Insurance with Diabetes NZ: Options & How to Apply | QuoteHub

By QuoteHub Editorial Team · Updated 2026-01-12

Insurance with Diabetes in NZ: What You Can Get and How to Apply

More than 300,000 New Zealanders are living with diabetes, and that number is growing. According to Diabetes New Zealand, roughly 1 in 16 Kiwis has some form of the condition, with Type 2 diabetes making up the vast majority of cases. For many of these people, one of the first questions that comes up when thinking about financial protection is: can I still get insurance?

The answer is yes, in most cases. But the type of cover available, the cost, and the conditions attached will depend on the type of diabetes you have, how well it is managed, and which insurer you apply with. This guide walks through the options, the underwriting process, and what you can do to give yourself the best chance of a favourable outcome.

How Insurers View Diabetes

Insurers assess diabetes based on the additional risk it presents. Diabetes increases the likelihood of certain claims, particularly for conditions such as heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, and nerve damage. From an insurer's perspective, this means a higher probability of paying out, and that is reflected in how they underwrite applications.

However, the way insurers treat diabetes varies significantly depending on whether you have Type 1 or Type 2, and how well the condition is controlled.

Type 1 diabetes

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition, usually diagnosed in childhood or early adulthood. Because it requires lifelong insulin management and carries a higher risk of complications, insurers tend to apply stricter underwriting criteria.

Typical outcomes for Type 1:

Life insurance is usually available but with a premium loading of 75% to 150% or more
Income protection may be offered with exclusions for diabetes-related conditions
Health insurance is often available with a specific exclusion for diabetes and its complications
Trauma cover can be difficult to obtain, with diabetes-related critical illness events frequently excluded

Type 2 diabetes

Type 2 diabetes is far more common and is often linked to lifestyle factors. Insurers are generally more accommodating with Type 2, particularly when the condition is well controlled through diet, exercise, and oral medication.

Typical outcomes for Type 2 (well-controlled):

Life insurance is commonly available with a loading of 25% to 75%
Income protection is usually available, sometimes with a diabetes-specific exclusion
Health insurance is typically offered with a diabetes exclusion
Trauma cover may be available but with exclusions for diabetes-related events such as heart attack or stroke

Type 2 diabetes that is poorly controlled or has led to complications (such as retinopathy, nephropathy, or peripheral neuropathy) is treated much more cautiously. These applications may be deferred or declined outright.

What You Can Typically Get

Despite the additional scrutiny, most people with diabetes can obtain meaningful insurance cover. Here is a breakdown by product type.

Life insurance

Life insurance is the most accessible product for diabetics. Insurers are assessing the risk of premature death, and well-managed diabetes, while it increases that risk, does not make it uninsurable.

What to expect:

A premium loading is almost certain, ranging from 25% for well-controlled Type 2 to 150% or more for Type 1 with complications
The loading may be reviewed and potentially reduced if your health improves over time
Cover amounts are not usually restricted, though very high sums insured may trigger additional medical testing

If you are unsure how much life insurance you need, the QuoteHub life insurance calculator can help you work through the numbers.

Income protection

Income protection replaces a portion of your income if you cannot work due to illness or injury. For diabetics, the key question is whether diabetes-related incapacity will be covered.

What to expect:

Many insurers will offer income protection but with an exclusion for claims directly caused by diabetes or its complications
This means you are still covered for unrelated conditions (injury, cancer, other illnesses), which still represents significant protection
Some insurers may offer full cover with a loading instead of an exclusion, particularly for well-controlled Type 2 diabetes
Benefit periods and wait periods are usually available on standard terms

Health insurance

Health insurance covers the cost of private medical treatment, surgery, and specialist consultations.

What to expect:

Most insurers will offer health insurance with a specific exclusion for diabetes and related conditions
This means you will not be covered for treatment of diabetes itself, or for conditions directly arising from it (such as diabetic eye disease or diabetic kidney disease)
All other conditions are covered as normal
This is still valuable cover, as it gives you access to private treatment for everything else

Trauma (critical illness) cover

Trauma cover pays a lump sum if you are diagnosed with a specified critical illness, such as cancer, heart attack, or stroke.

What to expect:

This is the most difficult product to obtain with diabetes
Many insurers will exclude heart attack, stroke, coronary artery bypass surgery, and kidney failure from the list of covered conditions, as these are more likely in diabetic patients
Some insurers may decline trauma cover entirely for Type 1 diabetes
For well-controlled Type 2, cover may be offered with exclusions and/or loadings

Typical Outcomes by Insurance Type

The following table summarises the most common underwriting outcomes for diabetics in New Zealand.

Insurance Type	Type 2 (well-controlled)	Type 2 (poorly controlled / complications)	Type 1 (well-controlled)	Type 1 (with complications)
Life insurance	Loading 25% to 75%	Loading 75% to 150%, or deferral	Loading 75% to 150%	High loading, deferral, or decline
Income protection	Available, exclusion or loading	Exclusion likely, possible deferral	Available with exclusion	Exclusion or decline
Health insurance	Available, diabetes exclusion	Available, diabetes exclusion	Available, diabetes exclusion	Available with exclusion, or deferral
Trauma cover	Available with exclusions	Exclusions or decline	Limited, exclusions likely	Often declined

These are general patterns. Individual outcomes depend on your specific medical profile, and different insurers will reach different conclusions for the same applicant.

The Underwriting Process: What Insurers Want to Know

When you apply for insurance with diabetes, the insurer's underwriting team will assess several key factors. Understanding what they are looking for helps you prepare a stronger application.

HbA1c levels

Your HbA1c (glycated haemoglobin) result is the single most important metric. It measures your average blood glucose control over the past two to three months.

Below 7% (53 mmol/mol): Generally considered well-controlled. This is the target range most insurers prefer.
7% to 8%: Moderate control. Likely to result in a loading.
Above 8%: Poor control. More likely to result in higher loadings, deferrals, or declines.

Medication and treatment

Insurers will want to know what medication you take and how your treatment has evolved. Key distinctions include:

Diet and exercise only: The most favourable from an underwriting perspective
Oral medication (metformin, etc.): Standard for Type 2, generally viewed positively
Insulin: Increases the risk profile, particularly if insulin was required relatively early after diagnosis

Complications history

Any diabetes-related complications significantly affect the underwriting outcome. The insurer will ask specifically about:

Eye problems (retinopathy): Regular diabetic eye screenings showing no issues are a positive sign
Kidney function (nephropathy): Blood and urine tests assessing kidney health
Nerve damage (neuropathy): Including peripheral neuropathy and autonomic neuropathy
Cardiovascular issues: Blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and any history of heart disease or stroke
Foot problems: Ulceration, poor circulation, or amputation history

Other factors

Age at diagnosis: Earlier diagnosis generally means longer exposure to the condition
Duration of diabetes: How long you have had the condition
BMI and lifestyle: Weight management, physical activity, and smoking status (smoking with diabetes is viewed very unfavourably)
Family history: Whether diabetes-related complications are present in your family

How to Improve Your Chances of Approval

You cannot change the fact that you have diabetes, but you can present the strongest possible application. Here is what makes a difference.

1. Get your HbA1c under control before applying

If your most recent HbA1c is above 7%, consider working with your GP or diabetes specialist to bring it down before you submit an application. Even a modest improvement can shift the underwriting outcome from a deferral to an acceptance with loading.

2. Have recent blood work ready

Insurers will request medical evidence regardless, but having recent test results (within the last three months) speeds up the process and demonstrates proactive management. Key tests include HbA1c, kidney function (eGFR, albumin-to-creatinine ratio), cholesterol, and liver function.

3. Get a specialist report

If you see an endocrinologist or diabetes specialist, a recent letter summarising your condition, treatment plan, and prognosis can be very helpful. This carries more weight with underwriters than GP notes alone.

4. Demonstrate consistent management

Insurers look for patterns. Regular GP visits, consistent medication adherence, stable blood glucose trends, and up-to-date diabetic eye and foot checks all signal that you are taking your condition seriously.

5. Address lifestyle factors

If you smoke, quitting before applying will make a substantial difference. Maintaining a healthy weight and being physically active also improve your risk profile independently of your diabetes.

6. Disclose everything honestly

Full disclosure is essential. If you withhold information about your diabetes or its complications and later make a claim, the insurer can void your policy entirely. Being upfront may result in a loading or exclusion, but it means your cover is solid when you need it.

Why Working with an Adviser Matters

Applying for insurance with diabetes is not as simple as filling out a form online. The outcome can vary dramatically depending on which insurer you apply with, how your application is presented, and how well the underwriting team understands your situation.

An authorised financial adviser who works across multiple insurers can:

Identify the most accommodating insurer for your situation. Different insurers have different risk appetites for diabetes. Some are notably more flexible than others, and an adviser knows which ones to approach first.
Pre-assess your application. Many advisers can submit a preliminary enquiry to one or more insurers before lodging a formal application. This gives you an indication of the likely outcome without it going on your record as a declined application.
Present your medical information effectively. How your condition is described and what supporting evidence is included can influence the underwriting outcome. An experienced adviser knows what underwriters are looking for.
Negotiate on your behalf. If an insurer comes back with terms that seem too restrictive, an adviser can push back, provide additional evidence, or try a different insurer.
Compare multiple options. Rather than applying to one insurer and hoping for the best, an adviser can approach several and let you choose the best set of terms.

At QuoteHub, our advisers regularly help New Zealanders with diabetes secure cover. We work across all major NZ insurers and understand how each one approaches diabetes underwriting. Get a free, no-obligation consultation to discuss your options.

Tips for Applying

Here are some practical steps to follow when you are ready to apply.

Gather your medical records. Collect your most recent HbA1c results, any specialist letters, and a summary of your medications and treatment history.
Be thorough in your disclosure. Answer every question on the application form honestly and completely. If in doubt about whether something is relevant, disclose it.
Apply for multiple products at once. If you need life insurance, income protection, and health insurance, apply for all of them together. This is more efficient and avoids multiple rounds of medical evidence gathering.
Do not apply to multiple insurers yourself. Each application goes on your insurance record. If you are declined by one insurer and then apply to another, the second insurer will know about the decline. An adviser can manage this process strategically.
Consider the total package, not just the premium. A policy with a loading but no exclusions may be more valuable than a cheaper policy that excludes diabetes-related conditions, depending on your situation.
Review your cover regularly. If your diabetes management improves over time, you may be able to request a review of your loading or exclusions. Some insurers will reassess after a set period.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get life insurance in NZ if I have diabetes?

Yes. Most people with diabetes can get life insurance in New Zealand, though it will usually come with a premium loading. The size of the loading depends on whether you have Type 1 or Type 2, your HbA1c levels, and whether you have developed any complications.

Will my diabetes be covered under health insurance?

In most cases, no. Health insurers will typically apply a specific exclusion for diabetes and any conditions arising from it. However, you will still be covered for all other medical conditions, which is still meaningful protection.

Is income protection worth getting if diabetes is excluded?

Yes. Even with a diabetes exclusion, income protection still covers you for a wide range of conditions that could prevent you from working, including injuries, cancer, mental health conditions, and other illnesses. The exclusion only applies to claims directly caused by your diabetes.

Does it matter if I was diagnosed with diabetes before or after taking out insurance?

Yes, significantly. If you already had insurance before your diabetes diagnosis, your existing policy covers you fully (including diabetes-related claims), as long as the policy remains in force. This is one of the strongest arguments for getting insurance early. If you are applying after diagnosis, the insurer will underwrite your diabetes as a pre-existing condition.

How long does underwriting take for a diabetic applicant?

Typically two to six weeks, depending on how quickly medical evidence is obtained from your GP or specialist. Having recent test results and reports ready at the time of application can speed up the process significantly.

Can I get insurance if I have been declined before?

Possibly. A decline from one insurer does not mean all insurers will decline you. Different insurers have different risk appetites, and an authorised financial adviser can identify which insurers are most likely to accept your application based on your specific profile.

Get the Right Cover for Your Situation

Diabetes does not have to mean going without insurance. The key is understanding your options, preparing a strong application, and working with someone who knows how to navigate the underwriting process on your behalf.

At QuoteHub, we help Kiwis with all types of medical histories find the right cover. Our advisers are authorised and work across all major NZ insurers, so you get the best available terms for your situation.

Get started with a free, no-obligation quote and find out what cover is available to you.

QuoteHub is operated by QuoteHub Limited (FSP 712931), an authorised financial advice provider. The information in this article is general in nature and does not constitute personalised financial advice. We recommend speaking with an authorised financial adviser to discuss your individual circumstances.

References

Explore related pages: Life Insurance, Income Protection, Health Insurance, Trauma Insurance.