In 2026, insurers might know more about you than you know about yourself.
Applying for life insurance used to require a weeks-long endurance test of paperwork, blood draws and urine samples. But thanks to improvements in technology and wider access to data, insurers can often fact-check your medical and financial history on the spot.
kAm%9:D D9:7E E@H2C5 C62=\E:>6 52E2 :?4=F56D 2 C646?E A2CE?6CD9:A 36EH66? E96 |65:42= x?7@C>2E:@? qFC62F W|xqX — 2 52E232D6 :?DFC6CD FD6 E@ G6C:7J J@FC :?7@C>2E:@? 2?5 56E64E 7C2F5 — 2?5 >2;@C 4C65:E 3FC62F tBF:72I] u@C 4@?DF>6CD[ :?DFC6CD 92G:?8 2446DD E@ >@C6 52E2 4@F=5 >62? 72DE6C 2AAC@G2=D 2?5 =@H6C C2E6D] qFE E96C6’D 2=D@ 2 C:D< J@FC 2AA=:42E:@? 86ED 7=28865 7@C 5:D4C6A2?4:6D[ =625:?8 E@ 56=2JD @C 6G6? 2 7=2E\@FE C6;64E:@?]k^Am
kAmw6C6’D H92E 6IA6CED 2C6 D66:?8 369:?5 E96 D46?6D[ 2?5 9@H J@F 42? AC6A2C6 J@FC >65:42= 2?5 7:?2?4:2= “C6DF>6” E@ 2G@:5 86EE:?8 7=28865]k^Am
k9am|@C6 52E2 42? >62? 72DE6C[ 72:C6C C2E6Dk^9am
kAmu@C @G6C `__ J62CD[ F?56CHC:E6CD 92G6 C6=:65 @? E96 |xq E@ 7:?5 >65:42= :?7@C>2E:@? E92E 5:5?’E >2<6 :E @?E@ 2? 2AA=:42E:@?[ 7C@> 2 7@C8@EE6? AC6D4C:AE:@? E@ 2 =:6 23@FE k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?6C5H2==6E]4@>^:?DFC2?46^=:76^=62C?^=:76\:?DFC2?46\?@?D>@<6CnFE>042>A2:8?l4E0AC@5U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El`hg_`baU2>AjFE>0>65:F>lCDDU2>AjFE>0D@FC46lDJ?5:42E:@?U2>AjFE>0E6C>l3=@I5:8:E2=Q E2C86ElQ0D6=7Q C6=lQ?@7@==@H ?@@A6?6CQmE@3244@ FD6k^2m] qFE ?@H[ E96J 42? DA@E 5:D4C6A2?4:6D C6=2E65 E@ J@FC ;@3 2?5 :?4@>6 ;FDE 2D BF:4<=J] x? y2?F2CJ[ E96 |xq 2??@F?465 2? 28C66>6?E H:E9 tBF:72I E92E 8:G6D F?56CHC:E6CD C62=\E:>6 2446DD E@ FA E@ ac >@?E9D @7 :?4@>6 52E2[ ;@3 E:E=6D 2?5 6>A=@J>6?E 52E6D 7@C >@C6 E92? 92=7 @7 E96 &]$] H@C<7@C46]k^Am
kAm(9:=6 :E >:89E 766= :?G2D:G6[ E9:D EJA6 @7 G6C:7:42E:@? :D ?@E9:?8 ?6H[ D2JD q2C32C2 !:6EC2?86=@[ 2 46CE:7:65 7:?2?4:2= A=2??6C 2?5 >6>36C @7 E96 }2E:@?2= pDD@4:2E:@? @7 x?DFC2?46 2?5 u:?2?4:2= p5G:D@CD q@2C5 @7 %CFDE66D] x>AC@G65 52E2 2446DD ;FDE DEC62>=:?6D H92E F?56CHC:E6CD 92G6 2=H2JD 5@?6 — 2?5 7@C 2AA=:42?ED[ E92E 42? >62? k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?6C5H2==6E]4@>^:?DFC2?46^=:76^=62C?^9@H\5@6D\:?DE2?E\=:76\:?DFC2?46\H@C<nFE>042>A2:8?l4E0AC@5U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El`hg_`baU2>AjFE>0>65:F>lCDDU2>AjFE>0D@FC46lDJ?5:42E:@?U2>AjFE>0E6C>l3=@I5:8:E2=Q E2C86ElQ0D6=7Q C6=lQ?@7@==@H ?@@A6?6CQm72DE6C =:76 :?DFC2?46 2AAC@G2=Dk^2m] “(92E x 7@F?5 A6CD@?2==J :D E92E x’> 86EE:?8 A@=:4:6D :DDF65 H:E9:? 2 52J @C EH@[” !:6EC2?86=@ D2JD] “$EF77 E92E FD65 E@ E2<6 D:I H66<D[ H6’C6 86EE:?8 2AAC@G65 G6CJ BF:4<=J]”k^Am
kAmq6J@?5 DA665[ 36EE6C 52E2 42? =@H6C AC6>:F>D 3J C6>@G:?8 E96 8F6DDH@C<] %@?J $E6F6C[ 2 492CE6C65 =:76 F?56CHC:E6C 2?5 2FE9@C @7 Q"F6DE:@?D 2?5 p?DH6CD @? {:76 x?DFC2?46[” 6IA=2:?D E92E 3642FD6 @7 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?6C5H2==6E]4@>^:?DFC2?46^=:76^=62C?^=:76\:?DFC2?46\F?56CHC:E:?8nFE>042>A2:8?l4E0AC@5U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El`hg_`baU2>AjFE>0>65:F>lCDDU2>AjFE>0D@FC46lDJ?5:42E:@?U2>AjFE>0E6C>l3=@I5:8:E2=Q E2C86ElQ0D6=7Q C6=lQ?@7@==@H ?@@A6?6CQm9@H =:76 :?DFC2?46 F?56CHC:E:?8 H@C<Dk^2m[ :?7@C>2E:@? 82AD :? 2? 2AA=:42?E’D AC@7:=6 42? 24EF2==J =625 E@ 9:896C C2E6D]k^Am
kAmsFC:?8 F?56CHC:E:?8[ :?DFC6CD 2DD:8? J@F E@ 2 QC2E:?8 4=2DD” 32D65 @? 9@H C:D<J J@F 2C6 E@ 4@G6C] (96? :?7@C>2E:@? :D >:DD:?8[ :?DFC6CD 5@?VE 92G6 2 4@>A=6E6 A:4EFC6 @7 E92E C:D< — 2?5 E96J @7E6? @77D6E E92E F?46CE2:?EJ H:E9 9:896C C2E6D[ $E6F6C D2JD] %96 62D:6C :E :D E@ 7:== :? E96D6 82AD H:E9 52E2[ E96 >@C6 244FC2E6=J :?DFC6CD 42? AC:46 A@=:4:6D[ H9:49 @7E6? EC2?D=2E6D E@ 5:C64E D2G:?8D 7@C E96 4@?DF>6C]k^Am
k9ampG@:5:?8 2AA=:42E:@? DA665 3F>ADk^9am
kAmxE’D ?6G6C 366? 62D:6C 7@C :?DFC6CD E@ 7=28 5:D4C6A2?4:6D :? J@FC k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?6C5H2==6E]4@>^:?DFC2?46^=:76^=62C?^=:76\:?DFC2?46\2AA=:42E:@?nFE>042>A2:8?l4E0AC@5U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El`hg_`baU2>AjFE>0>65:F>lCDDU2>AjFE>0D@FC46lDJ?5:42E:@?U2>AjFE>0E6C>l3=@I5:8:E2=Q E2C86ElQ0D6=7Q C6=lQ?@7@==@H ?@@A6?6CQm=:76 :?DFC2?46 2AA=:42E:@?k^2m] (9:=6 36:?8 9@?6DE :D E96 7:CDE DE6A[ E96D6 C65 7=28D 2C6?’E 2=H2JD E96 C6DF=E @7 2 56=:36C2E6 =:6]k^Am
kAmpAA=:42?ED @7E6? @G6C=@@< A2DE 962=E9 :DDF6D 3642FD6 E96J 766= 962=E9J E@52J] “~?6 4=:6?E E96 @E96C 52J H2D =:<6[ ‘*629[ 6G6C D:?46 >J =68 H2D 2>AFE2E65 =2DE J62C 3642FD6 @7 5:236E6D 2?5 x 8@E >J ,AC@DE96E:4. =68[ xV> 8C62E[’” !:6EC2?86=@ D2JD] qFE :?DFC6CD 2C6?’E ;FDE =@@<:?8 2E J@FC 4FCC6?E DE2E6 — E96J’C6 2DD6DD:?8 J@FC >65:42= 9:DE@CJ[ E@@]k^Am
kAms:D4=@D:?8 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?6C5H2==6E]4@>^:?DFC2?46^=:76^=62C?^=:76\:?DFC2?46\H:E9\AC6\6I:DE:?8\4@?5:E:@?nFE>042>A2:8?l4E0AC@5U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El`hg_`baU2>AjFE>0>65:F>lCDDU2>AjFE>0D@FC46lDJ?5:42E:@?U2>AjFE>0E6C>l3=@I5:8:E2=Q E2C86ElQ0D6=7Q C6=lQ?@7@==@H ?@@A6?6CQmAC6\6I:DE:?8 4@?5:E:@?Dk^2m 2?5 >65:42E:@?D J@F E2<6 :D 4CF4:2=] !:6EC2?86=@ DF886DED E2<:?8 2 BF:4< =@@< :? J@FC AC6D4C:AE:@? 5C2H6C E@ ;@8 J@FC >6>@CJ[ 2?5 J@F 42? AF== FA J@FC >65:42= C64@C5D @? A2E:6?E A@CE2=D =:<6 |Jr92CE] *@F’== =:<6=J ?665 E@ 4@>A=6E6 2 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?6C5H2==6E]4@>^:?DFC2?46^=:76^=62C?^=:76\:?DFC2?46\>65:42=\6I2>DnFE>042>A2:8?l4E0AC@5U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El`hg_`baU2>AjFE>0>65:F>lCDDU2>AjFE>0D@FC46lDJ?5:42E:@?U2>AjFE>0E6C>l3=@I5:8:E2=Q E2C86ElQ0D6=7Q C6=lQ?@7@==@H ?@@A6?6CQm=:76 :?DFC2?46 >65:42= 6I2>k^2m 2D A2CE @7 J@FC 2AA=:42E:@?[ E@@]k^Am
kAmx7 J@F CF? :?E@ 2 BF6DE:@? J@F 42?’E 2?DH6C[ 5@?’E ECJ E@ 7:== :? E96 3=2?<D J@FCD6=7] Q%96 H@CDE E9:?8 J@F 42? 5@ :D 8F6DD @? 2? 2AA=:42E:@?[” $E6F6C D2JD] “%96 :?DFC2?46 4@>A2?J :D 8@:?8 E@ 92G6 E@ AC6DF>6 E92E J@F >:89E 36 =J:?8 3642FD6 :EVD E96:C >@?6J E92EVD 2E C:D<]Qk^Am
kAmx?DE625[ ;FDE 36 9@?6DE 2?5 E6== E96> J@F 5@?’E <?@H] Qp? F?56CHC:E6CVD ?@E 8@:?8 E@ A6?2=:K6 J@F :7 J@F D2J[ Vx 5@?VE C6>6>36C’[” $E6F6C D2JD[ ?@E:?8 E92E :?DFC6CD H:== FD6 E96:C 52E2 E@ 7:== :? E9@D6 82AD 7@C J@F]k^Am
k9am(96? 9F>2? 25G@424J 362ED 2? 2=8@C:E9>k^9am
kAmx7 J@F’C6 2AA=J:?8 7@C =:76 :?DFC2?46 H:E9 2 >2;@C >65:42= @C 7:?2?4:2= :DDF6 @? J@FC C64@C5[ =:<6 2 962CE 2EE24< @C 2 32?<CFAE4J[ $E6F6C C64@>>6?5D D6?5:?8 E96 :?DFC6C 2 4@G6C =6EE6C 6IA=2:?:?8 J@FC D:EF2E:@?] xE >:89E D@F?5 @=5\72D9:@?65[ 3FE 2 =6EE6C 2==@HD J@F E@ AC@G:56 4@?E6IE E92E 2? 2=8@C:E9> >:89E >:DD]k^Am
kAms6DA:E6 E96 D9:7E E@H2C5 72DE6C 2AAC@G2=D[ D9@AA:?8 7@C =:76 :?DFC2?46 42? DE:== 36 =6?8E9J 2?5 @G6CH96=>:?8] (@C<:?8 H:E9 2 ECFDE65 7:?2?4:2= AC@76DD:@?2= 42? 8:G6 J@F 2 9F>2? 25G@42E6 E@ 96=A J@F ?2G:82E6 E96 AC@46DD] x7 J@F E2<6 E9:D C@FE6[ $E6F6C DF886DED 2? k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?6C5H2==6E]4@>^:?DFC2?46^=:76^=62C?^=:76\:?DFC2?46\286?E\4@>>:DD:@?DnFE>042>A2:8?l4E0AC@5U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El`hg_`baU2>AjFE>0>65:F>lCDDU2>AjFE>0D@FC46lDJ?5:42E:@?U2>AjFE>0E6C>l3=@I5:8:E2=Q E2C86ElQ0D6=7Q C6=lQ?@7@==@H ?@@A6?6CQm:?56A6?56?E =:76 :?DFC2?46 286?Ek^2m H9@ H@C<D H:E9 >F=E:A=6 4@>A2?:6D @G6C 2 42AE:G6 286?E H9@ H@C<D 7@C ;FDE @?6]k^Am
kAm“%96 H2J x 6IA=2:? :E E@ A6@A=6 :D :EVD =:<6 :7 J@F H2=< :?E@ 2 |6C4656D 562=6CD9:A[ E96JVC6 8@:?8 E@ ECJ E@ D6== J@F 2 |6C4656D[” $E6F6C D2JD] p? :?56A6?56?E 286?E 42? D9@A 2C@F?5 2?5 96=A J@F 7:?5 E96 36DE 7:E 7@C J@FC A2CE:4F=2C >65:42= 2?5 7:?2?4:2= 9:DE@CJ]k^Am
k9amw@H E@ 2F5:E J@FC @H? 52E2k^9am
kAmx7 J@F’C6 H@CC:65 J@FC 2AA=:42E:@? H@?’E >2E49 E96 F?56CHC:E6C’D “2?DH6C <6J[” J@F 42? 5@ 2 D6=7\2F5:E 367@C6 J@F 2AA=J] (9:=6 :E :D?’E ?646DD2CJ E@ AF== 6G6CJ C6A@CE[ 5@:?8 D@ 42? @776C A6246 @7 >:?5 — 6DA64:2==J :7 J@F 36=:6G6 E96C6’D 2? 6CC@C :? @?6 @7 J@FC C64@C5D]k^Am
kAmw6C6’D H96C6 E@ DE2CEik^Am
kF=mk=:mkDEC@?8m*@FC |xq C6A@CEik^DEC@?8m *@FUCDBF@jC6 6?E:E=65 E@ @?6 7C66 4@AJ @7 J@FC |xq 4@?DF>6C 7:=6 6G6CJ `a >@?E9D] *@F 42? C6BF6DE :E 2E k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^|xq]4@>Qm|xq]4@>k^2m[ 2?5 5@:?8 D@ H@?UCDBF@jE 9FCE J@FC 4C65:E D4@C6]k^=:mk=:mkDEC@?8mt>A=@J>6?E 2?5 :?4@>6 52E2ik^DEC@?8m *@F 42? 7:?5 @FE H92E :?DFC6CD D66 C682C5:?8 J@FC ;@3 9:DE@CJ 2?5 A2J 3J C6BF6DE:?8 J@FC 6>A=@J>6?E 52E2 C6A@CE E9C@F89 tBF:72IUCDBF@jD %96 (@C< }F>36C]k^=:mk=:mkDEC@?8mw62=E9 9:DE@CJik^DEC@?8m *@F 92G6 2 =682= C:89E E@ J@FC >65:42= C64@C5D F?56C AC:G24J =2HD] %96 72DE6DE H2J E@ D66 J@FC 9:DE@CJ @7 5:28?@D6D 2?5 AC6D4C:AE:@?D :D 3J =@88:?8 :?E@ A2E:6?E A@CE2=D =:<6 |Jr92CE] *@F 42? 2=D@ 4@?E24E J@FC 962=E9 42C6 AC@G:56CWDX 5:C64E=J]k^=:mk=:mkDEC@?8mrC65:E 9:DE@CJik^DEC@?8m *@F 42? C6BF6DE @?6 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?6C5H2==6E]4@>^7:?2?46^=62C?^9@H\E@\FD6\2??F2=4C65:EC6A@CE\4@>nFE>042>A2:8?l4E0AC@5U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El`hg_`baU2>AjFE>0>65:F>lCDDU2>AjFE>0D@FC46lDJ?5:42E:@?U2>AjFE>0E6C>l3=@I5:8:E2=Q E2C86ElQ0D6=7Q C6=lQ?@7@==@H ?@@A6?6CQm7C66 4C65:E C6A@CEk^2m 6G6CJ `a >@?E9D 7C@> 6249 @7 E96 E9C66 >2;@C 4C65:E 3FC62FD 2E k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^p??F2=rC65:E#6A@CE]4@>Qmp??F2=rC65:E#6A@CE]4@>k^2m] (9:=6 J@FC 4C65:E D4@C6 5@6D?UCDBF@jE :>A24E J@FC =:76 :?DFC2?46 2AA=:42E:@?[ 2 32?<CFAE4J @? J@FC 4C65:E C6A@CE 4@F=5]k^=:mk=:mkDEC@?8m|@E@C G69:4=6 C64@C5ik^DEC@?8m *@F 42? 4@?E24E J@FC DE2E6UCDBF@jD s|' E@ C6BF6DE J@FC 5C:G:?8 C64@C5[ 2=E9@F89 J@F >2J 92G6 E@ A2J 2 D>2== 766] |@DE :?DFC6CD =@@< 2E E96 =2DE E9C66 E@ 7:G6 J62CD @7 J@FC 5C:G:?8 C64@C5 7@C C6A62E65 >@G:?8 G:@=2E:@?D 2?5 s&xD E92E 4@F=5 :>A24E J@FC k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?6C5H2==6E]4@>^:?DFC2?46^=:76^=62C?^AC676CC65\DE2?52C5\=:76\:?DFC2?46\C2E:?8\42E68@C:6DnFE>042>A2:8?l4E0AC@5U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El`hg_`baU2>AjFE>0>65:F>lCDDU2>AjFE>0D@FC46lDJ?5:42E:@?U2>AjFE>0E6C>l3=@I5:8:E2=Q E2C86ElQ0D6=7Q C6=lQ?@7@==@H ?@@A6?6CQmC:D< C2E:?8k^2m]k^=:mk^F=m
k5:G 4=2DDlQ?H\>@C6\7C@>\?6C5H2==6EQ 52E2\?H\4@>A@?6?E\EJA6\?2>6lQ|@C6 uC@> }6C5(2==6EQ 52E2\?H\4@>A@?6?E\EJA6\D=F8lQ?H0>@C607C@>0?6C5H2==6EQmkAmkDEC@?8m|@C6 uC@> }6C5(2==6Ek^DEC@?8mk^AmkF=mk=:mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?6C5H2==6E]4@>^:?DFC2?46^=:76^36DE\=:76\:?DFC2?46\4@>A2?:6DnFE>042>A2:8?l4E0AC@5U2>AjFE>0D@FC46lDJ?5:42E:@?U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lCDDU2>AjFE>0E6C>l3=@I5:8:E2=U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El`hg_`baQ E:E=6lQq6DE {:76 x?DFC2?46 r@>A2?:6DQ E2C86ElQ0D6=7Q 4=2DDlQ?H\=:?<Q C6=lQ?@7@==@H ?@@A6?6CQ 52E2\?H\4@>A@?6?E\EJA6\?2>6lQ{:?<Q 52E2\?H\4@>A@?6?E\EJA6\D=F8lQ?H0=:?<Q 52E2\?H\EC24<\4=:4<lQ`Q 52E2\?H\EC24<\:>AC6DD:@?lQ`Qmq6DE {:76 x?DFC2?46 r@>A2?:6Dk^2mk^=:mk=:mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?6C5H2==6E]4@>^:?DFC2?46^=:76^=62C?^2G6C286\=:76\:?DFC2?46\C2E6DnFE>042>A2:8?l4E0AC@5U2>AjFE>0D@FC46lDJ?5:42E:@?U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lCDDU2>AjFE>0E6C>l3=@I5:8:E2=U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El`hg_`baQ E:E=6lQpG6C286 {:76 x?DFC2?46 #2E6DQ E2C86ElQ0D6=7Q 4=2DDlQ?H\=:?<Q C6=lQ?@7@==@H ?@@A6?6CQ 52E2\?H\4@>A@?6?E\EJA6\?2>6lQ{:?<Q 52E2\?H\4@>A@?6?E\EJA6\D=F8lQ?H0=:?<Q 52E2\?H\EC24<\4=:4<lQ`Q 52E2\?H\EC24<\:>AC6DD:@?lQ`QmpG6C286 {:76 x?DFC2?46 #2E6Dk^2mk^=:mk=:mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?6C5H2==6E]4@>^:?DFC2?46^=:76^=:76\:?DFC2?46\A@=:4:6DnFE>042>A2:8?l4E0AC@5U2>AjFE>0D@FC46lDJ?5:42E:@?U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lCDDU2>AjFE>0E6C>l3=@I5:8:E2=U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El`hg_`baQ E:E=6lQw@H E@ u:?5 E96 #:89E {:76 x?DFC2?46 !@=:4JQ E2C86ElQ0D6=7Q 4=2DDlQ?H\=:?<Q C6=lQ?@7@==@H ?@@A6?6CQ 52E2\?H\4@>A@?6?E\EJA6\?2>6lQ{:?<Q 52E2\?H\4@>A@?6?E\EJA6\D=F8lQ?H0=:?<Q 52E2\?H\EC24<\4=:4<lQ`Q 52E2\?H\EC24<\:>AC6DD:@?lQ`Qmw@H E@ u:?5 E96 #:89E {:76 x?DFC2?46 !@=:4Jk^2mk^=:mk^F=mk^5:Gm
k5:G 4=2DDlQ?H\2FE9@C\3@I\HAQ 52E2\?H\4@>A@?6?E\EJA6\?2>6lQpFE9@C q@I \ (!Q 52E2\?H\4@>A@?6?E\EJA6\D=F8lQ?H02FE9@C03@I0HAQmk5:G 4=2DDlQ?H\2FE9@C\3@I\HA\\:??6CQmk2D:56 :E6>D4@A6lQQ :E6>AC@AlQ2FE9@CQ :E6>EJA6lQ9EEAi^^D496>2]@C8^!6CD@?Q 4=2DDlQ?H\2FE9@C\3@IQ 52E2\?H\4@>A@?6?E\EJA6\?2>6lQpFE9@C q@IQ 52E2\?H\4@>A@?6?E\EJA6\D=F8lQ?H02FE9@C03@IQmkAmt=:K236E9 p=5C:49 HC:E6D 7@C }6C5(2==6E] t>2:=i k2 9C67lQ>2:=E@i62=5C:49o?6C5H2==6E]4@>Qm62=5C:49o?6C5H2==6E]4@>k^2m]k^Amk^2D:56mk^5:Gmk^5:Gm
kA 4=2DDlQ?H\@C:8:?2==J\A@DE65\=:?<Qm%96 2CE:4=6 %96 }6H (2J {:76 x?DFC6CD pC6 u24E\r964<:?8 *@FC pAA=:42E:@? @C:8:?2==J 2AA62C65 @? }6C5(2==6E]k^Am
