Purchasing Instant Issue Life Insurance Online

In 2016, a new era of convenience began when a few life insurance companies introduced instant issue policies you could buy online—no medical exam required.
Since the pandemic, even more companies have jumped on board, making instant issue life insurance more affordable than ever.
Now insurers will review your medical records electronically, and in just 15 minutes, you can secure coverage.
In this article, we’ll walk you through the top instant issue policies available today, including eligibility requirements, coverage options, and sample rates by gender. You can also apply for an instant issue policy by entering your information into the form on the right.
Quick Article Guide
Here’s what we'll cover in this post:
- Who is Eligible for Instant Life Insurance Online?
- What is Instant Approval Life Insurance?
- Why Would Someone Buy Instant Issue Life Insurance?
- What is the Cost of Instant Issue Life Insurance?
- How Much Instant Issue Life Insurance Can I Buy?
- Instant Issue Life Insurance Pros and Cons
- What if I Decide to Cancel My Policy?
- What Happens if I Outlive My Term?
- Buy No Exam Term Life Insurance Now
Who is Eligible for Instant Life Insurance Online?
Instant issue life insurance with immediate coverage is available to almost anyone under the age of 65. These policies do not require a physical exam for approval, but the company you apply with will need to review your medical records before issuing you a policy.
Most "simplified" or instant issue life insurance companies will avoid folks with serious health issues, but there are a handful of companies that specialize with applicants that are considered a higher risk. In general, most companies will want to see that you meet the following criteria:
- Are a legal U.S. resident
- Are between the ages of 18 to 65
- Not active military or in the process of enlisting
- Are not disabled or collecting SSDI
If you’re looking to replace an existing life insurance policy, instant issue life insurance might seem like an ideal fit. However, most providers won’t allow you to replace an existing policy unless it is expiring. Additionally, it's important to be aware of age restrictions, as most companies will not offer these policies to individuals over the age of 65.
What is Instant Approval Life Insurance?
Before instant issue life insurance, applicants typically waited 4 to 8 weeks for approval. During this time, a medical exam was required, allowing the insurer to review the results and determine rates and eligibility for coverage.
In recent years, however, well-known providers—including SBLI, Penn Mutual, Pacific Life, and Banner—have introduced no-exam term life insurance policies that can be approved in less than a week.
To make the process even faster, some top-rated insurers have partnered with agencies like JRC and Quility to offer instant issue policies that can be approved and issued in under 15 minutes—no phone interviews, medical exams, or agents required.
This process eliminates the hassle of scheduling and completing a medical exam, allowing you to complete everything from the comfort of your home or office. It also significantly reduces the time needed for approval. However, this convenience often comes with slightly higher premiums.
Why Would Someone Buy Instant Issue Life Insurance?
Instant issue life insurance is perfect for those with busy lifestyles. Our typical clients include world travelers, CEOs, and working parents. These policies are also well-suited for collateralizing a business loan, settling a court-ordered divorce decree, or replacing an expired policy due to their quick approval times.
However, if you’ve recently been diagnosed with a serious health issue, skipping the medical exam won’t bypass your medical records. Even with instant issue policies, providers electronically review your health, medical records, and prescription history before granting approval.
They also charge slightly higher rates to safeguard themselves from applicants with undiagnosed or undiscovered health issues. For a healthy applicant in their 30s or 40s - the cost difference is negligible - but as we get older, the more expensive life insurance becomes. This is why fully-underwritten life insurance is the best option for most people after the age of 50.
What is the Cost of Instant Issue Life Insurance?
Like other forms of life insurance, the cost of an instant issue policy is primarily determined by the applicant's overall health, age, and gender. Females tend to pay about 40% less for their life insurance due to their increased longevity. Here are some examples to help you estimate the cost of your coverage:
Excellent Health/Non-Smoker
30-Year-Old Male, 20-Year Term, $200,000 Coverage:
- Quility: $19/month (Preferred Best Rate Class)
Excellent Health/Non-Smoker
32-Year-Old Female, 20-Year Term, $250,000 Coverage:
- Quility: $14/month (Preferred Best Rate Class)
Average Health/Non-Smoker
45-Year-Old Male, 20-Year Term, $500,000 Coverage:
- Quility: $115/month (Standard Rate Class)
How Much Instant Issue Life Insurance Can I Buy?
Most instant issue life insurance providers offer eligible applicants coverage up to 20 times their current income, or up to $1,000,000. If you’re willing to wait about a week for approval, you can still avoid a medical exam and purchase up to $7,500,000 in permanent or term insurance from top-rated providers like Penn Mutual.
What is a Term Life Insurance Policy?
A term life insurance policy provides fixed rates and for the “term” of your life insurance policy. During this period, your coverage is guaranteed not to change, regardless of any changes in your age or health. Most instant issue companies will limit you to a 20-year term, but longer terms may be available depending on your age.
As an example, A+ rated Banner Life, also known as Legal and General, offers level terms for 30, 35, or even 40 years. Some of Banner's policies do not require an exam for approval, and their policies are a fraction of the price.
Instant Issue Life Insurance Pros and Cons
The biggest advantage of instant issue life insurance is the convenience it provides. Without the need for an agent or a medical exam, you can secure coverage from the comfort of your home. This also results in faster approval times, making it an ideal option if you need life insurance quickly.
The downside to instant issue life insurance is the cost. If you're willing to complete a medical exam or wait a few weeks for approval, you could save 10-30% on your premiums. Additionally, some no-exam life insurance providers offer approvals in about a week, and their rates can be significantly lower depending on your age and health.
What if I Decide to Cancel My Policy?
What’s great about no-exam term life insurance policies is that they can be canceled at any time without penalty. The same goes for instant issue life insurance companies, but having an established relationship with your agent can save you from potential headaches.
Instead of waiting on hold to speak with a call center representative, your licensed agent can handle any necessary updates directly with the insurance provider. These updates may include changes to your address, billing or banking information, policy reductions, term conversions, or beneficiary adjustments.
What Happens if I Outlive My Term?
Term life insurance is not intended to be a permanent life insurance solution - rather, it's designed to provide affordable coverage for a set amount of time. Most people purchase term life insurance to help secure a life event, such as paying off a mortgage or providing their spouse with an income source until retirement age.
As we age, our need for life insurance often decreases as we pay off debts and our children become self-sufficient. However, the need for coverage doesn’t completely vanish for everyone.
To address this, many instant issue term life insurance policies offer a conversion option. This allows the policyholder to convert their term policy into a permanent one. Additionally, most instant term life policies provide an option to renew annually, though premiums will increase each year. Planning ahead can help you manage these changes more effectively.
Buy No Exam Term Life Insurance Now
You've done the research, and decided that you're ready to buy term life insurance online today - congratulations!
As we mentioned earlier, when applying online, you’ll be asked about your age, lifestyle, health status, and personal and family health history, all of which will be confirmed by a third-party vendor like the Medical Information Bureau (MIB) to ensure that all your information is correct.
If your application is accepted, you can start receiving coverage immediately! Buying life insurance has never been easier.
To apply for instant life insurance online, click on this link to get started. You'll recieve a decision in as little as 5 minutes. You can also contact us for help and advice.
About JRC Insurance Group
At JRC Insurance Group, we have helped thousands of families and businesses with their life insurance needs, and we can help you too! Our agency is licensed in all 50 states and DC. We’re also independently owned and operated.
As a non-partial, no-fee brokerage, our goal is match our clients with the best life insurance options available by shopping and comparing rates from 63 highly-rated insurers. By having access to dozens of companies and their guidelines, we’re able to save our client’s time and money.
Most importantly, our services as completely free, and there is no cost to apply for coverage. Give us a call toll-free today at 855-247-9555, or you can request a free quote online to compare rates and options from dozens of insurance companies in less than a minute.
Here’s what we'll cover in this post:Quick Article Guide
Written by:

Clifford Pendell
Managing Partner and Co-founder
Cliff is a licensed life insurance agent and one of the owners of JRC Insurance Group. He has helped thousands of families of businesses with their life insurance needs since 2012 and specializes with applicants who are less than perfect health. In his spare time he enjoys spending time with family, traveling, and the great outdoors.
Expert reviewed by:

Louis Lopes, CLU ChFC
Chartered Life Underwriter, Licensed Life and Health Agent
Louis has been in the insurance business for over 30 years. He specializes in “high risk” cases as well as more complex coverages for long term care, disability, and estate planning.

Ask Our Experts
Leave your question below and one of our insurance agents will give you a detailed answer.