Without Evidence of Insurability

Without Evidence of Insurability: What It Means and How It Works

Without evidence of insurability (also called without evidence of good health) means an insurer issues or increases insurance coverage without requiring medical exams, health questionnaires, or other proof that the applicant qualifies. This provision commonly appears in group employee plans, certain low‑limit individual policies, and convertible life insurance.

How it affects insurers and policyholders

• For insurers: issuing coverage without health evidence increases risk—people in poor health are more likely to make early claims—so companies often limit the amount or scope of such coverage.
• For policyholders: getting coverage without answering health questions is easier and faster, but those policies may have lower benefit limits, waiting periods, or other restrictions compared with fully underwritten policies.

Common situations

• Group employer plans: employees often become covered during open enrollment without medical exams or underwriting.
• Low‑limit individual policies: insurers may offer small amounts of life or health coverage without proof of insurability.
• Convertible term life insurance: allows conversion of a term policy to whole or universal life without new health underwriting, preserving insurability status at the time of conversion.
• Family coverage: some plans let you add a spouse or children without separate proof of insurability, typically subject to lower benefit caps.

Ways coverage can be expanded without evidence

• Riders: a policy may include riders that permit purchasing additional coverage later without new health evidence.
• Life events: insurers sometimes allow increases at specific milestones (marriage, birth of a child) without medical proof.
• Cost‑of‑living adjustments: some policies can increase benefits automatically based on inflation indices without new underwriting.
• Renewal allowances: convertible policies often permit changes on renewal dates until a specified cut‑off age.

Limitations and common safeguards

Insurers use several mechanisms to limit their exposure when offering coverage without evidence:
– Benefit caps or lower face amounts
– Waiting periods before full benefits apply
– Graded benefits for a set period (e.g., reduced death benefit for the first two years)
– Exclusions for preexisting conditions

Practical tips for consumers

• Read policy terms carefully to find limits, waiting periods, and exclusions.
• If you expect to need larger coverage later, consider getting a fully underwritten policy while healthy—future health changes can make new coverage difficult or expensive.
• When relying on rider or conversion options, note age cut‑offs and deadlines for exercising those options.
• Compare policies for cost, benefit limits, and whether increases without evidence are guaranteed or conditional.

Key takeaways

Coverage without evidence of insurability increases accessibility but usually comes with tradeoffs—lower limits, waiting periods, or other restrictions. Understand the specific terms and consider whether to secure larger, fully underwritten coverage while you are still healthy.