Life insurance underwriters have to consider a large number of variables when they consider how to rate a life insurance policy for someone with diabetes. There are risk factors, such as build (height and weight), age of onset, high blood pressure, family history and more.
First and foremost though, there are three issues that underwriters want to see if they are going to consider approving standard or better rates.
Are you serious about your disease? Do you MONITOR your glucose levels and keep track of them? Do you keep a copy of the lab results when your doctor does a full blood workup? Do you understand what the lab results are saying? Do you know what your last hbA1c reading was, and more importantly, do you know what it means?
Are you COMPLIANT with your doctor’s orders? Do you take medication when it is prescribed, or do you take it when you are feeling a little off? Does your one month prescription take a month and a half to use? Do you report any changes in glucose levels to your doctor in between regular visits?
Do you have CONTROL of your glucose levels? Was your last hbA1c below 7? Below 6? When you check your glucose, are the results all over the maps or are they reasonably consistent?
This is the starting point for underwriting diabetes. In the absence of regular monitoring, compliance and control, standard or better rates are going to be something to work toward, but not something that you are likely to be approved at yet.
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