More on Life Insurance
Q
A
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Typically, getting a life insurance policy takes between four and six weeks. Most of that time is taken up by underwriting, a process in which your potential insurer evaluates the risk you pose of dying while your policy is active.
If you want to get life insurance coverage sooner, then accelerated underwriting (AU) life insurance is a great option. Accelerated underwriting can bring the underwriting process down from several weeks to a couple of days by foregoing the medical exam and using readily available data and previous medical records instead.
Four Policygenius partner insurers offer accelerated underwriting life insurance policies. Read on to learn more about how accelerated underwriting works, if you’re eligible, and why you might want to do it.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Policygenius offers accelerated underwriting through Lincoln Financial, Brighthouse, Banner Life, and Prudential
Accelerated underwriting uses your previous medical data and records, rather than relying on medical exam results
Your eligibility for accelerated underwriting is based on health profile, age, medical history, financial background, and criminal record, among other factors
Your medical history and your hobbies play a significant role in determining not only your premium rates but also whether you’re eligible for life insurance coverage at all.
During underwriting the insurance company gets a detailed picture of your health and lifestyle by evaluating your application information, conducting a phone interview, talking to your doctor, and having you take a medical exam. The insurance company also checks your driving record, prescription history, and looks you up in the Medical Information Bureau (MIB) database to see whether you’ve previously applied for life insurance.
If you have a more complicated medical history, they might order an attending physician statement (APS), which can add extra time to the underwriting process.
→ Learn more about the life insurance underwriting process here.
Accelerated underwriting speeds up the typical underwriting process by avoiding some of the more onerous medical steps – namely the medical exam and APS request, which can take the longest to complete.
As with traditional underwriting, the insurance company will still check various databases (MIB, DMV, etc.) and you'll still have an initial medical interview over the phone, during which you’ll be asked about various elements of your health.
If everything looks normal, then you move on to the next step. But if any serious medical conditions or other concerns show up, you’ll be disqualified from accelerated underwriting and required to take a medical exam.
And if the results of your medical exam show a more complex health history, the insurer may order an APS after all. While this is a bummer if you were trying to speed up the process, 69% of Lincoln Financial TermAccel applicants are approved without having to submit additional lab tests or an APS, according to 2021 Policygenius data. Approval percentages vary among the other accelerated underwriting insurers.
You can get an accelerated underwriting life insurance policy through Policygenius from four of our partnering insurers: Lincoln TermAccel, Brighthouse SimplySelect, Banner Life Horizons and Prudential PruFast Track.
Below we’ll give an overview of each company’s AU option. For a comprehensive overview of each insurer’s customer services record and financial standing take a look at our life insurance company reviews.
Lincoln TermAccel is a competitive policy for individuals in good health and offers up to $1 million in coverage— though if you have a more complicated medical history, it may be harder to get approved for coverage.
The policy is especially valuable to people who may not get an affordable no-medical exam policy elsewhere. Marijuana smokers who don’t work in the industry can get competitive rates and smokers have a better chance of getting coverage than they would with other accelerated life insurance policies.
Even though the application process for a Lincoln TermAccel policy usually doesn’t require a medical exam, the coverage you can get is comparable. Policyholders have the option to convert their coverage into a whole life insurance policy at the end of its term. Other supplemental coverage options include the accelerated death benefits rider, children’s life insurance rider, and waiver of premium rider.
Lincoln TermAccel premiums are some of the lowest in the industry. According to Policygenius quoting data, here’s how much you can expect to pay with a Preferred health classification:
Monthly premiums for women
AGE | $500,000 | $750,000 | $1,000,000 |
---|---|---|---|
25 | $20.36 | $26.61 | $33.72 |
35 | $23.18 | $30.83 | $39.23 |
45 | $44.83 | $63.32 | $82.21 |
55 | $101.49 | $148.30 | $195.75 |
60 | $172.80 | $255.27 | $329.43 |
Monthly premiums for men
AGE | $500,000 | $750,000 | $1,000,000 |
---|---|---|---|
25 | $25.93 | $34.95 | $44.28 |
35 | $27.26 | $36.95 | $47.13 |
45 | $58.07 | $83.17 | $108.47 |
55 | $140.78 | $207.24 | $271.60 |
60 | $241.93 | $358.96 | $463.04 |
Methodology: Sample monthly premium rates based on 20-year term life insurance policy for male and female non-smokers with a Preferred health rating based in Ohio. Not all policies are available in all states. Rate illustration valid as of 2/16/2021.
Brighthouse SimplySelect is a no-medical exam term policy that offers coverage comparable to a traditional term life insurance policy almost immediately. You can get up to $2 million in coverage.
The application process for Brighthouse SimplySelect forgoes the medical exam and reviews your medical history, finances, and other public information.
The death benefit amount available to you will depend on your age and income. Within 24 hours of your phone interview, you’ll know if your application has been accepted, rejected, or if it has been “referred to the underwriter.” If your application is accepted, you’ll sign off on the policy via DocuSign and your coverage will be active. If it’s referred to the underwriter, the insurance company needs to ask you some additional questions before they make a decision.
The Brighthouse SimplySelect policy comes with supplemental riders. This includes a term conversion rider, which allows you to convert your coverage into a whole life insurance policy at the end of its term. You can also add an accelerated death benefit rider, which pays out some of the death benefit while you’re still alive if you are diagnosed with a terminal illness.
Check out the graphs below to get an idea of how much you might pay for a Brighthouse SimplySelect policy. Your actual premiums will vary depending on your individual circumstances.
Average premiums for women
AGE | $750,000 | $1,000,000 | $2,000,000 |
---|---|---|---|
25 | $24.98 | $30.75 | $53.81 |
30 | $26.26 | $32.46 | $57.22 |
35 | $30.11 | $37.58 | $67.47 |
40 | $41.00 | $52.95 | $98.21 |
45 | $61.49 | $80.28 | $152.87 |
50 | $97.23 | $129.81 | $251.93 |
Average premiums for men
AGE | $750,000 | $1,000,000 | $2,000,000 |
---|---|---|---|
25 | $32.67 | $41.00 | $74.30 |
30 | $33.95 | $42.70 | $77.72 |
35 | $35.87 | $46.12 | $84.55 |
40 | $50.60 | $64.05 | $120.42 |
45 | $80.71 | $104.19 | $200.69 |
50 | $139.63 | $171.66 | $335.63 |
Methodology: Sample monthly premium rates based on 20-year term life insurance policy for male and female non-smokers with a Preferred health rating based in Ohio. Not all policies are available in all states. Rate illustration valid as of 2/16/2021.
Compare the market, right here.
Policygenius saves you up to 40% by comparing the top-rated insurers in one place.
If you’re not eligible for an accelerated underwriting life insurance policy from Brighthouse or Lincoln Financial, there are other options available, though they may be more restrictive in their offerings and availability.
LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY | TERM LENGTHS AVAILABLE | AGES | COVERAGE AMOUNT LIMITS | RIDERS AVAILABLE | TEMPORARY COVERAGE AVAILABLE |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Banner/William Penn: Horizons AU | 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35 & 40 years | 20 - 40 | $100k - $1 million | Accelerated Death Benefit only | Yes, subject to certain conditions |
Brighthouse: Simply Select | 10, 20 & 30 years | 25 - 50 | $100k - $2 million † | Accelerated Death Benefit only | Up to $500k, subject to certain conditions |
Lincoln: Term Accel | 10, 15, 20 & 30 years | 18 - 60 †† | $100k - $1 million | Yes, all riders | Yes, subject to certain conditions |
Prudential: PruFast Track | 10, 15, 20 & 30 years | 18 - 50 | $100k - $3 million | Yes, all riders | Yes, subject to certain conditions |
†For Brighthouse Simply Select, coverage limits vary by risk class
††For the Lincoln TermAccel 30-year term, the maximum issue age is 55 for non-smokers and 50 for smokers
Methodology: Information based on policies offered by Policygenius in 2021 and is subject to change.
Not everyone qualifies for accelerated underwriting. If you’re in poor health or have a risky hobby, like skydiving, you may not be eligible (although every insurer has different eligibility rules). Your family health history will be taken into account, and some heritable health conditions will automatically disqualify you.
You are more likely to qualify for accelerated underwriting if you are:
Generally in good health with no family history of serious medical conditions
Between the age range of 18 to 60
In good financial shape, with no recent history of bankruptcy and a solid credit score
Clear of serious criminal charges, including felonies and moving violations
A U.S. citizen or permanent resident
Not someone who has been declined insurance coverage in the past
Note that even if all of the above doesn't apply to you, obtaining life insurance coverage is still possible, but you will have to go through traditional underwriting instead.
Talk to a licensed representative at Policygenius to find a policy from a life insurance company that works with your particular health profile and coverage needs.
During the outbreak of COVID-19, you may be considering an accelerated life insurance policy for its quick turnaround time or lack of medical exam requirements.
If you’re young and in good health, you may be eligible to apply for an accelerated policy, but even young and healthy individuals get rejected from the accelerated underwriting process for various reasons. If that’s the case, the insurer will ask you to complete the normal underwriting and take the medical exam.
Generally, when working with a Policygenius advisor, they’ll let you know if you qualify for an accelerated policy during your initial phone interview. If your accelerated policy is later rejected by the insurer, your Policygenius advisor will work with you to find another policy option that doesn’t require a medical exam.
If you end up going through the traditional underwriting process or apply for a no-medical exam life insurance policy, you can still make sure you’re covered in the interim with a temporary life insurance policy.
Accelerated underwriting typically doesn’t require a medical exam or attending physician statement (APS) like traditional underwriting. This cuts down the life insurance application timeline from several weeks to a few days.
The process where an insurance company evaluates the risk of insuring you and determines your final rate. Someone who works on behalf of the insurance company, the underwriter, determines the risk of insuring you.
Lincoln Financial, Brighthouse, Banner Life, and Prudential offer accelerated underwriting through Policygenius.
Eligibility requirements vary by insurance company. If you’re between the ages of 18-60, are healthy, don’t have a pre-existing medical condition, have a clean criminal record, and are in good financial shape, you may qualify for accelerated underwriting.
Nupur Gambhir
Life Insurance Expert
Expertise
Nupur Gambhir is a life insurance editor at Policygenius in New York City. She has researched and written extensively about life insurance since 2019, with specialties in life insurance companies, policy types, and end-of-life planning. Her writing on insurance and finance has appeared on MSN, The Financial Gym, and end-of-life planning service Cake. Previously, she worked in marketing and business development for travel and tech.
Education
Nupur has a B.A. in Economics from Ohio State University.
Rebecca Shoenthal
Life Insurance Expert
Expertise
Rebecca Shoenthal is a life insurance editor at Policygenius in New York City, specializing in buying life insurance and the ins and outs of life insurance ownership. She's edited business books by the country’s top academics, politicians, journalists, thought leaders and CEOs, including venture capitalist John Doerr’s Measure What Matters, entrepreneur Scott Belsky's The Messy Middle, NYU Stern professor Scott Galloway's The Four, and technologist John Maeda's How to Speak Machine.
Education
Rebecca has a B.A. in Media and Journalism from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Was this article helpful?