Quick answer
On the rate sheet we quote from, $600,000 of 20-year no-exam term costs a healthy 30-year-old non-smoker $28 to $36 a month, and $76 to $96 at 45. From 50, that sheet won't write $600,000 without an exam and offers $500,000 instead.
On the rate sheet we quote from, $600,000 of 20-year no-exam term costs a healthy 30-year-old non-smoker $28 (woman) to $36 (man) a month. At 45 it’s $76 to $96 a month.
Then something changes. From 50, the same sheet won’t write $600,000 without a medical exam; the most it offers is $500,000. Below are the prices by age, what to do if you’re 50 or older, and how no-exam underwriting decides. If you’re new to term coverage, our guide to term life insurance explains the basics.
What does $600,000 no exam term life insurance cost by age?
These are 20-year level term prices for non-smokers, before underwriting.
Here’s what $600,000 of 20-year term costs a month by age if you’re in excellent health and don’t smoke:
| Age | Man, excellent health | Woman, excellent health |
|---|---|---|
| 25 | $35.50 | $24.50 |
| 30 | $36.00 | $27.50 |
| 35 | $42.50 | $36.50 |
| 40 | $62.50 | $49.00 |
| 45 | $95.50 | $76.50 |
From age 50 the sheet won’t write $600,000 of 20-year term without an exam (the most it offers is $500,000), so the table stops at 45.
Monthly premiums from our own quote tool, pulled 5 October 2026 from one carrier’s partner rate sheet: $600,000 of coverage, 20-year term, non-smoker, Georgia ZIP. That sheet priced 49 of 51 jurisdictions identically when we checked all of them in August 2026 (North Dakota came back lower; New York isn’t offered). These are rate-sheet prices before underwriting, not a final offer.
A 35-year-old man in excellent health pays $42.50 a month, and at 45 it’s $95.50. Every five years of waiting adds more than the five before it.
If your health is average
Your health class is set after the insurer reviews your application, so here’s the price one class down.
Here’s the same $600,000, 20-year policy in average health:
| Age | Man, average health | Woman, average health |
|---|---|---|
| 25 | $60.00 | $40.50 |
| 30 | $60.50 | $44.50 |
| 35 | $71.00 | $59.00 |
| 40 | $110.00 | $83.00 |
| 45 | $169.50 | $130.50 |
From age 50 the sheet won’t write $600,000 of 20-year term without an exam (the most it offers is $500,000), so the table stops at 45.
Monthly premiums from our own quote tool, pulled 5 October 2026 from one carrier’s partner rate sheet: $600,000 of coverage, 20-year term, non-smoker, Georgia ZIP. That sheet priced 49 of 51 jurisdictions identically when we checked all of them in August 2026 (North Dakota came back lower; New York isn’t offered). These are rate-sheet prices before underwriting, not a final offer.
At 40, average health costs a man $110.00 a month instead of $62.50, and a woman $83.00 instead of $49.00.
If you’re 50 or older
No-exam coverage has limits, and they tighten with age. The NAIC’s buyer’s guide puts it this way: “usually a policy that doesn’t require detailed health information will cost more and provide less coverage than one that does.”
On our sheet, that limit shows up at 50. Ask for $600,000 at 50 and the quote comes back for $500,000. At that amount, a 50-year-old non-smoker in excellent health pays $101.08 (woman) or $126.50 (man) a month, and at 55 it’s $154.42 or $215.67.
So if you’re over 50 and need the full $600,000, you have two realistic routes:
- Take the smaller no-exam policy, if $500,000 covers what you actually need.
- Apply with full underwriting. The exam itself is short; Life Happens says it “should take less than 30 minutes,” though a decision usually takes a few weeks.
Other insurers set their own limits. In the Society of Actuaries’ 2022 accelerated underwriting survey of 24 insurers, the most common no-exam maximum was $1,000,000 and the most common issue ages were 18 to 60, so it’s worth comparing more than one company.
How no-exam underwriting decides
Without an exam, the insurer decides from your application plus outside records. The NAIC says accelerated underwriting pulls data “like prescription drug history and motor vehicle records” and can reach a decision in hours instead of weeks. Other sources it lists include credit reports and the Medical Information Bureau.
It isn’t automatic. The NAIC notes that for some applicants “the available data will be insufficient to adequately evaluate their risk profile,” and they’ll still need the full process, exam included. Simplified issue is a lighter version with fewer questions, and the NAIC says it lets you skip the exam “in exchange for generally higher premiums.”
Whatever route you take, answer the health questions honestly. The buyer’s guide warns that if an insurer finds false statements after it issues the policy, “it could reduce or cancel your coverage.”
Who needs $600,000 of coverage
How much to buy, the NAIC says, “depends on the financial needs that will continue after your death,” such as supporting your family, paying for your kids’ education and paying off a mortgage. $600,000 tends to fit a larger mortgage, a higher income to replace, or a family planning for college costs.
It’s also worth checking what you already have at work. The Texas Department of Insurance says a basic group policy “usually has a death benefit equal to one or two times your annual salary,” and it “typically ends when you leave your job.”
If your numbers come out a bit higher, see what $650,000 of no-exam term costs.
How to apply
You can apply online, through an agent or by mail. On a no-exam application you’ll answer health questions, and you may get a decision the same day.
Before you switch from an old policy, keep it until the new one is in force; the NAIC says, “Don’t cancel your current policy until you get the new one.” And remember the free look: you can usually return a new policy for a full refund within about 10 days of receiving it.
When you’re ready, compare term life insurance quotes for your own age, health and coverage.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a $600,000 life insurance policy for a 40-year-old?
On the sheet we quote from, $600,000 of 20-year no-exam term costs a 40-year-old non-smoker $49.00 a month (woman) or $62.50 (man) in excellent health, and $83.00 or $110.00 in average health. Those are prices before underwriting.
Can I get $600,000 without a medical exam after 50?
Not on the sheet we quote from: from 50 it offers $500,000 at most without an exam. Other insurers set their own limits, and in a Society of Actuaries survey the most common no-exam maximum was $1,000,000 for ages up to 60, so compare a few.
Do my premiums go up if my health changes?
Not during the term. The Texas Department of Insurance says premiums “will stay the same for the entire term.” Many policies are also renewable, which it says lets you “extend your policy for additional terms, regardless of your health,” although the new premium is based on your age at renewal.
Is a life insurance payout taxed?
Usually not. The IRS says proceeds you receive as a beneficiary “aren’t includable in gross income and you don’t have to report them.” Any interest the payout earns before you receive it is taxable.
How we got these numbers
- Every premium on this page comes from our own life quote tool, which prices from one carrier's partner rate sheet. Each table says the day its prices were pulled.
- We priced a Georgia ZIP. When we priced the same applicant in all 51 jurisdictions in August 2026, 49 came back identical; North Dakota came back lower and New York isn't offered.
- Excellent and average are the rate sheet's own health classes. These are prices before underwriting, so the offer you get after an insurer reviews your application can be different.
- Where the sheet won't write an amount at an age without a medical exam, we leave that age out of the table instead of guessing.