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No medical life insurance

Good news! Not all life insurance policies need a medical exam. But when might you need a medical check for life insurance? And why do insurers need your medical information?

Tess Ebner, Junior Content Writer at Confused.com
Written by Junior Content Writer 6 min read | Published 06/03/2025
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Can you get life insurance with no medical?

Yes, you can get life insurance with no medical exam.

Insurers don’t always ask for a medical exam when you apply for life insurance.

Whether they ask for one will depend on your personal circumstances and which policy type you apply for.

When you apply for ‘standard’ types of life insurance, such as term and whole of life insurance, you'll need to give your medical information.

This doesn’t always mean that you'll need to take a medical exam too, but you might need to have one if your insurer asks for it.

No medical life insurance for seniors is available through an over 50s plan, where acceptance is guaranteed (to UK residents aged 50 – 85) with no medical questions or exam at all.

What is no medical life insurance?

No medical life insurance refers to life insurance that doesn’t need you to take a medical exam in order to buy a policy.

If you’re leading a healthy lifestyle, for example, you’re in good health, don’t smoke or drink in excess, you’re less likely to need a medical exam.

You might need to take a medical exam if you've got a complicated medical history. For example, heavy smokers and drinkers might need a medical exam.

This is so insurers can paint a better picture of your overall health and wellbeing.

What types of no medical life insurance are there?

No medical life insurance can be split into two categories:

  • Policies that don’t require a medical exam
  • Policies that don’t require a medical exam or any medical information

Term life insurance without a medical exam

If you’re considered low-risk by insurers, you could get term life insurance without the need for a medical exam. Here's what's this type of policy includes:

  • You’ll be covered for a set period of time (known as the term)
  • Your cover amount can be level (stays the same) or decreasing (will reduce over time)
  • Your insurer will pay out if you die during the term
  • It can help to cover a mortgage, other debts, family living costs

You’ll need to answer medical questions during the application process

Guaranteed life insurance with no medical questions or exam

If you’re aged 50 – 85, you can buy an over 50s plan with guaranteed acceptance. You won’t need to give any medical information and you won’t need to take a medical exam. Here's some more useful information about this type of policy:

  • Acceptance is guaranteed to those aged 50 – 85
  • You’ll be covered for the rest of your life once you buy a policy
  • A pay out is guaranteed when you die (after a 12 – 24 month waiting period has passed at the start of your policy)
  • Can help to pay for your funeral or provide a small inheritance for your family
  • No medical questions are asked during the application process

What medical questions are usually asked?

If you’re looking at policies that ask you medical questions, this is the sort of information you could be expected to give:

  • Your overall health and wellbeing (both physical and mental)
  • Your medical history (any diagnosis’, medication, treatments and surgeries you’ve had in the past)
  • Your family medical history (to see if you’re at an increased risk of certain conditions)
  • Your height and weight (to calculate your BMI)
  • Your smoking habits in the last 12 months (this includes nicotine substitutes such as gum, patches and vaping)
  • Your alcohol consumption (how many units you consume on average)
  • Your drug use (you’ll need to let insurers know of any prescribed or recreational drugs you’re taking or have taken)

This isn’t a complete list; the number of questions you’re asked will depend on the specific insurer.

It’s essential to be completely honest when giving information on a life insurance application.

If you give false information or withhold information this could invalidate the cover you buy. This means your life insurance won't pay out to your loved ones if you die.

How far back do insurance companies check medical records in the UK?

Generally, insurance companies focus on the last 5 -10 years. But this can vary depending on the individual insurer and the information they’re looking for.

It’s reassuring to know that insurance companies can’t access your medical records without your consent.

However, if you don’t give your consent, insurers could decline your application as they won’t have all the information they need to assess your application.

What our life insurance expert says

"You can skip the medical exam, but that doesn’t mean skipping the questions.

Insurers will still ask about your health and lifestyle, so being honest ensures your policy pays out when your loved ones need it most."

Rhydian Jones - Confused.com Commercial Director
Home & lifestyle insurance expert Confused.com logo

How to buy life insurance with no medical

Here are some tips on buying life insurance with no medical exam:

  • Compare multiple quotes – each insurer has a different criteria when assessing applications, so if one asks you to take a medical exam another may not. Using a comparison site like Confused.com is a quick and easy way to do this.
  • Lead a healthy lifestyle – those who are considered ‘low risk’ are less likely to need medical checks.
  • Only buy the cover amount you need – applying for a high amount of cover could mean you’ll need to take a medical exam.
  • Be honest during the application - giving details about a health condition could mean you'll need to take a medical exam. But it's essential you're completely honest about it. Giving false information could invalidate your policy.
  • Consider an over 50s plan – if you fit into this age group (50 - 85), this is a guaranteed way of buying a policy without answering medical questions. Or having to go through a medical exam.
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