For a diabetic, Life Insurance might seem like an impossible dream. It is possible for a diabetic living with the condition to qualify for Life Insurance. Even an affordable policy isn’t out of reach.
My article takes a look at what the options are for diabetics when it comes to Life Insurance.
Including what types of Life Insurance policies are available, whether or not the type of diabetes you have will affect your premiums, and what you can do to improve your Life Insurance options.
Do I Need Life Insurance If I Am Diabetic?
Life Insurance is the simplest and cheapest way to protect your family if you’re no longer around to provide for them. As a diabetic, you would hope that Life Insurance wouldn’t impact your ability to provide for your family when you are gone.
A Life Insurance policy can be used to cover funeral costs, pay off a mortgage, and provide money to support your family in the future.
I think we can all agree that if you are living with a chronic condition such as diabetes, having the proper insurance in place to look after your family, should you no longer be around, becomes even more important.
Diabetes is a condition that is associated with having higher blood sugar levels than normal. It is estimated that around 5 million people in the UK will have diabetes by 2025.
That’s a lot of people potentially believing that they can’t get Life Insurance!
What Type Of Life Insurance Is Available To Diabetics?
The type of Life Insurance policy you are able to get as a diabetic will depend on the type of diabetes that you have.
If your diabetes is moderate and well-controlled, you might be able to get term Life Insurance.
If your diabetes is more severe, or you’re suffering from related health conditions then a Life Insurance policy that requires no medical questions might be a better (yet admittedly more expensive) option.
Let’s delve a little deeper into the different types of Life Insurance.
Can I Get Term Life Insurance If Have Diabetes?
If you are diabetic then Term Life Insurance could be an option for you. However this is only if your condition is well-controlled and mild, and you suffer from no related complications.
Term Life Insurance is the most popular, and cheapest type of Life Insurance.
You will pay a monthly premium for a set ‘term’ – typically between 10 and 30 years – and if you die during that time, your family will receive a cash lump sum.
If you die after the term has ended, they get nothing.
There are a lot of insurers out there who will approve someone who is diabetic for Term Life Insurance. Although it’s safe to say that your premiums will be higher than if you didn’t have the condition.
No great shock there I’m sure.
If you are approved for Term Life Insurance and you’re diabetic, my top tip would be to go for the longest term you can, which will lock in your premiums.
As you get older and your health potentially deteriorates, it will cost you more to take out new insurance, so you’re going to want to avoid that.
Can I Get Whole Of Life Insurance?
Whole Of Life Insurance does exactly what it says on the tin.
When you take out a Whole Of Life Insurance policy you are insured until you die – whenever that may be.
You pay your monthly premiums, and whether you die 5 years after you take out the policy or 35, your family will receive the full amount that you are insured for.
It goes without saying that because you will definitely die at some point (sorry to be the bearer of bad news here) and the insurance company will have to pay out, your premiums are going to be significantly higher than a Term Life Insurance policy.
If you are diabetic, this could be an even higher increase than if you were in perfect health.
But, if you do get approved, your premium is set for life. That is, it won’t change.
Also, you don’t have to worry about reapplying like you would once the term ends with Term Life Insurance, and you won’t have to have a medical if your health changes.
Can I Get A No Medical Questions Life Insurance Policy?
Life Insurance that doesn’t require you to have a medical is the simplest type of Life Insurance.
If you are diabetic and your diabetes is advanced or uncontrolled, or if you have a history of high and low blood sugar – common with Type 1 diabetes – this could be a good option.
It’s worth knowing that there are guaranteed issue policies available that don’t have any health requirements, meaning that even people with severe diabetes and other health conditions can get coverage.
But….
I would always recommend speaking to an insurance broker before taking out any type of Life Insurance policy – whether you are diabetic or not.
How Are My Premiums Affected If I Have Diabetes?
As I’ve already said, living with a medical condition will make your Life Insurance premiums more expensive – and diabetes is no exception.
This is because insurers will base your premiums on your life expectancy, and so a chronic health condition like diabetes means less of a sweet deal (sorry).
Of course, the type of diabetes you have will also affect your premiums.
If you’re managing your diabetes well and don’t have any related complications then you still might be able to get a Life Insurance policy for a competitive price.
Talking of different types of diabetes….
How Much Will Life Insurance Cost If I Am A Type 1?
The bad news is that if you are living with Type 1 diabetes, Life Insurance can be harder to get and can cost more than if you had Type 2.
Being a Type 1 diabetic means that you produce little or no insulin.
It is typically developed in childhood, or as a teen or young adult.
Because this type of diabetes is ‘early onset’, requires lifelong medication, and cannot be reversed, it can mean higher Life Insurance premiums.
The exact cost will depend on your age, blood sugar levels and how good you are at remembering to take your medication!
It will also depend on whether your diabetes has become severe enough to affect your major organs.
How Much Will Life Insurance Cost If I Am Type 2?
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention 95% of diabetics are living with Type 2 diabetes.
Although this type of diabetes is becoming more common in children and young adults, it is most prevalent in those over the age of 45.
Type 2 diabetes means that your body has built up a resistance to insulin that causes blood sugar levels to spike.
It can be controlled with medication and is seen as easier to manage than Type 1.
If you are a Type 2 diabetic, your Life Insurance premiums will be cheaper than if you had Type 1.
This is large because this type of diabetes can be greatly improved or even reversed, through a good diet and exercise.
However, risk factors involved with this type of diabetes such as being very overweight or suffering from related complications like heart or kidney disease could send your premiums skyrocketing.
How Can I Improve My Chances Of Getting Life Insurance?
It is a fact that your Life Insurance premiums are higher if you are living with a chronic medical condition.
But if you are a diabetic who is looking for a Life Insurance policy to suit your needs on a budget. There are some lifestyle changes you can make that will broaden the options open to you and lower your premiums.
- 1. Eat Healthy And Exercise
Weight loss and regular exercise is recommended for diabetics, particularly for those living with Type 2 diabetes, this may indirectly help with your Life Insurance.
Being overweight can exacerbate your condition, but a healthy diet and exercise can reduce your symptoms and give you a better chance of finding a Life Insurance policy with more affordable premiums.
- 2. Stop Smoking
There aren’t many types of insurance out there that won’t cost you more if you’re a smoker – and Life Insurance is an obvious one.
Basically, insurers aren’t keen on handing out policies to smokers and all of the horrible health problems that go along with them. Chances are they’ll be paying out much sooner, so they make it worth their while by charging you a lot more.
But back to diabetes specifically…
Did you know that smoking can increase the risk of you developing Type 2 diabetes by 30%-40%?
Smoking increases your blood pressure and therefore reduces how effective insulin is – making it a recipe for disaster for diabetics and a majorly negative point for Life Insurance applications.
- 3. Keep Taking Your Medication
Sticking to prescribed treatment is one of the easiest ways for someone who is diabetic to improve their chances of getting Life Insurance.
This might mean keeping up with your insulin doses and other types of medication or sticking to a healthy eating and diet plan.
I don’t think anyone should ever pass up the chance to take out Life Insurance – even if you are living with a chronic medical condition such as diabetes.
As a diabetic finding, the right life insurance can be tricky. A qualified insurance broker can talk you through your options and find the right deal for you.
At More Than Money we have access to insurers that you won’t find on price comparison sites, so get in touch with our dedicated team and let us find the best deal to suit your needs.
