LIFE INSURANCE FOR DIABETICS: Best Coverages In 2023

Diabetics can obtain life insurance, though the premiums may be higher than in non-diabetic cases. Also, as you’ll see later, the cost of life insurance differs for Type 1 and Type 2 diabetics. However, purchasing an insurance life policy can help ensure your loved ones’ financial security, so it’s a worthwhile investment. In this guide, we’ll go over the various life insurance policies for diabetics, explaining how the whole life and term life policies – work for your diabetes type.

Can I Get Life Insurance as a Diabetic?

Yes, you can get life insurance if you have diabetics for type 1 or type 2, and you might even get a good deal. However, different companies have different policies regarding diabetic life insurance. Certain factors will influence your policy and pricing options. These include your diabetes type, the type of policy you want, the length of time you’ve had diabetes, and how well you manage it.

What Kinds of Life Insurance Can Diabetics Get?

The types of life insurance available to you will differ depending on the insurer and your circumstances. If you have diabetes under control and are in good health, you may be able to obtain standard coverage. Diabetics can also look into some unusual life insurance policies.

Term And Whole Life Insurance For Diabetics

You may be able to qualify for a standard term or permanent life insurance policy at competitive rates if you keep your diabetes under control. Term life insurance is less expensive, but it only covers you if you die within a certain number of years. Permanent life insurance, on the other hand, is intended to provide coverage regardless of when you die.

Final Expense Life Insurance For Diabetics

These plans, as the name implies, help your loved ones pay for your final medical bills, funeral expenses, and other end-of-life costs after your death. You can qualify for a final expense policy, also known as burial insurance if you have well-controlled diabetes, just like you can for a regular term and permanent policies. People over the age of 50 are more likely to purchase final expense insurance. As a result, if you want to buy a policy later in life, it’s critical to stay as healthy as possible even as you age. Assuming your diabetes is under control, the younger and healthier you are when applying for life insurance, the more affordable your options will be.

Simplified Issue Life Insurance for Diabetics

If the results of your medical exam limit your standard life insurance policy options due to diabetes, a simplified issue policy allows you to apply without a medical exam by filling out a health survey and answering medical questions. A simplified issue policy is unlikely to be significantly more expensive than a fully underwritten policy. It may also be appropriate for diabetics in good overall health.

Guaranteed Issue Life Insurance for Diabetics

Guaranteed-issue policies are more expensive and have fewer coverage options, but you cannot be denied for health reasons. Consider this option if you are unable to qualify for other types of life insurance due to your age, poor health, or difficulty managing your diabetes.

Why is Timing Critical When it Comes to Diabetic Life Insurance?

The timing of your application for life insurance with diabetes can affect which policies and rates you qualify for. Here are some examples of how you might benefit from the timing when applying for life insurance with diabetes:

Purchase life insurance before you develop diabetes. Your policy premiums will be lower if you have a life insurance policy before you develop diabetes than if you try to get life insurance after you’ve developed diabetes. When applying for life insurance, however, do not try to hide a diabetes diagnosis from your provider. If you do, you may be charged with life insurance fraud, and your policy may be canceled without a refund.
Wait for gestational diabetes to go away. Delaying your application for life insurance if you have gestational diabetes may result in more options at lower prices. Gestational diabetes is usually only a temporary condition. If you’re otherwise in good health, your life insurance quote will most likely be lower once your gestational diabetes is resolved.
Delay treatment until your diabetes is under control. Though diabetics face higher life insurance rates than non-diabetics, demonstrating that you’re in good health and managing your diabetes well over time can help you get the best rates.

Is it possible for Type 1 or Type 2 Diabetics to Get Life Insurance?

People with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetics can purchase life insurance. However, the policies you’ll be eligible for and the ease with which you can apply will vary depending on your type of diabetes, the age you were diagnosed, and how you manage it.

Someone diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes later in life who can control it solely through diet and exercise will almost certainly qualify for the best life insurance rates. You can still buy life insurance if you are insulin-dependent or have had diabetes problems.

How Your Diabetes Type Affects Your Life Insurance

You can purchase life insurance if you have diabetes. However, your coverage options may be limited, and a policy will almost certainly be more expensive because insurers will consider you a higher risk. The type of diabetes you have, as well as any other health issues, will have a significant impact on how life insurance companies evaluate your application. This is due to the fact that each type of diabetes has a different impact on your health.

Life Insurance For Type 1 Diabetics

Type 1 diabetics are considered to be at a higher risk by insurers than Type 2 diabetics. As a result, Type 1 diabetics may find it more difficult to obtain life insurance. Life insurance companies consider type 1 diabetes to be less manageable, owing to the fact that it frequently requires insulin to regulate.

Life insurance companies consider the age of diagnosis when evaluating risk because a diagnosis later in life means fewer years when it will impact your body and health. However, because Type 1 diabetes is commonly diagnosed in children and teenagers, you will be considered a higher risk when applying for life insurance.

Life Insurance For Type 2 Diabetics

Type 2 diabetics are considered a lower risk by life insurance companies than Type 1 diabetics, especially if you can manage it with lifestyle changes or oral medication and have had no complications. Because it is frequently diagnosed in adulthood, insurers are more likely to view you favorably. Type 2 diabetes should not prevent you from obtaining a policy if you are otherwise healthy and have not had any difficulties. However, keep in mind that it will lower your life insurance rating and raise your premium.

Policy Categorization

Because they are limited in duration, such as 10 or 20 years, and have no cash value, term life insurance policies are the most affordable in terms of cost per dollar of coverage. For example, if you are concerned about your children’s ability to pay for college if you die as a result of diabetic complications, you can consider purchasing a term policy that will last until they reach the age of maturity. Furthermore, most term policies allow you to convert to a permanent policy without having to undergo any additional underwriting.

A whole life insurance policy, on the other hand, maybe preferable if you are certain that you want to leave an inheritance or ensure that your spouse receives support regardless of when you die. Just keep in mind that the most expensive options are permanent life insurance policies with a cash value component, such as universal and whole life insurance.

Best Diabetic Life Insurance

We compared thousands of life insurance quotes for people with diabetes and other health complications to help you find the best policy at the best price.

For many people, getting the best life insurance means finding a company that offers the most coverage at the lowest rates. Finding the best deal on diabetic life insurance can be difficult, but it is not impossible.

Best Diabetic Life Insurance Companies

These are the best life insurance companies for diabetics with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. Each excels in at least one task, and our “best overall” pick offers the best value to the greatest number of policyholders.

Pay close attention to the types of life insurance that each provider offers. Some companies provide a variety of policy types—term life insurance, whole life insurance, and other types of permanent life insurance—while others specialize in one or two.

#1. John Hancock Aspire With Vitality

One of the few life insurance policies designed specifically for diabetics is John Hancock’s Aspire. It has a plethora of diabetic-friendly benefits:

A 25% reduction in the cost of your insurance
Virtual consultations with Onduo, a John Hancock partner, diabetes experts
Onduo provides free blood glucose meters and testing supplies.

#2. Omaha Mutual Insurance Company

For people with diabetes, Mutual of Omaha offers two life insurance products: a whole life insurance guaranteed issue policy for older adults and a term life insurance simplified issue policy for young and middle-aged adults.

Neither requires a medical exam as a condition of underwriting, though the simplified issue policy does take your medical history into account. As a result, Type 1 diabetics may be denied coverage due to their preexisting condition, even if their diabetes is well-controlled. Fortunately, if you have Type 1 diabetics, your guaranteed issue life insurance application will not be denied.

#3. Prudential

Prudential is an excellent option for diabetics who have experienced health complications as a result of their condition, such as kidney damage, heart disease, or high blood pressure.

This is due in part to Prudential’s BenefitAccess rider, an optional policy add-on (at an additional cost) that allows policyholders to access death benefits while still alive. BenefitAccess, unlike a standard accelerated death benefit rider, does not require a terminal illness diagnosis; many chronic health issues qualify as well.

Prudential’s underwriting criteria are also unusually accommodating to people with chronic health conditions. This diabetic life insurance policy covers both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes.

#4. Banner Life

Banner Life is popular for its low rates and unusually long terms (up to 40 years). It is less well-known for its lenient attitude toward gestational diabetes, a temporary condition that many life insurance companies consider to be semi-permanent.

If you recently developed diabetes while pregnant, you may be eligible for a Banner Life health rating of up to Standard Plus. This translates to a significant reduction in premiums compared to someone with a standard rating, which is typically the fate of people who have recently had gestational diabetes.

#5. Protective Life

Protective Life appeals to diabetic seniors because it provides a strong term-to-permanent conversion option.

If you qualify for term life insurance while you’re young and relatively healthy but develop Type 2 diabetes before your policy expires, you may be able to convert to lifelong coverage without having to cancel your policy and reapply. That’s a good thing, because canceling and reapplying guarantees higher premiums and may result in a coverage denial.

#6. Assurity

Assurity, unlike most competitors, has no minimum age for diabetes diagnosis. In other words, your life insurance application will not be denied simply because you developed diabetes early in life—and “early” in this case means before the age of 40 or even 50, depending on the insurer.

This is good news not only for Type 1 diabetics, who usually develop the disease as children but also for people with gestational and early-onset Type 2 diabetes. In addition, a no-cost accelerated death benefit rider lets you access your death benefit if your diabetes leads to a terminal diagnosis.

#7. Ethos

Ethos is a top online life insurance provider known for its low premiums and simple application process. Although Ethos provides whole life insurance, it excels at term life insurance, and its personalized underwriting process is ideal for people with well-controlled diabetes.

Ethos evaluates applicants on an individual basis. In other words, if you’re otherwise healthy, smoke-free, and haven’t developed any diabetes complications, you may be able to qualify for a low-cost term life insurance policy here.

How Do Diabetics Save Money on Health Insurance?

Diabetes patients have a few options for lowering the cost of their life insurance. Quitting smoking, for example, could lower your rates. However, you will not be eligible for nonsmoker rates until you have been smoke-free for at least 12 months.

You can also save money on life insurance by utilizing health technology, such as a wearable device that monitors and encourages healthy lifestyle habits. Some companies, such as John Hancock, will even give you a discount on life insurance if you improve your health and allow them to monitor your activities.

Good diabetes management and treatment plans are also necessary for keeping diabetes under control and preventing future complications. In the eyes of a life insurance company, anything you can do to reduce your mortality risk is beneficial.

Conclusion

Even though getting life insurance as a diabetic is significantly more expensive than for non-diabetics, it is worth a shot. If you follow the simple steps outlined in this guide, you might be able to save money on life insurance.

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I do if my life insurance application is rejected?

A guaranteed issue policy is still available. It’s expensive, with a typical cap of $25,000, but any insurance is preferable to none. Just keep in mind that some policies have a two-year waiting period, so if you die soon after purchasing a policy, your life insurance beneficiaries may not receive the full payout.

What happens if I get diabetes after buying life insurance?

Nothing. Once you’ve purchased a policy, your insurer cannot cancel it. However, if your policy expires, you’ll have to reapply and you may be denied coverage or charged higher rates.

What is the easiest policy type to get if you have diabetes?

If you have diabetes, it is usually easiest to get a “guaranteed-issue” life insurance policy. There are no health questions on the application for this type of life insurance, and you will not be required to take a medical exam.

Why is life insurance more expensive for people with diabetes?

Life insurance premiums, like all insurance policies, are determined by underwriting risk. Because diabetes increases your risk of developing heart disease, nerve damage, kidney damage, and other conditions, life insurance companies charge a higher premium to compensate for the risk of having to pay a life insurance claim.