If you have type 2 diabetes, you can still get life insurance, and often at better rates than you might expect. Well-controlled diabetes is one of the most common conditions life insurers see, and with the right carrier, many people qualify for Standard or even Standard Plus rates.
Diabetes is also one of the conditions where carriers differ the most. Many underwrite it case by case, and several follow different reinsurance manuals, so the same health history can get very different offers. That’s why we shop your situation across more than 40 carriers before you apply.
What Underwriters Look At
- Your A1C. This is the big one. Carriers look at your recent A1C results, and many treat an A1C under 7 as excellent control.
- Your age at diagnosis. The later you were diagnosed, the better. Carriers’ best offers are usually reserved for people diagnosed at 50 or older.
- How it’s treated. Diet alone or oral medication is viewed more favorably than insulin.
- Complications. Any kidney, eye, nerve, or heart complications make a big difference.
- The rest of your health. Your build, blood pressure, and cholesterol all count, and strong numbers there can help offset your diabetes.
What Rate Class Can You Expect?
These are typical outcomes across the carriers we work with. Every case is individual, and guidelines change over time.
| Your situation | Typical rate class |
|---|---|
| Diagnosed at 50 or older, A1C under 7, diet or oral medication, no complications | Standard Plus at many carriers. A few offer Preferred at age 60+. |
| Good control, no complications | Standard to Table 2 |
| Average control (A1C around 7.5), diagnosed younger | Standard to Table 4 |
| Poor control or complications | High table rating or decline |
A table rating is a Standard premium plus an increase. It’s still real coverage, and the right carrier can mean several tables of difference.
A Real Example: Standard to Table 3 for the Same Man
We’re currently shopping coverage for a 66-year-old man who wants $300,000 of 10- or 15-year term. He was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes at 49 and treats it with a weekly injectable medication. His control is excellent, with A1C results between 5.1 and 5.8. His blood pressure is normal on one medication.
Those are strong numbers, yet the offers ranged from Standard at the best carrier all the way to Table 3 at others, four rate classes apart for the exact same person.
Why such a spread? Every carrier weighs the details differently. He was diagnosed just before the age-50 cutoff that several carriers use for their best diabetic offers, and his medication is a weekly injection rather than a pill. Some carriers look past those details because of his excellent A1C, and others don’t. Knowing which is which is exactly the job.
Another Example: Insulin Doesn’t Have to Mean a High Rating
Another recent client, a 58-year-old man who is 6’4″, weighs 260 pounds, and doesn’t use tobacco, treats his type 2 diabetes with insulin, 22 units a day. Many people assume insulin automatically means a heavy rating. His offers ranged from Table 2 to Standard Plus. The best carrier put him in Standard Plus, one of the better classes available to anyone with diabetes, while another rated him two tables higher for the same health history.
Why Age at Diagnosis Matters So Much
Underwriters care less about how long you’ve had diabetes and more about when it started. Someone diagnosed at 55 with good control is viewed very differently from someone diagnosed at 30, even with identical A1C results. Diagnosed young, especially before age 20, is much harder to insure, and some carriers decline it outright.
Here’s the flip side: if you were diagnosed later in life and have kept good control, you may be in a better spot than you think. One carrier we work with offers its Preferred class to applicants 60 and older with well-controlled type 2.
What About Prediabetes?
A borderline A1C or a prediabetes diagnosis usually won’t stop you from getting coverage, but it can keep you out of some carriers’ best classes. Several major carriers exclude prediabetes from their top two rate classes. Others are more forgiving, which is one more reason to compare.
Common Misconceptions
“Diabetics can’t get affordable life insurance.” Not true. Well-controlled type 2 diabetes is commonly insured at Standard or Standard Plus rates.
“I’ll have to settle for a no-exam or guaranteed issue policy.” Usually not. Fully underwritten coverage typically costs much less, and many no-exam products are actually stricter with diabetes.
“Every company looks at diabetes the same way.” They don’t. Many carriers decide diabetes cases individually, and the gap between offers can be several rate classes.
3 Steps to Take Before You Apply
- Know your A1C. Have your last few results handy, ideally covering the past 12 months.
- Gather your details. Your age at diagnosis, current medications, and any related conditions. Insurers will almost always request your doctor’s records for diabetes, so accuracy matters.
- Let us shop it first. We’ll match your profile to the carriers most likely to give you their best offer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get life insurance with type 2 diabetes?
Yes. Most people with type 2 diabetes can get coverage, and those with good control often qualify for Standard or Standard Plus rates.
What A1C do I need for the best life insurance rates?
Many carriers consider an A1C under 7 to be excellent control. Combined with being diagnosed at 50 or older and having no complications, that’s typically what qualifies for a carrier’s best diabetic offer.
Does taking insulin affect my life insurance?
It can. Insurers generally view diet- or pill-controlled diabetes more favorably than insulin-treated diabetes, but insulin alone doesn’t rule out coverage. Control and complications matter more.
Can I get Preferred rates with diabetes?
It’s uncommon, but possible with some carriers if you’re 60 or older, were diagnosed later in life, and have excellent control with no complications.
Talk to Us Before You Apply
Diabetes is one of the conditions where shopping carriers matters most. Call (205) 578-2097 or contact us for a free, no-obligation comparison. Tell us your A1C, your age at diagnosis, and how you’re treated, and we’ll show you which carriers are likely to offer your best rate before you apply. See how insurers look at other common health conditions.