Can I get life insurance without a medical?

When considering life Insurance, one of the most common things people want to know is whether they need to take a medical exam first. 

This article will provide information about that as well as explore the pros and cons of medical versus no-medical life insurance, so you can weigh up the benefits and limitations of each approach and ultimately make a choice that best suits your situation. 

The answer to this will depend on whether the Life Insurance policy is fully or partially underwritten. These terms refer to the level of scrutiny and assessment involved in the Life Insurance policy application process. 

The key difference between fully and partially underwritten cover is as follows: 

Fully underwritten cover: This type of insurance has an application process that requires a full evaluation of your health and lifestyle. This typically includes a detailed questionnaire, and sometimes may require a medical exam and access to your medical records. 

Partially underwritten cover: This insurance type doesn’t require as much detail in the application process, and you might not need to undergo a rigorous medical assessment. 

The advantage of fully-underwritten insurance is that it usually results in coverage that’s tailored to your specific needs. The premiums can sometimes be lower, too, because the coverage is designed for your individual circumstances rather than the “average person”. 

Although no-health-check life insurance has a faster application process, the coverage is likely to be limited, subject to broad exclusion, and the premiums may be higher. 

More information about this can be found in the NobleOak article, What is fully underwritten life insurance? 

When you apply for Life Insurance with NobleOak, they’ll request a few minutes of your time to ask a series of health and lifestyle questions. As an insurer that offers fully underwritten cover, NobleOak can also arrange and pay for a medical if that’s required. 

Here are two situations where you might be asked to undertake a medical assessment: 

• If you apply for a very large amount of cover, it will auto trigger a mandatory medical exam. 

• If your Body Mass Index (BMI) is 40 or higher. 

For more information about this, please feel free to contact NobleOak. 

There are some upsides to no-medical Life Insurance, although these tend to come with significant drawbacks (which we’ll look at in the next section). Advantages include: 

Speed: The application process for no-medical life insurance tends to be faster, which is often seen as an advantage. 

No medicals: You won’t have to attend medical appointments or undertake tests. 

Age considerations: No-medical life insurance might be an advantage for people who are older, since it allows them to obtain coverage more quickly. If the goal is to get iife insurance as soon as possible (in situations where the person has an existing health condition) then this might be seen as the best option.

Let’s now take a look at the disadvantages of getting life insurance with no medical exam. These include: 

Limitations with coverage: Getting life insurance with no medical assessment can result in coverage limitations such as lower benefit amounts and higher premiums. Additionally, the policy may not be as tailored to your specific needs compared with fully underwritten life insurance. 

Higher premiums: Because the insurer will not be able to fully assess your health risks, they may charge higher premiums for your coverage. 

Less customisation: Policies offered without medical examinations typically have less customisation, as they provide standard coverage options without considering your unique health profile. 

Exclusions for pre-existing medical conditions: No-medical life insurance policies may exclude broadly coverage for pre-existing conditions, as the insurer has limited information to assess your health risks. 

If your life insurance provider asks you to undertake a medical exam, it’s to make sure all facts about your health are available to them. Essentially, it’s a form of risk protection. 

It’s normal to feel a little bit nervous about getting a medical, but you don’t need to be. Often, it’s simply a case of answering a few questions and providing some samples. 

Don’t let fear of this step hold you back from obtaining life Insurance – it doesn’t take long, and it’s worth it for the benefits your policy can provide. 

The medical exam is very similar to a normal check-up with your GP. In most cases, the insurer will send a licensed medical professional to your home to ask you a few questions about your medical history and perform some simple procedures. 

You might be required to provide samples of urine, blood, and saliva. 

You may also have your blood pressure, pulse, height and weight measured. In certain cases, an x-ray, or electrocardiogram (ECG) might be required. 

More information about this can be found in the article: What Is a Life Insurance Medical Examination (And What Can I Expect During Mine)?