Best Expat Insurance Without Medical Underwriting

Top Picks Without Underwriting

If you want to skip medical questions or have been declined elsewhere, here are your options:

How No-Underwriting Options Work

There are different ways to get coverage without traditional medical underwriting:

1. Travel Medical Insurance (No Questions)

Plans like SafetyWing and World Nomads don't ask health questions:

• Instant enrollment, guaranteed acceptance
• No health questionnaire
• Pre-existing conditions are excluded from coverage
• Covers emergencies and new conditions only
• Not full health insurance—limited coverage

The trade-off: You get easy acceptance, but your existing conditions aren't covered.

2. Moratorium Underwriting

Some full health insurers offer moratorium underwriting:

• No health questions upfront
• You're automatically accepted
• Any condition treated in past 5 years is excluded initially
• After 2 years without treatment, condition becomes covered
• Full health insurance with a path to complete coverage

The trade-off: Slower path to condition coverage than full underwriting with a waiting period.

3. Group Insurance

Employer-sponsored group insurance often has:

• Limited or no medical underwriting
• Pre-existing conditions covered from day one
• No individual health questions
• Available only through employers

The trade-off: Must be employed by a company offering group coverage.

Options Comparison

Detailed Reviews

SafetyWing — Instant Acceptance

SafetyWing is the easiest path to coverage—sign up in minutes with no health questions.

What works well:

• No health questions whatsoever
• Instant enrollment online
• Guaranteed acceptance regardless of health
• Affordable ($45-85/month)
• Monthly billing, cancel anytime
• Covers 180+ countries

Critical limitation: Pre-existing conditions are NOT covered. This is travel medical insurance, not full health insurance. If you have a condition that needs ongoing treatment, SafetyWing won't help with that.

Best for: People who need emergency coverage quickly, regardless of health history, and can manage their pre-existing conditions separately.

Read our full SafetyWing review

World Nomads — Adventure Coverage, No Questions

World Nomads offers travel medical insurance without health questions, with strong adventure activity coverage.

What works well:

• No health questions
• 150+ adventure activities covered
• Higher coverage limits than SafetyWing
• Trip cancellation included

Critical limitation: Same as SafetyWing—pre-existing conditions excluded. Travel medical only.

Best for: Active travelers who want adventure coverage without health questions.

Moratorium Plans (Cigna, Allianz, IMG)

Major insurers offer moratorium underwriting as an alternative to full medical underwriting.

What works well:

• No health questions at enrollment
• Guaranteed acceptance
• Full health insurance (not travel medical)
• Pre-existing conditions covered after 2 years symptom-free
• Standard premiums (no health-based loading)
• Everything except past 5 years covered immediately

How it works: Any condition you've had treatment for in the past 5 years is excluded. After 2 consecutive years without treatment for that condition, it becomes covered.

Best for: People who've been declined for full underwriting, or who prefer not to answer health questions and are willing to wait for condition coverage.

Moratorium vs Full Underwriting

When to Choose Moratorium

• You've been declined through full underwriting
• You have conditions that would result in exclusions anyway
• You prefer not to disclose medical history
• Your conditions are stable and you may not need treatment

When to Choose Full Underwriting

• You want to know exactly what's covered upfront
• You have conditions that need ongoing treatment
• You prefer a defined waiting period over the 2-year moratorium rule
• Your conditions are well-controlled and may get favorable terms

The 2-Year Rule Explained

Under moratorium, a pre-existing condition becomes covered after 2 consecutive years without:

• Treatment for the condition
• Medication for the condition
• Symptoms of the condition
• Medical advice for the condition

If you have any of the above during the 2 years, the clock resets. This means conditions requiring ongoing management may never become covered under moratorium.

Other Options

Group Insurance Through Employment

If you can get a job with health benefits:

• Group plans typically have no/limited underwriting
• Pre-existing conditions usually covered from day one
• Employer pays part or all of premium
• Coverage tied to employment

Local Insurance / Public Healthcare

Some countries offer options for residents:

• Spain: Residents can access public healthcare
• France: Social security enrollment available
• Germany: Public insurance accepts most residents
• Portugal: NHS access for residents

Local options vary—research your specific destination.

Self-Insurance + Travel Medical

Some people choose to:

• Pay out-of-pocket for their pre-existing condition management
• Use SafetyWing/travel medical for emergencies and new conditions
• Keep savings for healthcare expenses

This is risky but may work in countries with affordable healthcare.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get full health insurance without any health questions?

Yes, through moratorium underwriting. Cigna, Allianz, and IMG offer this option. You get full health insurance without answering health questions, but conditions from the past 5 years are excluded until you've been 2 years without treatment.

Will SafetyWing cover my pre-existing condition?

No. SafetyWing excludes all pre-existing conditions. It covers emergencies and new conditions only. If you have a condition requiring treatment, SafetyWing won't cover anything related to it.

What happens if I don't disclose a condition on full underwriting?

Don't do this. Non-disclosure can void your entire policy. If you file a claim and the insurer discovers an undisclosed condition, they can deny the claim and cancel your coverage—even for unrelated conditions.

Is moratorium better than full underwriting?

Depends. Moratorium is better if you'd be declined or heavily loaded under full underwriting. Full underwriting is better if you want clarity on what's covered and have conditions that need ongoing treatment.

Can I switch from moratorium to full underwriting later?

Usually no. Once you're on a moratorium plan, you typically stay on moratorium terms. Some insurers may allow a switch at renewal, but you'd then need to answer health questions and conditions may be excluded.

What if my condition gets worse on a moratorium plan?

Any worsening of an excluded condition remains excluded. The 2-year clock would reset if you seek treatment. Only genuinely new conditions or conditions you haven't had treatment for in 5+ years are covered immediately.