Can I get life insurance if I have Diabetes?
There are many myths about diabetes. These myths stand in the way of the facts about this very serious and sometimes deadly disease.
These myths often stand in the way of families obtaining the life insurance they need because they think a diagnosis of diabetes means that their life insurance premiums will be too high for them to afford or they might be turned down for life insurance altogether.
It also helps to know why you got diabetes in the first place.
Were you diagnosed with diabetes as a child or an adult?
Do you have type 1 or type 2 diabetes?
Do you take insulin to control your diabetes or do you take an oral medication such as Metformin? It is also possible that you keep your diabetes under control with diet and exercise.
There are myths about life insurance for a diabetic just like there are myths about life insurance for a cancer survivor.
What are the early signs of diabetes?
If you haven’t been to see the doctor but have the following symptoms, you should make an appointment and get checked out:
- Always thirsty
- Always hungry
- You have cotton/dry mouth
- Urinate more than usual and or have urinary infections
- You are losing weight but not dieting
- Always tired or weak
- Have blurry vision
- Frequent headaches
Can you test yourself for diabetes?
Yes, you can always test yourself with a blood glucose meter to determine your level. It is wise to also have a checkup with your general physician for a professional opinion. A blood glucose meter can be purchased at most drug stores like CVS, Walgreens, Publix or Kroger.
Can diabetes kill you?
Diabetes can kill you. Type 1 diabetics are at the highest risk. Untreated diabetics can experience a diabetic coma. The most common side effects of diabetes that are life-threatening:
- Heart disease
- Stroke
- Kidney failure
- High Blood Pressure
- Blindness
- Nerve Damage
- Gum disease
Are rates higher for life insurance for diabetics?
Diabetes does have a direct influence on your life insurance rates. Life insurance for type 1 diabetes is generally the most affected. Applicants for life insurance with diabetes type 2 will also see strict underwriting to determine rates for life insurance.
Certain life insurance companies are better to work with than others. We can gather some information about your health condition and make recommendations as to what carriers to consider.
Life insurance is one of the most important safety nets that you’ll ever buy for your loved ones. An insurance plan will give your family the money that they need to get through a difficult time.
If you’re a diabetic, you may encounter some unique obstacles, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t get a quality plan at an affordable rate. If you’re wondering what’s the best life insurance for diabetics, we can answer your questions and help you get the coverage you deserve.
We Have Life Insurance For Diabetics
Type 2 diabetics often quality at standard rates. It is important to control your condition and work with the right insurance company to get the life insurance you and your family need.
Knowing the facts about diabetes and diabetic life insurance will help you understand your condition and how it will affect your plans for life insurance coverage. This list addresses some common misconceptions about diabetes and the truth behind these myths. If you’re wondering can diabetics get life insurance, keep reading to learn the facts.
Myth: Diabetes Is Not A Serious Disease
Wrong. Diabetes can cause skin, eye, and foot complications, heart disease, hypertension, stroke, nerve damage, and many other serious and often life-threatening conditions.
It could be that the frightening prevalence of diabetes, 9.3% of the U.S. population in 2022 according to the American Diabetes Association, has relaxed opinion as to the dangers of the 7th leading cause of death in the United States.
Finding life insurance for type one diabetes or type 2 diabetes should not be taken lightly. Yet, having this condition does not mean that the financial security for your loved ones that a life insurance policy brings is out of your reach.
Getting Affordable Term Life Insurance for Diabetics
One of the most common reasons that people with diabetes don’t get insurance coverage is because they assume that it’s going to be too expensive to fit in their budget.
In most cases, this couldn’t be further from the truth.
If you want to save money, then you’ll need to make a few simple lifestyle changes, like cutting out tobacco if you smoke or chew.
In fact, smokers pay at least twice as much for a plan versus what a non-smoker is going to pay for the same sized plan. If you want to save money on your life insurance as a person with diabetes, you’ll need to cut those cigarettes once and for all.
Another way to secure lower premiums is by improving your overall health. Before the insurance company approves your application, you’re going to have to take a medical exam.
The results of the medical exam are going to play a major role in how much you pay every month. If you want lower premiums, you’ll need to get better results, which means better health.
Life insurance companies base their underwriting decisions for diabetic clients on many different factors, including:
- When were you diagnosed?
- Are there additional risk factors?
- Is there a history of diabetes in your family?
- Your current age, height, and weight
- Your overall medical history
- What type of diabetes do you have?
- What medications you are currently taking?
- What are your glucose/blood sugar levels?
- What is your A1C level?
When we start your application process, we will ask about these things. The more information we can provide to the underwriter the better rates we can offer.
Every insurance company is different, and all of the companies are going to give you different rates based on your diabetes and their medical underwriting. Finding the right company could be the difference in getting affordable life insurance for a diabetic or paying for an expensive policy.
Example Of Getting Life Insurance With Diabetes Type 1 or Type 2
Luke applied for term life insurance when he was 56 years old and was diagnosed with diabetes at age 50. His A1C level is 6, which is just above normal. Luke keeps his diabetic condition stable through a healthy diet and regular exercise.
He has received positive results from follow-up appointments with his doctor and has no other medical conditions.
Luke will be able to be approved at a standard rating class. His yearly premium for a 10-year term $250,000 life insurance policy is around $900 per year.
Luke has brought his diabetes under control with lifestyle changes, not medication, and that is key. Medicines that treat disease often have harmful side effects that worry life insurance underwriters as much as the condition being treated.
Also, Luke was diagnosed later in life and insurers prefer this over someone diagnosed at a younger age. Adult-onset diabetes is much easier to insure at a better rate.
Leah was 45 when she applied for term life insurance. Her doctor told her that she had diabetes when she was 42. Her A1C level is 7, well above the level of 6.5 considered to indicate that diabetes is present.
She keeps her condition stable with medication and has had positive results from her follow-up appointments with her doctor.
With no other medical conditions, Leah was approved but her diabetes life insurance policy received a table rating and pay 50% more than the standard rate. Her condition is stable, yet slightly less under control than Luke’s, and with the use of medication, with no mention of diet or exercise efforts to improve her health.
Now we have Don. Don applied for term life insurance at age 60. He was diagnosed with diabetes at age 24. His A1C level is 10, which is through the roof.
Don has never treated his diabetes because he never thought he had a problem. Don also hasn’t seen his doctor in several years.
Don had no other medical conditions, but due to the fact that he wasn’t receiving any treatment for diabetes, he was declined for coverage.
He was diagnosed very early in life; which insurers do not like to see. Especially with type 2 diabetes, an early diagnosis is often an indicator of poor lifestyle choices that have led to their illness.
Luckily for Don, he was able to qualify for a final expense life insurance policy to cover burial cost down the road.
These policies can be more expensive and offer less coverage but with something as important as life insurance, that is sometimes the choice you must make.
We helped Don get a much-needed guarantee issue life insurance policy, even though he had been turned down for life insurance in the past.
We deal with clients with severely impaired risk every day and know which insurers will offer them the life insurance coverage they need, at the most affordable prices.
Frequently Asked Questions
Diabetes does have a direct influence on your life insurance rates. Type 1 diabetes will have the largest effect. Type 2 diabetics will also see strict underwriting to determine rates for life insurance. Certain life insurance companies are better to work with than others. Ogletree Financial is a life insurance brokerage and can gather some information about your health condition and make recommendations as to what carriers to consider.
If you are a diabetic, the best way to ensure that you’re getting the lowest premiums is by using with an independent insurance broker. Unlike a traditional insurance agent, independent brokers work with dozens of highly rated life insurance companies across the nation, and Ogletree Financial Services can bring all of the best insurance rates directly to you.
Luckily, even people with more severe and less well-managed diabetes can get life insurance. There are guaranteed issue policies, and no health exam policies that cater to clients in this position. These policies can be a little more expensive and offer less coverage but with something as important as life insurance, that is sometimes the choice you must make. Will my life insurance premium be higher if I have diabetes?
How can I get the lowest life insurance premiums if I am a diabetic?
My diabetes is not well-managed, can I get life insurance?
