Insurance with Diabetes in NZ: What You Can Get and How to Apply
Most New Zealanders with diabetes can still buy insurance, though usually on non-standard terms. Chubb Life states that for customers with Type 1 diabetes it is most common to be able to offer life cover only, with a loading of at least 100%, and that a recently diagnosed Type 2 applicant is often deferred for 12 months. Health and trauma cover normally carry a diabetes exclusion.
In short
- Chubb Life says that for Type 1 diabetes it is most common to be able to offer life cover only, with a loading of at least 100% (read 8 September 2026).
- A recently diagnosed Type 2 applicant is often deferred for 12 months so the insurer can assess understanding and compliance (Chubb Life, read 8 September 2026).
- ACC covers injury and not illness, so diabetes and its complications attract no income replacement, treatment funding or rehabilitation from ACC (ACC, Injuries we don't cover, retrieved 18 August 2026).
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
New Zealand insurers assess diabetes on the additional claims risk it carries, particularly for heart disease, stroke, kidney failure and nerve damage. Type 1 diabetes generally attracts a life insurance loading of 75% to 150% or more because it requires lifelong insulin, while well-controlled Type 2 diabetes commonly attracts a loading of 25% to 75%.
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. One insurer publishes its position: Chubb Life says that for customers with Type 1 diabetes it is most common to be able to offer life cover only, with a loading of at least 100%, with other benefits considered only in rarer cases such as a diagnosis after age 40 that is well controlled and free of complications (Chubb Life, Diving into diabetes, read 8 September 2026).
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. Timing matters as much as control. Chubb Life says that where the diagnosis is recent it will often need to defer cover for 12 months so it can assess the applicant's understanding of the condition and their compliance with treatment (Chubb Life, Diving into diabetes, read 8 September 2026).
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
Most New Zealanders with diabetes can obtain meaningful cover across four products. Life insurance is the most accessible, almost always with a loading between 25% and 150% or more. Income protection and health insurance are usually offered with a diabetes-specific exclusion, and trauma cover is the hardest to obtain, often excluding heart attack, stroke and kidney failure.
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
Underwriting outcomes for New Zealanders with diabetes vary by product and control. Well-controlled Type 2 diabetes typically attracts a life insurance loading of 25% to 75%, rising to 75% to 150% for Type 1 or for poorly controlled Type 2. Income protection, health and trauma cover are usually offered with diabetes exclusions, or declined where complications exist. Two things sit behind that pattern. ACC covers injury and not illness, so diabetes and its complications attract no income replacement, treatment funding or rehabilitation from the scheme (ACC, Injuries we don't cover, retrieved 18 August 2026), which is why an income protection exclusion bites hard. And private health cover is not universal: the Financial Services Council counts 1.35 million health insurance policies in force in New Zealand (State of the Sector report, reported by Insurance Business NZ, February 2026, read 8 September 2026).
| 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
New Zealand underwriters assessing a diabetic application focus first on HbA1c, where a result below 7% (53 mmol/mol) is generally considered well-controlled, 7% to 8% moderate, and above 8% poor control. They also weigh your medication, whether insulin is required, any eye, kidney, nerve, cardiovascular or foot complications, BMI, smoking status and duration of diabetes.
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
Bringing your HbA1c below 7% before applying is the single most effective step a New Zealander with diabetes can take, since even a modest improvement can shift the outcome from deferral to acceptance with a loading. Recent blood work from the last three months, a specialist letter, consistent management, quitting smoking and full disclosure all help.
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
A licensed financial adviser working across multiple New Zealand insurers materially changes the outcome of a diabetes application, because insurers have different risk appetites for diabetes. An adviser can identify the most accommodating insurer, submit a preliminary enquiry before a formal application goes on your record, present your medical evidence effectively, and negotiate restrictive terms.
A licensed 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
Applying for insurance with diabetes in New Zealand works best when you gather your most recent HbA1c results and specialist letters first, disclose every detail, and apply for life, income protection and health cover together to avoid repeated medical evidence gathering. Avoid approaching insurers yourself, because each application, including any decline, goes on your insurance record.
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 a licensed 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 licensed to advise 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.
Financial advice is provided by Craig Smith Business Services Limited, trading as Smiths Insurance & KiwiSaver, a licensed Financial Advice Provider (FSP712931). QuoteHub is a trading name. The information in this article is general in nature and does not constitute personalised financial advice. We recommend speaking with a licensed financial adviser to discuss your individual circumstances.
References
- Financial Markets Authority (FMA), Insurance guidance
- ACC New Zealand
- Sorted.org.nz, Insurance guides
- Insurance & Financial Services Ombudsman (IFSO)
- MoneyHub NZ, Insurance resources
- Diabetes New Zealand
- Cancer Society of New Zealand
- Heart Foundation NZ
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