If someone has diabetes and looking to take out life insurance it is prudent to speak with a knowledgeable independent insurance agent because some insurance companies are way more favorable when it comes to underwriting someone with diabetes. Life insurance company underwriters specifically analyze the proposed insured’s lab results from the paramedical exam when determining what rate class they will offer the person taking out the life insurance policy. An A1C level below 5.7 is considered normal and an A1C level between 5.8 and 6.4 is considered pre-diabetic. Typically, physicians will diagnose someone with type 2 diabetes if the A1C is over 6.5.
Unfortunately, a lot of people with diabetes do not follow their physician’s advice and do not have a healthy diet and exercise program in place. When someone does a paramedical exam, blood, urine, and their levels are higher than normal ranges, they typically get charged more for the cost of insurance or just declined. Life insurance policies are unilateral contracts of adhesion, which means the life insurance company does not have to make an “offer” for insurance, and or gets to choose what rate class they want to offer the proposed insured.
When applying for life insurance it is extremely important for someone to know their most current A1C readings ahead of time and be following their physician’s recommendation. If the proposed insured’s A1C levels are in the normal range it is common for the underwriter at the insurance company to make an “offer” of standard and sometimes even preferred. People need to know they can still get a great deal on life insurance if their A1C levels are in the normal range.