If you are a diabetic and you are shopping for term life insurance then it is important that you adequately research and prepare before you apply for a policy. Underwriters view diabetes as a pretty serious health concern, which affects the premium that you pay for coverage. In order to get the best policy at the best rate, you have to be serious about managing and controlling your blood sugars.
When you’re applying for life insurance, the company is going to look at dozens of different factors to decide how much they are going to charge you for the plan. The more risk that you are to the insurance company, the more that you’re going to pay every month. If you want to get a more affordable life insurance plan, there are several ways that you can do that.
As an applicant with diabetes, you’re going to encounter a few more hurdles than other applicants are going to face. Regardless of your health, it’s important that you get a quality and affordable life insurance plan to give your family the protection that they need.
Before you start applying for a life insurance plan, there are several things that you can do to help make the process easier and secure better rates from the insurance company. Making the right preperations could help save you hundreds of dollars on your life insurancce plan.
Preparation Begins 90 Days Before You Apply
Whether you have type 1 or type 2 diabetes, preparing for a life insurance application as a diabetic doesn’t mean sitting down with a pen in hand and the information you need to fill in the questionnaire and demographic data. No – being prepared means you have the lowest A1C possible
An A1C test measures your average blood sugar level for the previous 3 months, so if you are a diabetic and you’re getting ready for a life insurance application, you should begin at least 90 days before you shop and apply for a policy.
This is intelligent preparation and it takes time, effort, and control.
Let’s talk about some of the things you can do in the months before you apply for life insurance.
Manage Your Diet and Your Weight
Diabetes is a disease characterized by the body’s inability to produce insulin or an inability to use it effectively. Most of the foods you eat turns into sugar in your body so diabetes, proper blood sugar control, and food choices go hand in hand.
In order to maintain the most stable blood glucose levels, you should eat a balanced, nutritious diet. Eat wholesome foods such as fruits, vegetables (especially dark, leafy greens), whole grains, and healthy fats. Foods to avoid are sugar (especially white or processed sugar) and white flour.
Also, if you drink alcohol you should consider cutting back to no more than one drink per day. Truthfully, it best to eliminate alcohol completely to avoid the blood sugar spikes it can cause as well as the effects it has on your blood pressure.
Get Moving and Make Physical Activity a Part of Your Life
Be physically active. Aim for at least 20 minutes of moderately intensive physical activity every day. This could be something as low key as a brisk walk or as vigorous as playing tennis, or basketball, or another sport. There are so many ways for a person to get active that you don’t have any excuse not to get your heart pumping. Doing this will help to stabilize your blood sugar and also lower your blood pressure.
Don’t Smoke
This one is pretty simple. Smoking has a myriad of negative effects on your health. I don’t think I even need to get into that. It also has a major effect on life insurance rates. Smokers pay two to three times more for their life insurance policy! And if you are a diabetic smoker, you are going to be paying much more, if you get approved at all. Sometimes a diabetic may be right on the edge of an approval or denial and being a non-smoker may be just the factor that helps you out.
Check Your Blood Sugar and Manage Your Medications Wisely
You can’t manage your glucose levels if you don’t know what they are. It is very important to actively check your blood sugar. At a minimum you should check your blood sugar first thing in the morning (to find out what your fasting glucose level is), once during the day, and before you go to sleep at night. This can give you a general idea of what your numbers look like. If they are too high, then you know you need to continue to tweak your diet or your medication.
Just remember that no one can manage your diabetes for you. Just like anything in life, you have to work at it.
Whether your medication is an oral pill or insulin therapy through a syringe or a pump, make sure you follow your regimen diligently. If you have questions about the dosage or side effects, ask your doctor or pharmacist
Aim for an A1C of 7.0 and Below
Some of you are probably thinking “an A1C below 7.0?!” while others are nodding in agreement.
An a1c below 7.0 is what it will take to get you the most favorable rates on a life insurance policy as a diabetic. If you are currently at this level, then great! Keep doing what you are doing, and strive for better. If your last a1c was 7.0 then make a goal for your next one to be 6.9. This means your health is that much better and your case for getting an affordable life insurance policy will be that much better.
If your a1c is not in the 7.0 range then you have some work to do. Start with some of the recommendations in this article – tweak your diet and start doing some minor physical activity for at least 20 minutes each day. If your A1C is 8.2, then set a goal for yourself and aim for an A1C of 7.9 at your next checkup. This is doable and you can continue adjusting your diet, exercise, and insulin or medication to get a better A1C.
Decide which Plan Works Best for You
Before you apply for life insurance, you’ll need to compare all of the policy types that are available. Each kind of plan has different advantages and disadvantages that you’ll need to weigh based on your life insurance needs.
The most popular option is a term life insurance policy. These plans are bought with an expiration date attached to them. Once that date has passed, the plan is no longer active and you’ll have to reapply for life insurance. These plans are the most affordable option for life insurance coverage.
The other popular option is to buy a whole life insurance plan. Unlike a term policy, these policies are permanent coverage, which means that they will never expire. As long as you pay the monthly premiums for the plan, you’ll have life insurance protection. These policies are an excellent option for anyone that doesn’t want to worry about having to reapply for life insurance in the future. Because these policies will never expire, they are going to be more expensive than a term plan.
Another option is to buy a no medical exam policy. As you can guess from the name, these plans will allow you to buy life insurance without having to take the medical exam first. These are an excellent option for anyone that’s been declined in the past because of their health.
Compare Rates Today to Get an Idea of What a Policy Will Cost
If you are shopping for life insurance and you have diabetes, then make sure that you compare multiple rates from different insurance carriers to ensure you get the best deal. All companies have different criteria so shopping around can mean a savings of up to 70% by choosing one company over the other. An independent insurance agent who works with many companies will be able to help you sift through all the companies and policies out there. Get a free rate comparison by filling out the form on this page. Our agents are also here to answer any question you may have so contact us for help.
Our independent insurance agents work with dozens and dozens of highly rated companies across the nation, which means that they can bring all of the best insurance rates directly to you, without having to waste hours and hours calling all of the companies yourself. Our agents have years of experience working with highly rated companies and they know which companies are going to give you the best insurance rates based on your health.
Life insurance is one of the best investments that you’ll ever make for your loved ones. Don’t wait any longer to get the insurance coverage that your family will need. Please contact us today to get the process started.