*5 min read ยท Last updated May 23, 2026*
In this article
– How table ratings actually work – What drives the rating: A1C, age, complications – Why carriers price the same applicant differently – What you can do before applying – What to do this week – FAQ
Carlos Reyes, 47, applied for a 20-year, $500,000 term life policy two months after his doctor confirmed Type 2 diabetes with an A1C of 7.2. Three quotes came back: Banner Life $1,840 per year, Prudential $2,310, Foresters $3,120. Same applicant, same A1C, same age and weight, with annual premiums ranging $1,280 apart. The reason was not who offered the best price. It was which carrier’s diabetic underwriting rules he happened to match.
How table ratings actually work
A standard life insurance quote assumes the applicant is in good health and falls into a “standard” or “preferred” underwriting class. When Type 2 diabetes is present, the carrier evaluates how well controlled it is and the long-term mortality risk. If the risk falls outside what the standard class covers, the carrier issues a “table rated” offer: the premium increases by 25 percent per table. Table 2 means a 50 percent surcharge; table 4 doubles the premium. Most insurable diabetic applicants land between table 1 and table 4.
On a $500,000 20-year term where the standard rate at age 47 is $1,470 per year, table 2 runs $44,100 over 20 years and table 4 runs $58,800. Carlos’s quotes mapped roughly to standard ($1,840), table 1 ($2,310), and table 4 ($3,120), a spread of $25,600 over the policy’s life.
What drives the rating: A1C, age, complications
Three numbers do most of the work. Most recent A1C: under 6.5 is well controlled, 6.5 to 7.5 moderately controlled, above 7.5 poorly controlled. Carlos’s 7.2 sat in the middle band, where carriers diverge most. Age at diagnosis: under-40 diagnoses generally rate higher because expected disease duration is longer; Carlos at 47 was on the favorable side. Complications: neuropathy, retinopathy, kidney disease, or cardiovascular involvement push the rating upward regardless of A1C. An applicant with an A1C of 6.8 plus documented neuropathy may rate worse than one with A1C 7.5 and no complications.
Why carriers price the same applicant differently
Each carrier maintains its own diabetic underwriting guide that translates A1C, age, complications, BMI, smoking status, and family history into a rating class. Banner Life and Prudential are widely viewed as diabetes-friendly: their guides allow standard or table-1 offers at A1C levels other carriers would push to table 3 or 4. Foresters, AAA Life, and several others have more conservative rules. An independent agent who places diabetic cases knows Banner will likely take Carlos at standard, Prudential at table 1, and Foresters higher. If he had walked into a single Foresters office, he would not have known he could have paid $1,280 less per year somewhere else.
What you can do before applying
If your A1C is in the 6.5 to 7.5 range, two moves consistently improve the final rating. First, ask your doctor for the last 12 months of A1C readings, not just the most recent. Carriers look at the trend: 7.2 following 8.1 and 7.7 looks better than 7.2 following 6.4 and 6.7. Second, review your records before the application and flag anything suggesting retinopathy, neuropathy, or microalbuminuria. For the foundational mechanics, see the different types of life insurance policies. For a coverage-amount framework, see how much life insurance you should have. On the threshold question, see who really needs life insurance.
What to do this week
Do not start with a name-brand carrier’s website. Work with an independent agent who places diabetic cases and ask which three carriers are running your application. Ask specifically whether Banner Life and Prudential are in the mix. If both decline, a guaranteed-issue policy may be the next step, but you will know rather than guessing from the highest of three random quotes.
Compare term life policies from carriers known for diabetes-friendly underwriting, so an A1C in the 6.5 to 7.5 range doesn’t cost you $1,280 a year more than it should.
The cheapest quote is rarely the cheapest available. Most diabetic applicants only see two or three carriers because their agent only runs two or three, and the spread between the best and worst quote on the same medical profile is large enough to fund a college account. Knowing what to ask for before you sign keeps that $1,280 per year in your retirement, not someone else’s underwriting margin.
Frequently asked questions
Can someone with Type 2 diabetes get standard rate life insurance? Yes, with the right carrier and an A1C generally under 7.0, no complications, and a healthy BMI. Banner Life and Prudential are the most consistent carriers offering standard rates at A1C levels others would table-rate.
What A1C level qualifies for the best diabetic life insurance rates? Most carriers issue their best diabetic offers when the most recent A1C is below 6.5 and the trend is stable or downward. Above 7.5, expect table 2 or higher even at favorable carriers. Above 9.0, most carriers decline.
Which carriers underwrite Type 2 diabetes most favorably? Banner Life and Prudential are widely cited by independent agents. Lincoln Financial, Mutual of Omaha, and Pacific Life are reasonable second-tier options. Captive carriers and many low-cost online providers rate diabetes more conservatively.
How does insulin use affect life insurance rates? Insulin use moves an applicant several tables higher across most carriers, often into table 3 to table 6 territory. A few carriers underwrite insulin-dependent Type 2 diabetes more favorably; an experienced agent will know which.
Should I disclose my diabetes if it is not formally in my medical record yet? Yes. Applications ask whether you have been diagnosed or treated, not whether the diagnosis is documented. Failing to disclose a known condition is material misrepresentation and can void the policy during the contestability period.
