So you are a senior and need life insurance. Or you are the child of a senior and need to get your parent insured. Well, there are really two basic ways to accomplish that. You can either go through a full underwriting plan which will include an exam, medical records ordered and other needed items and also wait weeks for an answer, or you can just apply for a no exam life insurance plan. In most instances, we have found that, when a child needs life insurance for a parent, no exam life insurance is much more likely to be accepted by the parent. Does no exam life insurance for seniors give me the same coverage as regular insurance?
The answer is simply yes or most of the time. Let me explain. If you apply for a level policy, then the coverage is level from the beginning of the policy. What that means is that if, for example, a man named Bob applies for a $50,000 no exam life insurance and gets approved, his full coverage starts immediately. In other words, if Bob dies the next day, the full amount ($50,000) is payable to the beneficiary. There are some polices that do not pay the full face amount right away. Those are called graded life insurance policies. In this case, Bob would need to wait at least two years before the full face amount of the policy is payable. So, if Bob died the day after the policy was approved (or within two years), then beneficiary would most likely be only paid the premium Bob had paid plus some interest (usually 5% to 10%). Some polices even have a longer graded period so make sure to read your approved policy carefully. A table showing the insurance coverage usually is on page two or three of the insurance policy.
How long does it take to get an answer for no exam life insurance
Unlike traditional life insurance, when seniors apply for no exam life, they can get an answer in as fast as the same day. Answers from underwriting usually average three days. That is not bad. If you do need a very fast answer (1 to 3 days) make sure to ask about the process of underwriting. Some companies that offer no exam life to seniors may still order doctor's medical records. That can delay the answer by weeks. So ask!
Can the child of a senior get life insurance on a parent?
Generally, yes, a child can get life insurance on a parent. The parent must be aware that the child is applying. Although, the parent does have to sign to apply for the no exam life insurance, a child must explain to the parent what they are signing for. The child is usually allowed to pay for the policy with no problem. We actually have found that for seniors over the age of 80, children are the one to most likely request the insurance rather than the senior.
How about pre-existing health problem?
Past or present health conditions do not always prevent a senior from getting no exam life insurance. The number of companies available may be more limited though and the senior may end up having to settle for graded life insurance (as explained above). What we have seen is that as long as the senior can take care of themselves and are not in a nursing home, then no exam life should available. It has often been misunderstood that no exam life insurance means no health questions. That is totally incorrect. We know of only one company that is no exam and no health questions. Rates are very very high!
Should a Senior do No Exam Whole Life, Universal Life or Term Life?
In most situations, we recommend that, if available, that a senior select no exam universal life insurance. A main advantage of universal life is that it prices better than whole life and can offer the same lifetime coverage guarantees at level premiums. For most seniors, cash accumulation is really not the goal. Being able to maintain an insurance policy for life without having to worry about increasing premiums should be the goal. No exam term life insurance for seniors is also a good choice if universal life is too pricey at the moment. As far as term life, keep in mind that although it will price lower than universal or whole life, the rates will not remain the same for life. As an example, if a man named Bob selected a five year term plan. During the first five years his monthly rate may be $35 but after the five year is up his monthly rate may jump to $150+. So, select term life only if you really cannot afford universal life. Also, make sure that the term life plan is convertible (ask your agent). As far as no exam whole life is concerned, as we mentioned, it is priced the highest. Whole life is selected when a senior has nothing else available because of age or health issues. Yes, whole life is often easier to get approved on than term or universal. Note that, no exam universal and term life are not usually available past age 75.
We hope this article has helped you better understand
no exam senior life insurance. As we often write in our articles, please make sure that all your questions are answered before you apply for any insurance. Once you receive your policy, review it carefully and ask more questions if needed. Be well!
Philippe Deray - About the Author:
Philippe Deray is President and CEO of MCD Financial Services and MCD Life. Our web site address is
http://www.mcdlife.comOur Focus Life Insurance for seniors
With many years of experience in the senior insurance business, we have developed proprietary methods to help seniors up to age 90, get affordable life insurance. We offer term insurance, whole life and universal life insurance. We will make this process as simple as possible and get you an answer as fast as possible.
Company Profile
MCD Life is a successful, dynamic company built on the principal of serving our customers FIRST! Our primary mission is to bring peace of mind to our clients by offering innovative, value-added products and information that place emphasis on short and long term benefits, benefits backed by selected companies with high quality assets and written guarantees.