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10 Best Companies for Accelerated Underwriting Life Insurance

Researcher & Writer
December 12, 2019

The following article discusses the current companies at the top of the class when it comes to innovative online life insurance solutions for 2017 and beyond, as well as point out some of the key trends that are changing the life insurance underwriting landscape heading into the future.

Accelerated Underwriting definition: an innovative new approach to the more traditional life insurance underwriting that supplants the medical exam with phone interviews and background checks, including the medical information bureau, prescription database and motor vehicle. The entire underwriting process is accelerated resulting in much faster approval times, sometimes in 24 hours or less.

Some companies will only provide accelerated underwriting if you qualify for the top health rate class. Others are more forgiving and will still allow you to avoid a blood draw even if you are not in tip top shape.

Each company offering accelerated automated underwriting has its own requirements. You can view the different companies below.

Top 10 Best Accelerated Underwriting Companies

Principal

Death benefit payout range
Age range
Health class that qualifies
$50K-$1M18-60Standard, Super Standard, Preferred, and Super Preferred

Data collected from Principal.com and effective 12/11/2019.

Principal Financial Group1 set the stage over the last few years with the company’s accelerated underwriting program. Accelerated underwriting is available on all the company’s life insurance products including term life, universal life, indexed universal life, survivorship, and variable universal life.

The accelerated underwriting program consists of the initial agent screening, followed by an application, and wrapping up with a TeleApp interview (if needed). According to Principal, 45-55% of those rated as Standard, Super Standard, Preferred and Super Preferred are able to eliminate the medical exam based on qualifying age, personal history and coverage amounts

You can be approved in as little as 24 hours.

Sagicor’s Accelewriting

Death benefit payout range
Age range
Health class that qualifies
Term$50-$1M18-75Preferred rate classes
Whole$25K-$250K18-75Preferred rate classes
Universal Life$25K-$400K18-75Preferred rate classes

Data collected from Sagicor.com and effective 12/11/2019.

Known by many in the accelerated underwriting life insurance world, Sagicor2 is another company that has helped set the pace. The company refers to its underwriting with no medical exam as “Accelewriting” and is available for term life, universal life and whole life.

Accelewriting allows a client to apply for life insurance with no medical exam or telephone interview. The client simply provides an e-signature on the application, which is then submitted to Sagicor. Sagicor will then provide an underwriting decision within minutes.

Banner Life Insurance's APPcelerate

Death benefit payout range
Age range
Health class that qualifies
$100K-$1M20-50Preferred Plus, Preferred & Standard Plus in all states except CT, HI and AK

Data collected from LGAmerica.com and effective 12/11/2019.

Legal and General through Banner Life and William Penn offers the company’s version of accelerated underwriting called “APPAssist.”3

You speak with a licensed life insurance agent, then you will have an interview with the Banner Life call center. Based on the interview, you may qualify to skip the medical exam. If you do qualify, then your policy can be approved as fast as the next day.

SBLI’s Accelerated Underwriting

Death benefit payout range
Age range
Health class that qualifies
Up to $500K18-60All can qualify

Data collected from SBLI.com and effective 12/11/2019.

SBLI offers accelerated underwriting on term and whole life insurance policies as long as the coverage amount is less than $500K and you are under 60-years old.4 You can start online by filling out an application. From there all applications require a phone interview. SBLI will use the phone interview to see if you qualify for accelerated underwriting.

Securian WriteFit Express

Death benefit payout range
Age range
Health class that qualifies
Up to $2M18-61Preferred Select and Preferred

Data collected from Securian.com and effective 12/11/2019.

In April 2019 they expanded their WriteFit accelerated underwriting to include more age ranges and a higher coverage amounts.5 For this process you will complete an application then have a phone interview with Securian. They will then take the data from the phone interview, court records, property records, motor vehicle reports, Medical Information Bureau records and prescription drug records to determine if you qualify for accelerated underwriting. The majority of those who qualify are approved within 24 hours.

They offer coverage up to $2M if you are under 50 years of age, if you are 50-61 you can get coverage up to $1M.

American National

Death benefit payout range
Age range
XpressUp to $250KUnder 65
Xpress PlusUp to $1MUnder 60

Data collected from TheASAGroup.com and effective 12/11/2019.

American National offers two varieties of accelerated underwriting, the Xpress and Xpress Plus option.6 The main difference between the two is that the Plus plan is focused on those submitting an online application and that the Plus is available to those under 60 and the regular Xpress is available to those under 65.

Bestow

Death benefit payout range
Age range
Up to $1MUnder 65

Data collected from HelloBestow.com and effective 12/11/2019.

Bestow is focused on providing no medical exam term life insurance.7 All of their policies are eligible for accelerated underwriting, they offer term lengths of 10 and 20 years. They offer up to $1M in coverage. You can apply online and fill out the application and lifestyle and health questionnaire. Their easy online application will guide you to your pricing options, where you will choose the plan you want to move forward with. In most cases you can be approved in minutes if you qualify based off the questionnaire.

Mutual of Omaha

Death benefit payout range
Age range
Health class that qualifies
$100K-$1M18-65Standard, Standard Plus, Preferred, and Preferred Plus

Data collected from MutualofOmaha.com and effective 12/11/2019.

Mutual of Omaha offers accelerated underwriting as an option for its Term Life Answers policy for the term lengths of 10, 15, 20, and 30 years.8 You can complete an application and interview over the phone. Once the application is complete, the Mutual of Omaha team evaluates the application information, your motor vehicle records, your medical history, and your prescription history to determine if you qualify.

Fidelity Life

Death benefit payout range
Age range
RAPIDecision Express$50K-$250K18-65
RAPIDecision LifeUp to $1MN/A
RAPIDecision Senior Life$10K-$150K50-85
RAPIDecision Final Expense$5K-$35K50-85
RAPIDecision Guaranteed Issue LifeUp to $20K50-85

Data collected from FidelityLife.com and effective 12/11/2019.

Fidelity life is equipped with an arsenal of accelerated underwriting options with their trademarked RAPIDecision suite.9

RAPIDecision Express

You can purchase a level term life insurance policy and skip the exams, waiting periods and processing delays. You just answer a few health questions to see if you qualify. Term life options are available at lengths of 10, 15, 20 and 30 years.

This is available for coverage amounts from $50K-$250K for those who are 18-65 years old.

RAPIDecision Life

This underwriting process works the same way as the Express option except this product includes a level premium death benefit up to $1M and accidental death insurance built in.

RAPIDecision Senior Life

Term and whole life options are available to individuals from ages 50-85 with up to $150K in coverage. Similarly these do not require a medical exam, but do require you to answer health questions on the application to determine your eligibility to skip the exam.

The senior term option offers coverage for those who are 50-70 years old with coverage amounts for $10K-$150K, and term lengths of 10, 20, and 30 years, depending on your age.

The senior whole life option offers coverage for those who are 50 to 85 years old with coverage amounts of $10K-$150K, depending on your age. This policy matures at age 121.

RAPIDecision Final Expense Life

Approvals are based on health questions and doesn’t require a medical exam if you qualify. These are available to those who are 50-85 years old and coverage amounts are available from $5K to $35K.

RAPIDecision Guaranteed Issue Life

This one is very similar to the Final Expense option, in that the policy is designed to cover final expenses and is available to those who are 50-85 years old. However, coverage is only available up to $20K.

Lincoln TermAccel

Death benefit payout range
Age range
$100K-$1M18-60

Data collected from LFG.com and effective 12/11/2019.

Lincoln Financial Group offers accelerated underwriting on their level term life insurance policy.10 This is available on policies with term lengths of 10, 15, 20, or 30 years. In this process you will complete a phone interview application. The medical exam will be waived if you meet their criteria.

Are there advantages to taking an exam?

Yes, typically when you choose to take a medical exam, if you are in good health you can get a cheaper rate than when you choose to opt out of the medical exam.

Bottomline: Accelerated underwriting could be a great choice

If you are looking to skip a medical exam then any of the companies are a good option for you. If you want to save a little money and take the exam check out the best companies in the United States.

Sources

1 Principal Life, “Accelerated Underwriting

2 Sagicor, “Sage Term Life Accelewriting

3 Legal & General, “APPAssist

4 SBLI, “Accelerated Underwriting

5 Securian, “WriteFit Accelerated Underwriting

6 American National, “New Accelerated Underwriting

7 Bestow, “Life Insurance Plans

8 Mutual of Omaha, “Accelerated Underwriting Guide

9 Fidelity Life, “Individual Life Insurance

10 Lincoln Financial Group, “Lincoln TermAccel Level Term

Written by
TermLife2Go
We are a team of life insurance experts with the simple mission of helping you find the best coverage for your unique situation. We research, review, and rank life insurance companies to make that process easier.