Term life insurance without health examination: Cleverly arrange protection for your loved ones
18 Jun 2025
8
Minutes
Katrin Straub
CEO at nextsure
Are you looking for a term life insurance policy without a health check-up to protect your family? This is an understandable wish, as not everyone can or wants to answer detailed health questions. Find out here what options are available and how you can still secure suitable coverage.
The topic in brief and concise terms
A term life insurance policy without any health check has not been available in Germany since 2010; instead, there are options with simplified health questions. [2]
Simplified health questions are often subject to conditions such as age, insurance sum, and contract term, especially in real estate financing. [3,4]
Honest answers to all health questions are crucial, as false information can jeopardise insurance coverage (pre-contractual duty of disclosure). [2]
Understanding the basics: Why is there hardly any term life insurance without a health check?
The health check is used by insurers to fairly assess your individual risk. [4] Without this check, all insured persons would have to pay higher uniform premiums, regardless of their health status or lifestyle. [1,5] The principle is not based on solidarity as in statutory health insurance, but on an individual risk calculation. [3] Therefore, a complete life insurance policy without a health check has not been common since a change in the law in 2010. [2] Nevertheless, there are important differences in the health questions that often go back five years. [2]
This individual calculation ensures that people with lower risk, such as young non-smokers without pre-existing conditions, pay correspondingly lower contributions. [4] If health aspects were completely ignored, healthy people would have to bear the risks of people with serious pre-existing conditions or dangerous hobbies, which would make the tariffs unaffordable for many. [3] The health questions are therefore a tool for fair and affordable contributions for everyone. [2] This paves the way for alternative solutions and policies with adapted conditions.
Exploring options: Simplified health questions as a viable approach
Although a term life insurance policy seldom exists entirely without health questions, many insurers offer policies with simplified health questions. [3,4] This option is often tied to certain conditions. These typically include:
A maximum entry age, for example, forty years. [3]
A limited sum insured, which varies depending on the provider. [3]
A relatively short contract term. [3]
Often in the context of a mortgage, where loans up to 500,000 Euros are secured. [4]
Such simplified checks significantly speed up the application process. Instead of up to 25 questions, often only about five key health questions are asked. [5] These regulations are particularly interesting for young families or home buyers who seek quick and straightforward protection. [5] The relevance of a term life insurance remains applicable here too. Insurers assume that individuals taking out large loans are statistically often in good health. [3] It is important to carefully check the exact requirements and extent of the questions.
Special cases and exceptions: When no further health check is required
In certain situations, you can adjust or take out term life insurance without having to undergo a new or complete health assessment. One key option is increasing an existing insurance sum due to specific life events. [2] These include, for example:
Marriage.
The birth of a child.
Purchasing an owner-occupied property up to an amount of 500,000 euros. [4]
Setting up or taking over a medical practice, also up to 500,000 euros insurance sum and with a maximum age limit of 50 years. [4]
Many policies include a guaranteed coverage option, allowing you to adjust your protection without new health questions, often within the first five years of the contract. [4] Check the terms of your existing policy carefully for such options. An extension guarantee may also allow you to continue the policy without further health questions. [3] These provisions offer flexibility when your coverage needs change, as is often the case with family protection. This way, your coverage can grow with your life situation.
Costs and Contributions: How Health Information Influences the Price
The cost of term life insurance depends on many factors, with health status playing a central role. [2] Insurers calculate premiums based on individual mortality risk. [3] A good state of health and a low-risk lifestyle generally lead to lower premiums. [1] Factors influencing the premium, in addition to age and the sum insured, also include occupation, risky hobbies such as skydiving or diving, and whether you are a smoker. [3,4] Basic coverage is possible from just a few euros per month, especially for young, healthy individuals. [2] A whole life insurance policy without health questions is often more expensive and offers different focuses. Honest answers to health questions are crucial, as incorrect information can jeopardize insurance coverage. [2,3]
Insurers usually ask about illnesses and treatments from the last five years, sometimes even the last ten years in the case of hospital stays. [1] It is a misconception that any pre-existing condition leads to rejection or extremely high premiums; many minor ailments have little effect. [4] The exact calculation is complex, but transparency with health information is always the best approach. This enables the insurer to offer you a fair proposal.
Expert Tips: The Pre-Contractual Disclosure Duty and Its Significance
When taking out a term life insurance policy, you are subject to the pre-contractual duty of disclosure. This means you must answer all of the insurer's health questions completely and truthfully. This also applies if you seek a policy with simplified health questions. Concealed pre-existing conditions or false statements can have serious consequences: the insurer may withdraw from the contract, reduce the benefits, or, in the worst case, refuse payment upon death completely. Our expert tip: Take your time answering the health questions, and consult your medical records or your doctor if you are unsure. Your health insurance company can provide you with an overview of diagnoses from recent years.
It is important to know that changes in your health condition after the conclusion of the contract usually do not affect your existing agreement; there is generally no obligation to report them. From this point onwards, the insurer assumes the risk. A careful and honest response at the start secures your beneficiaries' full entitlement to benefits in the event of need. This establishes a solid foundation for your insurance coverage.
Check alternatives: If the term life insurance doesn't fit
If taking out term life insurance, even with simplified health questions, is not possible or does not meet your needs, there are alternatives. One commonly mentioned option is the funeral insurance. [1,6] This primarily serves to cover funeral expenses, which can typically range between six thousand and eight thousand euros. [6] Many funeral insurances are available without a health check for coverage amounts up to around 15,000 euros and from a certain age (e.g., forty years). [3,1] However, be aware that policies without health questions are often associated with waiting periods ranging from six to 36 months. [1,6] In the event of accidental death, the waiting period is often waived. [1]
Another option might be an endowment insurance, which combines death protection with capital accumulation, although the conditions and focus are different here. [6] For insuring large amounts, such as in property financing, funeral insurance is usually not a suitable alternative. [3] Carefully consider which protection best suits your individual situation and financial goals. Comprehensive advice can provide clarity.
Your path to the right protection with nextsure
Searching for the optimal term life insurance, especially when it comes to health assessments, can be complex. At nextsure, we understand your need for tailored and easily comprehensible insurance solutions. Although a term life insurance without any health assessment is no longer common in the market, we support you in finding the right options for you. We help you navigate the market and identify rates with simplified health questions or suitable follow-up insurance guarantees. Our goal is to provide you with the best possible coverage transparently and with a digital-first approach.
We guide you through the process and assist you in making all necessary declarations correctly to establish a solid foundation for your insurance right from the start. A careful analysis of your situation is the first step towards long-term security for your loved ones. Use our expertise to reduce complexity and make an informed decision. The next step is an individual analysis of your needs.
Request a personalised risk analysis now
More useful links
GDV provides basic information on term life insurance.
The Consumer Centre offers comprehensive information on protection against death through term life insurance.
A press release from the Consumer Centre RLP sheds light on the proper coverage with term life insurance.
Destatis provides current tables on life expectancy and mortality tables in Germany.
You can also find further publications on period mortality tables at the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis).
The GDV offers a detailed publication with figures and facts on German life insurance in 2024.
The German Actuarial Association explains the derivation of the DAV 2008 T mortality table, which is relevant for life insurance with a death character.
FAQ
Why is a health check necessary for term life insurance?
The health assessment allows the insurer to evaluate your individual risk and calculate a fair premium. Without it, there would be more expensive standard rates, which would disadvantage healthy individuals. [1,4]
What questions are asked during a simplified health check?
In a simplified examination, significantly fewer questions are asked, often only about five instead of up to 25. [5] They mostly relate to serious illnesses, hospital stays in recent years, and certain risk factors.
Can I increase my term life insurance without a new health check?
Yes, many contracts offer a guarantee for increasing your coverage. This allows you to increase the insurance sum without a renewed health exam during specific events (e.g., marriage, birth, property acquisition), often within certain deadlines and sum limits. [2,4]
What if I have pre-existing conditions?
Even with pre-existing conditions, it is often possible to obtain coverage. Not every condition leads to a rejection or higher premiums. [4] An anonymous risk inquiry can provide clarity on whether and under what conditions insurance coverage is granted. [4]
How far back does the insurer inquire about health questions?
As a rule, the questions relate to the last five years for outpatient treatments and illnesses. For inpatient hospital stays or mental illnesses, the period can also be up to ten years. [1]
Is a funeral insurance a good alternative?
A funeral insurance policy can be an alternative to cover funeral expenses, especially when no medical examination is required. However, it usually offers lower sums insured than a term life insurance and is not intended to secure large loans or a complete livelihood. [3,6]
