Best Life Insurance for Diabetes in 2026

Banner Life is best for diabetics on rate competitiveness, customer service and coverage flexibility. The right insurer depends on your specific health profile and coverage needs. ome price more aggressively, others tailor underwriting more closely to diabetic applicants. The top picks by coverage need are:

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 can improve your chances of finding favorable rates and terms, whether you have type 1 or type 2 diabetes.

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

Preferred Plus (Super Preferred)
This rating gives the lowest premiums, but it is extremely rare for diabetics to qualify. Many insurers do not include diabetics in this tier at all. Some may consider type 2 applicants diagnosed after age 40 who have excellent control, no complications and an A1C consistently under 7.0.

Preferred
Rare for insulin users. Some well-controlled type 2 diabetics on oral medication qualify. Insurers check:

• A1C between 7.0 and 8.0
• No diabetes complications
• Consistent treatment with regular checkups

Standard Plus
Moderate diabetes control with no serious complications. Insurers check:

• A1C up to 8.5
• No disease progression
• Minor complications acceptable at some insurers

Standard
Starting point for diabetic applicants. Insurers check:

• A1C up to 9.0
• Moderate complications like early-stage neuropathy
• Past inconsistent control if currently stable

Table Ratings (Substandard)
Insurers apply table ratings when diabetes control is poor or complications are advanced. Each table level adds 25% to your premium. Table 2 adds 50%. Reasons:

• A1C above 9.0
• Insulin use with unstable management
• Serious complications or recent hospital stays

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 for nonsmokers with health risks, based on a $500,000 policy for 10-year, 20-year and 30-year terms.

Estimates based on MoneyGeek's analysis of sample profiles for educational purposes only. Your actual rates will vary based on your health profile, diabetes type and management, insurer underwriting guidelines, and other factors. These figures shouldn't be considered quotes or guarantees of available rates.

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 several ways to lower the cost of your life insurance:

• Quitting smoking drops your premiums, but you must be tobacco-free for at least 12 months before insurers reclassify you as a nonsmoker.
• Wearable health trackers can qualify you for discounts at insurers that monitor member activity and reward measurable improvement.
• Consistent diabetes management limits complications over time, and fewer complications mean better ratings at renewal or when switching insurers.

A denial is not a dead end, because other coverage options remain available.

1. Request a written explanation. Insurers are generally required to identify the medical factors behind a denial.
2. Review your medical records for errors. Incorrect A1C results, outdated medication lists or inaccurate complication histories can trigger an unfair denial.
3. Identify the specific reason. Common causly accepts eligible employees, though terms vary by employer aes are an A1C above 9%, multiple diabetes-related complications, poor medication adherence or a recent hospitalization.

• Group Life Insurance Through Your Employer: This means simplified underwriting, and most eligible employees are accepted. Coverage terms vary by employer and insurer.
• Guaranteed Issue Life Insurance: No health questions or medical exam required. Coverage runs from $2,000 to $25,000 with a two-year waiting period; if death occurs within those two years, the policy returns premiums plus interest. Best suited for diabetics with multiple complications. Also read: Best Guaranteed Acceptance Life Insurance Companies
• Final Expense Insurance: Covers funeral and end-of-life costs with coverage from $2,000 to $40,000. Simplified underwriting applies and policies are often issued within days. Also read: Best Burial & Final Expense Insurance Companies

With 12% 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 encounter 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.