India has over 100 million people living with diabetes — making it one of the most common health disclosures in any insurance application. And yet, countless people with diabetes assume they simply can't get life insurance, or that the premium will be unaffordably high. Neither assumption is accurate.
The reality is more nuanced: insurers evaluate diabetes applications based on type, duration, control, and complications. A 35-year-old with well-controlled Type 2 diabetes diagnosed 3 years ago, no complications, and an HbA1c below 7.5% is a very different risk profile from someone with long-standing poorly controlled diabetes and kidney involvement.
For well-controlled Type 2 diabetics, most major private insurers — including Kotak — will offer a term plan, often with a premium loading of 15–50% above standard rates, depending on the severity of the condition. Some may add exclusions for diabetes-related deaths in the first few years.
Type 1 diabetics face more limited options, as the underwriting is more conservative. However, some insurers do extend cover with appropriate loadings. The process is more involved and typically requires a detailed medical assessment.
The critical thing: always disclose your condition fully and accurately. Do not attempt to hide it. The premium loading is the price of honesty — and it's the price that protects your family's ability to actually claim.