How Does Simplified Issue Life Insurance Work?

Simplified issue life insurance is a type of no medical exam life insurance that allows you to obtain coverage quickly, given that you only have to answer health questions to qualify, rather than taking a medical exam.

In addition to the health questions, the insurance companies will also conduct electronic research about you that will reveal your driving record, medication history, and identity. This information, combined with your answers to the health questions, is how insurers determine whether you’re eligible without requiring a medical exam.

Simplified issue policies can be approved instantly or within ten days. Often, policies aren’t approved instantly because your health history contains ambiguous information that requires further clarification.

In those cases, insurers will often request a telephone interview to ask you for deeper insight into the specific issues that prevented them from approving your application on the spot.

 

Types Of Simplified Issue Life Policies

Most insurers offer at least one type of simplified issue life insurance. Furthermore, nearly all of them offer simplified underwriting for whole life, term life, universal life, and burial insurance policies.

While it varies by insurer, simplified policies can be available up to age 85 with coverage generally capping out at around $500,000.

 

How Much Does Simplified Issue Life Insurance Cost?

The cost of simplified issue life insurance policies is based on the following factors:

  • Type of policy (whole, term, or universal life)
  • Gender
  • Health history
  • Coverage amount
  • Tobacco, drug, alcohol habits (if any)

 

Simplified issue 10-year term life insurance rates

AgeFemaleMale
20$7$8
25$7$8
30$7$8
35$7$8
40$8$8
45$9$10
50$11$13
55$15$17
60$19$25
65$28$37
Monthly rates are calculated at a preferred non-tobacco rating for a no medical exam 10-year term, rounded to the nearest dollar, and are valid as of 04/02/2026.
AgeFemaleMale
20$8$8
25$8$8
30$8$8
35$8$8
40$8$9
45$10$11
50$13$14
55$17$21
60$24$30
65$50$67
Monthly rates are calculated at a preferred non-tobacco rating for a no medical exam 10-year term, rounded to the nearest dollar, and are valid as of 04/02/2026.
AgeFemaleMale
20$8$10
25$8$10
30$9$10
35$9$10
40$11$12
45$15$17
50$20$23
55$28$37
60$39$58
65$91$124
Monthly rates are calculated at a preferred non-tobacco rating for a no medical exam 10-year term, rounded to the nearest dollar, and are valid as of 04/02/2026.
AgeFemaleMale
20$11$13
25$11$13
30$11$13
35$11$13
40$15$17
45$23$27
50$32$40
55$49$66
60$72$109
65$157$214
Monthly rates are calculated at a preferred non-tobacco rating for a no medical exam 10-year term, rounded to the nearest dollar, and are valid as of 04/02/2026.

Simplified issue 20-year term life insurance rates

AgeFemaleMale
20$7$8
25$7$8
30$7$8
35$8$9
40$9$10
45$11$13
50$15$19
55$21$27
60$31$43
65$52$67
Monthly rates are calculated at a preferred non-tobacco rating for a no medical exam 20-year term, rounded to the nearest dollar, and are valid as of 04/02/2026.
AgeFemaleMale
20$8$8
25$8$8
30$8$9
35$8$9
40$9$10
45$13$15
50$17$21
55$24$33
60$37$52
65$98$129
Monthly rates are calculated at a preferred non-tobacco rating for a no medical exam 20-year term, rounded to the nearest dollar, and are valid as of 04/02/2026.
AgeFemaleMale
20$11$12
25$11$12
30$11$12
35$12$13
40$15$17
45$21$26
50$30$38
55$44$59
60$73$104
65$185$244
Monthly rates are calculated at a preferred non-tobacco rating for a no medical exam 20-year term, rounded to the nearest dollar, and are valid as of 04/02/2026.
AgeFemaleMale
20$15$18
25$15$18
30$16$18
35$17$20
40$24$28
45$35$45
50$54$69
55$82$112
60$140$199
65$322$425
Monthly rates are calculated at a preferred non-tobacco rating for a no medical exam 20-year term, rounded to the nearest dollar, and are valid as of 04/02/2026.

Simplified issue 30-year term life insurance rates

AgeFemaleMale
20$8$9
25$8$9
30$8$9
35$9$10
40$11$13
45$15$18
50$21$26
55$31$41
Monthly rates are calculated at a preferred non-tobacco rating for a no medical exam 30-year term, rounded to the nearest dollar, and are valid as of 04/02/2026.
AgeFemaleMale
20$10$12
25$10$12
30$11$12
35$11$13
40$15$17
45$18$24
50$28$36
55$46$60
Monthly rates are calculated at a preferred non-tobacco rating for a no medical exam 30-year term, rounded to the nearest dollar, and are valid as of 04/02/2026.
AgeFemaleMale
20$14$17
25$14$17
30$15$18
35$18$21
40$23$28
45$33$42
50$51$67
55$85$117
Monthly rates are calculated at a preferred non-tobacco rating for a no medical exam 30-year term, rounded to the nearest dollar, and are valid as of 04/02/2026.
AgeFemaleMale
20$22$27
25$22$27
30$24$29
35$28$34
40$38$49
45$59$76
50$93$123
55$164$228
Monthly rates are calculated at a preferred non-tobacco rating for a no medical exam 30-year term, rounded to the nearest dollar, and are valid as of 04/02/2026.

Simplified issue whole life insurance rates

AgeFemaleMale
20$26$29
25$30$35
30$35$41
35$42$48
40$51$59
45$64$74
50$79$92
55$97$115
60$118$136
65$146$167
70$188$218
75$249$288
80$322$374
Monthly rates are calculated at a preferred non-tobacco rating for a no medical exam whole life policy, rounded to the nearest dollar, and are valid as of 04/02/2026.
AgeFemaleMale
20$47$54
25$56$65
30$66$77
35$79$92
40$98$114
45$123$143
50$153$180
55$190$226
60$232$268
65$287$331
70$372$432
75$493$573
80$639$743
Monthly rates are calculated at a preferred non-tobacco rating for a no medical exam whole life policy, rounded to the nearest dollar, and are valid as of 04/02/2026.
AgeFemaleMale
20$105$124
25$129$153
30$156$185
35$191$223
40$238$277
45$300$350
50$375$442
55$469$558
60$573$664
65$711$820
70$924$1,074
75$1,225$1,425
80$1,591$1,591
Monthly rates are calculated at a preferred non-tobacco rating for a no medical exam whole life policy, rounded to the nearest dollar, and are valid as of 04/02/2026.
AgeFemaleMale
20$204$235
25$251$293
30$304$356
35$371$434
40$463$541
45$587$687
50$723$826
55$883$998
60$1,107$1,264
65$1,411$1,630
70$1,842$2,136
75$2,446$2,842
80$3,176$3,698
Monthly rates are calculated at a preferred non-tobacco rating for a no medical exam whole life policy, rounded to the nearest dollar, and are valid as of 04/02/2026.

Simplified issue universal life insurance rates

AgeFemaleMale
20$28$32
25$29$32
30$31$34
35$37$41
40$46$49
45$55$60
50$63$76
55$77$95
60$97$123
65$123$166
70$143$194
75$205$293
Monthly rates are calculated at a preferred non-tobacco rating for a no medical exam universal life policy, rounded to the nearest dollar, and are valid as of 04/02/2026.
AgeFemaleMale
20$36$41
25$37$41
30$40$45
35$49$55
40$63$68
45$76$84
50$89$107
55$110$136
60$138$179
65$178$243
70$208$284
75$301$434
Monthly rates are calculated at a preferred non-tobacco rating for a no medical exam universal life policy, rounded to the nearest dollar, and are valid as of 04/02/2026.
AgeFemaleMale
20$44$50
25$45$51
30$50$56
35$62$69
40$80$86
45$97$107
50$114$139
55$142$178
60$180$234
65$233$320
70$273$375
75$398$574
Monthly rates are calculated at a preferred non-tobacco rating for a no medical exam universal life policy, rounded to the nearest dollar, and are valid as of 04/02/2026.
AgeFemaleMale
20$60$69
25$61$70
30$68$78
35$86$96
40$113$123
45$140$155
50$165$202
55$207$260
60$264$345
65$344$473
70$404$556
75$590$855
Monthly rates are calculated at a preferred non-tobacco rating for a no medical exam universal life policy, rounded to the nearest dollar, and are valid as of 04/02/2026.

Simplified issue final expense insurance rates

AgeFemaleMale
20$6$6
25$7$7
30$8$8
35$9$10
40$11$12
45$13$14
50$14$17
55$15$20
60$18$23
65$22$29
70$28$37
75$37$50
80$50$69
85$68$95
Source for monthly prices: Choice Mutual quote calculator. Rates are calculated at a non-tobacco rating, rounded to the nearest dollar, and are valid as of 04/02/2026.
AgeFemaleMale
20$12$13
25$14$14
30$16$17
35$18$20
40$21$23
45$23$26
50$24$31
55$28$36
60$33$43
65$41$54
70$53$70
75$71$97
80$98$134
85$132$187
Source for monthly prices: Choice Mutual quote calculator. Rates are calculated at a non-tobacco rating, rounded to the nearest dollar, and are valid as of 04/02/2026.
AgeFemaleMale
20$29$32
25$31$36
30$33$40
35$38$45
40$45$54
45$52$60
50$55$71
55$64$84
60$76$102
65$97$130
70$127$169
75$172$237
80$239$330
85$324$463
Source for monthly prices: Choice Mutual quote calculator. Rates are calculated at a non-tobacco rating, rounded to the nearest dollar, and are valid as of 04/02/2026.
AgeFemaleMale
20$55$67
25$60$72
30$67$81
35$77$92
40$91$110
45$100$116
50$107$138
55$124$164
60$152$206
65$192$270
70$253$360
75$349$487
80$479$686
85$667$951
Source for monthly prices: Choice Mutual quote calculator. Rates are calculated at a non-tobacco rating, rounded to the nearest dollar, and are valid as of 04/02/2026.

 

Simplified Issue Vs Life Insurance Policies With No Health Questions

Life insurance policies with no health questions guarantee your approval regardless of your health history. Simplified issue policies, in contrast, require you to answer health questions, which, in large part, determine if you’re approved or declined.

The most notable difference, aside from the much higher cost, between these two types of policies is that guaranteed acceptance policies always have a two-year waiting period. If you die during the 24-month waiting period, the insurance company will only refund your premiums.

Conversely, a simplified issue life insurance policy does not automatically include a two-year waiting period. Some of them do, but most of them do not.

 

Simplified Issue Life Insurance Vs Life Insurance Policies With A Medical Exam

Life insurance policies that do require a medical exam differ from simplified issue policies in the following ways:

  • A medical exam is required. You’ll meet with a nurse who will collect blood and urine samples and record your current height and weight.
  • All your medical records will be subpoenaed. The insurance company will formally request all your medical files from every physician or medical facility you’ve interacted with in the last 10 years.

The approval time for fully underwritten policies usually takes 4-6 weeks. The primary upside is that the cost can be (and usually is) much lower than simplified issue life policies. Also, the coverage limits are considerably higher.

If you’re okay with taking the exam and waiting for approval, opting for a fully underwritten life insurance policy is advisable.

 

Pros And Cons Of Simplified Life Insurance

The Good
  • No needles, lab work, exams, or meetings with any medical professional.
  • Very fast approvals.
  • No need for the insurer to obtain all your medical records.
  • Can usually be bought online or by telephone.
The Bad
  • Fully underwritten policies are generally less expensive.
  • Those with high-risk health issues will find it difficult to qualify for simplified issue products.
  • The coverage maximums are often around $500,000, which is not suitable for most working families.

 

Alternatives To Simplified Issue Life Insurance

Perhaps you applied and were declined for a simplified issue policy. Or maybe you need a high amount of coverage. There are many reasons why simplified issue life insurance may not be the right fit. If so, here are some alternatives to consider:

  • Guaranteed acceptance: With guaranteed issue life insurance, there is no underwriting at all. You don’t have to do an exam or answer health questions. The drawback is that you can typically only buy $25,000 in coverage, and there is a two-year waiting period before you’re insured for natural causes of death.
  • Full underwriting: These require a medical exam and all your medical records. The exam may be a hassle, and the application takes longer to be approved. However, the cost is lower, and the maximum coverage is much higher.
  • Group life insurance: If your employer offers group term life insurance, there is likely no qualification. In most cases, group coverage does not require you to personally qualify. Instead, the risk is spread across the whole group, which is why your personal details aren’t relevant.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Simplified issue coverage is ideal for those who need coverage quickly and don’t mind paying slightly higher premiums. It’s also perfect for people who have an aversion to needles. However, if you’re okay with the exam, it’s recommended to opt for a full underwriting policy, as you’ll pay much lower premiums.

While it depends on the exact nature of your conditions, simplified policies do accept folks with pre-existing health issues (even moderate to high-risk ones). What’s certain is that very high-risk conditions, such as CHF or COPD, will likely lead to an outright decline in simplified products. It’s best to speak with a licensed agent who can analyze your background and give you a clear set of expectations.

Simplified issue term life and universal life policies will always have no waiting period (if you’re approved). However, some simplified issue whole life policies may have a waiting period. Basically, if you say yes to certain health questions, the insurer will still “approve” the application but issue it with a modified benefit (which means there is a two-year waiting period).

HIPAA laws make it illegal for any entity to access your protected health and personal information without proper prior authorization. When you sign a life insurance application, one of the authorizations you’re agreeing to is to allow the insurer to access your protected information. If you were to refuse this authorization, they would not even consider your application. With the authorization in hand, the insurer will gather medical information about you from Milliman IntelliScript and MIB. They will gather identity and background information from LexisNexis and your state’s DMV.

Anthony Martin
Anthony Martin
Choice Mutual CEO & Writer
Author
  • Nationally licensed life insurance agent with over 16 years of experience.
  • Personal annual production that puts him in the top .001% out of all life insurance agents in the nation.

Anthony Martin is a nationally licensed insurance expert with over 16 years of experience and has personally served over 10,000 clients with their life insurance needs. He frequently authors entrepreneurial and life insurance content for Forbes, Inc.com, Newsweek, Kiplinger, and Entreprenuer.com. Anthony has been consulted as an expert life insurance source for dozens of high-profile websites such as Forbes, Bankrate, Reuters, Fox Business, CNBC, Investopedia, Insurance.com, Yahoo Finance, and many more.

Jeff Root
Jeff Root
Life Insurance Expert, Choice Mutual Fact Checker
Editor
  • Nationally licensed life insurance agent with over 20 years of experience
  • Best selling Amazon author.

Jeff Root is a nationally licensed life insurance expert with over 20 years of experience. He has personally helped over 3000 clients with their life insurance needs. Jeff is a best-selling Amazon author and the managing partner of a highly successful insurance brokerage that manages over 2,500 licensed insurance agents across the USA. He has been a featured life insurance source for prestigious websites such as Forbes, Bloomberg, MarketWatch, Nerdwallet, and many more.

David Duford
David Duford
Life Insurance Expert, Choice Mutual Fact Checker
Editor
  • Nationally licensed life insurance agent with over 15 years of experience
  • Best selling Amazon author of five insurance sales books.

David Duford is a nationally licensed insurance expert with over 15 years of experience. He has personally helped more than 15,000 clients buy life insurance. David has been featured as an expert source for highly authoritative publications such as A.M. Best and Insurancenewsnet. He also runs one of the largest Youtube channels to help aspiring insurance agents serve their clients better.

Jeff Root
Jeff Root
Life Insurance Expert, Choice Mutual Fact Checker
Editor
  • Nationally licensed life insurance agent with over 20 years of experience
  • Best selling Amazon author.

Jeff Root is a nationally licensed life insurance expert with over 20 years of experience. He has personally helped over 3000 clients with their life insurance needs. Jeff is a best-selling Amazon author and the managing partner of a highly successful insurance brokerage that manages over 2,500 licensed insurance agents across the USA. He has been a featured life insurance source for prestigious websites such as Forbes, Bloomberg, MarketWatch, Nerdwallet, and many more.

David Duford
David Duford
Life Insurance Expert, Choice Mutual Fact Checker
Editor
  • Nationally licensed life insurance agent with over 15 years of experience
  • Best selling Amazon author of five insurance sales books.

David Duford is a nationally licensed insurance expert with over 15 years of experience. He has personally helped more than 15,000 clients buy life insurance. David has been featured as an expert source for highly authoritative publications such as A.M. Best and Insurancenewsnet. He also runs one of the largest Youtube channels to help aspiring insurance agents serve their clients better.

Choice Mutual often cites third-party websites to provide context and verification for specific claims made in our work. We only link to authoritative websites that provide accurate information. You can learn more about our editorial standards, which guide our mission of delivering factual and impartial content.

  1. Milliman IntelliScript. https://www.rxhistories.com/
  2. MIB. https://www.rxhistories.com/
  3. LexisNexis. https://risk.lexisnexis.com/our-technology
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