No-Exam Life Insurance: What You Give Up and What You Do Not
Written and reviewed by Hans Goldstein, licensed insurance producer, NPN 20602398 · CA Insurance License #4273294Last reviewed · Published October 3, 2026
The three kinds of no-exam coverage
No-exam paths compared
| Accelerated underwriting | Simplified issue | Guaranteed issue | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exam or labs | No (if you qualify) | No | No |
| Health questions | Yes, plus data checks | Yes | No |
| Price | Same rate classes as full underwriting | Higher per dollar of coverage | Highest; small faces |
| Face amounts | Up to $1M to $5M depending on carrier and age | Usually smaller (few carriers above $500,000) | Small |
Accelerated pricing: North American WriteAway guide. Simplified issue costs more: SOA 2020.
AI voices. Education, not tax or legal advice. Hans is paid a commission if you buy a policy through him. Comment CONVERT on the video for the checklist.
2026 accelerated limits by carrier
Accelerated (no-exam) underwriting limits from carrier documents, 2024 to 2026
| Carrier | Ages | Maximum face without an exam |
|---|---|---|
| Nationwide | 18 to 50 / 51 to 60 | $5,000,000 / $1,000,000 |
| Prudential (PruFast Track) | 18 to 64 | $5,000,000 |
| John Hancock (ExpressTrack, Accumulation IUL) | 18 to 60 | $5,000,000 |
| F&G exam-free (IUL) | 0 to 50 / 51 to 60 | $5,000,000 / $3,000,000 |
| Pacific Life (PAL+) | 18 to 60 | $3,000,000 |
| North American (WriteAway) | 18 to 50 / 51 to 60 | $3,000,000 / $1,000,000 |
| Securian (WriteFit, permanent) | 18 to 50 / 51 to 60 | $3,000,000 / $1,000,000 |
| Lincoln | 18 to 60 | $2,500,000 |
| Mutual of Omaha | 18 to 60 | $2,000,000 |
| Protective | 18 to 45 / 46 to 60 | $2,000,000 / $1,000,000 |
Sources: Nationwide, Prudential, John Hancock, F&G, Pacific Life, North American, Securian, Lincoln, Mutual of Omaha, Protective. Eligibility usually requires standard or better health.
Eligibility is not the same as getting it: industry surveys show only about one in four applicants actually skips all fluids and records in accelerated programs (PartnerRe 2024).
Exam or no exam for you?
Send your email and I'll send the in-force illustration request letter or a quote checklist, then review it within one business day.
We’ll email it to you. Hans Goldstein · NPN 20602398.
Rather talk it through? Or book 15 minutes on Hans’s calendar.
The incentive nobody mentions
No-exam cases close faster: accelerated cases average about 8 days to decision versus 28 for full underwriting (PartnerRe 2024). One carrier pitches its program to agents as "Full commissions + quicker processing = get paid faster!" (North American), and SOA notes simplified issue usually pays higher commission rates (SOA 2020). Speed is genuinely good for you too. Just make sure "no exam" means accelerated at full-underwriting prices, not simplified issue at a higher price you did not need to pay.
A rule of thumb, not a quote. Paramed vs no-exam: the full trade-off.
Who should skip the exam
- Healthy applicants under 50 who qualify for accelerated underwriting.
- Over-the-road truck drivers and others who cannot schedule an exam: coverage now beats waiting (drivers).
- People who need coverage in place by a deadline (a loan closing, a divorce decree).
Want this run on your own policy or numbers?
Send your policy statement or your situation. Within one business day you get a plain-English read and the next step.
Rather talk it through? Or book 15 minutes on Hans’s calendar, or call 213-414-2808.
Hans Goldstein · 213-414-2808 · NPN 20602398, independent licensed insurance producer
Frequently asked questions
Sources
- Accelerated underwriting uses fully underwritten rate classes and pricing when the applicant qualifies (North American WriteAway: 'same pricing as traditional underwriting'; Pacific Life PAL+ accelerated gives Standard or better classes) (as of 2026)
- SOA: premiums per unit are higher for simplified issue than fully underwritten and accelerated products; if insureds can get through full underwriting they can generally get a cheaper price and/or more coverage; SI is especially expensive for middle-aged and older applicants (as of 2020)
- Nationwide Intelligent Underwriting acceleration: ages 18-50 $100,000-$5M, ages 51-60 $100,000-$1M, Standard or better; eligible products include IUL Accumulator II 2020 and IUL Protector II 2020 (as of 2024)
- Prudential PruFast Track accelerated underwriting: ages 18-64, $100,000-$5,000,000 (as of 2026)
- PartnerRe 2024 survey: AUW turnaround averages 8 days vs 28 days for fully underwritten cases (as of 2024-12-11)
- North American markets WriteAway to agents as 'Full commissions + quicker processing = get paid faster!' (as of 2026)
- SOA: 'SI usually does have higher commission rates when sold through an agent distribution,' though total commission is lower due to lower face amounts (as of 2020)
Hans Goldstein, CA Insurance License #4273294 · NPN 20602398 · Goldstein & Co. LLC dba Goldstein Insurance Services, CA License #6016830
Contact: hans@hansgoldstein.com · 213-414-2808
General education, not tax or legal advice. Tax treatment depends on your facts and on current law, which can change. Talk to your CPA or estate attorney. Guarantees are backed by the financial strength and claims-paying ability of the issuing insurance company. Guarantees apply only to the contractual terms of the policy. Caps, participation rates, loan rates, charges and dividends are not guaranteed and can change. Hans is paid a commission by the insurer if you buy a policy through him. For life insurance, ask and he will tell you what he earns on your specific policy. Product and company names are trademarks of their owners. Goldstein Insurance Services is an independent agency, not affiliated with or endorsed by any insurer named here. Life insurance requires underwriting; not everyone qualifies. This page describes products in general terms; read the policy and the insurer's disclosures before you buy.