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Qualifying for Life Insurance with Diabetes

Qualifying for life insurance with diabetes
Insurance Quotes 2 Day Team

Written By Doug Mitchell

Doug Mitchell, CLU holds a BA degree in Finance from Auburn University as well as having obtained a Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) designation from The American College in Bryn Mahr, PA.  Doug has spent close to 30 years in the insurance and financial planning industry and has held licenses to sell securities, long-term care insurance, health.  Doug is also a financial blogger addressing the topics of life insurance, annuities and retirement income planning.

Holly Mitchell  &

Holly Mitchell’s background in life insurance insurance goes back to 1985 when she worked for her father who was a New York Life agent. Holly has a marketing degree from Auburn University and has had a life insurance license since 2008. In addition to advising life insurance for customers all around the country, Holly is our website fact checker.

Rob Pinner   &

Rob Pinner is the founder and CEO of Pinner Financial Services servicing all 50 states. Rob started his insurance career in 2002.

Louis LaBash

Results-driven and innovative life insurance professional with 30 plus years of life insurance industry sales and marketing experience. Recognized as a pioneer in the field, leveraging phone and internet channels to exceed personal sales of over $100 million during the first decade of the 21st century. Creator of a highly effective intuitive IUL life insurance sales software that facilitated the sale of millions of dollars of indexed universal policies by numerous life insurance agents. Proven track record as a Managing General Agent (MGA), Life Agent, IUL Life Insurance Sales Software developer, and leading-edge creator of insurance marketing tools, educational content, and delivery systems.

 6 minute read

If you or someone you loves has diabetes, you are not alone. According to the American Diabetes Association, in 2012, 29.1 million Americans had this disease. It is estimated that 1.4 million additional Americans will be diagnosed with this disease every year. Diabetes is one of the leading causes of death in the United States. This devastating illness has far-reaching consequences for those who have the disease and their loved ones and may make qualifying for life insurance with diabetes difficult.

If you have recently been diagnosed, or even if you have had diabetes for many years, you might be wondering how this changes your chances of getting life insurance. Almost everyone needs life insurance to protect the ones they love, and people with diabetes are no exception. Fortunately, there are ways to increase your chances of getting excellent coverage at rates you can afford.

Life insurance is one of the best purchases that you can ever make for your loved ones. It’s important that they have the insurance coverage that they need. Nobody wants to think about his or her own death, but not planning for the worst could leave them with a massive mountain of debt and no way to pay off those bills.

The main factor that comes into play when getting life insurance with diabetes is control. Life insurance is available to both type 1 and type 2 diabetics and even those who are insulin dependent. If your diabetes has been under control for at least six to twelve months, you are in the best possible position to get the most affordable rates and comprehensive coverage. Leading a healthy lifestyle and proving that you are responding well to treatment is, quite simply, your best options for gaining coverage at the best possible price. It helps if your A1C levels are on the lower end and your glucose levels are also low. It will also help if you make regularly scheduled visits to your healthcare provider, maintain a healthy body weight and, of course, take all medication as prescribed. It is even important to have eye exams on a regular basis.

As with any person who is applying for life insurance, people with diabetes will most likely have to have a medical exam. It is very important to be honest about your condition. Insurance coverage can be cancelled or benefits denied if it is discovered that you weren’t completely upfront about your condition.

Obviously, the cost of life insurance for diabetics is an important consideration. In general, people diagnosed with type 2 diabetes will generally have lower rates than those diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. 95% of people with diabetes have type 2. To maximize your chances of getting the best price possible, you will need to let us know the following:

  • The age you were diagnosed with the disease. Generally, the older you are upon diagnoses, the better your chances for coverage at lower rates.
  • Any other health risk factors. Do you have coronary heart disease or high blood pressure that is not being controlled? Do you smoke or are you overweight? It is important to gain control over all aspects of your health to get the best possible rates.
  • Your current medical history.
  • Your family history.
  • Any medications you are taking.
  • How under control your diabetes is at present. This includes your glucose level and A1C level.

Unfortunately, there is no cure for diabetes but according to the American Diabetes Association, type 2 diabetes can be controlled. Their website, www.diabetes.org, offers the following tips for getting your diabetes under control:

  • Get physically active. Qualifying for life insurance coverage with diabetes

Any type of activity can lower your glucose levels. Additionally physical activity can relieve stress, give you more energy and help you maintain a healthy weight. It will also decrease your risk of stroke and keep your joints more flexible.

  • Choose what you eat with care.

This includes how much and when you dine. Diabetics should choose a variety of foods, including “vegetables, whole grains, fruits, non-fat dairy foods healthy fats, and lean meats or meat substitutes.” (www.diabetes.org). You should also avoid overeating, choose when you eat carefully, make sure and not skip meals and  try not to eat too much of any one type of food.

  • Maintain a healthy weight.

Losing weight will help improve everything from glucose levels to blood pressure. Fortunately, you don’t have to lose a lot of weight to start seeing results. Even a loss of 10 or 15 pounds can begin to make a difference.

  • Medicine

If your doctor prescribes medicine to help your diabetes, make sure your follow his or her directions when taking it.

  • Checking blood glucose

Your doctor may want you to start checking your blood glucose levels at home. This is to make sure any lifestyle changes, such as diet, exercise or medicine, are affecting your blood glucose levels.

  • Get support

Get your family and friends on board to help you manage your disease.

Choosing The Right Type of Life Insurance Coverage

Qualifying for life insurance with diabetes is easy, but deciding which type of policy can be a long and confusing decision. There are several different kinds of coverage that you’ll need to choose between, each of them has different advantages and disadvantages that you should consider. There are two main types of life insurance coverage that you should be aware of when you’re looking to get coverage.

The most common type of life insurance plans is a term life insurance plan. These plans are bought with a pre-determined expiration date attached to them. Once that date passes, you’ll no longer life insurance coverage. At that point, you’ll have to apply for a new plan to get coverage.

Another kind of life insurance is a whole life plan. These plans continue to give you insurance protection as long as you pay the monthly premiums for the plan. With these plans, you won’t have to worry about ever applying for life insurance coverage again in the future. Because these plans don’t have an expiration date, they are going to be more expensive than a term plan. If you want to get the most affordable coverage, a term life insurance plan is going to be the best option.

Whole life plans have a unique advantage that they continue to build cash-value inside of the plan. The longer that you pay the premiums, the more value that is inside of them plan. You can use the money to pay the monthly premiums on the plan or take out a loan later. Because of the cash-value inside of the plan, they are going to be much more expensive than a traditional plan.

Working with an Independent Insurance Agent

The best way to ensure that you’re getting the lowest insurance rates is to work with an independent insurance broker. Unlike a traditional insurance agent, independent brokers don’t only work with one single company. Instead, they represent dozens and dozens of highly rated companies across the nation.

Every insurance company is different, which means that every company is going to view your diabetes condition differently. Some companies have much more experience working with diabetic clients, and these companies are going to give you much better rates for your insurance plan. Finding the perfect company could be the difference in getting an affordable plan or getting declined for life insurance.

There are thousands and thousands of different insurance companies on the market, which means that you could spend weeks and weeks calling different companies trying to find the best plan to meet your needs. Instead of wasting your time on the phone, let one of our independent agents do all of that work for you.

We can help you compare dozens of different at once. Our agents can bring you all of the lowest rates directly. It could save you hundreds of dollars every year on your insurance plan.

Please check with your doctor or healthcare provider before following any advice or for more information.

It is important to consider your needs when shopping for life insurance.  We help our clients obtain policies for your specific circumstances including budget, amount of coverage and long-term financial goals. We are here to help you navigate the process more easily.  You can call us at 1-800-712-8519 or get a quote from the calculator on the left of this page.

If you have any questions about getting life insurance with diabetes, please contact one of our agents today. Please don’t wait any longer to get the life insurance protection that your family needs. It’s our mission to ensure that your family is getting the best insurance coverage that they need.

If something tragic were to happen to you, your family would be left with a massive amount of debt and final expenses. Losing a loved one is never easy, but being left with thousands of dollars of bills is going to make the situation a thousand times worse. Having a quality life insurance plan will ensure that your family has the money that they need, regardless of what happens to you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it possible to get life insurance if I have diabetes?

The main factor that comes into play when getting life insurance with diabetes is control. Life insurance is available to both type 1 and type 2 diabetics and even those who are insulin dependent. If your diabetes has been under control for at least six to twelve months, you are in the best possible position to get the most affordable rates and comprehensive coverage.

Will my life insurance premiums be too expensive if I have diabetes?

To maximize your chances of getting the best price possible, you will need to let us know the following: at what age were you diagnosed, do you have any other health issues (overweight or smoke), current medical history, family history, what medications do you take, and how under control your diabetes is at present (including glucose and A1C levels).

How can I improve my chances of getting life insurance with diabetes?

Get physically active, eat a well balanced diet, maintain a healthy weight, take prescribed medicines, track your blood glucose, and get support. Contract an independent life insurance agent to help assess your situation.

author avatar
Doug Mitchell, CLU Independant Advisor
Doug Mitchell, CLU holds a BA degree in Finance from Auburn University as well as having obtained a Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) designation from The American College in Bryn Mahr, PA. Doug has spent almost 30 years in the life insurance industry and has also held licenses to sell securities, long-term care insurance and home and auto insurance. Doug is a Top of the Table Million Dollar Round Table member (MDRT).  MDRT is a global, independent association of the world's leading life insurance advisors.  For two years, Doug served as President of the Auburn Opelika Association of Financial Advisors and has been a member of the Million Dollar Round Table. He obtained Life Millionaire status at Horace Mann Insurance Company and was awarded the Life Agent of the Year Award. Later in his career with New York Life he was an Executive Council Member. Doug currently serves as President of Ogletree Financial, a managing general agency serving life insurance agents and clients in all parts of the United States. Today, Doug’s main focus is servicing 1000s of policyholders and growing the agency through the reach of  insurancequotes2day.com.

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