Whole life insurance without health questions: your route to cover despite pre-existing conditions
18.06.25
11
Minutes
Katrin Straub
Managing Director at nextsure
You’re looking for an endowment life insurance policy, but are put off by the health questions because of pre-existing conditions? Find out what options are still available for taking out a policy. This article looks at the options, pitfalls and offers practical recommendations.
The topic in brief and concise terms
Whole life insurance policies without health questions are an option for people 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; in the event of death by illness, a waiting period of, for example, three years often applies.
A careful comparison of the offers and honest answers to all application questions are crucial for insurance cover.
Quick overview: What you need to know about endowment life insurance without a medical examination
A whole-of-life insurance policy without health questions combines death benefit protection with capital accumulation, while dispensing with the usual medical underwriting. This can be an interesting option for people with pre-existing conditions to still obtain insurance cover. However, such policies are often associated with higher premiums or waiting periods. If the insured person dies during the waiting period as a result of an illness, often only the premiums paid in are refunded.
The Practice: Understanding How It Works and Typical Conditions
In an endowment life insurance policy without health questions, the sum insured becomes payable on death or when the policy matures. Providers that dispense with health questions assess the risk differently. Often there is a waiting period of several years, for example three years, before full death cover applies in the event of illness. In the event of accidental death, however, many insurers often pay the full amount immediately. Premiums can be higher than for tariffs with medical underwriting, as the insurer covers a higher risk. It is not uncommon for the sums insured under these tariffs to be limited, for example to 20,000 euros or 50,000 euros. Some providers make it possible to achieve higher sums by combining several policies, with up to 200,000 euros being conceivable. A classic endowment life insurance policy is less frequently sought after today; alternatives such as term life insurance or private pension insurance are often the focus.
The following points are often encountered with tariffs without health questions:
Limited sums insured, 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 with tariffs that include medical underwriting.
In some cases, it is only possible to take out cover for certain age groups.
These conditions vary greatly between providers, so a detailed comparison is essential. Advice from experts can provide clarity here.
Expert knowledge: Observe legal aspects and pitfalls
Even if no health questions are asked, all other application questions must be answered truthfully. False statements can jeopardise cover. The Insurance Contract Act (VVG) forms the legal basis for life insurance contracts in Germany. Among other things, it regulates the rights and obligations of the policyholder and insurer. Particularly important is the pre-contractual duty of disclosure: Even without explicit health questions, no known circumstances that are material to the risk may be withheld if they are asked about in the application. BaFin (Federal Financial Supervisory Authority) supervises insurance companies and ensures compliance with legal requirements. For contracts without health questions, it is advisable to check the terms regarding the waiting period and exclusions from cover carefully. A term life insurance policy without a medical 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 consequences incomplete or false information can have. Even if no health questions are asked in the usual sense, there are often questions about ability to work or existing serious illnesses.
Alternatives and additions: Review other ways to provide protection
As the traditional endowment life insurance policy, especially without medical questions, can have specific disadvantages such as potentially higher costs or lower flexibility, alternatives should be considered. A term life insurance policy provides pure death benefit cover and is often cheaper, but usually requires a medical assessment. For retirement provision, a private annuity policy without medical questions may be an option. A funeral expenses insurance policy without medical questions can also be useful for covering funeral costs; policy sums are usually limited to around EUR 10,000. Unit-linked life insurance policies can offer higher return potential, 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 annuity policy (often without medical questions for the pure savings component).
Term life insurance policy (with medical assessment, but often cheaper for pure death benefit cover).
Funeral expenses insurance policy (often without medical questions for smaller sums).
Unit-linked life or annuity policies (return potential and risks).
The choice depends heavily on your individual situation and your goals. An overview of different life insurance policies helps with orientation.
Costs and returns: What can you expect financially?
The premiums for a capital life insurance policy without health questions can be higher. This is because the insurer can calculate the risk less accurately without a detailed medical assessment. The returns on traditional capital life insurance policies have generally declined in recent years due to low interest rates. Although the guaranteed interest rate for new contracts has been raised to up to one per cent for 2025, this does not automatically make the products attractive. The costs of policy initiation and administration can significantly reduce the return, and these are often charged in the first five policy years. For policies without health questions, additional risk surcharges can further affect the return. It is therefore important to understand not only the guaranteed benefit, but also the overall cost structure and the rules governing surplus participation. A paid-up status is often possible, but it results in a reduced sum assured.
The path to the contract: the best way to proceed
Before you take out an endowment life insurance policy without health questions, you should determine your exact needs. Compare offers from different insurers carefully, as terms such as waiting periods, sum insured and contributions can differ significantly. Pay close attention to the wording in the application; even if no health questions are asked, truthful information about other points is crucial. If in doubt, seek independent advice. A unit-linked variant could also be an option if you are prepared to accept higher risks for potentially better returns. Some providers allow sums insured of up to EUR 200,000 by combining several policies if higher cover without health questions is desired.
Steps to take out the policy:
Clarify your individual needs (level of cover, term).
Obtain and compare offers from different insurers (waiting periods, costs, benefits).
Check application forms carefully and answer all questions truthfully.
Use independent advice to find the best solution for your situation.
Careful review and advice will protect you from unpleasant surprises.
As a digital insurance portal, our mission is to offer you comprehensive and easy-to-understand insurance solutions. We understand that finding endowment life insurance without health questions can be complex. Our experts support you in finding the right cover for your individual situation. We value transparency and expert advice to give you peace of mind. Make use of our expertise for your financial future.
Request your individual risk analysis now: Have your insurance situation reviewed free of charge and receive concrete suggestions for improvement.
More useful links
Wikipedia provides a comprehensive overview of life insurance.
Wikipedia explains the distinctive features of endowment life insurance.
The Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) provides official statistics and information on health in Germany.
Destatis provides a detailed publication on the state of health in Germany.
Destatis provides tables on the types of services covered by health expenditure.
FAQ
What is the difference between an endowment life insurance policy with and without health questions?
The main difference is the omission of detailed health questions when taking out the policy. This makes access easier for people with pre-existing conditions, but often leads to higher premiums, waiting periods (e.g. three years in the event of death due to illness) and/or lower sums insured.
How long is the waiting period for an endowment life insurance policy without health questions?
The waiting period can vary, but it is often up to three years. If the insured person dies from an illness during this time, many insurers only pay out the premiums paid in. In the event of accidental death, the waiting period is often waived.
Is an endowment life insurance policy without health questions more expensive?
Yes, as a rule the premiums are higher, as the insurer has to factor in a higher risk without a precise health assessment.
Who is an endowment life insurance policy without health questions suitable for?
It can be a sensible option for people who, due to pre-existing conditions, have difficulty taking out a standard endowment life insurance policy, but still want death benefit cover and capital accumulation.
What alternatives are there to endowment life insurance without health questions?
Alternatives include, for example, term life insurance policies (with health checks), private pension policies (often without health questions for the savings portion), funeral expense insurance policies (often without health questions for smaller sums) or unit-linked policies.
What do I need to consider when applying for an endowment life insurance policy without health questions?
Even without detailed health questions, all other application questions must be answered truthfully and in full. Pay close attention to the contractual terms, especially regarding waiting periods and exclusions of benefits.
