Guide
Life insurance with no medical exam explained
When you apply for life insurance, you'll need to answer questions about your medical history. This helps the provider work out how much to charge you for your cover. And in some circumstances, they'll send you for a medical examination so they can get the full picture about your health.
However, there are insurance plans that specify ‘no medicals’. A good example of this is over 50s life insurance. But although these plans stipulate no medicals, they can still ask about your health and lifestyle.
In this guide we take a look at how no medical life insurance works and the pros and cons of having a medical examination for insurance purposes.
What is no medical life insurance?
No medical life insurance is a life insurance plan that doesn't require you to take a medical examination before they offer you cover. Many over 50s plans guarantee that you’ll be accepted without a medical. But you’ll still be asked about your age and smoker status.
No medical life insurance plans tend to provide small but guaranteed cash payouts and offer affordable premiums. However, many of them will expect you to pay premiums for a minimum of 30 years or until you reach 90 for example.
But even if you apply for life insurance, you won't always need a medical examination. You’ll be asked a series of questions about your age, health and lifestyle. The answers to these question will determine whether you need a medical. Usually, only if you’re over 50, have a complicated medical history or are applying for a high payout will you need to go for a medical exam.
How does no medical life insurance work?
Although no medical life insurance means that you won’t need to go for a medical examination, it doesn't mean you won’t be asked any medical questions.
The insurance provider still needs some way to work out whether they can insure you. It’s likely that the application will take you through a series of questions about your health and lifestyle. These could include questions about:
- your age, occupation and where you live
- your height and weight
- past medical conditions
- family medical history
- your general health and wellbeing now
- smoking, vaping and drinking habits
From this information, the insurer will decide whether they can offer you the insurance you’re applying for. If your answers flag up some issues, they may decide to still offer you cover, but for a reduced amount, a higher premium or with conditions attached.
They may also impose a waiting period on making a claim. For example, your loved ones won't receive a payout if you die within the first year of the policy. This is a common exclusion for over 50s plans which ask few or no medical questions. It's designed to stop people taking out life insurance when they know they have a terminal condition. And to help manage the risk to the insurance company.
Let’s look at the differences between life insurance and no medical life insurance.
|
|
Standard life insurance |
No medical life insurance |
|
Application process |
Usually includes comprehensive medical questionnaire and sometimes a medical examination. |
Can include some health and lifestyle questions but no medical examination. |
|
Cover offered |
High levels of cover available, up to several millions. |
Lower levels of cover available, up to several thousand. |
|
Premiums |
Vary hugely depending on age, health and cover required. |
Usually quite affordable due to low level of cover. |
|
Waiting period |
No waiting period, except for suicide claims. |
One to two year waiting periods for most plans. |
|
Payout |
Often used to cover large expenses, such as paying off a mortgage. |
Used to provide for funeral expenses or leave a small legacy. |
|
Suitable for |
Mortgage holders, those with debts and families. |
Older applicants with pre-existing medical conditions. |
Who is no medical life insurance for?
No medical life insurance can benefit many types of applicants.
- People with pre-existing health conditions. They may not get cover with standard life insurance.
- Older applicants. Especially those over 50 who worry that traditional life insurance premiums may be too expensive.
- Those with a fear of medical examinations.
- People who want to get cover in place quickly. No medical insurance can be in place in minutes.
- Individuals who’ve been declined standard life insurance.
Meet John, 58, who has Type 2 diabetes. As long as his diabetes is controlled, John should be eligible for life insurance. But he also recently had a mild heart attack. He wants to make sure his family have enough to pay for his funeral. He takes out a no medical insurance plan as he expects that a standard life insurance plan won't offer him cover.
Read more: Can diabetics get life insurance?
Benefits of life insurance without a medical exam
Fast and simple. The application process is more straightforward than standard life insurance. There are usually fewer questions, which makes the application quick to complete.
Instant approval and cover. With many plans, you’ll get instant acceptance once the application is complete. This means your cover can be in place immediately after acceptance.
Universal. It’s a good alternative to standard life cover for those with existing conditions. It’s also an option for people who don't like being examined.
Privacy. There’s no need to share your detailed medical records.
Peace of mind. With some plans you’re guaranteed to be accepted. So, there’s no need to worry about being declined.
Read more: Life insurance and medical records explained
Disadvantages of no medical life insurance
Cost of premiums. Premiums may be higher on a like for like basis compared with policies that are fully underwritten.
Lower cover. There’s often a lower maximum amount that an insurance company will cover you for with a no medical policy.
Waiting periods. With over 50s policies in particular, your family may not be able to make a claim in the first year of having the policy. However, your loved ones may get back the premiums you’ve already paid out.
Limited flexibility. These policies won’t usually allow you to make changes once they’re set up.
Is life insurance without medical exam more expensive?
Yes, it can be. The insurance company work out your premiums based on your answers to their health and lifestyle questions. Because they won't have your full medical history, they’re taking on more risk of you making a claim. This can increase the cost of your life insurance.
The insurance company will make an estimate of your risk from all the information you provide. Such as age, gender, smoking status, occupation and where you live.
For a more accurate estimate of your insurance risk, it can be better to complete a full health questionnaire. This can sometimes result in a better rate than you would expect.
Types of no medical life insurance policies
Over 50s life insurance
This insurance pays out a lump sum of money to your loved ones when you die. These types of plans are usually only available to people aged 50-80. You pay a fixed premium each month and you’re guaranteed to have your application accepted whatever your health is like.
Most over 50s plans impose a waiting period on making a claim. If you die within the first year of the policy, your loved ones won't be able to make a claim. This is a common exclusion for over 50s plans which ask few or no medical questions.
Over 50s life insurance is ideal if you want to make sure you leave a modest amount towards your funeral costs or pay off small debts. When you die, your family won’t need to cover these expenses for you.
However, it’s possible to pay in more to your policy than you receive as a payout if you live for a long time. The longer you live, the more you pay in, but the payout remains the same.
Read more: Over 50s life insurance explained
Term life insurance with simplified underwriting
You can also get term life insurance without a medical examination.
Insurance companies use sophisticated underwriting systems to determine your risk of death. So, if you’re young, healthy, and don’t smoke, it’s unlikely you’ll be asked to go for a medical. The application process relies on you self-reporting any medical issues.
Simplified underwriting tends to mean that there are fewer questions to answer, so you can often be approved for cover quickly.
You can also get a higher level of cover compared to an over 50s plan. And make changes to your cover as your circumstances change.
Read more: Term life insurance explained
Whole of life insurance
Whole of life insurance is a type of life insurance that’s guaranteed to pay out whenever you die, as long as you keep paying your premiums. So, it offers cover for the whole of your life. An over 50s plan is a type of whole of life policy.
But standard whole of life policies can be taken out by people of any age. Some whole of life policies also offer simplified underwriting. Health questions are kept to a minimum and you’ll be expected to report any existing conditions.
They also offer higher levels of cover, like term life insurance. People take out this insurance so they can leave a legacy for their family, cover funeral costs or pay an inheritance tax bill.
Read more: Whole of life insurance explained
Alternatives to no medical life insurance
Although no medical life insurance offers a way for people with health issues to get cover, it has its limitations. Other insurance and financial options are available.
Serious illness cover. Pays out a lump sum to you if you’re diagnosed with a serious illness. Such as cancer, heart attack or stroke. Once the lump sum has been paid out, the cover will end. You can use the money to help pay the bills as you recover from or adapt to your new condition.
Read more: Serious illness cover explained
Income protection insurance. If you can’t work because of illness or injury, income protection insurance provides a replacement income. It helps to meet your living expenses, such as rent or mortgage payments, and utility bills.
Read more: Income protection insurance explained
Death in service benefit. This is a life insurance payout provided by employers for their employees. If you die while you're employed by your company, your loved ones will receive a lump sum payout. The amount is usually a multiple of your salary.
Read more: Death in service benefit explained
Accidental death benefit. Provides a lump sum payout if you die because of an accident. It’s not as comprehensive as standard life insurance but tends to be cheaper.
Vitality life insurance
Want to know more about life insurance or thinking about taking out a policy? Here are some of the benefits of taking out life insurance with Vitality:
- A brand you can trust - In 2023, we paid out 99.7% of life insurance claims.*
- Get a lower monthly premium upfront when you add Optimiser to your plan. Keep your premiums low when you stay active.
- Access to Vitality partner discounts and rewards.
- Get free no-obligation advice. Our advisers offer expert advice to help you make the right decisions.
Life insurance without medical exam FAQs
Can you get life insurance without a medical?
Yes, there are several ways to get life insurance without a medical. You can opt for guaranteed acceptance, such as an over 50s plan. Or simplified underwriting where you answer questions about your health and lifestyle.
Does standard life insurance always require a medical?
Not always. Insurance companies use sophisticated underwriting systems to determine your risk of death. So, if you’re young, healthy, and don’t smoke, it’s unlikely you’ll be asked to go for a medical. The application process relies on you self-reporting any medical issues.
What happens if I don't disclose a health condition on a no medical life policy?
You may not be covered when you come to make a claim if you don't disclose a medical condition when asked on the application form.
Are there age limits for no medical life insurance?
With an over 50s plan, you’ll need to be aged between 50 and 80. Other no medical life insurance plans are available to individuals between 16 and 70 usually.
How do insurers verify information without medical exams?
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