Best No-Exam Life Insurance Companies

These policies can be a good fit for people who prefer a simple online application, need coverage quickly, or may not qualify under traditional underwriting. At the same time, it’s important to understand the trade-offs, such as potentially higher premiums or lower coverage limits.

This guide highlights the best no exam life insurance companies in 2025, based on industry rankings, independent reviews, and policy features. We’ll outline what makes each provider stand out, what coverage types they offer, and how to choose the right option for your needs.

No-exam life insurance has become more popular in recent years because it removes one of the biggest barriers to getting coverage: the medical exam.

Traditionally, applying for life insurance could mean scheduling a nurse visit, giving blood or urine samples, and waiting weeks for lab results to come back. For many people, that felt like a hassle on top of an already time-consuming process. No-exam policies make things easier by skipping the lab work and relying instead on application questions, prescription history, and/or electronic health records to make a decision.

Convenience and Speed

For many people, the biggest advantage is how quickly coverage can begin. In some cases, approval takes just minutes, and policies can be active within days instead of weeks. This can be especially helpful for families who want protection in place quickly.

When It Makes Sense

No-exam policies can be a good fit for:

• Busy applicants who don’t want to schedule lab work
• People who prefer a fully online application process
• Older adults seeking smaller coverage amounts for final expenses
• Applicants who might have minor health concerns but still want access to coverage

Trade-Offs

The convenience may come with some limitations. Premiums can be higher compared to fully underwritten policies, and maximum coverage amounts are often capped. Some insurers also restrict eligibility for applicants with significant health issues.

When looking at no-exam life insurance, you’ll find two main approaches:

• Online/Direct Platforms

  Companies like Ethos and Fabric act as digital-first providers. With Ethos, you fill out one streamlined application, and the platform pairs you with coverage from a partner carrier. This model emphasizes speed and convenience, but the insurer (the company that actually issues your policy) can vary from person to person. Fabric, by contrast, partners with a single carrier to offer term life insurance online. Applicants can often skip the medical exam, and the process takes about 10 minutes from start to finish. Fabric also provides a mobile app for managing coverage and extras like family finance tools, making it a good fit for people who want a straightforward, all-digital experience backed by an established insurer.

• Direct carriers

  These are traditional insurance companies, such as State Farm, Penn Mutual, Protective, or Nationwide. When you buy a policy, you know the insurer’s name up front, and your policy is directly underwritten by that company.

Any of these options can work depending on whether you value a familiar brand name or a fully online, flexible process.

Read: Can You Get Life Insurance with a Pre-Existing Condition?

Ethos is highlighted first because we provide one of the fastest no-exam application experiences available in 2025. Applicants can apply entirely online, often receiving instant decisions and coverage options without medical exams or lengthy questionnaires – just answer a few health questions.

At the same time, no single insurer or company is the right fit for everyone. For that reason, we also include other companies recognized by trusted sources such as MoneyGeek, US News, Investopedia, NerdWallet, and Forbes.

All of these providers (including Ethos) were selected for their financial strength, customer satisfaction, variety of no-exam options, and ease of the application process. Each listing includes who the company may be best suited for, as well as any trade-offs to consider.

Digital Platforms 

Ethos

• Quick Snapshot: No-exam term life insurance up to about $3 million; online application with instant decisions – just answer a few health questions.
• Stand-out features: Entirely digital process; coverage available quickly. A variety of coverage options from various insurance companies, including term, whole life, and index universal life.
• Best for: Applicants who want a fast, online-first experience.
• Unique offerings: Matches applicants with leading carriers; also provides guaranteed issue whole life for seniors.

Fabric

• Quick Snapshot: Term life insurance available online, with many applicants qualifying for no-exam coverage. Policies are issued by Western & Southern Life Assurance Company.
• Stand-out features: Fast, 10-minute digital application; policies can be managed through a mobile app; includes family finance tools.
• Best for: Applicants who want a simple, all-digital process from a single established insurer.
• Unique offerings: Bundles life insurance with financial-planning features for families.

Direct Carriers

State Farm

• Quick Snapshot: No-exam term and final expense life insurance; rated “best overall” by MoneyGeek(1)(score: 99) and “best instant coverage” by US News.(2)
• Stand-out features: Strong customer service and financial stability.
• Best for: Applicants looking for both term and final expense coverage.
• Unique offerings: Local agent network; wide choice of riders.

Penn Mutual (The Penn Mutual Life Insurance Company

• Quick snapshot: Offers accelerated underwriting for applicants up to age 65, with no medical exam required for coverage amounts up to $10 million. Available for both term and permanent policies.
• Stand-out features: Exceptional financial strength ratings and one of the lowest customer complaint rates among major insurers. Ranked “best overall” by Investopedia.(3)
• Best for: Applicants seeking high coverage amounts without a medical exam, or those who prefer the stability of a mutual company.
• Unique offerings: The highest no-exam coverage limit currently available, far exceeding most competitors.

Banner Life (Legal & General America)

• Quick Snapshot: Offers a wide range of term life policies in 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, and 40-year options. Offers competitive rates and high coverage amounts.(4)
• Stand-out features: Convertible term policies; accelerated death benefit riders; relatively low complaint rates; longer term options (35-40 yrs) not offered by all carriers.
• Best for: Those wanting longer terms, solid overall reputation, and flexibility in converting to permanent coverage. Offers several affordable options.(4)
• Unique offerings: Broad term lengths including up to 40 years; strong underwriting track record; backed by Legal & General for financial stability.

Nationwide

• Quick Snapshot: Instant decision term and burial insurance, no medical exam required.
• Stand-out features: Reliable underwriting with flexible coverage options.
• Best for: Quick approvals, especially for smaller coverage amounts. Rated “best for instant decisions” by Investopedia.(3)
• Unique offerings: Balance of speed and affordability.

AARP (underwritten by New York Life)

• Quick Snapshot: No-exam policies up to about $150,000.
• Stand-out features: Simplified application designed for older adults.
• Best for: Seniors seeking smaller coverage amounts, top-rated by NerdWallet as best for older applicants.(5) However, you must be an AARP member to purchase.
• Unique offerings: Endorsed by AARP; backed by New York Life.

Pacific Life, Symetra, and Thrivent

• Quick Snapshot: Recognized by Forbes Advisor(6) for strong no-exam policy options. Coverage limits vary by company.
• Stand-out features: Solid financial ratings; competitive pricing.
• Best for: Applicants who want to work with long-established insurers.
• Unique offerings: Range of product lines and optional riders.

Coverage limits can vary widely depending on the company, policy type, and the applicant’s health profile. While some no-exam options extend into the millions, others are capped at smaller amounts designed for final expenses or burial coverage. Accelerated underwriting availability and limits vary by age, risk class, and policy design; exams may still be required for some applicants. Because eligibility and limits differ, it’s important to compare policies carefully and review each insurer’s underwriting requirements before applying.

Read: How to buy life insurance

No two no-exam policies are the same. The right choice depends on how much coverage you need, how long you want it to last, and how much you’re comfortable spending. It also helps to understand the different types of underwriting used and how insurers vary in financial strength.

Coverage Needs vs. Premium Cost

Start by thinking about how much protection your family would need if you weren’t around. Larger policies naturally cost more, and with no-exam insurance the premiums are often higher than fully underwritten policies. A smaller policy may be affordable and still cover final expenses, while a higher face amount could provide ongoing income replacement.

Term vs. Whole Life vs. Final Expense

• Term life insurance: Covers you for a set period (such as 10, 20, or 30 years). Often the most affordable way to buy higher amounts of coverage without a medical exam.
• Whole life insurance: Permanent coverage that lasts for life, usually with smaller no-exam coverage limits. Premiums are higher but fixed.
• Final expense policies: Small whole life policies (often $5,000–$25,000) designed to cover funeral and end-of-life costs, with simplified applications.

Financial Strength of Provider and Customer Satisfaction

A life insurance policy is only as strong as the company behind it. Check financial strength ratings from agencies such as AM Best to confirm that the insurer can meet its long-term obligations. Customer service reviews can also give insight into how easy it is to manage your policy or file a claim.

“Guaranteed Issue” vs. “Simplified Issue” vs. “Accelerated Underwriting”

Not all “no exam” policies work the same way. Some guarantee approval for everyone, while others still ask health questions or use digital records to make a faster decision. Understanding the differences helps you know what to expect in terms of coverage limits, cost, and eligibility.

• Guaranteed issue: Approval is guaranteed, with no health questions asked. Coverage amounts are usually small, and premiums are higher. Often used for final expense policies.
• Simplified issue: Requires a short health questionnaire but no medical exam. Coverage is higher than guaranteed issue but still limited compared to fully underwritten policies.
• Accelerated underwriting: Uses digital health data (like prescription history and/or medical records) to make quick decisions without a medical exam. Coverage limits are typically the highest among no-exam options.

No-exam life insurance has grown into a practical option for people who want coverage without delays or medical appointments. While the convenience is appealing, the right choice depends on how much coverage you need, your budget, and your long-term goals. Digital platforms like Ethos and Ladder focus on speed and flexibility, while direct carriers such as State Farm or Nationwide may appeal to those who prefer established names and agent support.

Whichever route you choose, it’s worth comparing policy types, coverage limits, and premiums side by side before making a decision. That way, you can find a balance between convenience, cost, and peace of mind. At the end of the day, the best policy is one that fits your life – whether that means the convenience of applying online in minutes, or the reassurance of buying from a long-established company.