Can You Get Life Insurance as a Diabetic?

Lifestyle illnesses, like diabetes, have become a common occurrence in today’s age. As per data for the year 2019, India was home to 77 million diabetics in the world. Moreover, the study also suggested that the number would grow to 134 million by 2045¹.

Diabetes, though non-fatal in usual cases, causes physiological damage. Moreover, it can cause other medical complications like kidney damage, eye damage, nerve damage, etc³. So, it becomes important to take precautionary measures to avoid the illness and, if it does occur, to manage it.

A life insurance policy is one of preferred precautionary measures, to protect your loved ones against the financial loss of premature demise.

But, Can You Get Life Insurance as a Diabetic?

Let’s understand.

Diabetes and life insurance - Can You Get Life Insurance as a Diabetic?

Diabetes is not a terminal illness. With proper management, you can keep your sugar levels low and enjoy a healthy life. An individual suffering from diabetes can buy a life insurance policy, and the insurance company may allow the coverage subject to terms and conditions of the policy.

That being said, here are a few pointers to keep in mind –

1. Declaration in the proposal

You should declare the ailment at the time of buying the policy. One of the fundamental principles of an insurance contract is that, life insurance plans are contracts of utmost good faith². Under this principle, you are required to provide all correct and known information about yourself when buying the policy. Depending on the facts declared, the insurance company fixes the premium and allows coverage. It is important to note that this declaration will not affect the benefits receivable under the plan or the claims process in any way. It will have an impact on the underwriting of the policy, as to whether the insurer is willing to acquire the risk or to the extent it would acquire the risk and the premium payable. If the facts influencing the mortality risk (risk of death) are hidden, the insurance company can reject your claim and consider your policy null and void².

To avoid possible rejections or policy cancellations, declare your health condition when buying the plan, always.

If you didn't have diabetes when buying the policy but got it later during the policy term, the declaration may not be required depending on the insurer and policy terms and conditions. However, if the policy lapses and you revive it, then you will have to inform the insurance company of the condition that you developed during the policy term².

2. Pre-entrance health check-ups

In some cases, the insurance company might insist on pre-entrance health check-ups before issuing the policy. The health check-up allows the company to assess the severity of the ailment.

3. Policy rejection or coverage restriction

In some cases of diabetes, the insurance company might also restrict the sum assured allowed, to restrict its risk. In some cases, if the diabetes is so severe that it has become life-threatening, the proposal for insurance might also be rejected.

Diabetes and life insurance premiums

Having diabetes complicates your health. It poses a health risk which, in turn, affects the mortality risk. If there are other medical complications due to diabetes, the individual might die prematurely. As such, when the insurance company issues the policy to a diabetic, it undertakes a high risk. To compensate for the risk undertaken, the premium is hiked.

Thus, life insurance premiums are usually higher for person with diabetes than for non-diabetic individuals. The premium loading depends on the underwriter, which assesses the illness, its severity and other medical complications that you might have before fixing the premium.

Conclusion

So, in a nutshell, life insurance for people with diabetes is available from some insurance companies. You can choose from the different types of life insurance plans and get yourself insured for financial security and goal fulfilment (issuance of the policy will depend on the underwriting guidelines of the company). However, when buying life insurance for a person with diabetes, know the terms and conditions involved. Opt for a comprehensive life insurance policy for all-round protection and enjoy the security that the coverage brings.

FAQs

1) Can a person with diabetes get whole-life insurance?

Yes. Diabetes patients are eligible to get whole-life insurance. However, factors like the overall health of the insured, illness management approaches, etc., will determine the premium, issuance and the sum assured of the policy.

2) If I revive the policy after suffering from diabetes, will the premium increase?

If you developed diabetes during the policy tenure and the policy lapsed, you will have to disclose your condition when reviving the plan. Once the diabetes declaration is made, the insurance company might increase the premium post-revival to cover the higher health risk that you now pose and may decide on whether to revive the policy or not depending on their underwriting guidelines.

3) Do I need to disclose my diabetes condition to my insurance provider?

Yes, you have to disclose your diabetes condition to the insurance company when buying the policy. The proposal form has a medical questionnaire wherein you should disclose your diabetes and the measures that you take to combat the illness.

4) What happens if my application for life insurance is denied after being diagnosed with diabetes?

Usually, life insurance companies do not deny coverage if you have been diagnosed with diabetes. However, if your diabetes is severe or life-threatening, the coverage might be rejected. In such cases, you can apply with another insurance company to check whether the provider will accept your proposal. Different insurance companies have different underwriting rules. In some cases, a policy rejected by one insurance company might get accepted by another. However, when applying with another insurer, disclose the coverage rejection and the details of the same.

References

1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8725109/

2. https://www.insuranceinstituteofindia.com/downloads/IC38/ALEnglish.pdf (page no.83)

3. https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/diabetes-long-term-effects

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