Can you get life insurance if you are living with Diabetes?
Yes, it is possible to get life insurance.
As life insurance experts, we will find the right policy to protect you and your loved ones.
Working in partnership with…
Your Guide to Diabetes Life Insurance.
The Insurance Surgery is a leading expert in life insurance for people living with diabetes. We assess each client’s circumstances individually to identify which insurance providers will offer the best premiums to cover you and protect your family.
Receive free and friendly expert advice from an award-winning Specialist Life Insurance Broker.
How diabetes life insurance works.
Life insurance for people living with diabetes can be obtained at very reasonable premiums by approaching the best providers. To help us secure your cover more quickly, make sure to have the following information on your condition ready:
- Type of Diabetes
- Your height and weight
- Your cholesterol readings
- Your blood pressure readings
- Any other medical issues you may have
- Your age when you were diagnosed with diabetes
- An assessment from your GP of your current condition
- Your most recent HbA1c / Mmol (blood sugar) readings
- How you’re managing your condition (e.g. medication, diet, exercise)
- Any diabetes-related complications (e.g. retinopathy, neuropathy, nephropathy)
Who We Work With.
Our team of friendly life insurance experts will help you find the perfect policy for your individual circumstances, to protect your family and save you money. Our insurance partners include all the biggest brands and best insurers.
Important Questions You Will Need To Answer.
These are the common questions you’ll be asked when you apply for life insurance and disclose type 1 or type 2 diabetes as a pre-existing medical condition.
- Have you ever had an Electrocardiogram (ECG)?
- Have you had kidney problems or protein in the urine?
- Have you ever had chest pain that required hospital treatment?
- Have you ever had any eye problems as a result of your condition?
- How many hypoglycaemic or hyperglycaemic attacks have you had in the past 5 years?
- Are you awaiting any hospital referrals? (including diabetes tests, scans or investigations).
- Has your diabetes ever caused muscle weakness, leg pain or numbness and tingling in your feet or hands?
- Has your diabetes caused any of the following: angina, heart attack, stroke, TIA, blocked or narrowed arteries?
Please note: These questions can vary depending on your insurer and the information can be obtained from your doctor or GP if you’re unsure of the answers.
Diabetes blogs.
How to Claim.
Making a claim couldn’t be easier when you choose The Insurance Surgery. To claim, follow these three steps so we can connect you with an insurance broker or provider that suits what you’re looking for.
Contact Your Broker/Provider
The easiest way to make a claim is to go through the insurance broker or provider you took the cover with. This not only takes the weight off your shoulders at this stressful time but also helps speed up the claim process.
Start the process via Call/Email/Post
Depending on the type of policy you have, ways to make a claim can vary. You will initiate the claim process either via telephone, email, or post for Life Insurance, Critical Illness Cover and Income Protection.
Send Required Information
Once the claim has been received your insurance provider will then request the necessary evidence in order to assess the claim. This can include but is not limited to death certificates, GP reports and specialist letters.
Type 1 Diabetes.
Underwriting for type 1 diabetes life insurance will depend on a number of factors. These are determined by assessing the levels of risk and severity of the condition. The most important thing for insurers is to have your diabetes under control. If you can demonstrate this, we will most likely be able to find suitable and affordable cover.
Through our vast experience, The Insurance Surgery know the best insurers to approach for people living with diabetes and we will work hard to find you the best solution.
Type 2 Diabetes.
Underwriting for type 2 diabetes life insurance works slightly differently to underwriting for type 1 diabetes. Due to the fact that type 2 diabetes is a lifestyle condition, life insurance underwriting takes different factors into consideration. These include:
- Height
- Weight
- BMI
- Dress and waist size
Life insurance premiums will therefore vary depending on your health and lifestyle. We can offer expert support so you find the best cover for you.
Choose The Insurance Surgery.
Our goal is to make the process of getting life insurance that much easier by offering expert, impartial advice to you and your family members. Here are the reasons why you can rely on us:
Best Specialist Intermediary 2023
Rated 'Excellent' on Trustpilot
More than 25 years of experience
Access to wide range of insurers
Diabetes Critical Illness Cover.
Critical illness cover for diabetes has become more available in recent years. However, it is often only available to a fairly small proportion of sufferers as underwriting can be strict. Normally, there need to have been no additional complications (e.g. Neuropathy, Retinopathy or Nephropathy).
If you do receive critical illness cover, the policy will pay out a tax-free lump sum if you’re diagnosed with a critical illness defined under your policy wording. Policies can vary in terms of the conditions that they will cover and the amount they will pay out in the event of a claim so it’s important to find one that covers you.
Most critical illness policies will cover:
- Cancer
- Stroke
- Liver or kidney failure
- Heart attack
- Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
- Major organ transplant
It is likely that the underwriting of critical illness will change for diabetes in the future. The Insurance Surgery is working with insurers to improve criteria. Our team is constantly researching and assessing the market to determine which authorised and regulated providers can offer the lowest premiums. Our aim at The Insurance Surgery is to find the best cover for you.
Whole Of Life Insurance For Diabetes.
Whole of life insurance cover is available to those with pre-existing medical conditions, including diabetes. The main benefit of taking out a whole of life insurance policy is that in the case of death, the policy is guaranteed to pay out to your loved ones. Due to the guarantee, this type of insurance tends to have higher premiums attached.
Speak to an adviser today to discuss your life insurance options.
Income Protection.
Income protection for diabetes in reality is difficult to obtain because of the strict underwriting process. Currently, income protection is more or less unavailable to those with type 1 diabetes. This is unless your diabetes is very well controlled and your Hba1c readings are constantly at an acceptable level.
There are a number of providers who will consider type 2 diabetes income protection. However, as type 2 diabetes can cause a number of health issues, this increases the likelihood of a claim being made on an income protection policy. Therefore, the criteria is fairly strict.
Get a quote from an expert
Diabetes income protection is another product where we hope and expect to see development over the coming years. Our team is constantly talking to insurance providers about how it might work.
1. Cost of Life Insurance Case Study.
Billy aged 27 years old was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes over 15 years ago, Billy has had no complications since. We found him 2 options for life insurance that were under his budget of £25.00 per month:
Total Cover Amount: £135,000.00
Monthly Premium Cost: £15.12 decreasing cover | £20.48 level cover
Duration of Policy: 30 Years
2. Cost of Life Insurance Case Study.
Nikki aged 38 years old, was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes in 2013. Nikki’s HBA1C reading was 55 mmol in March 2024. To keep her condition under control, she take 3 types of medication + weekly injection.
We found affordable cover that spans 40 years for Nikki:
Total Cover Amount: £60,000.00
Monthly Premium Cost: £18.22 level cover
Duration of Policy: 40 Years
Price Promise.
As an award-winning specialist Insurance Broker for those with medical conditions, high risk occupations or participating in extreme sports we will never be beaten on price.
Our Partnership with Diabetes UK.
Diabetes UK is the UK’s leading diabetes charity, fighting for a world where diabetes can do no harm. There are over 5 million people now living with diabetes in the UK and every year diabetes UK supports millions through their helpline, the information on their website, local services and their work with healthcare professionals.
The charity has been supporting people living with and affected by diabetes for over 85 years, to provide help, prevent diagnosis of type 2 diabetes, make research breakthroughs in diabetes and ultimately find a cure.
“We’re delighted to be partnering with The Insurance Surgery over the next three years, working together to share tips and advice about life insurance and diabetes. In partnership, we will support people living with diabetes to learn more about life insurance, what is available to them, and what they might expect when attempting to purchase life insurance.
Insurance can be a confusing and daunting process, and living with diabetes can make the process even more challenging. We want people living with diabetes to know that their condition does not mean they will never be able to access insurance, and we want to help them make informed decisions when it comes to life insurance.”
James Beeby, Director of Engagement and Fundraising, Diabetes UK
Find out more about Diabetes UK by visiting diabetes.org.uk, or for more personalised advice and support call the Diabetes UK Helpline (0345 123 2399) to speak to their highly trained advisers. All calls are confidential, and you can take the time to talk things through with someone who understands diabetes – you don’t need to have a specific question to call.
The Diabetes Forum.
The Diabetes Forum is demonstrated in research to be the most actively used social medium for people with diabetes.
If you have diabetes, you will have found fantastic information from them via their website and forums. Thousands of our customers yearly are active users of the Diabetes.co.uk, and they recommend to use The Insurance Surgery for diabetes life insurance on their website.
The Diabetes Forum is the hub of the Diabetes Community. Through the forum you can:
- Find support
- Connect with others and ask questions; and
- Share your experiences with over 281,823 people with diabetes, their carers and family.
You can find more about their mission and how they want to use digital media to shape the future of healthcare here.
Frequently Asked Questions
We answer your most frequently asked questions.
Do you know your HbA1c (Mmol) reading?
Protection Advisors will ask this question when you apply for a life insurance policy with diabetes. You may know this as your blood sugar level.
Your HbA1c reading is pretty important as it can determine a policy’s premium. We have provided a quick reference guide below on HbA1c levels and what is clinically rated as low – very high.
- Good control – Under 53mol or under 7.0%
- Could improve – 54 to 74mol or 7.0% to 8.9%
- Poor control – 75 to 85mol or 9.0% to 9.9%
- Very High – Over 86mol or over 10.0%
At the Insurance Surgery we are experts at obtaining policies for people with diabetes, we recognise that blood sugar levels can change – so our priority is getting you the most suitable products for your needs.
If you are in the higher range currently, we offer a 12 month review service, so any changes to your HbA1c readings can be amended on your policy.
As it stands, having pre-diabetes will not affect your life insurance policy.
Pre-diabetes is not a condition that requires medical treatment as the symptoms can be managed by adjusting diet and exercise habits to create a more healthy lifestyle. When filling out a life insurance application you are not required to disclose prediabetes as a condition.
Yes, it does. If you have a life insurance policy before a cancer diagnosis, you will likely be covered, although you may wish to check the details of any critical illness cover or income protection within your policy details.
If you are looking for life insurance after a cancer diagnosis, there are many options available but these may depend on the type of cancer, and how long it has been since your last treatment. Our approach is to find the right life insurance policy that suits your needs. In a short call with one of our trained cancer life insurance specialists, we are confident that we can find a positive solution that will protect you and your family.
Having a pre-existing medical condition is always a worry when it comes to looking for a life insurance policy, but it is possible to take out life insurance if you have multiple health conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure.
It’s important to be open and honest with our team of experts as they will be able to find the best policy for your conditions. If you do not disclose your medical conditions at the time of application, there could be issues with your policy down the line.
It’s possible to get life insurance coverage with diabetes from most major insurance providers now, however the cost can vary which is why it’s a good idea to use a specialist broker like The Insurance Surgery.
The number of people living with diabetes is increasing so there’s also an ever-increasing need for insurers to offer competitive rates for diabetes and new products, which we can look at on your behalf.
Without knowing your personal circumstances, it would be difficult to tell you exactly which insurance company would be best for you and your diabetes. One company may offer a great life insurance policy for type 2 diabetes but be different if you have type 1 diabetes. That’s why we like to get to know you, your lifestyle and your expectations before we find the policy for you.
You may be able to find a competitive quote from some of the well-known insurers, however it is incredibly time consuming to compare these yourself. We can take the stress off your shoulders and find the right insurer for you.
As with any type of insurance, it is important that you are honest and truthful throughout. All information provided during your application must be accurate.
If a claim is subsequently made, insurers will check whether any of these factors contributed towards your death. If you lie during the application process, the pay-out from your policy could be declined or significantly reduced.
Non-disclosures are a major issue to insurers – don’t let this happen to you or your loved ones.
Diabetes Symptoms.
Diabetes is currently a chronic (life-long) condition. It causes the blood sugar levels to increase or decrease to levels that go beyond the recommended limits.
There are a number of symptoms caused by having diabetes. The main ones are as follows:
- Fatigue: Constant tiredness
- Weight loss: without trying to
- Vision: Blurred or double vision
- Thirsty: More often than normal
- Hunger: More hungry than usual
- Itching: Especially around genital areas
- Healing: Cuts or scars take longer to heal
- Urination: More frequently and especially at night
Diabetes is a condition that affects many areas of the body. Therefore the symptoms can be extremely varied and do not have to be localised.
It is important to visit your GP if new symptoms develop or if you have any concerns. Diabetes can cause far more serious health problems if untreated such as:
- Neuropathy (kidney disease)
- Retinopathy (eye issues)
- Nephropathy (nerve damage)
- Raised or high blood pressure
- High cholesterol levels
- High body mass index (BMI)
- Stroke
- Heart attack
For more information, check out our latest blogs.
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Diabetes Facts.
Diabetes is currently a chronic (life-long) condition. It causes the blood sugar levels to increase or decrease to levels that go beyond the recommended limits.
- Currently, over 4 million people are diagnosed with diabetes.
- 90% are type 2 and only 10% are type 1.
- 1 in 8 people (between 20 and 79 years) die because of diabetes.
- Life expectancy is reduced (type 1 = 20 years / type 2 = 10 years).
Useful Links.
The Insurance Surgery is a leading life insurance expert for diabetes. We have helped thousands of families, individuals and businesses protect themselves financially.