Your overall health is one of the main factors that determine your eligibility for life insurance — and how much you’ll pay for your coverage.
Life insurance is important for protecting your family financially, but if you have diabetes, you may wonder if it’s even possible to get covered. The good news is that people with diabetes can still get life insurance—often at affordable rates. With advancements in diabetes management and insurers becoming more understanding of the condition, finding a policy that works for you is more achievable than you might think. Learn more about life insurance for diabetics, let’s get started:
Can you get life insurance for diabetics?
Yes, many people with diabetes can qualify for life insurance. For people with well-managed conditions who are generally healthy, it’s even possible to find affordable life insurance for diabetics.
Protecting your family in a what-if scenario is even more important if you’re living with a chronic condition, like diabetes. Read on for tips on shopping for life insurance for people with diabetes.
Types of Questions insurance companies will ask:
Here are some sample questions insurance companies will ask, about your diabetes history and treatment:
- At what age were you diagnosed with diabetes?
- What type of diabetes do you have (Pre, Gestational, Type 1 or Type 2)?
- What are your current glucose/blood sugar level readings?
- How often do you test your blood sugar levels?
- What, if any, diabetes medications have you been prescribed for your condition?
- Do you use any technology to help manage your diabetes? Maybe an Insulin Pump, or Continuous Glucose Monitoring device?
- Any history of diabetes-related complications?
- Do you possess any additional health risk factors?
- Do you follow an exercise and diet regimen?
- Are you compliant with your doctor’s orders?
- How often do you visit your Endocrinologist or Doctor?
Other Questions
In addition to specific disease-related questions, the underwriters will also review the information on the life insurance application for coverage. This will include basic information regarding your:
- Age
- Gender
- Height and weight
- Smoking status/tobacco usage
- Any other health issues outside of diabetes?
- Any history of past foreign travel or future foreign travel?
- Occupation and income
- Overall health and medical history
- Family health and medical history
What types of insurance are available for people with diabetes?
People with mild or moderate diabetes can often buy a term or permanent life insurance policy. For people with severe diabetes or other health complications, no medical exam life insurance might be a better fit. Here’s a closer look at life insurance for diabetics options.
Term Life Insurance
A term life policy provides a death benefit that can replace critical income from prime earning years should you pass away and leave a family behind. If you have diabetes that is well controlled, you might consider term life. Diabetics can often get approved for term life, although it may be with a higher premium. If you are approved for a term life policy, consider longer coverage periods. This will lock in your premiums, which rise as you get older or your health changes.
Whole Life Insurance
A whole life insurance policy provides both a death benefit and a way to save tax-deferred money. The premiums are significantly higher than with term life, and with diabetes, this may mean a bigger increase. However, if you are approved, your premium will be set for life. Permanent life insurance lasts for your entire life as long as you keep up with premiums, so you don’t need to worry about reapplying or taking a medical exam if your health changes.
No Medical Exam Life Insurance
If your diabetes is advanced or uncontrolled, or you have a history of blood sugar highs and lows (more common with Type 1 diabetes), you may want to apply for a simplified issue policy. This type of coverage requires no medical exam but does require a health questionnaire.
Another option for people with bigger health complications is a guaranteed issue policy. It doesn’t have any health requirements, so even people with severe diabetes can get the coverage they need.
What do life insurance companies consider when you’re applying for diabetes?
If you have diabetes, the insurance company will want to know more details about your diagnosis, including blood sugar levels, any medications you’re taking, and how long you’ve been in treatment.
Insurers will look closely at the following factors when setting life insurance for diabetics.
Health status
Life insurance companies will likely have you take a medical exam when applying. It’s also common for them to request an attending physician statement (APS) to get more insight from your doctor on how you’re managing your diabetes.
The insurer will ask if you have had any complications as a result of your condition, such as diabetic neuropathy, impaired vision, or impaired kidney function. If you have multiple conditions — for example, diabetes and heart disease — it will be more difficult and more expensive for you to get coverage, but you’ll still have options.
Blood sugar levels
The insurance company will ask for your most recent A1C — a test that measures blood sugar levels over the past three months — as well as your average A1C over the last 12 months.
- If you have type 2 diabetes but are following your doctor’s plan and your blood sugar levels are below 7.5, you may be able to qualify for average rates.
- If you have type 1 diabetes but you’re taking fewer than 50 units of insulin and your blood sugar levels are below 8, you may be able to qualify for higher-than-average premiums.
Age of onset
The younger you are when you are diagnosed with diabetes, the more expensive your rates will be. People diagnosed over the age of 50 generally receive better rates.
Height & weight
Life insurance companies use your height-to-weight ratio to determine your rates regardless of whether you have diabetes. Because weight loss is often recommended to help manage type 2 diabetes, your height and weight are especially important in assessing your insurance risk if you do have diabetes.
Medications
Insulin and other diabetes medications such as metformin and glipizide are taken into account. The type of medications you do or don’t take, how long you’ve been taking them, and how effectively they control your blood sugar levels indicate to the insurer whether you have your symptoms under control.
Getting life insurance for type 1 diabetes:
This will be worked out by assessing your health and how you are managing your diabetes. You will need to tell them about any complications you may be living with because of your diabetes.
You may need to provide a full medical report from your GP as part of the underwriting process. This will confirm your current health and medical history.
Getting life insurance for type 2 diabetes:
If your diabetes is well managed with no complications, then you might not need to provide a full medical report.
You may get your life insurance application accepted immediately.
It could be harder to get life insurance if you have diabetes and a high HbA1c (75 mmol/mol or above). Your HbA1c is your average blood glucose (sugar) level for the last two to three months.
It might also be harder if you have other medical issues such as heart problems, or if you smoke.
Which life insurance carriers offer the best rate for diabetics
Keep in mind that finding the best life insurance for you and your medical condition will depend on the severity of your condition, your other rating factors, the coverage you require and the type of policy you want. Most insurance experts recommend comparing options from multiple companies before finalizing your coverage.
| Life insurance company | Do they offer policies to people with diabetes?* | Is medical underwriting required? |
| Corebridge Financial | Yes | No |
| John Hancock | Yes | Depends on the product |
| Mutual of Omaha | Yes | No |
| Prudential | Yes | Yes |
How much does life insurance cost if you have diabetes?
The type of diabetes you have, how long you’ve had it, and how well you’re managing your condition will play a key role in determining the cost of your policy.
20-year term life insurance rates for people with type 2 diabetes
| Age | Gender | $500,000 coverage amount |
| 30 | Female | $47.38 |
| Male | $51.06 | |
| 40 | Female | $59.98 |
| Male | $74.77 | |
| 50 | Female | $120.85 |
| Male | $170.62 | |
| 60 | Female | $257.13 |
| Male | $359.01 |
20-year term life insurance rates for people with type 1 diabetes
| Age | Gender | $500,000 coverage amount |
| 30 | Female | $51.79 |
| Male | $61.91 | |
| 40 | Female | $82.41 |
| Male | $103.54 | |
| 50 | Female | $196.31 |
| Male | $278.11 | |
| 60 | Female | $535.46 |
| Male | $763.34 |
Conclusion
Are you ready to secure financial peace of mind for your loved ones? Life insurance for diabetics is not out of reach, and some options can fit your needs and budget. By managing your health and finding the right insurer, you can provide your family with the protection they deserve, regardless of your condition.
FAQs
Yes, you can be denied life insurance for diabetics, especially if it is poorly managed or has led to serious complications. However, many insurance companies still offer coverage for diabetics, depending on factors like your type of diabetes, how well it’s controlled, your overall health, and your lifestyle. If denied traditional coverage, you may still qualify for guaranteed issue policies.
The exact number of people with diabetes who apply for life insurance isn’t publicly available, but a significant portion of diabetics do seek life insurance coverage. With over 37 million people in the U.S. living with diabetes, many of them want to ensure their families are financially protected. Advances in medicine and better management of diabetes have made it more feasible for people with this condition to get approved for life insurance, leading to more diabetics applying. While acceptance rates vary, the demand for coverage among diabetics remains high, given the importance of securing financial security for loved ones.
Not all life insurance companies specifically test for diabetes, but most will assess your overall health during the application process. This often involves a medical exam and health questions, which can reveal diabetes through blood sugar levels or medical history. Some insurers offer “no-exam” or simplified issue policies that don’t require testing, making them more accessible for people with diabetes, though these policies may come with higher premiums or limited coverage.
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