Final Expense Insurance for Diabetics (2026 Guide)
Yes. Most diabetics qualify for Level day-one final expense coverage at the right carrier, including Type 1 and insulin-dependent Type 2. Rates start around $41 per month for a non-tobacco 65-year-old. Asurgo compares 25+ carriers across all 50 states to match your profile to the right one. Burial insurance for diabetics is typically in force within 24 hours of application.
Jump to the 2026 rate table, when Guaranteed Issue applies, or the FAQ.
The Quick Answer
What Diabetics Actually Pay in 2026
Most diabetics qualify for Level day-one final expense coverage. The rare exceptions involve specific combinations of conditions or two narrow triggers we cover in detail below. The table shows typical monthly rates for $10,000 of coverage across the three scenarios most diabetic applicants actually fit, benchmarked across the 5 carriers Asurgo places most often.
| Diabetic scenario | Typical product tier | Est. monthly (65 F / 65 M) | Est. monthly (70 F / 70 M) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type 1 or Type 2, any insulin status, no amputation or recent hospitalization | Level (day-one) at the right carrier | $41 to $65 / $56 to $85 | $53 to $85 / $74 to $110 |
| Multiple diabetic conditions paired (for example insulin plus diabetic neuropathy plus retinopathy) | Level at lenient carriers, Graded at stricter | $55 to $80 / $75 to $100 | $70 to $105 / $95 to $135 |
| Diabetes-related amputation, OR hospitalized for diabetes in past 12 months | Guaranteed Issue (2-year wait) | $60 to $85 / $85 to $110 | $80 to $115 / $110 to $150 |
How Insurance Carriers Actually Think About Diabetes
Carriers do not treat diabetes as a tier-determining condition on its own. Most diabetic applicants qualify for Level day-one coverage at the right carrier. That includes Type 1 and insulin-dependent Type 2. What actually affects tier is combinations of conditions paired together. One example: insulin paired with diabetic neuropathy. Two specific triggers also move applicants to Guaranteed Issue. Those are diabetes-related amputation and hospitalization for diabetes in the past 12 months. The broker's role is to map your specific combination to the right carrier. Always talk to a licensed specialist before applying. The wrong carrier for your profile can turn a Level approval into a Graded offer.
See your actual rate in 5 minutes
A licensed Asurgo specialist will match your A1C, insulin status, and complication profile to the right carrier before any application goes in.
Broader Coverage Options
Can You Get Life Insurance With Diabetes?
Yes -- and it is more accessible than most people expect. Whether you have Type 1, Type 2, gestational history, or are insulin-dependent, there are carriers that can offer coverage. The type of policy and your rate depend on how your diabetes is managed and what other health factors are present.
Your Options as a Diabetic
Most diabetics looking for life insurance will land in one of these categories:
Final expense / burial insurance (most common for ages 50 to 85)
Small whole life policies from $5,000 to $50,000. No medical exam -- just health questions on the application. Most diabetics qualify for Level day-one coverage at the right carrier, meaning full benefits from day one with no waiting period. This is what the rest of this guide focuses on in detail.
Guaranteed acceptance whole life
No health questions at all -- acceptance is guaranteed regardless of diabetes status. Trade-off: graded benefit period (typically 2 to 3 years before the full death benefit applies) and higher premiums. A fallback when simplified issue options are not available.
Traditional whole life or term life
Larger policies ($50,000+) that require full medical underwriting including blood work. Diabetics can qualify, but the process is more involved and rates are higher. Generally not the best path for seniors focused on covering funeral and end-of-life costs.
What Matters Most to Carriers
Carriers evaluating diabetic applicants primarily look at:
- Type of diabetes -- Type 2 is more common and generally easier to insure than Type 1 at most carriers
- Insulin use -- Some carriers that accept diabetes will not accept insulin-dependent applicants on their simplified issue product
- A1C level -- Most final expense carriers accept A1C levels under 10; some are more lenient
- Complications -- Neuropathy, kidney issues, amputations, and hospitalizations all affect which carriers are available. Tobacco use adds a separate surcharge on top of any diabetes-related factors.
- How it is managed -- Carriers ask whether diabetes is controlled with medication and regular doctor visits
The sections below break down exactly how each major carrier evaluates these factors, with real 2026 rate data.
Every carrier underwrites diabetes differently
Asurgo compares 25+ carriers to find the one most likely to approve your specific profile at the best rate.
Level Day-One
Most Diabetics Qualify for Level Day-One at the Right Carrier
The most common and most insurable diabetic profile is simple. You have diabetes. You have not had a diabetes-related amputation. You have not been hospitalized for diabetes in the past 12 months. That description covers the majority of diabetic applicants. Type 1, Type 2, oral-only, insulin-dependent, any A1C band below the extreme high end. All of them can qualify for Level day-one coverage at the right carrier.
Rate impact is smaller than most applicants expect. Many diabetics qualify at or near the non-diabetic baseline in the 5-carrier rate table below. Carriers do not treat diabetes type as a tier-determining factor on its own. Insulin use alone does not force the application into Graded. A moderately elevated A1C on its own does not force the application into Guaranteed Issue.
Four questions come up on every diabetic phone interview. Your answers help the broker decide which carrier to route your application to. They typically do not decide whether you qualify at all:
- Most recent A1C reading. The number on your last lab report. It adjusts rate class within Level at most carriers rather than pushing the application to Graded.
- Insulin status. Whether you take insulin and for how long. Insulin alone is not a Graded trigger at most carriers on Asurgo's roster.
- Hospitalization history. Whether you have been hospitalized for a diabetes-related event in the past 12 months. This is one of the two triggers that forces Guaranteed Issue.
- Complications. Whether you have been treated for neuropathy, retinopathy, kidney involvement, or diabetic-related amputation. Most complications on their own are fine for Level. Specific combinations paired together, and amputation history, are where the tier conversation gets more complex.
For the full simplified-issue product walk-through, see Asurgo's no medical exam guide. The national median funeral cost is $7,848 per the NFDA 2024 Funeral Price Survey, which is why $10,000 is the most common coverage amount for final expense applicants across every demographic, diabetics included. Estimate your costs by state.
Find the carrier most likely to say yes at Level
A licensed Asurgo specialist matches your specific combination of conditions to the carrier most likely to write Level day-one for your profile.
Guaranteed Issue Triggers
When Does Guaranteed Issue Apply?
Two diabetes-related situations force most final-expense applicants into Guaranteed Issue rather than Level or Graded benefit. If neither applies to you, you are very likely a Level day-one candidate at the right carrier.
1. Diabetes-related amputation
Below-knee or above-knee amputation tied to diabetes automatically places applicants into Guaranteed Issue at most carriers on Asurgo's core roster, regardless of how well-managed the diabetes is today. This is the single most reliable GI trigger tied to diabetes.
2. Hospitalization for diabetes in the past 12 months
A diabetes-related hospital admission in the past 12 months moves the application to Guaranteed Issue at most carriers. Examples include diabetic ketoacidosis, severe hypoglycemia requiring ER admission, or inpatient stabilization for uncontrolled blood sugar. The 12-month window is the standard look-back period. Once you are past that window, simplified-issue Level becomes available again at the right carrier.
Guaranteed Issue is not a decline. It is the specifically-designed product for applicants in these two situations. No health questions. No medical exam. 2-year waiting period for natural-cause death. Return of premium plus interest if death occurs during the waiting window. Accidental death pays the full face amount from day one. Maximum face amount typically $25,000 across carriers. For the full product walk-through, see Asurgo's guaranteed acceptance guide.
Beyond these two triggers, diabetic applicants rarely end up on Guaranteed Issue through diabetes alone. It usually takes multiple paired conditions to push a diabetic into Graded. Very few single-condition diabetic profiles reach GI. Always talk to a licensed specialist before assuming you are stuck with GI pricing.
Complications and Paired Conditions
Diabetic Complications: What Carriers Actually Ask
Carriers ask about four diabetic complications during the phone interview. A single complication on its own rarely moves a diabetic applicant out of Level day-one. What changes the conversation is combinations of conditions paired together. One example: insulin plus neuropathy plus retinopathy. Carrier appetite also matters. This page stays in the carrier-underwriting lane only. For the medical side of any complication, talk to your endocrinologist.
- Diabetic neuropathy. Carriers ask: "Have you been treated for nerve pain or numbness from diabetes in the last 2 years?" Neuropathy on its own is usually fine for Level day-one. Paired with insulin use, it can tighten the carrier list, but Level carriers are still available at the right match.
- Diabetic retinopathy. Carriers ask: "Have you had eye treatment related to diabetes?" A diabetic eye exam with no treatment is underwriting-neutral. Laser treatment history alone is typically still workable for Level at the right carrier. Multiple eye interventions paired with other complications is where tier can shift.
- Diabetic nephropathy (kidney involvement). Carriers ask: "Have you been treated for diabetic kidney disease?" Early-stage kidney involvement on its own is often workable at lenient carriers. Dialysis is a separate conversation (typically Guaranteed Issue across carriers).
- Amputation history (diabetic-related). Carriers ask about below-knee or above-knee amputation tied to diabetes. This is one of the two reliable Guaranteed Issue triggers. It places most applicants into GI regardless of other factors.
The broker's job is identifying which carrier is the right match for your specific combination. Paired conditions matter more than any single item on the list. A diabetic with insulin plus well-managed neuropathy and clean eyes can still get Level day-one at the right carrier. The same profile at the wrong carrier can get a Graded offer. This is why talking to a licensed specialist before applying matters. For applicants with other non-diabetic conditions too, see life insurance for pre-existing conditions.
Neuropathy
Final Expense Insurance With Diabetic Neuropathy
Diabetic neuropathy (nerve pain, numbness, or tingling caused by diabetes) is one of the most common complications carriers ask about. The good news: most applicants with neuropathy still qualify for Level day-one coverage at the right carrier.
Which Carriers Accept Diabetic Neuropathy?
Carrier acceptance depends on your full health profile. Neuropathy is one factor, but other pre-existing conditions, medications, and overall health history all influence eligibility. That said, having neuropathy does not automatically disqualify you. Several carriers can offer Level day-one coverage depending on your situation.
Carriers that can accept diabetic neuropathy include:
Transamerica
- Can offer Level day-one coverage for applicants with neuropathy
- One of the more lenient carriers on neuropathy overall
- Insulin use can affect eligibility
Royal Neighbors
- Can offer Level day-one coverage for applicants with neuropathy
- Insulin use can affect eligibility
AIG
- Can offer Level day-one coverage for applicants with neuropathy
- Insulin use can affect eligibility
Not every carrier accepts neuropathy. For example, Mutual of Omaha does not accept diabetic neuropathy on their simplified issue application. This is why working with an independent broker matters. If one carrier cannot approve you, another might.
Important: Neuropathy eligibility at any carrier depends on your complete health picture. Other pre-existing conditions, current medications, insulin use, and recent hospitalizations can all influence whether a carrier offers Level, Graded, or Guaranteed Issue coverage. The carriers listed above can accept neuropathy, but individual results vary based on your full application.
What About A1C Levels and Neuropathy Together?
Carriers generally evaluate A1C and neuropathy as separate factors. Having neuropathy does not automatically mean a high A1C disqualifies you. If your A1C is managed and neuropathy is the primary complication, Level day-one coverage may be available at carriers like Transamerica, Royal Neighbors, and AIG. Your full health profile, including other conditions and medications, will influence the final outcome.
When Can Neuropathy Lead to Guaranteed Issue?
Neuropathy by itself does not automatically mean Guaranteed Issue. Three carriers offer Level day-one coverage for neuropathy without insulin. However, neuropathy combined with other factors can limit options. Examples of scenarios that can narrow carrier availability:
- Neuropathy combined with insulin use (removes Transamerica, Royal Neighbors, and AIG from Level day-one)
- Neuropathy combined with amputation
- Neuropathy combined with organ transplant or dialysis
- Neuropathy combined with oxygen or CPAP use for a separate condition
When one carrier cannot offer Level coverage, another might. Asurgo shops across 25+ carriers to find the best available option for each applicant's specific health profile.
Get Matched to the Right Carrier
Every carrier evaluates neuropathy differently. Asurgo compares 25+ carriers to find the one most likely to approve you at the best rate. Call (855) 380-9555 or get a free quote. Most applicants get an answer within 24 hours.
2026 Carrier Rate Table
2026 Monthly Rates by Carrier ($10,000 Coverage, Non-Diabetic Baseline)
Below are current 2026 monthly rates from 5 leading final-expense carriers, for $10,000 of simplified-issue whole life, non-tobacco, non-diabetic. Diabetic applicants pay this rate as the floor for Level (day-one) coverage when their A1C, insulin status, and complications fit the carrier's appetite. Graded-benefit rates typically run 30 to 50 percent above these numbers; Guaranteed Issue rates run 40 to 80 percent above.
| Carrier | Product | 50 F / M | 60 F / M | 65 F / M | 70 F / M | 75 F / M | 80 F / M |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mutual of Omaha | Living Promise Level | $24 / $31 | $33 / $43 | $41 / $56 | $53 / $74 | $72 / $99 | $98 / $139 |
| Aflac | Final Expense Whole Life | $26 / $34 | $34 / $45 | $44 / $56 | $56 / $72 | $81 / $99 | $116 / $156 |
| Transamerica | Express Select | $33 / $39 | $41 / $51 | $51 / $64 | $65 / $86 | $85 / $117 | $134 / $172 |
| AIG (Corebridge) | SIWL Direct | $27 / $34 | $36 / $47 | $45 / $61 | $58 / $82 | $79 / $109 | $107 / $153 |
| Aetna (Accendo) | Final Expense Level | $27 / $35 | $41 / $51 | $47 / $58 | $58 / $73 | $75 / $101 | $101 / $140 |
For age-specific deep dives without diabetes as a filter, see the cost guide for your 60s and the cost guide for your 70s. Both walk through age-by-age premium curves and cover term life, whole life, and final expense side-by-side.
Carrier Appetite
Which Carrier Is Easiest to Qualify With as a Diabetic?
There is no single "best" carrier for every diabetic. Carriers sit on a spectrum from strictest (lowest rates, tightest A1C thresholds) to most lenient (broader appetite, higher premiums). Matching your profile to the right point on the spectrum is the entire broker role.
Strictest: Mutual of Omaha
Lowest rates on the board. Writes Level day-one for most diabetics without amputation or recent hospitalization, including many insulin users. Underwriting questions are more detailed than lenient carriers, so paired complications can tighten the rate class within Level. Preferred pricing requires a clean diabetic profile.
Middle: Aflac, AIG, Aetna
Moderate underwriting. These carriers accept a wider range of diabetic profiles than Mutual of Omaha at standard Level pricing. Insulin-dependent Type 2 applicants typically land at Level here. Applicants with multiple paired complications often still qualify for Level. Premiums sit slightly above Mutual of Omaha when both will write the same profile.
Most lenient: Transamerica
The widest simplified-issue appetite among the 5 core carriers. Writes Level for diabetic profiles that stricter carriers might push to Graded, including specific paired-complication combinations. Premiums reflect the broader appetite, but Transamerica often says yes at Level where stricter carriers say no.
The matching job matters because every declined application leaves a mark on the MIB record that subsequent carriers can see. Single-carrier agents can only quote one product and push one application. Asurgo quotes all 25+ and tells the applicant where they are actually likely to be approved before anything is submitted.
Match your profile to the right carrier
We pre-qualify you against the carrier most likely to approve you at the best tier. No declined applications on your record.
Timeline
How the Application Actually Works
Here is exactly what happens from first phone call to active coverage for a diabetic applicant. Most finish the entire process in a single business day.
Quote (5 minutes)
Online form or phone call. A specialist asks your age, state, tobacco status, diabetes type, most recent A1C, and insulin status. You get a ballpark premium from carriers likely to approve you at the best tier. No commitment, no application.
Application (15 to 20 minutes)
Phone interview with the licensed specialist. The 4 diabetic-specific questions (A1C, insulin, hospitalizations, complications) plus standard health questions. The carrier runs an instant prescription-history check (MIB / Rx).
Underwriting decision (same day to 72 hours)
Most diabetic applications get an instant decision at the end of the call. A small share are routed to manual underwriting for follow-up within 24 to 72 hours, usually for medication-history clarification rather than a decline.
Policy in force (24 hours)
Your policy is active the day the first premium is paid, not when the paper policy arrives. Paper copy mails within 7 to 10 business days. Asurgo's promise is active coverage within 24 hours of the first call for most simplified-issue applicants, diabetic or otherwise.
For Adult Children
Buying Coverage for a Diabetic Parent
A significant share of diabetic final-expense applications are opened by adult children organizing coverage for an aging parent. The process is the same as buying for yourself, with one important difference: the parent must know, consent, sign, and complete the phone health interview personally.
Can I Buy a Policy on My Diabetic Parent?
Yes, with their knowledge and signature. The adult child can be the policy owner and premium payer, while the parent is the insured. The parent's signature is required on the application, and the parent answers the diabetic-specific questions themselves. You cannot buy a policy on a parent without their participation and consent.
What Information You'll Need
Before the first call, gather: their date of birth, state of residence, tobacco status, most recent A1C reading (usually on a recent lab report), insulin status (yes/no, how long), diabetes duration since diagnosis, and any complication history (neuropathy, retinopathy, kidney involvement, amputation). A current medication list from their pharmacy is the easiest single document to have on hand. Most adult children can get a first quote from Asurgo in about 5 minutes over the phone with the parent on the line.
How to Bring It Up
Most adult children find this conversation awkward. A short, empathetic opener works well. Something like: "Mom, I want to make sure we can give you the send-off you deserve without putting the bill on anyone's credit card. Can we spend 10 minutes looking at what a small policy would cost?"
The framing is about relieving the family's future burden, not about urgency. No sales pressure is needed. Once a parent sees that a $10,000 policy often costs $55 to $100 per month even for insulin-dependent Type 2, the decision becomes practical rather than emotional. For parents age 75 and older, see our guide for elderly adults.
Myth vs Fact
Myths About Diabetic Life Insurance
Five myths that cost diabetic families real money when they go uncorrected.
Myth
"Diabetics can't get life insurance."
Fact
Every diabetic qualifies for some form of final expense coverage through the right carrier. Well-managed Type 2 diabetics often qualify for Level (day-one) coverage at standard rates. Insulin-dependent and Type 1 diabetics qualify for Graded benefit or Guaranteed Issue coverage. No final-expense carrier in Asurgo's network declines coverage solely for diabetes.
Myth
"Being on insulin means automatic decline."
Fact
Insulin does not disqualify you, and at most carriers it does not even push the application out of Level day-one. Most insulin-dependent diabetics (Type 1 and Type 2) qualify for Level coverage at the right carrier. Insulin only becomes a tier concern when paired with specific complications, and even then Level carriers are usually still available.
Myth
"My A1C has to be perfect for approval."
Fact
A1C is one underwriting data point, not a tier gate. For most diabetic applicants, A1C adjusts rate class within Level coverage rather than pushing the application to Graded or Guaranteed Issue. There is no common A1C reading that disqualifies a diabetic from coverage altogether. Guaranteed Issue is triggered by specific events (amputation, recent hospitalization), not by any A1C threshold.
Myth
"All final expense carriers treat diabetes the same."
Fact
Carriers diverge on how they weight paired conditions. A 68-year-old insulin-dependent Type 2 diabetic with diabetic neuropathy might get Level from Transamerica, Level at a different rate class from AIG, and Graded from Mutual of Omaha. The same single conditions at the right carrier almost always means Level day-one. A broker quoting all 25+ finds the right match.
Myth
"Non-medical policies are the only option for diabetics."
Fact
Guaranteed Issue policies are the no-health-question fallback, but most diabetics qualify for better products. Simplified-issue Level and Graded plans require health questions but not a medical exam, and they cost less than Guaranteed Issue and pay out faster.
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Can seniors with diabetes get final expense insurance?
Yes. Most diabetic seniors qualify for Level day-one final expense coverage at the right carrier, including Type 1 and insulin-dependent Type 2. Guaranteed Issue is the fallback for two narrow situations: diabetes-related amputation, or hospitalization for diabetes in the past 12 months. No final-expense carrier in Asurgo's network declines a senior solely for diabetes.
What is the best final expense insurance for Type 2 diabetics?
For Type 2 diabetics without diabetes-related amputation or recent hospitalization, Mutual of Omaha Living Promise Level typically offers the lowest rate, around $41 per month for a 65-year-old female on $10,000 of coverage. Transamerica and Aetna are strong alternatives when paired complications are in the picture. A licensed broker matches your specific profile to the carrier most likely to approve you at Level day-one.
Do I need a medical exam for diabetic burial insurance?
No. Simplified-issue final expense coverage requires no medical exam, no blood draw, and no doctor visit. Carriers ask 8 to 12 health questions over the phone and run an instant prescription-history check. Guaranteed Issue coverage has no health questions at all. Every coverage tier available to diabetics skips the medical exam.
How much does life insurance cost for diabetics over 70?
For a non-tobacco 70-year-old diabetic without amputation or recent hospitalization, $10,000 of Level day-one final expense coverage typically runs $53 to $110 per month depending on carrier, insulin status, and paired complications. Applicants who fall into Guaranteed Issue (amputation or recent diabetic hospitalization) run $80 to $150 per month for the same coverage amount.
Can Type 1 diabetics get burial insurance?
Yes. Type 1 diabetics qualify for Level day-one coverage at the right carrier, same as Type 2. Diabetes type is not a tier-determining factor on its own at most carriers on Asurgo's roster. Guaranteed Issue is the fallback for the two specific triggers (amputation, hospitalization in past 12 months), not an automatic outcome for Type 1 applicants.
What A1C level will be accepted for life insurance?
There is no common A1C reading that disqualifies a diabetic from final expense coverage. A1C is one underwriting data point among several. For most diabetic applicants, A1C adjusts rate class within Level coverage rather than pushing the application to Graded or Guaranteed Issue. A licensed specialist can tell you where your A1C actually falls on each carrier's rate tables.
Is there a waiting period on diabetic life insurance?
Depends on tier. Level coverage has no waiting period: full benefit from day one. Graded benefit has a 24-month waiting period with partial payouts during months 0 to 24 and full benefit after. Guaranteed Issue has a 2-year waiting period for natural-cause death, with return of premium plus interest if death occurs during the waiting window. Accidental death pays full from day one on every tier.
Can I get burial insurance if I take insulin?
Yes. Insulin alone is not a Graded trigger at most carriers on Asurgo's roster. Most insulin-dependent diabetics, Type 1 and Type 2, qualify for Level day-one coverage at the right carrier. Insulin only becomes a tier concern when paired with specific diabetic complications, and even then Level carriers are usually still available. A broker finds the right match.
Related Guides
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Asurgo is an independent brokerage licensed in all 50 states. We place coverage with 25+ carriers including Mutual of Omaha, Aflac, Transamerica, AIG, and Aetna. Most diabetic applicants have coverage in force within 24 hours of application, even insulin-dependent Type 2 and Type 1.
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Nicholas Norminton, Licensed Insurance Specialist
Specialties: final expense, whole life, diabetic underwriting, guaranteed acceptance, simplified-issue placement.
Nicholas is a nationally licensed insurance specialist with extensive experience across the industry. He has personally helped thousands of clients secure life insurance coverage and built Asurgo into a trusted, tech-forward brokerage serving clients in all 50 states.