The prevalence of being able to get insured via the Internet is
changing the way insurance is offered. Once upon a time, you had
to get life insurance a certain way, and the number of insurers
you had available to choose from was small. Every insurance policy
required a physical exam to prove that you were in good enough
health to be insured. Insurance providers don't like to take bad
risks, so they want to know that you're in good health and that
they are unlikely to need to pay your life insurance benefit when
you sign the policy papers. However, now that you can find almost
any kind of policy on the Internet, competition is getting stiffer
among insurance companies. Some now offer specialty plans, including
ones that require no physical exam whatsoever.
No exam life insurance tends to be term insurance, meaning that
it is only in force for a specific period of time. After that time,
you may have the option to renew the policy, or it may expire completely.
It's best to make sure that you get a guaranteed renewable plan,
allowing you to be sure that you'll be insured after the term of
the insurance ends, even if your health status changes. The rate
that you pay may go up after you renew, and you may be subject
to additional stipulations because you are now older. Insurance
companies give better rates to those they consider less risky,
and the older you get, the riskier the insurance company sees you
as being.
A term life insurance policy that requires no exam may require
a saliva or blood sample, but beyond that, you will never have
to go to a doctor. This saves you the stress and fee of having
to pass an exam, and prevents you from having to deal with a long
waiting period while the insurance company determines if you are
a good risk. Generally, it's easier to get life insurance without
a medical exam if you're younger. People over 40 are more likely
to be asked to pass such an exam, including a basic physical, blood
work, urine test, and possibly a stress test.
If you're young and in good health, a no exam term life insurance
policy may be available to you. These policies reduce hassle and
allow you to begin coverage as soon as you sign the papers. Because
the insurance company is taking a higher risk, a no exam life insurance
policy will often carry a higher premium. The maximum death benefit
may also be lower than with a conventional term life insurance
policy, or more limited. Make sure that these factors will not
be a problem before you choose a policy that doesn't require a
medical exam. No exam life insurance could be the thing you need
if you want coverage to begin right away, or for some reason cannot
take a medical examination.