The process is simpler than most people think. Here’s a clear look at what happens from the moment you start to the day your policy is active.
One of the biggest reasons people put off buying life insurance is uncertainty. They don’t know how long it takes, what questions they’ll be asked, or what the process involves. That uncertainty turns into hesitation, and hesitation turns into years without coverage. This guide walks you through every step so you know exactly what’s ahead.
The Big Picture
Before we walk through each step, here’s a quick overview of what the full process looks like in terms of your time and effort.
2 min
To get a quote and compare your options side by side at Ozzo
10 min
To complete your application and submit it through Ozzo
2-6 wks
For the carrier to complete underwriting and activate your policy
- Good to Know
The part that involves you takes about 12 minutes total. After that, Ozzo sends your application to the carrier and the formal process happens in the background. Some applicants with clean health profiles receive approval in as little as a few days through accelerated underwriting. Others with more complex medical histories may take closer to six weeks.
How the Ozzo Process Compares
Buying life insurance used to mean scheduling meetings with agents, waiting for individual quotes, and doing your own research on carriers. Ozzo simplifies the front end so you spend your time choosing, not chasing.
- Traditional Process
- Research carriers on your own
- Contact multiple agents for quotes
- Wait days for each quote to come back
- Compare options across different formats
- Hope you picked a financially strong carrier
- With Ozzo
- Carriers are already vetted for financial strength and claims reliability
- Get quotes from multiple top-rated carriers in 2 minutes
- Compare options side by side, including no-exam policies
- Complete your application in 10 minutes
- Ozzo sends it to the carrier and the formal process is handled from there
1
Get Your Quote and Compare Options
- Your time: About 2 minutes
This is where it starts. You answer a few basic questions about yourself, your age, health, coverage needs, and how long you want the policy to last. Ozzo takes that information and pulls quotes from multiple top-rated carriers that have already been vetted for financial strength, longevity, and claims reliability.
Within minutes, you’re looking at your options side by side. Each quote shows the carrier, the monthly premium, the coverage amount, and the policy type. You’ll also see which carriers offer no-exam policies, so you know upfront if you have a faster path to coverage.
| Carrier | Coverage | Monthly Premium | Exam Required |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carrier A | $500,000 / 20 yr term | $25/month | No |
| Carrier B | $500,000 / 20 yr term | $28/month | Yes |
| Carrier C | $500,000 / 20 yr term | $32/month | No |
| Carrier D | $500,000 / 20 yr term | $35/month | Yes |
Sample quotes for a healthy, non-smoking 32 year old. Actual rates vary by carrier and individual profile.
Why Prices Vary Between Carriers
Each carrier weighs risk factors differently. One company may offer better rates to applicants with a family history of certain conditions. Another may be more competitive for people in specific age brackets or occupations. This is why comparing matters, and why Ozzo shows you multiple options instead of one.
2
Complete Your Application
- Your time: About 10 minutes
Once you’ve chosen the option that fits your needs, you’ll fill out your application. This takes about 10 minutes and covers four categories of information.
Personal Information
Full legal name, date of birth, address, Social Security number, citizenship status, and contact details.
Medical History
Current health conditions, medications, past surgeries, hospitalizations, and family medical history. Height, weight, and tobacco or drug use.
Financial Details
Annual income, net worth, existing life insurance policies, and employment information. This confirms the coverage amount is appropriate for your situation.
Beneficiary Designation
Who receives the payout and what percentage each person gets. You’ll name a primary and contingent beneficiary using full legal names and dates of birth.
- Be Honest on Every Question
This matters more than anything else on the application. If you omit a health condition, medication, or relevant detail, the carrier may deny a claim later or void the policy entirely. Underwriters verify medical records. What you leave out will likely be found. Full honesty protects you and your family.
What Happens Next
Once you submit your application, Ozzo sends it directly to the carrier. From this point forward, the formal process is in their hands. You’re done with the hands-on work. Everything from here happens in the background.
3
The Carrier Reviews Your Application
- Carrier timeline: 1 to 4 weeks (mostly waiting on your end)
This step is called underwriting. The carrier’s team reviews your application, medical information, and background to determine your risk level and assign you a rate class. The rate class determines your final premium.
While you go back to your daily life, the carrier is reviewing your application answers, requesting medical records from your doctor, checking your prescription history, and in some cases reviewing your motor vehicle record.
If Your Policy Requires a Medical Exam
Some policies include a brief medical exam as part of underwriting. If yours does, a licensed examiner comes to your home or office at a time you choose. The exam is free to you and typically takes 20 to 30 minutes.
Blood draw: Checks cholesterol, blood sugar, liver and kidney function, and screens for nicotine and common health markers.
Urine sample: Screens for drug use, protein levels, and other metabolic indicators.
Blood pressure and pulse: Standard vitals check.
Height and weight: Measured by the examiner and compared to your application answers.
Tips for the Best Results
Schedule your exam for the morning. Avoid alcohol, heavy exercise, and salty or fatty foods for 24 hours before. Drink plenty of water. Fast for 8 to 12 hours if possible, as this gives the cleanest blood work results. These small steps can make a meaningful difference in your rate class.
If You Chose a No-Exam Policy
If you selected a no-exam option during the quote comparison step, you skip this entirely. The carrier uses your application data, prescription history, and other digital records to make an underwriting decision. Approval can come in days instead of weeks.
Rate Classes: What They Mean for Your Premium
Based on the underwriting review, the carrier assigns you a rate class. This is the single biggest factor in your final monthly cost.
| Rate Class | What It Means | Cost Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Preferred Plus | Excellent health, no conditions, ideal weight, no family history of major illness | Lowest premiums available |
| Preferred | Very good health with minor, well-managed conditions | Slightly above the lowest rates |
| Standard Plus | Good health with some factors that increase risk slightly | Moderate premiums |
| Standard | Average health for your age, may have controlled conditions | Higher premiums, roughly 2x Preferred Plus |
- Worth Knowing
Different carriers classify the same health profile differently. One company might rate you Standard while another gives you Preferred for the exact same conditions. This is one of the reasons Ozzo compares across multiple carriers, so you’re matched with the one that gives you the best rate for your specific profile.
4
Review, Sign, and Activate Your Policy
- Your time: About 15 minutes to review
Once underwriting is complete, the carrier issues your policy. You’ll receive a document that confirms your coverage amount, premium, term length, beneficiaries, and any riders you’ve added.
Verify everything: Confirm your name, coverage amount, premium, beneficiary names, and policy start date are all correct.
Set up payment: Most carriers offer monthly, quarterly, or annual billing. Automatic payments prevent accidental lapses. Some carriers offer a small discount for annual payment.
Store your documents: Keep a copy somewhere your family can find it: a safe, a filing cabinet, a shared digital folder. Tell your spouse or partner where it is and how to contact the carrier.
Understand your free look period: Most states require carriers to give you a 10 to 30 day window after delivery during which you can cancel for a full refund, no questions asked.
You're Covered
Once your first premium is paid and the policy is delivered, your coverage is active. From that moment forward, your beneficiaries have access to the full death benefit. There’s nothing else you need to do except keep up with your payments and review your policy after major life changes.
The Full Timeline at a Glance
General Ranges
Step 1
Get your quote. Compare expert-filtered options from top-rated carriers side by side, including no-exam policies.
2 min
Step 2
Complete your application. Personal, medical, financial, and beneficiary details. Ozzo sends it to the carrier.
10 min
Step 3
Carrier underwriting. The carrier reviews your profile and assigns a rate class. Medical exam if required, or digital review for no-exam policies.
1-4 weeks
Step 4
Review and activate. Confirm details, make your first payment, and your coverage is live.
15 min
- Total Hands-On Time
About 12 minutes for Steps 1 and 2. About 15 minutes for Step 4. Everything in between is handled by Ozzo and the carrier. The total time you spend actively doing something is under 30 minutes across the entire process.
What People Worry About (and Shouldn't)
A few common concerns come up almost every time someone considers buying life insurance for the first time.
"The medical exam sounds stressful."
It’s a basic health screening, not a hospital visit. A technician comes to you, takes vitals and samples, and leaves in under 30 minutes. And if you’d rather skip it, Ozzo shows you no-exam options upfront so you can see that path before you ever apply.
"What if I get denied?"
Outright denial is rare. Most applicants are approved at some rate class. If one carrier declines you, another may not. Each company has different underwriting criteria, which is exactly why Ozzo compares across multiple carriers.
"I have a health condition."
Many conditions are insurable. High blood pressure, diabetes, anxiety, depression, and other common conditions don’t disqualify you automatically. They may affect your rate, but you can still get meaningful coverage.
"It sounds like a lot of paperwork."
The part that involves you takes about 12 minutes: 2 minutes to compare quotes and 10 minutes to complete your application. Ozzo handles the rest. The total active effort is less time than it takes to order groceries online.
After Your Policy Is Active
Buying life insurance isn’t the end of the process. There are a few things worth keeping in mind once coverage is in place.
Pay on time: A missed payment can cause your policy to lapse. Set up automatic payments to avoid this. Most carriers offer a 30 day grace period, but don’t rely on it.
Update beneficiaries after life changes: Marriage, divorce, the birth of a child, or the loss of a loved one are all reasons to revisit your beneficiary designation. This takes five minutes and prevents real problems later.
Review coverage every few years: Your income, debts, and family size change over time. A policy that was right at 30 may need to be supplemented at 40.
Tell your family it exists: Make sure your spouse, partner, or a trusted person knows the policy exists, where the documents are, and who to call. Many families don’t learn about a policy until weeks or months after a loss.
Don’t cancel without a replacement: If you’re thinking about switching policies, never cancel your existing coverage until the new policy is fully approved and active. A gap in coverage, even a short one, leaves your family unprotected.
- The Contestability Period
Most policies include a two year contestability period. During this window, the carrier can investigate and potentially deny a claim if they discover material misrepresentation on the application. After two years, this right expires and your policy is essentially locked in. This is another reason honesty on your application matters so much.
See Your Final Expense Options
Compare final expense policies from top-rated carriers side by side. See what your coverage would cost and choose the option that fits your budget and your family.
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