Exam Life Insurance?”

  5. Western & Southern Financial Group. “Understanding Guaranteed Issue Life Insurance.”

  6. Thrivent. “Term Life Insurance.”

Read more

Related Articles

Best Life Insurance of 2024
10 Best Life Insurance Companies for October 2025
Best Whole Life Insurance Companies
Best Whole Life Insurance Companies for October 2025
best children's life insurance
4 Best Children’s Life Insurance Companies for October 2025
Universal Life vs. Whole Life Insurance
Universal Life vs. Whole Life Insurance: Key Differences and Benefits
How Much Life Insurance Should You Carry?
Determine Your Ideal Life Insurance Coverage: A Comprehensive Guide
Cashing in Your Life Insurance Policy
Accessing Cash from Your Life Insurance: Pros, Cons, and Tips
LIfe Insurance Payout Options
Understanding Life Insurance: Beneficiaries, Payouts, and Policy Types
Indexed Universal Life Insurance Pros and Cons
Pros and Cons of Indexed Universal Life Insurance (IUL): A Comprehensive Guide
An investor uses a calculator to determine how much profit they will realize if they sell a portion of shares they hold in their account.
Transferable Insurance Policies: How TIPS Work and Their Benefits
Two people reviewing docs.
Understanding Split-Dollar Life Insurance: A Comprehensive Guide
Best Term Life Insurance Companies
Best Term Life Insurance Companies of October 2025
best universal life insurance companies
5 Best Universal Life Insurance Companies of October 2025
Person reviewing paperwork.
Understanding Embedded Value (EV) in Life Insurance: Definition & Calculation
Employee benefits meeting
Understanding Group Term Life Insurance: Benefits, Costs, and Key Considerations
Businessmen Signing Contract on Table
Mirror Fund Explained: Benefits, How It Works, and Costs
Two people review documents.
Nonforfeiture Clauses in Insurance: Top 4 Payout Options Explained