Whole life insurance without health questions: Your path to security despite pre-existing conditions
18 Jun 2025
8
Minutes
Katrin Straub
CEO at nextsure
Are you looking for a whole life insurance policy but hesitant about the health questions due to pre-existing conditions? Discover what options are available to still enter into a contract. This article explores options, pitfalls, and provides practical recommendations.
The topic in brief and concise terms
Whole life insurance policies without health questions are an option for individuals with pre-existing conditions, but they are often associated with waiting periods and higher premiums.
In the event of death by accident, many providers pay out immediately, whereas death caused by illness often involves a waiting period of, for example, three years.
A thorough comparison of the offers and honest answers to all application questions are crucial for insurance coverage.
Immediate Overview: What You Need to Know About Whole Life Insurance Without a Health Check
A whole life insurance policy without health questions combines death protection with capital accumulation, without the typical health examination. This can be an interesting option for individuals with pre-existing conditions to still obtain insurance coverage. However, such policies are often associated with higher premiums or waiting periods. If the insured person dies during the waiting period due to an illness, often only the paid contributions are refunded.
The Practice: Understanding Functionality and Typical Conditions
With a whole life insurance policy without health questions, the sum assured is payable in the event of death or at the end of the contract term. Providers who waive health questions calculate the risk differently. There is often a waiting period of several years, for example, three years, before the full death benefit applies in the case of illness. In contrast, in the event of accidental death, many insurers often pay the full amount immediately. Premiums may be higher than for policies with health checks, as the insurer covers a higher risk. It is not uncommon for the insured sums to be limited with these policies, for example, to 20,000 euros or 50,000 euros. Some providers allow higher sums to be reached by combining several policies, up to 200,000 euros are conceivable. A classic whole life insurance policy is less frequently requested today; alternatives such as term life insurance or private pension insurance are often the focus.
The following points are often found in policies without health questions:
Limited insured sums, e.g., up to 50,000 euros.
Waiting periods of up to three years for full benefits in the event of death from illness.
Immediate benefits in the event of accidental death are common with some providers.
Potentially higher premiums compared to policies with health checks.
Sometimes, coverage is only available for certain age groups.
These conditions vary greatly between providers, so a precise comparison is essential. Expert advice can provide clarity here.
Expert knowledge: Pay attention to legal aspects and pitfalls
Even if no health questions are asked, all other application questions must be answered truthfully. False information can endanger insurance cover. The Insurance Contract Act (VVG) provides the legal basis for life insurance contracts in Germany. It regulates, among other things, the rights and obligations of policyholders and insurers. Particularly important is the pre-contractual duty of disclosure: Even without explicit health questions, known circumstances that pose a risk must not be concealed if they are asked about in the application. The BaFin (Federal Financial Supervisory Authority) monitors insurance companies and ensures compliance with legal requirements. For contracts without health questions, it is advisable to carefully check the conditions regarding waiting periods and exclusions of benefits. A term life insurance without health check has not been common in Germany since 2010.
Our expert tip: Clarify in advance exactly what information the insurer requires in the application and what the consequences of incomplete or false information can be. Even if no health questions are asked in the usual sense, there are often questions about work ability or existing serious illnesses.
Alternatives and Additions: Exploring Other Ways to Secure
Since the traditional capital life insurance, particularly without medical questions, can have specific disadvantages such as potentially higher costs or less flexibility, alternatives should be considered. A term life insurance offers pure death protection and is often cheaper but usually requires a health examination. For retirement provision, a private pension insurance without medical questions can be an option. A funeral insurance without medical questions can be sensible for covering funeral costs, though the insurance sums are usually limited to around 10,000 euros. Unit-linked life insurance policies can offer higher return opportunities but also carry capital market risks. Sometimes it is also possible to convert an existing term life insurance policy.
Possible alternatives or additions include:
Private pension insurance (often without medical questions for the pure savings process).
Term life insurance (with health examination, but often cheaper for pure death protection).
Funeral insurance (often without medical questions for smaller amounts).
Unit-linked life or pension insurance policies (return opportunities and risks).
The choice depends heavily on your individual situation and goals. An overview of different life insurances aids in orientation.
Costs and returns: What can you expect financially?
Premiums for an endowment life insurance policy without health questions can be higher. This is because the insurer cannot easily calculate the risk without a detailed health assessment. The return on traditional endowment life insurance policies has generally decreased in recent years due to low interest rates. Although the guaranteed interest rate for new contracts has been raised to up to one percent for 2025, this doesn't automatically make the products attractive. Costs for conclusion and administration can significantly reduce the return, and these are often offset in the first five contract years. For policies without health questions, additional risk surcharges can further affect the return. Therefore, it is important to understand not only the guaranteed benefits but also the entire cost structure and regulations on surplus participation. A premium waiver is often possible, but it leads to a reduced insured sum.
The Path to the Contract: Here’s the Best Approach
Before taking out a whole life insurance policy without health questions, you should determine your exact needs. Carefully compare offers from different insurers, as terms such as waiting periods, insurance sums, and premiums can vary significantly. Pay close attention to the wording in the application; even if no health questions are asked, truthful answers to other points are essential. If in doubt, seek independent advice. A unit-linked variant might also be an option if you are willing to take higher risks for potentially better returns. Some providers offer coverage amounts up to 200,000 euros by combining multiple policies, if higher coverage without health questions is desired.
Steps to completion:
Determine your individual needs (coverage amount, policy term).
Gather and compare offers from different insurers (waiting periods, costs, benefits).
Carefully review application forms and answer all questions truthfully.
Seek independent advice to find the best solution for your situation.
A careful review and consultation protects you from unpleasant surprises.
nextsure: Your partner for tailored insurance solutions
As a digital insurance portal, our mission is to offer you comprehensive and easy-to-understand insurance solutions. We understand that searching for whole life insurance without health questions can be complex. Our experts support you in finding the right coverage for your individual situation. We value transparency and expert advice to give you peace of mind. Use our expertise for your financial future.
Request an individual risk analysis now: Have your insurance situation examined for free and receive specific optimisation suggestions.
More useful links
Wikipedia provides a comprehensive overview of life insurance.
Wikipedia explains the specifics of endowment life insurance.
The Statistische Bundesamt (Destatis) provides official statistics and information on health in Germany.
Destatis offers a detailed publication on the state of health in Germany.
Destatis supplies tables on the types of healthcare expenditure.
FAQ
What is the difference between a life insurance policy with and without health questions?
The main difference is the lack of detailed health questions at the time of signing up. This makes it easier for people with pre-existing conditions to access, but often leads to higher premiums, waiting periods (e.g., three years in the event of death due to illness), and/or lower insurance sums.
What is the waiting period for a capital life insurance policy without health questions?
The waiting period can vary but is often up to three years. If the insured person passes away due to an illness during this time, many insurers only pay out the contributions made. In the case of accidental death, the waiting period is often waived.
Is a whole life insurance policy without health questions more expensive?
Yes, as a rule, the contributions are higher because the insurer has to account for a higher risk without a detailed health examination.
Who would benefit from a life insurance policy without health questions?
It can be useful for individuals who, due to pre-existing conditions, have difficulty obtaining a regular whole life insurance policy but still desire death coverage and capital accumulation.
What alternatives are there to life insurance with capital accumulation without health questions?
Alternatives include, for example, term life insurance (with a health check), private pension insurance (often without health questions for the savings portion), funeral insurance (often without health questions for smaller amounts), or unit-linked policies.
What should I consider when applying for a whole life insurance policy without health questions?
Even without detailed health questions, all other application questions must be answered truthfully and completely. Pay close attention to the contract terms, particularly regarding waiting periods and coverage exclusions.
