The short answer
- Diabetes alone is rarely a decline. Well-controlled Type 2 is routinely approved.
- A1c is the number that decides your rate - under 7.0 opens the better classes.
- Well-controlled diabetics often pay only 25 to 50 percent above standard.
- Do not default to no-exam cover. Good labs are an asset - use them.
What underwriters actually look at
Insurers are not pricing the diagnosis. They are pricing how well it is managed, because that is what predicts complications. Five things carry nearly all the weight:
- A1c - the dominant factor, and the one you can most improve before applying
- Age at diagnosis - later diagnosis is viewed more favourably; diagnosis in childhood or the twenties means more years of cumulative exposure
- Type - Type 2 generally prices better than Type 1
- Complications - neuropathy, retinopathy, kidney involvement or cardiac history move you sharply
- Everything else - build, blood pressure, cholesterol, tobacco. Diabetes plus smoking is a far worse combination than either alone
How A1c maps to your rate
| A1c | Likely class | Cost vs standard |
|---|---|---|
| Under 6.5 | Standard, occasionally better | Little or no loading |
| 6.5 - 7.0 | Standard to mild rating | +25 to 50 percent |
| 7.0 - 8.0 | Moderate rating | +50 to 100 percent |
| 8.0 - 9.0 | Substandard | 2 to 3 times |
| Above 9.0 | Simplified issue likely | 3 times or more |
The single most valuable thing you can do
A1c reflects roughly the previous three months. If yours is currently 8.2 and you are close to a threshold, waiting one quarter while tightening control can move you a whole rate class - and that lower premium is then locked for the life of the policy. Few decisions in insurance pay back as reliably as postponing an application by 90 days.
Type 1 versus Type 2
Type 2 diagnosed after 40 and controlled with diet, metformin or similar is the most favourably viewed scenario. Many such applicants get standard rates outright, and a good number are surprised to find diabetes cost them nothing.
Type 1 is insurable but priced higher - usually a table rating rather than a decline. Carrier choice matters far more here: some specialise in Type 1 and price it sanely, while others load it heavily by default. The difference between the best and worst offer for the same Type 1 applicant is routinely over 100 percent.
Modern management helps. Documented use of a CGM, consistent endocrinologist follow-up and stable readings all support a better outcome. Bring that evidence rather than waiting to be asked.
Three mistakes that cost diabetics money
1. Going straight to no-exam cover
The instinct is understandable - avoid the test, avoid the bad news. But no-exam policies price for unknown risk, which actively penalises anyone whose numbers are good. If your A1c is 6.6, the exam is your best friend. See no medical exam life insurance for the full comparison.
2. Applying to one carrier
Diabetes underwriting varies more between insurers than almost any other condition. A single application to the wrong carrier can produce a rating - or a decline - that a different insurer would never have issued. Worse, a decline must be disclosed on every future application.
3. Not disclosing it
Never omit a diagnosis. Insurers check prescription databases as a matter of course, and metformin or insulin appears immediately. Non-disclosure gives them grounds to contest a claim during the contestability period - meaning your family gets nothing at the worst possible moment.
The right order to apply
- Get your current A1c from your doctor. You need the actual number before anything else.
- If you are near a threshold, wait a quarter and improve it.
- Have an independent agent pre-screen you informally with several diabetes-friendly carriers - no formal application, no record.
- Apply to the carrier most likely to rate you well, fully underwritten if your control is good.
- Only fall back to simplified issue if full underwriting genuinely does not work out.
Common questions
Can diabetics get life insurance?+
Yes. Well-controlled Type 2 diagnosed after 40 is routinely approved, sometimes at standard rates. Type 1 is insurable too, usually at a rated premium. Diabetes alone is very rarely a decline.
How much more do diabetics pay?+
It depends on control. Well-managed Type 2 with an A1c under 7 may pay 25 to 50 percent above standard, sometimes nothing extra. Poor control with complications can mean two to four times standard, or simplified issue.
What A1c do I need?+
Most carriers want under 7.0 for their better classes. 7.0 to 8.0 typically draws a moderate rating, and above 9.0 usually means substandard rates or simplified issue. Carriers differ considerably.
Should I use a no-exam policy?+
Not automatically. Well-controlled diabetics usually do better with full underwriting, because good labs prove control and earn a better class. No-exam policies price for unknown risk, which penalises good numbers.