\n<\/p>\n
When you\u2019re shopping for life insurance coverage, the insurance company is going to look at dozens of different factors to determine how much they are going to charge you for coverage. One of the biggest factors is your overall health. If you have any pre-existing conditions, like diabetes, then you could encounter several problems when you\u2019re trying to get affordable life insurance.<\/p>\n
Diabetes is a rapidly growing health issue in the United States. According to the American Diabetes Association, nearly 26 million children and adults have diabetes and 79 million Americans have pre-diabetes. This disease is characterized by the body\u2019s inability to produce insulin or not being able to use insulin effectively.<\/p>\n
The result of having diabetes is high blood sugars, which has to be actively monitored and controlled by anyone who is a diabetic.<\/p>\n Diabetes does affect term life insurance rates<\/a><\/strong>, but how much it affects your premiums depends on your level of blood sugar control. Your A1C is probably the biggest factor in the life insurance premium of a diabetic \u2013 more than whether you are type 1 diabetic<\/a><\/strong> or type 2<\/a><\/strong>, whether you use oral medication or if you are insulin-dependent, or whether you were diagnosed with diabetes as a child<\/a><\/strong> or at age 50.<\/p>\n Life insurance is one of the most important investments that you\u2019ll ever make for your loved ones. If something were to happen to you, your family could be left with a mountain of debt, which is going to make the whole situation a thousand times worse. We know that shopping for life insurance is never a fun experience, but we are here to help make it as quick and simple as possible for you. This agent is going to explore how your A1C levels will impact your life insurance rates, and we will also look at several ways that you can save money on your insurance plan.<\/p>\n The A1C test (also known as HbA1c or glycated hemoglobin) is what is used to test how well you are monitoring and controlling your blood sugar. It provides a picture of what your glucose levels have been over the previous three months. It specifically measures how much of your hemoglobin is coated with sugar.<\/p>\n If you are diabetic and shopping for life insurance, then be prepared to have your average blood sugar checked with an A1C test, so an insurance underwriter can evaluate your level of blood sugar control.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n This test is helpful for a diabetic to see how well you are managing your glucose levels, but it\u2019s also essential for insurance underwriters to get an idea of\u00a0 whether you have controlled or uncontrolled diabetes.\u00a0The more controlled that your diabetes is, the less risk you are of having diabetes-related health complications, which means that you\u2019re going to be less risk to the insurance company. The lower risk that you are, the less that they are going to charge you for insurance coverage. Each insurance company is going to have different A1C levels that they view as \u201chealthy,\u201d but all of them are going to view lower levels more favorably.<\/p>\n The higher your A1C, the higher your blood sugar levels have been, which puts you into the category of uncontrolled diabetes. This triggers an alarm to insurance underwriters whose job is to weed out risky applicants<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n Statistics show that diabetics with uncontrolled blood sugar levels are 2 to 4 times more likely to have heart disease, stroke, as well as complications with various organs, vision issues, and neuropathy. Diabetes is also the leading cause of kidney failure,accounting for 44% of all new cases.<\/p>\n On the flip side, if your blood sugar levels are controlled, an insurance underwriter can determine that your long-term health outlook is better.<\/p>\n A low A1C indicates that your diabetes is controlled. This is a big factor for insurance underwriters to examine because of the long term effects of glucose levels on a person\u2019s overall health. Your a1c is one of the biggest factors that determine which health class<\/a><\/strong> you fall under and what rate you will pay.<\/p>\n Overall, a life insurance company defines a \u201cnormal\u201d A1C as 6.0 and less. This would be considered an A1C of a non-diabetic person. Anything over 6.0 and the higher likelihood that the premium for your policy will increase.<\/p>\n Generally speaking, an A1C of lower than 7.0 is considered good control by\u00a0many insurance carriers. If everything else looks good, meaning there are no other health issues, then standard rates or better<\/a><\/strong> may be possible.<\/p>\n If your A1C is between 7.0 to 8.0 then your diabetes is considered to be under average control, and you can still get coverage at a reasonable rate.<\/p>\n Because A1C levels have such a big effect on the life insurance premium of a diabetic, it is wise to have the lowest number possible. But since the A1C measures your blood sugar levels over an average of 3 months, there is no overnight fix.<\/p>\n The best you can do is begin to incorporate healthier eating habits as well as diet and exercise into your life. If you are planning on applying for life insurance and you can make positive changes to your diet, increase your level of activity, as well as manage your blood sugar levels through accurate insulin therapy or medication, then you should try that for 90 days. You will have a better A1C, and quite possibly a better rate.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re want to save money on your life insurance application, then improving your health through a diet and exercise is a great way to do that. Making a few simple lifestyle changes could save you hundreds of dollars on your insurance policy.<\/p>\n Aside from improving your A1C levels, a diet and exercise are also going to help improve your overall health by helping you lose weight, lower your cholesterol, lower your blood pressure, and reduce your risk of being diagnosed with other health complications. It\u2019s easy to see why skipping the junk food and hitting the gym can save you hundreds of dollars on your insurance every year.<\/p>\n Improving your A1C levels is not the only way that you can save money on your life insurance policy. There are several other ways that you can secure better premium rates, which means more money in your pockets. Making a few simple changes could save you thousands of dollars on your life insurance coverage.<\/p>\n The first thing that you should do is eliminate any tobacco that you currently use. If you\u2019re listed as a smoker on your application, you can expect to pay much higher premiums for your insurance coverage. In fact, smokers are going to pay around twice as much versus what a non-smoker is going to pay for the same sized plan. If you want to save money on life insurance as a person with diabetes, you\u2019ll need to kick those cigarettes to the curb once and for all.<\/p>\n The best way to ensure that you\u2019re getting the most affordable insurance plan is to compare dozens of quotes before you decide which plan is the best for you. Every insurance company is different, which means that you\u2019ll get drastically differing rates depending on which company that you get the quote from. As an applicant with diabetes, you could get drastically different rates, and finding the right company could be the difference in getting an affordable policy or getting a plan that breaks your bank every month.<\/p>\n Instead of wasting your time calling dozens of companies yourself, let an independent insurance agent do all of the hard work for you. One of these independent agents can save you both time and money on your life insurance search.<\/p>\nWhat Is An A1C Test<\/h2>\n
\n
Controlled vs. Uncontrolled Diabetes<\/h2>\n
The Lower Your A1C, The Better<\/h2>\n
Can I Improve My A1C To Prepare For A Life Insurance Application?<\/h2>\n
Other Way To Lower Your Insurance Premiums<\/h2>\n
Declined for Coverage?<\/h2>\n