Best Life Insurance for Diabetics in 2026

People with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes can qualify for life insurance. Insurers focus more on how well your condition is managed than on the diagnosis itself. Well-controlled Type 2 diabetes can qualify for Standard or Standard Plus rates from many major insurers. Type 1 diabetes often results in table-rated policies with higher premiums, but coverage is still available.

We analyzed provider rates, coverage options, underwriting practices and customer experience to identify the best life insurance for diabetics. Banner Life has the lowest average rates in our analysis, Nationwide has the lowest customer complaints, and John Hancock is the only insurer we reviewed with a diabetes-specific wellness program that can reduce your premiums by up to 25%.

Find out if you're overpaying for life insurance below.

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Updated: August 13, 2026

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Best Life Insurance Companies for Diabetics

Banner Life is the best life insurance company for diabetics in our analysis, with average monthly rates of $42 for women and $54 for men at age 40 with a 20-year, $500,000 term policy. It accepts applicants with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, with the best rates available to people who have well-controlled diabetes and no major complications.

Among the three insurers we reviewed, Banner Life has the strongest approval prospects for applicants with Type 1 diabetes. It considers applicants who use fewer than 50 units of insulin daily and have no major complications. For people under 40 years old with Type 2 diabetes, Nationwide has the best chance of qualifying you for Standard Plus rates, which many insurers reserve for people without chronic conditions. John Hancock’s Aspire program provides eligible policyholders with virtual health coaching and premium savings of up to 25% for actively managing their condition.

Banner Life

Overall
$42 (women)
$54 (men)
$5 million
A+
4.5

Nationwide

Customer Experience
$52 (women)
$68 (men)
$1.5 million
A+
4.3

John Hancock

Diabetes Program
$66 (women)
$82 (men)
$3 million
A+
4.2

* Rates shown are averages for nonsmoking 40-year-olds with well-controlled diabetes on a 20-year, $500,000 term policy. Your actual rate depends on your A1C level, diabetes type, medications and treatment history.

Best Overall: Banner Life

Banner Life

Banner Life

MoneyGeek Rating
4.5/ 5
5/5Affordability
3.7/5Customer Experience
4.5/5Coverage Points

  • Average Monthly Cost

    $42 (women), $54 (men)

  • Ages Supported

    20-75

  • Term Lengths

    10-40 years

Best Customer Experience: Nationwide

Nationwide

Nationwide

MoneyGeek Rating
4.3/ 5
4.2/5Affordability
4.8/5Customer Experience
3.8/5Coverage Points

  • Average Monthly Cost

    $52 (women), $68 (men)

  • Ages Supported

    21-55

  • Term Lengths

    10-30 years

Best Diabetes Program: John Hancock

John Hancock

John Hancock

MoneyGeek Rating
4.2/ 5
4.4/5Affordability
3.7/5Customer Experience
4.5/5Coverage Points

  • Average Monthly Cost

    $66 (women), $82 (men)

  • Ages Supported

    18-80

  • Term Lengths

    10-30 years

How to Choose the Best Life Insurance for Diabetes

Finding affordable life insurance with diabetes starts with preparation. Your A1C, treatment plan, overall health and choice of insurer all influence your eligibility and premiums.

  1. 1
    Keep Your Diabetes Well Controlled

    Insurers pay close attention to your A1C and overall diabetes management. Maintaining stable blood sugar and an A1C below 7.5% for at least six months improves your chances of qualifying for lower rates.

  2. 2
    Compare Diabetes-Friendly Insurers

    Life insurance companies assess diabetes differently, so you might receive Standard rates from one insurer and a more expensive table rating from another. When comparing companies, review how each insurer treats your type of diabetes, its A1C limits for each risk class and whether insulin use affects eligibility or pricing.

  3. 3
    Work With an Experienced Independent Agent

    An independent agent familiar with diabetes underwriting can match you with insurers that are more likely to offer favorable rates based on your age, diagnosis, medications and overall health. Ask your agent whether the insurer is likely to request an attending physician statement from your doctor so you can alert your physician's office in advance and avoid delays.

  4. 4
    Apply When Your Health Is Stable

    If you've recently been diagnosed, changed medications or been hospitalized, consider waiting until your condition has been stable for at least six months. Underwriters place more weight on recent health trends than older medical history.

  5. 5
    Stabilize Your Weight Before Applying

    Life insurers consider your height-to-weight ratio especially important when you have diabetes, because excess weight is both a health risk and an indicator of how well your condition is managed. If you’ve lost weight through diet, exercise or medication within the past year, medical records showing that your weight has stabilized can strengthen your application. If possible, wait to apply until you’ve maintained a consistent weight for at least six months.

  6. 6
    Have Your Medical Records Ready

    Gather recent A1C results, medication lists and physician records before applying. Documentation showing consistent diabetes management, regular follow-up care and healthy lifestyle habits can strengthen your application and help you to qualify for lower rates.

  7. 7
    Consider Alternative Policy Types

    If you don't qualify for traditional fully underwritten coverage, simplified issue or guaranteed issue life insurance are still an option. These policies have fewer medical requirements but often come with higher premiums and lower coverage limits.

Health Classification Requirements

Life insurance companies assign a health classification based on your medical history, lifestyle and overall risk. For people with diabetes, this classification is a major factor in determining your monthly premium rate.

Your diabetes type can influence which risk classes are available before the insurer considers your A1C levels or complications. People with well-managed Type 2 diabetes qualify for Standard or Standard Plus rates from many insurers and, in some cases, Preferred rates. People with Type 1 diabetes usually qualify for Standard or table-rated policies with higher premiums. Preferred Plus rates aren't generally unavailable to people with either type of diabetes.

What Insurers Will Ask About Your Diabetes

When you apply for a fully underwritten life insurance policy with diabetes, you'll fill out a health questionnaire and take a medical exam. The exam measures height, weight, blood pressure and collects blood and urine samples. For diabetics, the insurer asks additional questions about your diagnosis and current management.

Be ready to answer:

  • When were you diagnosed, and at what age?
  • What is your most recent A1C reading and your 12-month average A1C?
  • Are you currently on insulin? If so, how many daily units?
  • Do you monitor your blood glucose daily?
  • Do you take any oral medications for diabetes, such as metformin or a GLP-1 like Ozempic?
  • Do you have any complications, including neuropathy, retinopathy or kidney disease?
  • Have you had any amputations?
  • Are you currently on dialysis?

Your answers determine your health classification and set your rate. Having your most recent lab results and your doctor's contact information ready before you apply speeds up the process. If the insurer requests an attending physician statement from your doctor, notify your physician's office in advance so the request doesn't sit in a queue.

How Much Does Life Insurance Cost for Diabetics?

Life insurance costs more for people with diabetes than for those in good health, but rates depend on your type of diabetes, A1C levels and age at diagnosis. Most insurers consider Type 2 diabetes a lower risk than Type 1, so you'll pay lower premiums.

Based on MoneyGeek’s analysis of $500,000, 20-year term policies, a 40-year-old woman with Type 2 diabetes pays an average of $47 per month, while a man pays $59. For Type 1 diabetes, average rates rise to $52 for women and $66 for men. At age 60, Type 2 rates average $286 for women and $395 for men, compared with $318 and $447 for Type 1.

Type 1 Diabetes Life Insurance Cost

20
Female
$26
$32
$51
Male
$33
$40
$66
30
Female
$27
$34
$56
Male
$37
$42
$72
40
Female
$38
$52
$90
Male
$46
$66
$118
50
Female
$77
$114
$212
Male
$101
$150
$291
60
Female
$176
$318
N/A
Male
$254
$447
N/A
70
Female
$444
N/A
N/A
Male
$680
N/A
N/A

Type 2 Diabetes Life Insurance Cost

20
Female
$23
$30
$45
Male
$29
$36
$58
30
Female
$24
$31
$52
Male
$30
$38
$64
40
Female
$34
$47
$82
Male
$41
$59
$104
50
Female
$70
$102
$196
Male
$90
$137
$269
60
Female
$158
$286
N/A
Male
$227
$395
N/A
70
Female
$397
N/A
N/A
Male
$600
N/A
N/A

* Rates shown are for nonsmokers with a $500,000 term life policy. “N/A” indicates that the term length isn't available for that age.

Factors Affecting Life Insurance Costs for Diabetics

Life insurers use several diabetes-specific factors to determine your risk class and premium:

  • calendar icon

    Age at diagnosis

    People diagnosed after age 50 receive better rates than those diagnosed earlier, even with similar A1C levels. A shorter history of diabetes means less time for long-term complications to develop.

  • vsDocuments icon

    Type of diabetes

    If you have well-controlled Type 2 diabetes, you can qualify for Standard or Standard Plus rates. Type 1 diabetes usually results in table ratings, which increases premiums above the standard rate.

  • weight icon

    Height and weight

    Life insurers use your height-to-weight ratio to assess risk regardless of whether you have diabetes. For people with diabetes, it carries more influence because excess weight is both a risk factor for Type 2 diabetes and a signal of how actively you're managing your condition. A gradual, documented weight loss before you apply can improve your risk classification and lower your premiums.

  • empathizeLine icon

    A1C level

    A1C is one of the most important life insurance underwriting factors for diabetes. An A1C below 7.0 qualifies for the best rates available to most diabetic applicants, while levels above 9.0 often lead to higher premiums or coverage declines.

  • errorCheck icon

    Diabetes-related complications

    Neuropathy, kidney disease, retinopathy, amputations and diabetic ketoacidosis increase premiums and reduce the number of insurers willing to offer coverage.

  • family icon

    Family medical history

    A parent or sibling who died at an early age from heart disease, cancer or diabetes-related causes can result in a less favorable health classification.

  • firstAidKit icon

    Medications

    Insulin, metformin, glipizide and GLP-1 medications all factor into underwriting. The type of medication, how long you've been on it and whether it's controlling your blood sugar signal to the insurer whether your condition is managed.

    Insulin use usually results in a higher risk classification than treatment with oral medications alone. Some insurers with updated guidelines for GLP-1 medications view improved A1C levels during treatment as a positive sign of diabetes management.

What if You're Denied Traditional Life Insurance?

Being declined for a fully underwritten policy doesn't mean you can't get life insurance. These alternatives life insurance options for diabetics can still provide meaningful financial protection:

  • Group Life Insurance Through Your Employer: Employer-sponsored group life insurance is the easiest option because it requires little or no medical underwriting. Coverage amounts are limited, but you can often enroll regardless of your diabetes diagnosis or other health conditions.
  • Guaranteed Issue Life Insurance: Guaranteed issue policies don't require a medical exam or health questions. They're available even to people with advanced diabetes or multiple health complications. Coverage ranges from $2,000 to $30,000 and includes a two-year graded death benefit, so policies pay only a refund of premiums plus interest if you die during the first two years.
  • Final Expense Insurance: Final expense insurance is designed to cover funeral and other end-of-life costs. Coverage ranges from $2,000 to $50,000 and uses simplified underwriting with no medical exam. People with well-managed diabetes can qualify, and policies are issued within a few days.
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Diabetic Life Insurance FAQ

MoneyGeek analyzed life insurance companies that regularly insure applicants with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. We compared rates, customer experience and coverage options, then assessed how each insurer handles Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, A1C levels, insulin use and diabetes-related complications.

Overall MoneyGeek scores are based on a weighted average of three key decision factors:

  • Affordability (50%): How competitive premium rates are compared to other insurers for applicants who qualify for coverage.
  • Customer Experience (30%): Customer satisfaction, claims handling and company reputation based on J.D. Power, BBB, AM Best and NAIC complaint data.
  • Coverage Options (20%): Policy types, term lengths, coverage limits, riders, underwriting flexibility and features that make coverage more accessible for people with diabetes.

Unless otherwise noted, rates and policy comparisons are based on a 40-year-old nonsmoking applicant.

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About Patrick Bryant

Patrick Bryant, Vertical Lead, Life & Health Insurance, MoneyGeek

Patrick Bryant is the Vertical Lead for Life and Health Insurance at MoneyGeek, where he researches insurance products, writes consumer guides and maintains the scoring methodologies behind our provider comparisons. He analyzed more than 50 life insurance carriers across multiple policy types, collecting thousands of quotes nationwide to evaluate rates, coverage options and underwriting factors. His methodologies are reviewed quarterly to reflect current market conditions and carrier data.

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