- You're a healthy 25-50 year old with low BMI and no major conditions.
- You need $250K-$1.5M of coverage.
- You have a closing date or other deadline that requires speed.
- You strongly prefer not to do a paramedical exam.
Underwriting comparison
No-Exam vs. Fully Underwritten Life Insurance
No-exam life insurance has gotten dramatically better over the last 5 years, but fully underwritten still wins on price for the largest face amounts and most complex applications. Here's how to decide.
Option A No-exam (AU)
vs Accelerated underwriting, no paramed
Option B Fully underwritten
Traditional with paramedical exam
Side by side
Point-by-point comparison.
Comparison No-exam (AU) Fully underwritten
Decision speed 24-72 hours 4-6 weeks
Application difficulty Questionnaire only Application + paramed + sometimes APS
Maximum face amount Usually $1.5M-$3M $5M+ readily available
Premium for healthy 35-yo, $500K $28/mo (Preferred) $24/mo (Preferred Plus)
Best for healthy applicants in mid-range face amounts Yes — convenient & competitive Slightly cheaper but more friction
Best for applicants with controlled conditions Less flexibility Documented control rewarded
Best for very large face amounts ($1.5M+) Often above caps Available with documentation
Best for time-sensitive applicants Yes — close in days Several weeks minimum
- You need more than $1.5M of coverage.
- You have a controlled condition (diabetes, hypertension, sleep apnea on CPAP) where documented file review can earn you Preferred or Preferred Plus rates.
- You're optimizing for the lowest possible long-term cost and have time to wait.
- You've been declined or kicked back to fully-underwritten by an AU process and want to make your case with documentation.
Common questions
No-Exam vs. Fully Underwritten Life Insurance FAQ
Is no-exam more expensive?
Slightly. Healthy 35-yo applicants typically see a 10-20% premium difference between AU Preferred and fully-underwritten Preferred Plus. The gap closes as carriers continue to refine their AU programs.
Will the carrier still pull my prescription history and MIB on a no-exam application?
Yes. AU substitutes electronic data sources for the paramedical exam — but the carrier still pulls MIB, Rx history, MVR, and lab data exchanges. The 'no exam' refers to the paramedical visit, not to underwriting effort.
What if AU declines me — do I have to start over?
Often no — many carriers automatically kick you over to fully-underwritten without re-application if AU declines, and we'll ask the carrier to do that or move to a different carrier. Either way, an AU decline isn't a permanent decline.
Ready to see real numbers from multiple carriers?
Free Will Kit + 15-min review. We quote 5–8 carriers and tell you straight which option fits.