Life Insurance With Diabetes: How A1C, Diabetes Type and Age Affect Your Rates

Diabetes is one of the most common health conditions life insurers see. The CDC estimates that 40.1 million people in the United States, or 12.0% of the population, had diabetes in 2023, and about 11.0 million of them didn't know it yet. Insurers price this risk every day, so a diagnosis is rarely the end of the road. What matters is how well your diabetes is controlled and how you present that on your application.

How insurers look at diabetes

An underwriter is trying to answer one question: how likely is it that this condition shortens your life during the policy? To answer it, insurers look at several things together:

• Your A1C, both the latest result and the trend over the past year. A steady, low reading counts for more than one good test.
• Type of diabetes. Most insurers treat Type 2 as the lower risk.
• Age at diagnosis. Someone diagnosed after 50 has had less time to develop long-term complications, so a later diagnosis usually earns a better rate.
• Treatment. Insulin use usually leads to a higher risk class than oral medication alone. Insurers also notice frequent medication changes.
• Complications such as neuropathy, kidney disease, eye disease (retinopathy), amputations or past diabetic ketoacidosis.
• Height and weight, which carry extra weight in diabetes underwriting, plus tobacco use and family history.

Rate classes and A1C ranges

Life insurers sort applicants into health classes. The better the class, the lower the premium. MoneyGeek's 2026 guide describes these typical ranges for applicants with diabetes:

Source: MoneyGeek, September 2026. Each insurer sets its own cutoffs, so the same A1C can land in different classes at different companies.

Type 1 vs. Type 2 diabetes

With well-managed Type 2 diabetes, many insurers offer Standard or Standard Plus rates, and some offer Preferred. Type 1 applicants more often receive Standard or a table rating, because the condition usually starts earlier in life and always requires insulin. Coverage is still widely available.

Underwriting rules differ a lot by company, which is why shopping matters. For example, MoneyGeek reports that Banner Life considers Type 1 applicants who use fewer than 50 units of insulin a day and have no complications, and that John Hancock pairs its policies with a diabetes wellness program that can lower premiums by up to 25%.

What life insurance costs with diabetes

MoneyGeek's average monthly rates for a $500,000, 20-year term policy for nonsmokers:

Source: MoneyGeek, September 2026. Averages for nonsmokers; your price depends on your A1C, treatment, complications and the insurer.

Notice how fast prices climb after 50. If you need coverage, applying while you are younger and your diabetes is well controlled usually saves money over the life of the policy. For prices without health conditions, see how much life insurance costs, and to choose a policy length, read term vs. whole life insurance.

How to get a better rate

1. Apply when things are stable. After a new diagnosis, a medication change or a hospital stay, waiting until you have been stable for about six months helps, because underwriters weigh recent results most.
2. Work on your A1C first. MoneyGeek notes that keeping your A1C under 7.5% for at least six months improves your chances of a lower class.
3. Keep your weight steady. If you have lost weight, records showing it has stayed off for about six months strengthen your application.
4. Gather your records. Recent A1C results, a list of medications with doses and your doctor's contact details speed things up. If the insurer asks your doctor for records, let the office know so the request isn't delayed.
5. Quit tobacco if you use it. Smoking on top of diabetes raises prices sharply. Many insurers want about 12 months tobacco-free before they treat you as a nonsmoker.
6. Compare several insurers. One company may offer Standard while another offers a table rating for the same file. An independent agent who knows diabetes underwriting can steer you to the right companies.

What the application will ask

Expect detailed questions, so have the answers ready:

• when you were diagnosed and how old you were;
• your latest A1C and your average over the past year;
• whether you use insulin and, if so, how many units a day;
• which other medications you take, such as metformin or a GLP-1 drug;
• whether you check your blood sugar daily;
• any complications, including nerve, eye or kidney problems, amputations or dialysis.

Answer every question accurately. Insurers check medical and prescription records, and a wrong answer can cause bigger problems later than an honest one does now.

If you are declined

A decline from one company doesn't mean you can't be covered. Other options include:

• Group life insurance through your employer, which usually needs little or no medical underwriting, although the amounts are limited.
• Final expense insurance, a small simplified-issue policy that MoneyGeek says typically ranges from $2,000 to $50,000. See our guide to final expense insurance.
• Guaranteed issue life insurance, with no exam or health questions. Coverage typically ranges from $2,000 to $30,000, and a two-year graded benefit means a death in the first two years usually returns the premiums paid plus interest rather than the full amount.

You can also improve your control and apply again later. To compare options that skip the exam, read no-medical-exam life insurance.