Best Life Insurance for Diabetes in 2025

Mutual of Omaha and John Hancock offer the best life insurance for type 1 diabetics and type 2 diabetics, respectively. The best provider for you depends on your needs and circumstances. Some companies offer lower rates, while others have more personalized offers for people with diabetes. Here are the best life insurance companies for different coverage needs:

Diabetes is a chronic condition that can increase the risk of several health complications, such as heart disease, stroke, and kidney disease. You'll want to find a life insurance company that understands the health risks associated with diabetes and offers coverage that meets your needs. This guide covers factors to consider, coverage add-ons and average costs. We'll help you choose a policy that fits your needs.

These steps help you get the best possible rates and terms, regardless of whether you have type 1 or type 2 diabetes or how long you've been managing your condition.

Life insurance companies use a risk-based classification system to determine premiums.

Preferred Plus (Super Preferred)
This rating offers the lowest premiums, but is nearly impossible for diabetics to get. Some insurers exclude all diabetics from this tier. A few may consider type 2 diabetics diagnosed after age 40 with exceptional control, no complications, and A1C consistently under 7.0.

Preferred
Rare for insulin users, but some well-controlled type 2 diabetics on oral medications may qualify. Typical underwriting criteria include:

• A1C should be between 7.0 and 8.0
• No history of diabetic complications
• Stable treatment regimen and consistent medical follow-up

Standard Plus
More common for diabetics with moderate control and no severe complications. Criteria may include:

• An A1C up to around 8.5
• No significant progression in condition
• Minor complications may be allowed, depending on the insurer

Standard
Often, the baseline for diabetic applicants. Insurers may accept:

• A1C up to 9.0
• Moderate complications (e.g., early-stage neuropathy)
• Inconsistent historical control if the current condition is stable

Table Ratings (Substandard)
If diabetes is poorly controlled or complications are advanced, insurers apply table ratings. These add 25% per table level to the base premium (e.g., Table 2 = +50%). Reasons include:

• A1C above 9.0
• Insulin dependence with erratic history
• Severe complications or recent hospitalizations

Life insurance riders can add valuable benefits to your diabetic life insurance policy. Available riders vary by company and policy type.

Explore all rider options, but pay particular attention to living benefits. These benefits, also called accelerated benefit riders, allow you to withdraw money from the death benefit while still alive. If you’re diagnosed with a chronic, critical, or terminal illness, you can access the death benefit and use the money in any way you choose.

A guaranteed-insurability rider is another option to consider. This rider lets you buy more life insurance at specific ages or life events, like getting married or having a baby. Your health isn’t a factor, so you can increase your insurance even if your health has worsened since you took out the life insurance policy.

The waiver of premium for disability is another valuable rider. With this rider, the insurer pays your premiums once you meet the qualifying criteria, usually after a waiting period. If you become disabled, this rider can prevent your life insurance from lapsing if you can't afford the premiums.

The cost of life insurance for people with diabetes varies by company, coverage amount, age and overall health. To understand how much you might pay for life insurance for diabetics, MoneyGeek gathered several term life insurance quotes to provide a range of expected premiums.

The cost information below is a monthly estimate generated for nonsmokers with type 2 diabetes with a $250,000 and $500,000 policy.

*Estimates based on sample profiles. Your rates may vary based on your specific health profile, state, and insurer underwriting.

Rates vary because life insurance providers weigh cost factors differently. Comparing quotes from multiple companies can help when looking for the best life insurance policy for diabetics. Use our life insurance rate calculator below to get accurate estimates based on your needs.

If you have diabetes, there are a few ways to lower the cost of your life insurance policy:

• If you're a smoker, quitting can decrease your rates, but you must remain tobacco-free for at least 12 months to qualify for nonsmoker rates.
• Use health monitoring technology, such as wearable devices that monitor and encourage healthy habits, to lower your life insurance expenses. Some insurance companies even provide discounts on life insurance if you improve your health and allow them to track your activities.
• Maintain consistent diabetes management and treatment to control your condition and reduce future complications. This reduces your mortality risk and can qualify you for lower rates.

Having your life insurance application denied because of diabetes can feel overwhelming, but there are options you can explore to secure the financial protection you need.

1. Request a written explanation. Insurers are generally required to explain denial reasons, including the medical factors involved.  
2. Review your medical records for any errors or outdated information. Incorrect A1C readings, medication lists or complication histories can unfairly impact your application.  
3. Understand the specific denial reasons. Common factors include A1C levels above 9%, multiple diabetes complications, poor medication compliance or recent hospitalizations.

• Group Life Insurance Through Your Employer: This has simplified underwriting requirements and generally accepts eligible employees, though specific terms vary by employer and insurer. 

• Guaranteed Issue Life Insurance: Requires no health questions or medical exam. Coverage typically ranges from $2,000 to $25,000, with a two-year waiting period before full benefits (typically pays only premiums plus interest if death occurs within first two years). This is best suited for diabetics with multiple complications.

  Also read: Best Guaranteed Acceptance Life Insurance Companies

• Final Expense Insurance: Designed to cover funeral and end-of-life costs. Provides modest coverage, usually $2,000 to $40,000, with simplified underwriting. Policies are easier to qualify for and can be issued within days.

  Also read: Best Burial & Final Expense Insurance Companies

With 11.6% of Americans living with diabetes, finding the right life insurance for diabetics can be challenging, but coverage is available. Life insurance companies assess various factors, such as the severity of your condition, the type of diabetes and your treatment plan, to determine if you qualify for coverage.

We've analyzed thousands of life insurance quotes to help you find the best coverage for people with diabetes.

Diabetics often face additional challenges when seeking approval for affordable life insurance.

We evaluated major carriers using a scoring system built around what matters most when you're managing blood sugar levels while protecting your family's financial future: competitive rates despite your diagnosis, straightforward application processes and policy options that accommodate your health needs.

Affordability drives 50% of our ratings because diabetes often triggers higher premiums or even denials at companies using outdated underwriting. Customer experience accounts for 30% —you need insurers who process diabetes-related medical records efficiently and communicate clearly about approval decisions. Coverage options make up the remaining 20%, since flexible term lengths and conversion features let you adjust protection as your health stabilizes or changes.

We pulled complaint data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) to flag companies with poor claim-handling records, checked AM Best financial strength ratings to verify insurers can pay death benefits decades from now, and reviewed BBB ratings plus J.D. Power satisfaction scores for real customer feedback. Direct research with each company confirmed their specific underwriting guidelines for diabetes, whether they accept applicants with A1C levels above 7%, require insulin pump documentation or offer accelerated underwriting despite your condition.

Our rate analysis used a 40-year-old non-smoker at 5'9" and 160 pounds for men or 5'4" and 120 pounds for women, with a poor health rating that reflects diabetes complications like neuropathy or retinopathy. This profile reveals which companies price coverage fairly when your medical history includes diabetes management challenges, not just well-controlled cases that qualify for standard rates.