Diabetes!
It is one of the scariest diseases among the seniors and the scenario is getting worse day by day.
Only in America, 1 of 4 adults is suffering from diabetes. Hence, the number of life insurance seekers with diabetics has increased significantly.
Everyone wants affordable policies but there are standard factors that are considered and are worthy thinking about before you go ahead and take a life insurance policy.
Some of these factors include age and health. As a result, when you have a health condition everything about you getting a life insurance cover becomes complicated.
You may be wondering whether you are in a position to get life insurance for seniors with diabetes.
Can You Get Life Insurance with Diabetics?
Yes!
Many people are worried because they are seniors and they may not qualify for life insurance. Others feel that since you are diabetic, insurance companies will reject the application. This is not true.
When you are senior and diabetic you can still get a life insurance cover. However, it is important to mention that there are so many factors that have to be considered by the insurance company.
Diabetes is a high-risk condition that every insurance company will take seriously. As a result, they will not jump into giving you a cover without making sure that they have taken the necessary precautions and followed the right procedures.
As a result, in many cases insurance companies will agree to insure you as long as you have your diabetes condition under control. Too many companies there can be various aspects at which they look at such things.
However, this does not mean that it is the only factor that an insurance company will consider before covering you.
You need to have had your diabetes under control for the last 6 to 12 months. This means that as much as you have diabetes, it should be under a controlled level. Whether it is diabetes Type 1 or Type 2 it is the same case.
This also means that you can get a life insurance cover even when you are insulin-dependent. What matters to the insurance company is the ability to control your condition?
Circumstances under Which You Can Be Denied
When it comes to sensitive health conditions such as diabetes every company is very keen on the type of move and the people they offer cover. As a result, other than proving that you have your diabetes under control there are other factors that can make an insurance company deny you.
The main reason is if you have other additional health conditions. In cases where you are diabetic and have risky health conditions then the company will deny your insurance cover.
At the same time, in case you have certain behaviors that the company considers a risk to your life then you will also not get covered.
Such factors include the following:
- Having a coronary heart disease.
- Being obese.
- Smoking.
- High blood pressure problems at uncontrolled levels.
Life Insurance Premium vs Diabetes
Is there any difference in getting insured when you are diabetic and when you are not when it comes to payment? Will you pay more because you are diabetic?
The answer to all this is based on the condition of your diabetes.
Any insurance company is concerned with the risk. Insurance companies look at how much risk is there when insuring you. How will they lose in case you die a few months after being insured? As a result, if your condition is posing more risks then they will consider charging you more once insured.
When you have a condition that is not under control, you will pay higher premiums compared to a person whose condition is under control.
At the same time, it means that you will be paying higher premiums than someone who does not have any health conditions such as diabetes at all. You have to be prepared for such conditions whenever seeking insurance.
Other factors that can be considered when setting the amount of premiums to pay may include the following.
- Time of diagnosis
- Family history
- Type of diabetes
- Control factor
- Current weight
- Medical history
- Additional health risks
Age and Insurance for Seniors with Diabetes
When you are seeking an insurance cover as a senior it is important to understand that it is a different case with someone who is young. As a result, any company will consider it being riskier to insure you more than a young person.
In addition to that, you will have a diabetic condition. The older you are the lesser the chances of a company agreeing to insure you when you are already suffering from a serious condition. An alternative case is a company charging you higher premiums based on your age.
When you are older you may be obligated to pay high premiums as compared to another person with the same condition but of a younger age.
Do I Need a Medical Exam to Be Insured?
Maybe!
A medical exam is one of the most common procedures that you will find with many insurance agents. When you are a senior, in many cases insurance companies do not take any chances about medical exams.
Since it is a business, no one wants to take any chances and increase their chances of making losses.
You will undergo a medical exam. Other than that you will be required to disclose many things about your health condition.
However, there are cases where you can get insured without any medical exam. That is if you opt for insurance policies where there is no medical exam required. However, you must be ready to pay very high premiums in such cases.
Type of Diabetes Plays a Vital Role
When you are a senior with diabetes always know that an insurance agent will handle each diabetes case differently from the other. Each diabetes case is viewed differently and as a result, the terms of the policy are different.
Here are various types of diabetes and how they relate to insurance.
Type 1 Diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is considering the riskiest diabetic condition for an insurance company. As a result, many companies will view it as a very risky person to deal with. As a result, there are those companies that will deny you the cover and others who are willing to take the risk.
However, for the case you find a company willing to insure you then it will next to impossible to get an affordable deal. As compared to other types of diabetes you will be charged so high. An insurance agent will consider it a very expensive deal to insure you and the premium will be very high.
At the same time, the way you have been taking care of your life will determine how the insurance company will handle your case.
Type 2 Diabetes Oral Medication Controlled
Having type 2 diabetes that is controlled through medication means that you are not as bad as a person with diabetes type 1 that is insulin-dependent. As a result, an insurance company views you as a better option to insure than the latter. As a result, you will find better terms of the policy.
However, the company will look at other risk factors revolving around your life before offering you a cover. They have to make sure that all other factors such as blood glucose measure very well.
Type 2 Diabetes Diet and Exercise Controlled
For a senior person with type 2 diabetes controlled by diet and exercising things are different and better. This is the first stage of diabetes. As a result, many insurance companies do not view it as a very risky condition. They are willing to cover you and offer you a good deal with cheaper premiums.
However, in this case, you have to make sure that you do not have any health risk factors. The company will look at your lifestyle among other things to make sure that you are living healthy and the condition will remain under control.
Type 2 Insulin-Dependent Diabetes
Type 2 Insulin-dependent diabetes is a serious case. At this level, the insurance company considers your condition as sensitive and getting out of control. As a result, you are faced with difficult circumstances. The company will require you to pay more.
Many companies will require you to take a medical exam to access your condition at the time of insurance. You may also be advised to take term life insurance.
No Medical Exam – Is It a Good Deal?
In case you are worried about the premiums taking life insurance without a medical exam is a good choice. It is an option that will save you all the trouble of having an insurance company taking you through a medical exam before deciding on your premiums.
Getting life insurance without a medical exam is an easy option but you must be ready to pay higher than other means. However, you will be required to fill a diabetes questionnaire offered by the company.
It is important to give correct information about your health on the questionnaire. This is because a life insurance policy has a contestability period of two years.
During this period, an insurance company is in a position to investigate your medical history. In case you die within this period and the company has found any errors in the information you provided then they can deny you the benefits.
Term Life Insurance for Seniors with Diabetes
At what point is term life insurance necessary for a senior with diabetes?
Your age and the condition of diabetes can lead to a term life insurance. When you are very old the chances of passing on soon are high. When your diabetic condition is at its worse than it is riskier.
Taking a term life insurance can be better. This is because for the term life insurance the premiums can be lower as compared to whole life insurance. It helps you have a lower burden on your shoulder during the remaining days of your life.
However, for a term life insurance, you must be ready for low benefits as compared to other policies.
Many companies offer lower death benefits on term life insurance and especially people with diabetes and old age.
