What to Do if Declined for Life Insurance with Diabetes | 2024 Guide

Last Updated on December 11, 2024

There are few things worse than knowing you need something as important as life insurance – and being told you can’t get it. Frustrating beyond belief.  Nobody enjoys discussing, or purchasing life insurance coverage.  What is even more frustrating is getting declined life insurance because of diabetes.

Simply stated, many people who have a form of diabetes will be declined for life insurance.  Please understand that every life insurance company will have their own set of underwriting guidelines.  One company may automatically decline you due to your Diabetes history, where another company may gladly accept your health profile.

Unfortunately, many agents or agencies are not properly trained to work with the diabetes community.  Simply stated they do not know what they are doing, and are misleading you.  Websites like Investopedia, Policy Genuis, and Value Penguin provide content and information that’s not even written by licensed insurance agents.  They’ve never worked with anyone who has a type of diabetes in finding the proper life insurance provider.  Imagine taking advice from people who literally have zero experience in providing life insurance coverage to families.

If you have ever applied for life insurance to protect your family and been declined due to diabetes, then you know the feeling.  Every year thousands of people are declined life insurance due to Diabetes.  The reasons for being declined vary from applicant to applicant.  But oftentimes it simply comes down to applying to the wrong life insurance company or product.  These are very easy corrections to make when working with us.

It is scary that a letter stating you were declined for life insurance coverage.  This is extremely frustrating. The thought of something happening to you and your family being left without you – and without the financial assistance you provide – is difficult to fathom. What will you do? What can you do?  First, just relax.  It’s not the end of the world to be declined life insurance with diabetes.  Most likely you are just working with the wrong agent.  Get a quote from us and let the diabetes experts go to work for you!

If you were denied life insurance coverage due to having Diabetes there is something you can do. Having Diabetes doesn’t necessarily mean you can’t obtain life insurance coverage. It means you need to look a little harder for coverage, and work with specialists such as Diabetes 365. Don’t let that declined coverage get you down. Instead, keep reading to discover how you can obtain that diabetes life insurance policy and have protection for your loved ones.

Again, we know it’s frustration getting declined for coverage, but it’s NOT the end of the world.  We have helped thousands of people find life insurance coverage. Contact us today to let us begin assisting you and your family.  Now let’s review some steps a person should take, after getting declined for life insurance because of their Diabetes history.

First Things First: Find Out Why

If you are diabetic, you may automatically assume that is the reason you were denied coverage. This could be true. However, truth be told, there are many different reasons that could make obtaining life insurance difficult – you just may not be aware of them. For instance, here are a few:

• Paramedical exam results
• Your medical history including recent A1C level
• Medical Information Bureau report
• Prescription Drug history
• Hazardous occupation
• Driving records
• Financial distress
• Foreign Travel

The riskier your life style, the greater of a risk you are to the insurance company – and that can include your health, your career, your behavior, and so forth. Therefore, life insurance companies can and will deny you coverage based on a number of factors.

Good news! There are several life insurance companies to choose from, who all underwrite people with Diabetes differently. One may decline you for the reasons above, while another would gladly accept you. This is a perfect example of why you need to work with agents who have access to several life insurance providers.

While working with us, an agent will review your health profile, your financial objectives, and will be able to make suitable life insurance recommendations.

We constantly see people being declined for life insurance because they worked with an agent who wasn’t proficient in the diabetes life insurance market place.  Many agents simply don’t have the knowledge, nor training to properly work with a person with diabetes.  This is sad to see, but it’s quite common.  If you fall into this category, do not hesitate to contact us, or make a quote request.

Before you can correct the issue and find yourself coverage for sure, you need to know why you were declined. Speak to your agent and get a clear explanation. Often times a company may send out a letter describing the EXACT reasons, for your declination. Review this, and have the information readily available, when you begin speaking with another agent.

The Power of Your MIB

Your MIB can sort of be compared to a credit report for your health. MIB simply stands for Medical Information Bureau. When you apply for life insurance coverage, the underwriter will pull your MIB report, review the results of your medical exam, and read through your application. Between these three things, they can get a glimpse into your life – and your level of risk you present to the life insurance carrier.

Your MIB contains information from every life insurance application you have submitted. It doesn’t spill out every detail of your last 20 doctor visits in detail, but it does code certain reported conditions that may be helpful in determining your eligibility. If you were declined by other companies, those details will be in the MIB report. Most of the information – if not all – was provided by you, through past applications for life insurance and such. It gives the underwriter a timeline of your health and helps to make a better decision regarding insurance coverage.

If you’ve never applied for life insurance, then you’d have an empty MIB report. This isn’t an issue at all. Companies will not penalize you for not having a history of applying for coverage.

THIS IS IMPORTANTt: when a life insurance company denies you coverage, it is often noted on your MIB. The next time you apply for coverage, the insurance company will see you were declined coverage, and the reasons behind the declination. Some common examples include elevated A1C readings or possibly diabetes complications.

Some companies may automatically decline you due to previous declination history . Other life insurance carriers could care less about the declines, and simply focus on your health and diabetes control at time of applying with them. This is why you never want to just nonchalantly fill out insurance applications and send them out to agents and agencies, who do not have any clue how to work with people with Diabetes. One mistake like this, can eliminate options for you in the future.

If You Were Declined Due to Diabetes

So, you spoke to the previous agent and it was determined that you were declined coverage due to your diabetes condition and history. It’s understandable. You are a higher risk compared to somebody who doesn’t have a form of diabetes. Now take a quick second, and relax. Most likely, you were working with an agent who wasn’t properly trained to deal with the diabetes community. Maybe you simply applied to the wrong life insurance company. It happens more than you can imagine.

These are the exact reasons why you need to contact us, and let our team assist. Afterall, we ONLY work with people who have Diabetes 365 days of the year, find affordable life insurance.

Why would diabetes result in you being denied coverage?

Here are some of the things that play into their decision:

A report of high A1C can spark the attention of underwriters. Since A1C is in direct response to how well your blood sugar is maintained, it can give the insurance underwriter a sense of how well your diabetes is managed. The higher your A1C readings, generally the higher your life insurance premiums.

Medical conditions in addition to diabetes. Diabetes can eventually lead to many complications, some severe. If you have a Diabetes complication, be up front with your agent. Or if you have a history of abnormal labs such as blood in urine, elevated protein levels in urine, you’ll want to again be open and honest with your insurance professional.

Thankfully, that is not the end. Despite having type 1 diabetes or type 2 diabetes, you can still obtain life insurance. And, that is good news, isn’t it? Despite what you read on other websites, we assure you that there are life insurance options for 95% of individuals who live with Diabetes.

Maintaining Your Health

If you have diabetes, it’s crucial that you care for your health. Maintaining your condition can not only extend your life but also provide you with better opportunities – such as for life insurance.

• Monitor your glucose.
• Eat a healthy diet rich in whole foods and void of too many processed foods. Some life insurance companies will decline you due to being overweight in combination of having diabetes.
• Be compliant with Doctors orders
• Exercise. You don’t have to spend your life at the gym, but getting a little exercise each day can do amazing things for your health.
• Utilize diabetes technology to help manage your condition.

Here’s an article where we outline several tricks, to help you obtain the best life insurance rates with Diabetes.

If You Were Declined for Something Else

Choosing the right life insurance company is very important. If you have a hazardous job and are denied life insurance due to that, then you can’t just switch careers, right? Well, you could, but who would do that?

Maybe your Doctor recommended you to have additional testing completed, or recommended having a procedure done.  People aren’t aware of this, but if you have outstanding tests and procedures, you most likely will be postponed life insurance coverage until they are completed. Maybe we’d know of a specific company who would underwriter you and your current profession.

However, if you apply for life insurance with a company that is known for taking chances on individuals such as yourself, then you have a greater chance of receiving a policy – and you can avoid the denials, the wasted time, and the marks on your MIB. Again every life insurance company has specific underwriting guidelines.  Let us research your unique health profile, and ‘shop’ it out to several life insurance providers.

All life insurance carriers also view a person’s Diabetes history differently. Some would decline you because you were diagnosed as a child with Type 1 Diabetes. Others would gladly accept you. These reasons alone are why you need to work with agents who specialize in working with the Diabetes community. We’ll also note that for some people there just may not be any options at this present time.  You may have to postpone applying for life insurance coverage for an extended period of time.

What Type of Life Insurance is Best for You?

Will just any type of life insurance work for you? Do you need a term life insurance policy, or maybe a whole life insurance policy? For those who have been denied coverage and who have a medical condition such as diabetes, finding a policy may require you to narrow your search. Depending on your health profile, you may not qualify for traditional fully underwritten policies.

A no-exam life insurance policy has become more and more popular. This type of insurance doesn’t require you to have a medical exam, though the underwriter may still review your medical records. Certain companies will only have you answer basic health questions, run a MIB and prescription drug background report. You can oftentimes be approved for coverage in 24 to 48 hours.

And, while this may make it easier for you to find coverage, you may discover that you pay a bit more in premiums than expected. Why? Because the insurance company is taking a risk on you. They are only able to see a small picture, into your overall health. However, sometimes a no exam life insurance policy is your best option. As life insurance companies continue to evolve, we are seeing many applicants qualify for coverage on a non medical exam basis and receive the same rates that others who complete examinations do.

For certain people, a non medical exam policy is the best option.  Everybody has a different health and diabetes profile.  Because of this, it’s imperative to speak with us, and share with us your pertinent health information.  This allows us to properly determine what non medical exam options you may have available to you.

A Guaranteed Issue (GI) life insurance policy is one that is, well, guaranteed. It is typically for people who are between 50 and 85 years of age and doesn’t extend higher than $25,000. But, if you are having difficulty obtaining life insurance, this is a definite way to go. Please keep in mind, however, that these policies always have a two-year waiting period. That means you will pay your premium for two years before you will be fully covered.

If you pass away within those two years, your loved ones may only receive back all premiums paid, plus a 10 percent interest. You never want to take out a policy like this, unless it’s your only option. Some well known companies like Mutual of Omaha, and Gerber Life Insurance offer these types of policies. Or maybe you are searching out a burial insurance policy, that will allow your family to address all of your final expenses at the time of your passing.  Many people will qualify for these types of whole life insurance policies.

Working with an independent agent can help you determine the exact policy, that’s best for you. Don’t be afraid to reach out to us, and receive an honest evaluation. This is what we do for consumers like you.  We simply discuss your needs and will provide real and accurate diabetes life insurance information to you.

The Benefits of Working with Diabetes 365

Just like you are great at certain things in life, our life insurance agents are great at dealing with, well, life insurance with Diabetes. An agent will know the companies to which you should apply for coverage and those you should avoid. Don’t do the guesswork yourself, or rely on agents who only work with Diabetics part time.

Don’t waste your time trying to do it alone. Talk to the experts at Diabetes 365 who will help you get the best policy for the best premium regardless of your health or current life situation.  We’ve helped thousands of people save money on life insurance with diabetes.

If you have been denied life insurance due to Diabetes, take the steps necessary to get yourself covered. Don’t leave your loved ones struggling. Speak with us today, and get your policy in place today. You’ll only receive honest information, and recommendations from us. We are here to serve you, the Diabetes community, every day of the year.