In short
Most people do not. Nectar Term issues up to $1 million to $2 million of coverage with no exam for most applicants, using prescription records, driving records and health questions instead. You are more likely to be asked for an exam if you want more than $2 million, are over 60, or have a health history the records cannot explain on their own.
Ten years ago almost every term life application ended with a nurse at your kitchen table drawing blood. Today the exam is the exception. Insurers can pull your prescription history, motor vehicle record and a medical information bureau report in seconds, and for most applicants that tells them everything a blood panel would.
Who qualifies for no-exam coverage
Nectar Term is issued by several partner insurers, and the no-exam limit and decision speed depend on which one fits your profile. The pattern looks like this:
| Issuing partner | No exam up to | Typical decision |
|---|---|---|
| Banner Life | $2,000,000 | 1 to 2 weeks |
| Transamerica | $2,000,000 | 1 to 2 weeks |
| Protective | $1,000,000 | 1 to 2 weeks |
| Ameritas | $1,000,000 | Instant |
| Mutual of Omaha (Term Life Express) | $300,000 | Instant |
| TruStage | $300,000 | Instant |
The instant-decision carriers use simplified issue: a short set of knockout questions. Answer them cleanly and the policy is approved on the spot. The larger limits use accelerated underwriting, where an underwriter still reviews your records but no exam is ordered unless something in them needs explaining.
Who still gets an exam
- Coverage above the no-exam limit for your issuing partner, usually $1 million or $2 million.
- Applicants over 60 with most issuing partners, over 50 with a few.
- A prescription, diagnosis or MIB report entry that the questions cannot resolve, such as a recent cardiac medication.
- Mismatches between what you reported and what the records show. Honesty on the application is the fastest route to no exam.
An exam is free, takes about 30 minutes, and can be done at home. If we ask for one, it is usually because the exam is your best shot at a preferred rate.
See what Nectar Term would cost you
Two minutes to a price, with your approval odds up front. No calls unless you ask.
Does no-exam coverage cost more?
Not for accelerated underwriting. Nectar Term charges the same rate whether you were approved with or without an exam. Simplified-issue coverage, the kind issued on knockout questions alone for smaller amounts, does cost more per dollar, because the insurer accepts more risk with less information. Your Nectar Term quote tells you before you apply whether an exam is likely.
See what Nectar Term would cost you
Two minutes to a price, with your approval odds up front. No calls unless you ask.
Frequently asked questions
What does a life insurance medical exam check?
Height, weight, blood pressure, and a blood and urine sample that screens for cholesterol, glucose, liver and kidney function, nicotine and drug use. The examiner also confirms the medications you listed.
Can I get $1 million of life insurance without an exam?
Yes, if you are under 60 and your prescription and driving records are clean. Nectar Term goes to $2 million without an exam for most such applicants.
Is no-exam life insurance the same as guaranteed issue?
No. No-exam coverage still underwrites you using records and questions, and can decline you. Guaranteed issue accepts everyone within an age range, but only for small amounts at high prices, with a waiting period.
Nectar Term policies are issued by Nectar's partner insurers, each rated A or better by A.M. Best, and serviced by Nectar. Prices in this article are estimates calibrated to published 2026 averages and are not an offer of coverage. Final rates are set during underwriting.
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