Updated: May 26, 2025
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John Hancock offers the best life insurance for Type 2 diabetics, while Mutual of Omaha has the best life insurance for Type 1 diabetics.
Health risks and medical history can make buying life insurance challenging. Ethos Life is the best option for people looking for a company that allows approval without medical exams.
AIG is the best cheap term life insurance company for diabetics. Nationwide provides the top whole life insurance option for those seeking permanent coverage.
John Hancock and Mutual of Omaha offer the best life insurance for Type 2 diabetics and Type 1 diabetics, respectively. The best provider for you may differ depending on your needs and circumstances. Some companies may offer lower rates, while others may have more personalized offers for people with diabetes. Below are the best life insurance companies for different coverage needs.
Program is specific to diabetics
Life insurance discounts for making healthy choices
Diabetic resources, tools and education, which includes virtual consults with experts through its Aspire program
Not available in Idaho, New York or Puerto Rico
Aspire is not currently available on Simple Term with Vitality or final expense whole life products
Online quotes are not available
MoneyGeek Score: 78.8
J.D. Power (out of 1,000): 644
AM Best Rating: A+
NAIC Complaint Index: 0.40
MoneyGeek's Take: John Hancock’s Aspire With Vitality program combines life insurance with a wellness program designed specifically for people with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes. It includes valuable savings on life insurance for making healthy choices.
Because of its Aspire program, John Hancock leads the pack for best life insurance for Type 2 diabetes. The Aspire rider combines John Hancock life insurance with companies Vitality and Onduo to incentivize people with diabetes to make healthy choices.
The Vitality program can cost as little as $2 per month and may be added as a rider to any John Hancock fully underwritten life insurance policy. Vitality offers ways to track and identify health and lifestyle goals, with rewards for making healthy choices.
Onduo works in conjunction with your diabetes treatment plan, offering clinical and coaching support and diabetes tools for healthy living.
Making healthy choices can save you up to 25% on your John Hancock life insurance premiums for diabetics. The savings don’t end there, as you can also get a complimentary Amazon Halo or a significant discount on the most recent Apple Watch.
The Vitality program also provides travel, retail and grocery discounts, and a complimentary Amazon Prime membership. Onduo sends people with Type 2 diabetes a customized free diabetes kit with virtual access to diabetes experts and personalized health coaching.
Policy Types Offered:
Online quotes available
Fully underwritten and guaranteed-issue policies available
Competitive underwriting and rates
Favorable customer satisfaction and financial strength ratings
Slow approval process
Rates can be high with other health concerns
MoneyGeek Score: 90.8
J.D. Power (out of 1,000): 659
AM Best Rating: A+
NAIC Complaint Index: 0.43
MoneyGeek’s Take: Mutual of Omaha offers competitive pricing for life insurance for Type 1 diabetes and a guaranteed-issue whole life policy for people with diabetes over the age of 45.
Mutual of Omaha’s competitive underwriting for life insurance for Type 1 diabetes makes its policies a top choice for people with diabetes. Mutual of Omaha offers term, whole life and universal life insurance policies that require full underwriting for people with diabetes.
Term life insurance comes in customizable terms of 10, 15, 20 and 30 years for those aged 18 to 80, starting at $100,000 in coverage. Mutual of Omaha offers universal life and indexed universal life with coverage starting at $25,000, up to $500,000 or more, based on financial needs. Mutual of Omaha offers some of the best life insurance rates for Type 1 diabetics, but not everyone will be approved.
For those between theages of 45 and 85, Mutual of Omaha has a guaranteed-issue whole life insurance policy with coverage up to $25,000. This policy doesn’t require health questions or a medical exam, and you are guaranteed coverage as long as you can afford the premiums.
Mutual of Omaha is available nationwide and allows online quotes, making it easy for you to find out how competitive their rates are compared to other life insurance for people with diabetes.
Policy Types Offered:
Completely online quote and application process
No medical exam required for coverage
Diabetics aged 65–85 automatically qualify for whole life insurance
Not offered in New York
Not all diabetics will qualify
MoneyGeek Score: N/A
J.D. Power (out of 1,000): N/A
AM Best Rating: N/A
NAIC Complaint Index: N/A
MoneyGeek’s Take: Ethos offers term and whole life insurance options that do not require a medical exam, which could mean more affordable coverage for people with diabetes.
Ethos, a tech company, is a licensed producer and third-party administrator of life insurance, working with some of the industry's top life insurance carriers to sell reliable policies, including Legal & General America, AAA Life, Ameritas Life Insurance Corp., TruStage Financial Group, Inc., Senior Life Insurance Company and Mutual of Omaha. Ethos uses artificial intelligence to underwrite and initiate coverage without medical exams quickly. The available term policies range from $20,000 to $1.5 million in coverage,with terms ranging from 10 to 20 years in length for applicants ages 20–65.
Its simplified underwriting process means most people won’t have to complete a medical exam, although answers to the few health questions asked may result in a requirement for you to complete one to be approved.
Through AAA Life, Ethos provides up to $25,000 in whole life insurance for diabetics between the ages ofof 66 and 85. Coverage is guaranteed, and no health questions or medical exams are required.
With guaranteed approval, senior diabetics can get life insurance coverage in just a few minutes using Ethos’ completely online application process. These policies come with a graded death benefit, which means if you die in the first two policy years, your beneficiary will receive the premiums returned plus 30%. However, accidental death is covered 100% from the time the policy is purchased.
Policy Types Offered:
Offers flexible terms for short- or long-term goals
Term policies are convertible and renewable
QoL Flex Term comes with free living benefit riders
Automatic decline if diagnosed with juvenile-onset diabetes (Type 1 diabetes)
Must complete medical exam with the onset of Type 1 diabetes in later life
MoneyGeek Score: 77.2
J.D. Power (out of 1,000): N/A
AM Best Rating: A
NAIC Complaint Index: N/A
MoneyGeek's Take: AIG offers the best term life for diabetics, with flexible terms and coverage limits, so you only pay for the coverage you need for as long as you need it.
AIG offers some of the most flexible terms for temporary life insurance coverage of any carrier, with cheap rates compared to competitors. Most life insurers offer term life insurance coverage for 10, 20, or 30 years without options in between. AIG’s Quality of Life Flex Term (QoL Flex Term) allows you to choose the number of years you need coverage.
You can opt for term policies from 10 to 35 years in length and any number in between. So if you want to get a 17-year term life insurance policy to cover the rest of your mortgage loan, AIG’s QoL Flex Term will provide a guaranteed level death benefit for the life of the mortgage.
QoL Flex Term also comes with living benefits riders built-in, so you don’t have to pay extra for these valuable riders.
Coverage begins at $100,000 for all AIG term life insurance policies. If you don’t need extra flexibility, AIG also offers standard term life insurance and renewable term life insurance, which renews annually or every five years until you cancel the policy.
At AIG, Type 1 diabetics are required to complete a medical exam to determine eligibility. People with Type 2 diabetes may qualify for term life insurance without a medical exam, depending on their overall health and family history.
Policy Types Offered:
Can pay policy in full in 20 years
Simplified issue coverage up to $50k
People with Type 2 diabetes that is well-controlled may qualify without a medical exam
People with Type 1, insulin-dependent diabetes are only eligible for simplified-issue
Only current Nationwide policyholders, their spouse, parents, child, or grandchild are eligible for simplified-issue
MoneyGeek Score: 88.6
J.D. Power (out of 1,000): 666
AM Best Rating: A+
NAIC Complaint Index: 1.88
MoneyGeek’s Take: Nationwide offers competitive pricing on whole life insurance for diabetics, with several optional riders to tailor the policy to individual needs.
Nationwide offers two types of whole life insurance for people with diabetes. These is the traditional whole life insurance policy and a simplified issue policy.
The traditional policy comes with two payment options. You can opt for lower-than-average premiums, but the policy requires payments until you reach age 100, or you can pay higher premiums for 20 years with the policy being paid in full until death.
Rates and eligibility are based on age at onset of diabetes, how well-controlled the disease is, and your treatment plan. Healthy Type 2 diabetics may qualify for whole life insurance without a medical exam as long as the coverage amount is $100,000 or less.
While Type 1 diabetics who are insulin-dependent are ineligible for traditional whole life insurance with Nationwide, the insurer has another option available. Nationwide’s simplified issue whole life insurance policy provides up to $50,000 in whole life coverage, with only a few health questions to answer on the application.
This policy has a graded death benefit, which means if you die in the first two years of the policy, your beneficiary will get the premiums returned plus 7% in annual interest instead of the full death benefit. To qualify for simplified-issue whole life with Nationwide, you must be a current Nationwide policyholder or the spouse, child, or grandchild of a Nationwide policyholder.
Policy Types Offered:
Rates for Type 1 and Type 2 diabetics
File claims and manage your account online
Premiums can be high if you have a complicated medical history
Expect slow policy approval turnaround times for complex cases
MoneyGeek Score: 82.8
J.D. Power (out of 1,000): 626
AM Best Rating: A+
NAIC Complaint Index: 2.00
MoneyGeek's Take: Getting life insurance for diabetics can be hard enough, and a complicated medical history can make it even harder. Prudential offers life insurance for Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, even for former smokers.
Prudential's life insurance underwriting methods make it the best life insurance for diabetics with a complicated medical history. For example, if you have high blood pressure or are overweight but are great at controlling your blood sugar, Prudential will use blood sugar credits to offset the higher cost of other health conditions.
The best part is that Prudential does this for all policy types, face amounts and ages, even for smokers. Depending on the condition and severity of conditions that make up a person's complex medical history, nonsmokers may even qualify for the plus underwriting class, making rates even more competitive than the standard class.
If you want to bypass the medical exam, Prudential offers no-exam term life insurance for people with diabetes with coverage amounts up to $500,000. To qualify, you must fill out a diabetes health questionnaire, which the underwriting team will evaluate. You can start a quote online, but having a complicated health history means you will have to speak with a Prudential representative to get a finalized quote.
Policy Types Offered:
Diabetes is a chronic condition that can increase the risk of several health complications such as heart disease, stroke and kidney disease. It is important to find a life insurance company that understands the health risks associated with diabetes and offers coverage that meets your needs. This guide discusses factors to consider, coverage add-ons and average costs to help you choose a policy that fits your needs.
If you are considering purchasing life insurance for people with diabetes, there are several important factors to consider. Below are some of the most important considerations when comparing life insurance policies and providers.
Each insurance company has its own underwriting guidelines, which determine how it assesses the risk of insuring individuals with diabetes. Look for a company that has experience providing life insurance for people with diabetes and offers flexible underwriting guidelines that take into account your overall health, age and other risk factors.
There are two main types of life insurance: term life insurance and permanent life insurance. Term life insurance provides coverage for a set period, typically 10-30 years; it is generally less expensive than permanent life insurance. Permanent life insurance provides coverage for your entire life and includes a savings component that allows you to accumulate cash value over time.
Look for a company with a strong financial rating and a history of paying claims on time. You can check the financial strength of a life insurance company by reviewing its ratings from independent rating agencies such as AM Best, Moody's and Standard & Poor's.
By taking the time to research and compare different life insurance companies, you can find the best coverage to protect your family and loved ones.
When weighing the options for life insurance for diabetics, understanding the available life insurance riders can enhance your policy's value. These riders, which vary by life insurance company and policy type, offer tailored benefits that cater to specific needs.
Generally, you should 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 are 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, your life insurance policy premiums are paid 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 get an idea of 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 a nonsmoking male with Type 2 Diabetics with a $250,000 policy.
Term Length | 30-Year-Old | 40-Year-Old | 50-Year-Old | 60-Year-Old |
|---|---|---|---|---|
10-Year Term | $15–$30 | $25–$45 | $40–$70 | $80–$150 |
20-Year Term | $20–$45 | $32–$55 | $60–$100 | $150–$300 |
The cost information below is a monthly estimate generated for a nonsmoking male with Type 2 Diabetes with a $500,000 policy.
Term Length | 30-Year-Old | 40-Year-Old | 50-Year-Old | 60-Year-Old |
|---|---|---|---|---|
10-Year Term | $18–$40 | $27–$55 | $60–$100 | $150–$350 |
20-Year Term | $25–$55 | $4–$70 | $100–$200 | $300–$600 |
Rates vary significantly 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.
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Rates updated:
Jun 06, 2025
When shopping for the best life insurance for diabetics, it’s essential to understand what factors insurers look at when deciding your eligibility. Be prepared to provide the following information when you apply for life insurance for people with diabetes:
This is the age you were when you were diagnosed with diabetes. Typically, the older you are when you are diagnosed, the better your life insurance rate will be.
Most diabetes cases in America are Type 2, and insurers typically offer better rates than those provided to Type 1 diabetics. This is mainly because Type 2 is more easily controlled through diet and lifestyle choices, whereas Type 1 is insulin-dependent. Most carriers will not approve someone with gestational diabetes unless they apply for guaranteed-issue life insurance.
While treatment plans vary, how well you manage your diabetes is important for a life insurance provider. If your diabetes and blood sugar are well-controlled through medication, regular doctor's visits, and a healthy lifestyle and diet. In that case, you stand a better chance of getting the best life insurance rates for diabetics.
The health history of your parents and siblings can also affect your life insurance eligibility and rate. If members of your immediate family died before they reached age 60, had diabetes themselves or have complex health histories, a life insurance company could view you as too risky to insure, especially if there are genetic conditions at play.
When applying for life insurance, other health and lifestyle factors make a big difference in the cost and availability of coverage. If you have high blood pressure or are overweight, your rates could skyrocket or even make you ineligible for coverage. Alcohol use is another determining underwriting factor since excessive consumption can lead to diabetes-related complications such as retinopathy, a diabetic eye disease.
If you have diabetes, there are a few ways to lower the cost of your life insurance policy:
With 11.6% of Americans living with diabetes, finding the right life insurance for diabetics can be challenging, but it's not impossible. 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.
To help you find the best life insurance policy for diabetics, MoneyGeek has analyzed thousands of life insurance quotes for people with diabetes and other health complications.
People with diabetes can find it more challenging to get approval for life insurance at an affordable rate. Here are the answers to frequently asked questions about life insurance for people with diabetes.
Yes, obtaining life insurance for diabetics is possible. Providers offer life insurance for Type 1 diabetics and life insurance for Type 2 diabetics, considering factors like health management and diabetes control. It's vital to compare the best life insurance policies for diabetics to find suitable coverage.
Yes, people with Type 2 diabetes can buy a life insurance policy. Life insurance companies look at various factors to determine how much you’ll pay for life insurance for Type 2 diabetes. Your age at onset, how well it’s controlled and the treatment plan in place are key factors used to determine eligibility and pricing.
Yes, people with Type 1 diabetes can buy a life insurance policy, although it can be more challenging to get approval than it is for people with Type 2 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is less common and harder to control, which means it’s riskier for insurers to offer life insurance for Type 1 diabetes, but it's not impossible. If you are otherwise healthy, you stand the best chance of getting approved at an affordable rate.
People with diabetes can expect to pay more for life insurance than average. The age at which you were diagnosed, whether you have Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes, your treatment plan and how well your diabetes is managed will determine your rating class. If you have other health conditions, it can be challenging to get approval for life insurance.
The amount you’ll pay above average rates depends on your age, the type of life insurance you apply for and how much coverage you need. Each company looks at diabetes differently, so you should get several quotes to determine which life insurance company is best for you.
A guaranteed-issue life insurance policy is typically the easiest type to get approval for if you have diabetes. This type of life insurance doesn’t include health questions on the application, and you won’t be required to complete a medical exam. However, a guaranteed-issue life insurance policy is usually the most expensive policy you can buy and typically has a death benefit maximum of $25,000.
If denied life insurance because of diabetes, explore alternative options such as guaranteed-issue life insurance for diabetics or specialized policies from companies known for offering life insurance for people with diabetes. Additionally, improving health and diabetes management can enhance future eligibility.
Why Trust MoneyGeek?
We go the extra mile so that you can feel confident about life insurance content from MoneyGeek. Our methodology incorporates many data points from insurance industry research companies and our research to ensure accurate rankings.
Methodology
To create our overall rating scores, we incorporated five J.D. Power rating categories, AM Best financial strength ratings, National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) complaint scores and our own unique MoneyGeek affordability score created by manually gathering thousands of quotes across major providers. The rating weights are as follows:
We decided to assign a lower weight to financial strength ratings from AM Best because each company in our rankings received an A or higher rating, with most companies in the A+ or A++ (Superior) category — the highest level. To determine a winner for rankings categories that require a unique product offering, we did qualitative research to ensure the company provides this product and then chose a winner based on the company's overall rating and affordability score.
About Mark Fitzpatrick
Mark Fitzpatrick, a Licensed Property and Casualty Insurance Producer, is MoneyGeek's resident Personal Finance Expert. With over five years of experience analyzing the insurance market, he conducts original research and creates tailored content for all types of buyers. His insights have been featured in publications like CNBC, NBC News and Mashable.
Fitzpatrick holds a master’s degree in economics and international relations from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree from Boston College. He's also a five-time Jeopardy champion!
Passionate about economics and insurance, he aims to promote transparency in financial topics and empower others to make confident money decisions.
