Can Diabetics Qualify for Life Insurance?

Article At A Glance

• Diabetes does not create one universal life insurance outcome. Eligibility depends on the applicant’s medical circumstances, insurer, policy, and other underwriting requirements.
• The type of diabetes can be relevant, but Type 1 and Type 2 should not be assigned predetermined rate classes or approval outcomes.
• A1C and other medical information may be considered. There is no universal A1C cutoff that guarantees approval, denial, or a particular premium.
• Diabetes-related complications can be relevant to underwriting. The insurer evaluates them as part of the applicant’s overall medical history.
• Term, permanent, no-medical-exam, simplified issue, guaranteed issue, group, or other coverage may potentially be available. The appropriate comparison depends on the applicant and actual policies available.

Can diabetics qualify for life insurance? Potentially, yes. A diabetes diagnosis does not automatically prevent someone from obtaining life insurance.

Diabetes can be relevant to health underwriting because the type of diabetes, medical history, treatment, current health, complications when applicable, and other medical conditions can affect the overall medical picture.

However, insurers do not all evaluate diabetes identically.

How Can Diabetes Affect Life Insurance Underwriting?

When health-based underwriting is used, an insurer may evaluate diabetes together with the rest of the applicant’s medical history.

Depending on the insurer and circumstances, relevant information can include:

• Type of diabetes
• Age at diagnosis
• Medical history
• Current treatment
• Medications or insulin use
• A1C or other laboratory information when relevant
• Diabetes-related complications when applicable
• Blood pressure and cardiovascular health
• Kidney health
• Tobacco or nicotine use
• Other medical conditions
• Overall health
• Other information required by the insurer

The significance of each factor depends on the applicant and insurer’s underwriting requirements.

Does Type 1 Diabetes Affect Life Insurance?

Potentially.

Type 1 diabetes is a chronic autoimmune condition that requires insulin treatment.

An insurer may consider the diagnosis, medical history, treatment, laboratory information, complications when applicable, other medical conditions, and overall health.

However, consumers should not assume that Type 1 diabetes automatically:

• Receives greater underwriting scrutiny than every Type 2 application
• Produces higher premiums
• Has a higher probability of denial
• Prevents Preferred or other classifications
• Requires simplified issue or another particular policy type

The insurer evaluates the actual medical circumstances.

Does Type 2 Diabetes Affect Life Insurance?

Potentially.

Type 2 diabetes can involve different treatment approaches and medical circumstances among individuals.

An insurer may consider treatment, medications, insulin use when applicable, laboratory information, complications, other medical conditions, and overall health.

Type 2 diabetes should not automatically be described as easier to insure than Type 1 or as qualifying for Standard or Preferred rates when it is considered well managed.

Does Insulin Use Affect Life Insurance?

Potentially.

An insurer may consider insulin use as part of the applicant’s diabetes history and treatment.

However, requiring insulin does not create one universal life insurance rate class or denial rule.

Likewise, managing diabetes without insulin does not automatically produce more favorable underwriting.

Does A1C Affect Life Insurance?

Potentially.

A1C is a medical measurement that can provide information about average blood glucose over time and may be relevant to diabetes underwriting.

However, there is no universal life insurance A1C cutoff.

Consumers should not assume that:

• An A1C below 7.0% automatically produces favorable rates
• An A1C above 9.0% automatically causes a table rating or denial
• A particular A1C guarantees Standard or Preferred pricing
• Changing A1C to reach a specific number guarantees a better underwriting result

The insurer can consider A1C together with the complete medical and underwriting picture.

Should You Try to Lower Your A1C Before Applying?

Diabetes treatment goals should be determined according to your healthcare needs with qualified healthcare professionals.

Do not change medication, insulin, diet, exercise, glucose-management practices, or other treatment solely to influence life insurance underwriting.

There is no universal A1C target that guarantees a particular insurance outcome.

Do Diabetes Medications Affect Life Insurance?

Medication history can be relevant to underwriting, but the name or number of diabetes medications does not create one predetermined insurance result.

An insurer may consider medications together with diagnosis, treatment history, laboratory information, complications, other medical conditions, and overall health.

Do not stop or change prescribed medication for life insurance purposes.

Do Diabetes Complications Affect Life Insurance?

Potentially.

An insurer may consider complications or related medical conditions when they are relevant to the application.

Depending on the applicant, this can include information involving:

• Kidney disease
• Neuropathy
• Retinopathy or other eye complications
• Cardiovascular disease
• Other diabetes-related medical conditions

The existence of a complication should not be converted into a predetermined premium increase or automatic denial.

Does Kidney Disease Matter if You Have Diabetes?

Potentially.

Kidney health can be relevant independently as well as in connection with diabetes.

An insurer may consider kidney function, diagnosis, treatment, diabetes history, other medical conditions, and overall health.

Our Can You Get Life Insurance With Kidney Disease? guide addresses kidney-related underwriting separately.

Does High Blood Pressure Matter if You Have Diabetes?

Potentially.

An insurer may evaluate hypertension together with diabetes and the rest of the applicant’s cardiovascular and medical history.

There is no universal blood-pressure cutoff that determines a life insurance outcome for someone with diabetes.

Our Life Insurance With High Blood Pressure (Hypertension Guide) explains hypertension underwriting in greater detail.

Does Weight or BMI Affect Life Insurance With Diabetes?

Potentially.

An insurer may consider height, weight, BMI, diabetes history, other medical conditions, and overall health.

There is no universal BMI that automatically determines approval, denial, or a particular premium for someone with diabetes.

Does Smoking Affect Life Insurance With Diabetes?

Potentially.

Tobacco or nicotine use can be relevant separately from the diabetes diagnosis.

An insurer may consider both factors as part of the complete underwriting picture.

Do not assume that diabetes plus smoking automatically results in a particular premium tier or denial.

Our Can Smokers Get Life Insurance? Rates & Best Options guide addresses tobacco and nicotine underwriting separately.

Does Age at Diabetes Diagnosis Affect Life Insurance?

Potentially.

An insurer may consider when diabetes was diagnosed as part of the medical history.

However, an earlier diagnosis does not automatically create a worse life insurance classification, and a later diagnosis does not guarantee more favorable underwriting.

Does Having Diabetes for a Long Time Help or Hurt?

There is no universal rule.

An insurer may consider the duration of the diagnosis together with treatment history, current medical status, complications, other health conditions, and additional underwriting information.

Do not assume that a long history without complications automatically improves a rate class or that a recent diagnosis automatically produces a worse outcome.

Can You Get Term Life Insurance With Diabetes?

Potentially.

Diabetes does not create a universal prohibition on term life insurance.

Eligibility depends on the applicant’s medical circumstances, insurer, policy, requested coverage, and other underwriting requirements.

Term insurance should not automatically be described as the best or most cost-effective policy for someone with well-managed diabetes.

Can You Get Whole Life Insurance With Diabetes?

Potentially.

Whole life and other permanent policies may be available depending on the applicant, insurer, and product.

Permanent insurance should not automatically be purchased early because someone believes diabetes complications may develop later.

Each policy should be evaluated according to the financial need, premium, guarantees, cash-value provisions when applicable, and other contract terms.

Can You Get No-Medical-Exam Life Insurance With Diabetes?

Potentially.

No medical exam does not mean no underwriting.

Accelerated underwriting, simplified issue, guaranteed issue, and other products can use different eligibility requirements.

Diabetes can remain relevant even when a traditional medical examination is not required.

Our No Medical Exam Life Insurance: Who Actually Qualifies? guide explains these approaches separately.

What About Simplified Issue Life Insurance With Diabetes?

Simplified issue generally uses a more limited underwriting process than traditional fully underwritten coverage and does not require a traditional medical examination.

An application can still include health questions and other underwriting information, and an applicant can potentially be declined.

Diabetes does not automatically make simplified issue the appropriate middle ground between fully underwritten and guaranteed issue coverage.

What About Guaranteed Issue Life Insurance With Diabetes?

Guaranteed issue generally does not use medical underwriting to determine eligibility when an applicant satisfies the product’s nonmedical requirements.

Those requirements can include issue age, state availability, residency, and other product-specific conditions.

Depending on the policy, guaranteed issue can also involve smaller available death benefits, different pricing relative to coverage, and graded or limited death-benefit provisions.

Diabetes does not automatically mean guaranteed issue is necessary or the only available option.

Our Guaranteed Issue Life Insurance guide explains this coverage separately.

Does Diabetes Always Increase Life Insurance Premiums?

No universal diabetes surcharge applies throughout the life insurance market.

If diabetes affects underwriting, the impact depends on the applicant’s medical circumstances, insurer, policy, and other underwriting information.

Consumers should not assume that:

• Well-managed Type 2 diabetes automatically costs 25% to 50% more
• Insulin-dependent diabetes automatically costs 50% to 200% more
• Each table rating automatically adds 25% to the premium
• Diabetes automatically results in a Substandard classification

The actual underwriting offer determines the premium.

Can Someone With Diabetes Get Preferred Life Insurance Rates?

Potentially, depending on the insurer, policy, medical circumstances, and underwriting requirements.

However, there is no market-wide rule stating that well-managed Type 2 diabetes qualifies for Preferred rates or that Type 1 diabetes generally does not.

Underwriting classifications are insurer-specific.

Can Life Insurance Rates Improve Later if Diabetes Management Changes?

Potentially, but there is no universal right to have an existing life insurance premium reduced because medical circumstances change.

Some insurers or policies may allow reconsideration or reclassification under specified requirements. Others may not offer the same process.

Do not assume that lower A1C, weight loss, medication changes, or a period without complications automatically produces a lower premium.

If you already have coverage, ask the insurer whether reconsideration is available and what requirements apply.

Should You Take a Medical Exam if You Have Diabetes?

Whether an examination is required depends on the insurer, policy, applicant, and underwriting process.

Do not assume that taking an exam will necessarily improve your rate because your current A1C, blood pressure, cholesterol, or other measurements appear favorable.

Likewise, avoiding an exam does not automatically produce a worse premium.

Compare the actual underwriting approaches and policies available.

What Medical Information Might an Insurer Request?

Underwriting requirements vary by insurer and policy.

Depending on the applicant, an insurer may request or review information such as:

• Diabetes diagnosis and type
• Medical history
• Current medications or insulin use
• Laboratory information when relevant
• Healthcare-provider information
• Diabetes-related complications when applicable
• Other medical conditions
• Medical records when authorized and requested
• Other information required by the insurer

Applicants should provide the information and authorizations actually requested rather than assuming every insurer requires the same diabetes documentation.

Do You Have to Disclose Diabetes on a Life Insurance Application?

Answer health questions accurately and completely according to their wording.

If an application asks about diabetes, diagnoses, medications, treatment, complications, or other medical history, provide the information requested.

Do not omit diabetes because you believe it is well managed or unlikely to affect underwriting.

Does Failing to Disclose Diabetes Automatically Void a Policy?

Material misrepresentations or omissions can have consequences under the policy and applicable law.

However, it is too broad to say that every inaccurate or incomplete answer involving diabetes automatically:

• Voids the policy
• Causes a future claim to be denied
• Constitutes insurance fraud
• Leaves beneficiaries without a death benefit

The consequences can depend on the facts, materiality of the information, application, policy, applicable contestability provisions, state law, and circumstances surrounding a claim.

Should You Gather Diabetes Records Before Applying?

Not necessarily.

Knowing your diagnosis, medications, healthcare providers, and significant medical history can help you answer application questions accurately.

An insurer may obtain additional medical information when permitted and authorized if it is required for underwriting.

Do not assume that providing organized A1C records, physician notes, medication records, or other documentation yourself automatically improves approval odds or produces a lower premium.

What if You’re Denied Life Insurance Because of Diabetes?

A denial from one insurer does not necessarily mean every insurer or policy will produce the same result.

Before applying again, determine why the application was declined and whether another application would meaningfully differ.

Potential next steps can include:

• Reviewing the insurer’s explanation of the decision
• Checking whether medical information used in underwriting was accurate
• Determining whether additional relevant information is available
• Understanding whether medical circumstances have changed
• Considering another policy or underwriting approach when appropriate

Do not assume that simplified issue or guaranteed issue automatically becomes the appropriate option after a diabetes-related denial.

Our Can You Apply Again After Being Denied Life Insurance? guide explains the broader post-denial process.

How Should Someone With Diabetes Compare Life Insurance?

Start with the financial need and compare the policies and underwriting offers actually available.

Important factors can include:

• Eligibility: Does the applicant satisfy the policy’s requirements?
• Death benefit: Does the available amount reasonably address the financial need?
• Premium: Can the required payments reasonably be maintained?
• Coverage duration: How long does the financial need exist?
• Underwriting: How is the applicant’s diabetes and overall medical history evaluated?
• Guarantees: Which policy elements are contractually guaranteed?
• Graded or limited benefits: Do any special death-benefit provisions apply?
• Policy features: Are riders, conversion provisions, cash value, or other features relevant?

The lowest premium does not automatically identify the appropriate policy, and the diabetes diagnosis alone does not determine which type of life insurance someone should buy.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Diabetics Qualify for Life Insurance?

Potentially, yes.

Eligibility depends on the applicant’s medical circumstances, insurer, policy, and other underwriting requirements.

Can You Get Life Insurance With Type 1 Diabetes?

Potentially.

An insurer may consider diagnosis history, insulin treatment, laboratory information, complications when applicable, other medical conditions, and overall health.

There is no universal requirement to demonstrate one or two years of stable management before coverage becomes available.

Can You Get Life Insurance With Type 2 Diabetes?

Potentially.

Type 2 diabetes does not create one universal approval, rate class, or premium result.

Does Diabetes Automatically Disqualify You From Life Insurance?

No universal rule says that it does.

However, we also should not claim that the vast majority of people with diabetes will necessarily qualify for some form of coverage.

Eligibility depends on the applicant and products available.

What A1C Is Required for Life Insurance?

There is no universal A1C requirement used by every life insurer.

An insurer may consider A1C together with the applicant’s diabetes history, treatment, complications, other medical conditions, and overall health.

What Is the Best Life Insurance for Diabetics?

There is no single policy type that is best for everyone with diabetes.

Term, permanent, no-medical-exam, simplified issue, guaranteed issue, group, or other coverage may potentially be available.

Compare the financial need with the actual eligibility, premium, death benefit, duration, guarantees, and policy provisions.

How Much More Does Life Insurance Cost With Diabetes?

There is no standard diabetes premium increase.

The premium depends on the applicant, medical circumstances, insurer, policy, requested coverage, and other underwriting information.

Do not rely on generic 25%, 50%, 100%, or 200% diabetes surcharges.

Can Diabetics Get Life Insurance Without a Medical Exam?

Potentially.

No medical exam does not mean no underwriting. Simplified issue and accelerated underwriting can still evaluate health information, while guaranteed issue uses a different eligibility approach.

Does Guaranteed Issue Automatically Accept Someone With Diabetes?

Guaranteed issue generally does not use medical underwriting to determine eligibility when the applicant satisfies the product’s nonmedical requirements.

Those requirements can include issue age, state availability, residency, and other product-specific conditions.

Should Someone With Diabetes Choose Whole Life Before Their Health Gets Worse?

Not simply because diabetes may change over time.

Policy selection should begin with the financial need, expected duration of that need, affordability, guarantees, and other contract terms.

Do not purchase permanent coverage solely because of an assumption that future diabetes complications will make other insurance unavailable.

Can Diabetics Qualify for Life Insurance? The Bottom Line

Diabetes can be relevant to life insurance underwriting, but there is no universal A1C cutoff, insulin rule, premium surcharge, table rating, waiting period, or policy recommendation that applies to every applicant.

An insurer may consider diabetes type, age at diagnosis, treatment, medications or insulin use, laboratory information, complications, other medical conditions, tobacco or nicotine use, and overall health.

Term, permanent, no-medical-exam, simplified issue, guaranteed issue, group, or other coverage may potentially be available depending on the applicant and product.

Follow appropriate diabetes care for your health, answer application questions accurately, and compare the policies and underwriting offers actually available rather than trying to reach a predetermined diabetes-insurance benchmark.

Ranwell Insurance provides independent life insurance information and can help consumers understand available coverage options. Ranwell Insurance is a licensed insurance agency in Georgia; product availability, eligibility, and insurance transactions depend on applicable licensing requirements and the insurers involved.