Life insurance for diabetics in California
California residents with diabetes have access to the same major life insurance carriers as the rest of the country. California does have a few state-specific rules worth knowing, and the state has a large Type 2 population and a very active insurance market. Diabetic applicants in California are approved every day.
What is the same as every state
- Carriers evaluate your A1C, medications, duration of diagnosis and complications.
- Policy types available: fully-underwritten term, whole life, simplified-issue, guaranteed-issue, final expense, hybrid life/LTC.
- Rates depend on your health class, not your state.
What is specific to California
- Agent license disclosure. California Insurance Code 1725.5 requires that insurance ads include the agent's California license number. Our California agent of record for 1 Stop is Scott Zimmerman, NPN 1300464. Our California DOI license number is published on request before any formal application.
- Privacy rights. California residents have the right to request a copy of their personal information, correct it, and request that it be deleted (subject to records we are required by law to retain). See our Privacy Policy.
- Replacement rules. If you already have life insurance in California and are considering replacing it, state regulations require disclosures and a comparison of the two policies. We handle those forms on your behalf.
- Carrier availability. Most national carriers are licensed in California. A small number of smaller specialty carriers are not. We quote you only carriers licensed to issue in California.
Local considerations
California has a very large Type 2 and pre-diabetic population. Several carriers that write diabetic cases well are strong in the California market. The main local wrinkle is wildfire-related underwriting on some property policies; it does not apply to life insurance, but it occasionally shows up in combined household reviews, which we flag if relevant.
Our California clients run the full range: Type 1 applicants in their 30s and 40s looking for family term insurance, Type 2 applicants in their 50s and 60s shopping final expense, and adult children shopping on behalf of parents in their 70s and 80s. Diabetic applicants in California are placed into coverage every week.
Common questions
Are rates higher in California?
No. Life insurance rates are based on your health and age, not your state. California's higher cost of living shows up in cost-of-care estimates for LTC planning, but not in the base premium of a life or final expense policy.
Do I need to meet in person in California?
No. All of our California business is done by phone and secure email. Carriers accept electronic signatures. If a paramedical exam is required, the carrier sends an examiner to your home at no cost.
Can I buy coverage in California if I was declined in another state?
Yes. Declines are tied to carriers, not states. We can shop your file to California-licensed carriers whether or not you have been declined elsewhere.