Life Insurance for Diabetics: Complete Guide to Coverage, Costs & Approval

A diabetes diagnosis does not automatically prevent you from getting life insurance. But it can affect how an insurer evaluates your application, the policies available to you, and the premium you are offered.

For underwriting purposes, diabetes is only one part of the picture. An insurer may look at the type of diabetes you have, when you were diagnosed, how the condition is managed, your A1C history, medications, complications, and other aspects of your health.

That is why two people with diabetes can receive very different life insurance offers.

This guide explains how life insurance for diabetics works, what underwriters consider, how diabetes can affect costs, and what to expect when applying for coverage.

Can You Get Life Insurance With Diabetes?

Yes. Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes can both be compatible with life insurance. The insurer will look at your diabetes history, overall health and other details before deciding what coverage to offer.

When an insurer reviews your application, it looks at your diabetes alongside the rest of your health history. Your age, treatment, complications and other health factors can all affect the coverage and premium you’re offered.

An application may involve questions about:

• Type of diabetes
• When you were diagnosed
• A1C and blood glucose history
• Treatment and medications
• Diabetes-related complications
• Other health conditions
• Age and overall health

How Diabetes Affects Life Insurance Underwriting

The diagnosis itself is only the starting point. Underwriters want to understand how diabetes fits into your broader medical history, which is part of the medical impairment underwriting process.

Type of Diabetes

Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes have different characteristics, so the distinction can matter during underwriting.

Type 1 diabetes generally requires lifelong insulin therapy. An insurer may therefore review the applicant’s history of treatment, glucose control, complications, and other health factors in detail.

Type 2 diabetes varies considerably from one person to another. Some people manage it with lifestyle changes or oral medication, while others require insulin or other medications. 

The insurer will look at the details of the individual case rather than treating every Type 2 diagnosis in the same way.

Neither diagnosis automatically determines the outcome of an application. Carrier underwriting guidelines can differ, so the same medical history may be assessed differently from one insurer to another.

LifeInsuranceOpedia also illustrates this in a real-life diabetes underwriting scenario, where complete medical records and careful case preparation contributed to a favorable underwriting outcome.

How Long You Have Had Diabetes

The date of diagnosis gives an insurer useful context.

Someone diagnosed recently has a different medical history from someone who has lived with diabetes for 20 or 30 years. A longer history can give underwriters more information about how the condition has progressed and whether complications have developed.

The insurer may therefore look at medical records and test results over time rather than relying on a single recent result.

A1C and Blood Glucose History

A1C is one of the measurements that can help show how well blood glucose has been controlled over time. For that reason, it can be relevant to a life insurance application involving diabetes.

A single A1C result, however, does not tell an insurer everything it needs to know.

There is no universal A1C threshold that guarantees approval or a particular premium. Insurers consider A1C alongside the rest of the applicant’s medical history.

Treatment and Medications

Your treatment history helps an insurer understand how your diabetes is being managed.

The application may ask about medications, insulin, glucose monitoring, and other forms of treatment. For example, metformin use may form part of the medical history an underwriter considers.

Treatment itself does not determine whether you qualify. It is one piece of the medical history an underwriter uses when assessing the application.

Diabetes-Related Complications

Complications can have a significant bearing on underwriting because they may indicate additional health risks.

Depending on your medical history, the insurer may ask about complications involving the:

• Kidneys
• Eyes
• Nervous system
• Cardiovascular system
• Blood vessels

The nature, severity, and treatment of any complication can matter. An applicant with no significant complications may present a very different risk profile from someone with multiple diabetes-related conditions.

Other Health Conditions

Underwriters look beyond diabetes.

Blood pressure, cholesterol, cardiovascular disease, kidney function, weight, smoking history, and other medical conditions can all form part of the overall assessment.

This is one reason it is difficult to give a meaningful answer to the question, “How much does life insurance cost for someone with diabetes?” The diagnosis alone does not determine the price.

How Much Does Life Insurance Cost With Diabetes?

Diabetes can affect the cost of life insurance, but there is no standard premium for everyone with the condition.

Life insurance premiums reflect a range of factors, including age, coverage amount, policy type, health history, and the insurer’s assessment of risk.

For an applicant with diabetes, relevant factors can include:

Factor                                                                                                                                          Why it matters

Type of diabetes                                                                   Provides context for the medical risk being assessed

Duration                                                                          Shows how long the condition has been part of the applicant’s medical history

A1C history                                                                             Provides information about blood glucose control

Treatment                                                                                       Shows how the condition is being managed

Complications                                                                                      May indicate additional health risks

Age                                                                                                  Age is a major factor in life insurance pricing

Coverage amount                                                                             Larger death benefits generally cost more

Policy type                                                                           Term and permanent policies have different pricing structures

Other health conditions                                                            Contribute to the overall underwriting assessment

Tobacco use                                                                                    Can have a substantial effect on premiums

Rather than assuming that diabetes adds a fixed percentage to a premium, it is more useful to think about the condition as one variable in the insurer’s overall risk assessment.

For example, two applicants with Type 2 diabetes could have very different ages, medical histories, A1C records, treatment plans, and complications. Their quotes may reflect those differences, which is one reason comparing life insurance carriers can be useful.

Type 1 vs. Type 2 Diabetes: How Can Underwriting Differ?

Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes are assessed differently because they have different treatment patterns and medical considerations. Type 1 diabetes generally requires insulin, so insurers may review insulin use, A1C history, complications and cardiovascular or kidney health closely.

Type 2 diabetes varies considerably between individuals. Underwriters may consider how the condition is managed, how long you’ve had it, A1C history, medications and any complications. Neither diagnosis automatically determines the outcome of an application.

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What Types of Life Insurance Are Available to People With Diabetes?

The type of policy you can obtain depends on your individual circumstances and the insurer. Diabetes does not correspond to one particular type of life insurance.

Term Life Insurance

Term life insurance provides coverage for a specified period, such as 10, 20, or 30 years.

It is generally less expensive than permanent life insurance, particularly during the early years of coverage.

For someone primarily concerned with replacing income, protecting a family, or covering a mortgage during working years, term coverage may be worth considering.

Whole Life Insurance

Whole life insurance is permanent coverage designed to remain in force for the insured’s lifetime as long as the policy requirements are met.

It also includes a cash value component.

Premiums and policy structures differ from term insurance, so the appropriate choice depends on the purpose of the coverage and the applicant’s financial circumstances.

Universal Life Insurance

Universal life is another form of permanent insurance. Depending on the policy, it can provide flexibility around premiums and the death benefit.

These policies can be more complicated than term insurance. 

Simplified-Issue Life Insurance

Simplified-issue policies generally require less medical information than fully underwritten policies. Some do not require a traditional medical exam.

That does not necessarily mean the insurer ignores your diabetes.

You may still have to answer health questions, and the insurer may use the information available to it when assessing your application.

Guaranteed-Issue Life Insurance

Guaranteed-issue policies are designed for applicants who may have difficulty qualifying for traditionally underwritten coverage. They generally do not require conventional medical underwriting.

There can be tradeoffs, including relatively low coverage amounts and higher premiums compared with some traditionally underwritten policies.

Having diabetes alone does not mean guaranteed-issue insurance is automatically the most suitable option. If you can qualify for other coverage, comparing those options may make sense.

What Happens When You Apply for Life Insurance With Diabetes?

The application process varies by insurer and policy, but a traditionally underwritten application can involve several stages.

1. You complete the application

You’ll provide personal and health information, including details about your diabetes, treatment, medications and any complications.

2. Provide medical records, if requested

The insurer may ask for medical records or other information to verify your health history.

3. Complete a medical exam, if required

Some policies require an exam and lab tests, while others use simplified or accelerated underwriting.

4. The insurer reviews your application

An underwriter considers your diabetes alongside your overall health and other factors.

5. Receive the insurer’s decision

You may be approved at the standard rate, offered coverage at a higher premium, asked for more information, postponed or declined.

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Can You Get Life Insurance Without a Medical Exam If You Have Diabetes?

It is possible.

Some life insurance products use simplified or accelerated underwriting and may not require a traditional medical exam for eligible applicants.

A no-exam policy can still involve health questions. You may need to disclose your diabetes, medications, treatment and other relevant medical information during the application.

Whether you qualify for a no-exam policy depends on factors such as the insurer, product, age, requested coverage, and health profile.

If an insurer cannot make a decision through its accelerated process, it may move the application into traditional underwriting.

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How to Prepare for a Life Insurance Application With Diabetes

Gather Your Medical Information

Have basic details ready, including:

• Type of diabetes
• Approximate date of diagnosis
• Current medications
• Insulin use
• Recent A1C results
• Treating physicians
• Relevant hospitalizations
• Complications
• Other significant medical conditions

You may not need every document immediately, but knowing your medical history can make it easier to complete the application accurately.

Answer Health Questions Accurately

Life insurance applications should be completed honestly.

Do not leave out a diabetes diagnosis, medication, insulin use, or relevant medical history in an attempt to obtain a lower premium. Insurers can verify information provided during the application process, and inaccurate answers can create problems with coverage.

Compare Insurers

Underwriting guidelines differ between life insurance companies.

One insurer’s decision does not necessarily tell you what another insurer would decide. Comparing appropriate insurers can therefore be useful, particularly when the medical history is more complex. 

The right life insurance plan is not one-size-fits-all; product selection can depend on your health, insurability profile, budget, goals, and time horizon.

An independent insurance professional with experience in medical underwriting may also be able to help identify carriers whose guidelines fit your circumstances.

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What If Your Life Insurance Application Is Declined?

A decline does not necessarily mean you cannot obtain life insurance elsewhere.

Insurers have their own underwriting guidelines, and the decision can depend on the combination of health history, diabetes management, complications, age, coverage amount, and other factors.

If an application is declined, find out what happened before moving on to another application. In some cases, the insurer may have postponed the decision or requested additional information rather than issued a final decline.

Do not conceal your diabetes on a subsequent application. A different underwriting outcome should come from a different insurer or product, not from providing incomplete information.

The Bottom Line

Yes, people with diabetes can get life insurance. Your coverage and premium will depend on your health history, diabetes management and the insurer’s underwriting guidelines.

Ready to explore your options? Contact LifeInsuranceOpedia for guidance on finding the right coverage.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can diabetics get life insurance?

Yes. People with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes can qualify for life insurance. Eligibility and pricing depend on the applicant’s health profile and the insurer’s underwriting guidelines.

Is life insurance more expensive if you have diabetes?

It can be. Diabetes may affect the insurer’s assessment of risk and therefore the premium offered. The effect varies from one applicant and insurer to another.

Can you get life insurance with Type 1 diabetes?

Yes. Type 1 diabetes does not automatically prevent you from getting life insurance. Underwriting may involve a detailed review of diabetes management, medical history, complications, and overall health.

Is there an A1C level that automatically disqualifies you from life insurance?

There is no single A1C threshold that applies to every life insurance company. Each insurer has its own underwriting guidelines and may evaluate A1C alongside other medical information.

Can you get life insurance without a medical exam if you have diabetes?

Possibly. Some insurers offer simplified or accelerated underwriting that does not require a traditional medical exam for eligible applicants. Health information can still be considered during the application.

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