Subscribe Now

[hb-subscribe]

Trending News

T1D Exchange T1D Exchange T1D Exchange
  • Activity
    • 1 hour, 11 minutes ago
      NANCY NECIA likes your comment at
      Have you had to switch diabetes medications in the past year due to health insurance changes?
      My doctor switched me without telling me from Humalog to novolog and told me it was due to insurance. I’m on Medicare and I never saw anything that said that was necessary. They call me periodically to see how I’m doing and I told them I didn’t appreciate being switched without being told. I thought initially it was a mistake when I picked it up at the pharmacy but they said that’s what the doctor ordered. Then the next visit, he told me all my issues with insulin switching and preauthorization holdups was my fault basically because he says “I have the wrong insurance”. Like I’m going to NOT use Medicare. My opinion? I think I have the wrong doctor, but it’s a hassle to switch.
    • 1 hour, 12 minutes ago
      NANCY NECIA likes your comment at
      Have you had to switch diabetes medications in the past year due to health insurance changes?
      Not this year, but in 2026, I need to switch from Humalog to Novolog.
    • 3 hours, 42 minutes ago
      mojoseje likes your comment at
      Have you had to switch diabetes medications in the past year due to health insurance changes?
      NEVER accerptable or appropriate. Nobody's healthcare should ever be determined by a third party's profit margin(s) to determine what we are forced to take.
    • 5 hours, 44 minutes ago
      Phyllis Biederman likes your comment at
      Have you had to switch diabetes medications in the past year due to health insurance changes?
      My doctor switched me without telling me from Humalog to novolog and told me it was due to insurance. I’m on Medicare and I never saw anything that said that was necessary. They call me periodically to see how I’m doing and I told them I didn’t appreciate being switched without being told. I thought initially it was a mistake when I picked it up at the pharmacy but they said that’s what the doctor ordered. Then the next visit, he told me all my issues with insulin switching and preauthorization holdups was my fault basically because he says “I have the wrong insurance”. Like I’m going to NOT use Medicare. My opinion? I think I have the wrong doctor, but it’s a hassle to switch.
    • 6 hours, 3 minutes ago
      Lawrence S. likes your comment at
      Do you have Glucagon on hand that is not expired? If not, please share why in the comments.
      Insurance won't cover and it was several hundred dollars.
    • 6 hours, 3 minutes ago
      Marty likes your comment at
      Have you had to switch diabetes medications in the past year due to health insurance changes?
      Had to, no. But Medicare is adding coverage for FIASP in '26 so it will be "bye, bye, bye, bye, bye" to Lyumjev!
    • 6 hours, 55 minutes ago
      Gerald Oefelein likes your comment at
      Have you had to switch diabetes medications in the past year due to health insurance changes?
      Had to, no. But Medicare is adding coverage for FIASP in '26 so it will be "bye, bye, bye, bye, bye" to Lyumjev!
    • 7 hours, 10 minutes ago
      Scott Rudolph likes your comment at
      Have you had to switch diabetes medications in the past year due to health insurance changes?
      Had to, no. But Medicare is adding coverage for FIASP in '26 so it will be "bye, bye, bye, bye, bye" to Lyumjev!
    • 1 day, 3 hours ago
      eherban1 likes your comment at
      Multiple daily injections (MDI) users: Do you use an app or other device to track your insulin dosing? Share the tools you use in the comments below!
      I use InPen and it's great. Except they aren't keeping up with iOS so you now have to unlock your phone and open the app to check IOB instead of simply looking at the home screen. You can tell when app developers aren't users, otherwise they'd know how much of a pain this is when you check 50 times a day
    • 1 day, 4 hours ago
      Trish Bowers likes your comment at
      Do you have Glucagon on hand that is not expired? If not, please share why in the comments.
      Insurance won't cover and it was several hundred dollars.
    • 1 day, 4 hours ago
      Trish Bowers likes your comment at
      Do you have Glucagon on hand that is not expired? If not, please share why in the comments.
      Glucagon is $425 for me on Medicare. It is cheaper to get an ambulance! I have an expired one that will work if I ever need it, but I won't.
    • 1 day, 4 hours ago
      Trish Bowers likes your comment at
      Do you have Glucagon on hand that is not expired? If not, please share why in the comments.
      No. During the past century I threw out many glucagon doses about 5 years after each had expired - having never used a single glucagon dose.. This century, two dose kits were disposed of and never used. At this point, in my opinion, with modern tools for accurately monitoring one's body glucose levels, AND common awareness of how one is feeling, severe low BGL can be easily avoided thus not needing "emergency' glucagon. NOTE WELL!!! what I wrote in the last sentence, does NOT apply to the very young, and some newly diagnosed who have not yet mastered insulin dosing and who have not yet been accustomed to recognizing low or quickly dropping BGL.
    • 1 day, 4 hours ago
      Trish Bowers likes your comment at
      Do you have Glucagon on hand that is not expired? If not, please share why in the comments.
      I do because it Costc me over $300 to replace it. Too expensive.
    • 1 day, 5 hours ago
      John Barbuto likes your comment at
      Multiple daily injections (MDI) users: Do you use an app or other device to track your insulin dosing? Share the tools you use in the comments below!
      Medicare has added FIASP for 2026! Besides the great news of being able to use this once again, it is one of the few fast acting insulins that works with the inPen. I am considering doing that in the new year
    • 1 day, 5 hours ago
      John Barbuto likes your comment at
      Multiple daily injections (MDI) users: Do you use an app or other device to track your insulin dosing? Share the tools you use in the comments below!
      Been using fiasp for 2 years (in the UK) and it's significantly better than novorapid. Would highly recommend to everyone, especially if you find your insulin a bit slow to act.
    • 1 day, 6 hours ago
      Lozzy E likes your comment at
      Multiple daily injections (MDI) users: Do you use an app or other device to track your insulin dosing? Share the tools you use in the comments below!
      Medicare has added FIASP for 2026! Besides the great news of being able to use this once again, it is one of the few fast acting insulins that works with the inPen. I am considering doing that in the new year
    • 1 day, 9 hours ago
      Ahh Life likes your comment at
      Do you have Glucagon on hand that is not expired? If not, please share why in the comments.
      The last Glucagon prescription that I purchased was 15 years ago. Now it's way too expensive because my insurance doesn't cover it. They just want us to either die or use ambulance service to use or send us to ER. Pretty stupid to me. I've had T1D for 52 years and never needed it really. Only 3 times during early morning hypos in 2015-16 I needed rescue to wake me.
    • 1 day, 15 hours ago
      René Wagner likes your comment at
      Do you have Glucagon on hand that is not expired? If not, please share why in the comments.
      My experience over the past 65 years is that a sugary drink and patience will bring me out of a low satisfactorily. If I’m unconscious, as has happened four or five times over that period, the EMTs know what to do.
    • 1 day, 15 hours ago
      René Wagner likes your comment at
      Do you have Glucagon on hand that is not expired? If not, please share why in the comments.
      Glucagon is $425 for me on Medicare. It is cheaper to get an ambulance! I have an expired one that will work if I ever need it, but I won't.
    • 1 day, 15 hours ago
      René Wagner likes your comment at
      Do you have Glucagon on hand that is not expired? If not, please share why in the comments.
      No I haven't a glucagon in yeans. Reason being:, every time I had a prescription, the glucaagon was never used and expired.
    • 1 day, 15 hours ago
      René Wagner likes your comment at
      Do you have Glucagon on hand that is not expired? If not, please share why in the comments.
      No. During the past century I threw out many glucagon doses about 5 years after each had expired - having never used a single glucagon dose.. This century, two dose kits were disposed of and never used. At this point, in my opinion, with modern tools for accurately monitoring one's body glucose levels, AND common awareness of how one is feeling, severe low BGL can be easily avoided thus not needing "emergency' glucagon. NOTE WELL!!! what I wrote in the last sentence, does NOT apply to the very young, and some newly diagnosed who have not yet mastered insulin dosing and who have not yet been accustomed to recognizing low or quickly dropping BGL.
    • 1 day, 15 hours ago
      René Wagner likes your comment at
      Do you have Glucagon on hand that is not expired? If not, please share why in the comments.
      I do because it Costc me over $300 to replace it. Too expensive.
    • 1 day, 15 hours ago
      René Wagner likes your comment at
      Do you have Glucagon on hand that is not expired? If not, please share why in the comments.
      Insurance won't cover and it was several hundred dollars.
    • 1 day, 15 hours ago
      René Wagner likes your comment at
      Do you have Glucagon on hand that is not expired? If not, please share why in the comments.
      No,insurance won't cover it. T1D for 45+ years and haven't had a situation where I needed it - so far so good
    • 1 day, 17 hours ago
      Vicki Breckenridge likes your comment at
      Do you have Glucagon on hand that is not expired? If not, please share why in the comments.
      Glucagon is $425 for me on Medicare. It is cheaper to get an ambulance! I have an expired one that will work if I ever need it, but I won't.
    Clear All
Pages
    • T1D Exchange T1D Exchange T1D Exchange
    • Articles
    • Community
      • About
      • Insights
      • T1D Screening
        • T1D Screening How-To
        • T1D Screening Results
        • T1D Screening Resources
      • Donate
      • Join the Community
    • Quality Improvement
      • About
      • Collaborative
        • Leadership
        • Committees
      • Centers
      • Meet the Experts
      • Learning Sessions
      • Resources
        • Change Packages
        • Sick Day Guide
        • FOH Screener
      • Portal
      • Health Equity
        • Heal Advisors
    • Registry
      • About
      • Recruit for the Registry
    • Research
      • About
      • Publications
      • COVID-19 Research
      • Our Initiatives
    • Partnerships
      • About
      • Previous Work
      • Academic Partnerships
      • Industry Partnerships
    • About
      • Team
      • Board of Directors
      • Culture & Careers
      • Annual Report
    • Join / Login
    • Search
    • Donate

    Have you had any issues obtaining life insurance because of T1D?

    Home > LC Polls > Have you had any issues obtaining life insurance because of T1D?
    Previous

    Has a stranger ever approached you to talk about your visible diabetes device(s)?

    Next

    If you have gone swimming while using an insulin pump that has to be disconnected while you are in the water, how do you manage your insulin while swimming?

    Sarah Howard

    Sarah Howard has worked in the diabetes research field ever since she was diagnosed with T1D while in college in May 2013. Since then, she has worked for various diabetes organizations, focusing on research, advocacy, and community-building efforts for people with T1D and their loved ones. Sarah is currently the Senior Marketing Manager at T1D Exchange.

    Related Stories

    News

    Immunosuppressants in T1D Research: Expert Opinions from Diabetes Pharmacist Diana Isaacs 

    Jewels Doskicz, 3 days ago 5 min read  
    2025 Learning Session

    The 2025 T1DX-QI Learning Session: Driving Better Diabetes Care 

    Sarah Howard, 2 weeks ago 7 min read  
    Lifestyle

    Barriers to Care in Aging: Voices from the T1D Community 

    Jewels Doskicz, 2 weeks ago 7 min read  
    Lifestyle

    When T1D Becomes a Calling: Stories From our Team 

    Jewels Doskicz, 3 weeks ago 11 min read  
    Meet the Expert

    Meet the Expert: Centering the Voices of Youth and Families from Vulnerable Populations 

    Jewels Doskicz, 4 weeks ago 8 min read  
    News

    Tidepool’s Brandon Arbiter on Building Better T1D Care Through Connected Data 

    Michael Howerton, 1 month ago 6 min read  

    45 Comments

    1. Karen Newe

      I lucked out. Got life insurance just 6 months before diagnoses at 51 yo.

      3
      3 years ago Log in to Reply
    2. Donna Condi

      I purchased my life insurance before coming down with diabetes however, I tried getting long term care insurance and was turned down flat!

      1
      3 years ago Log in to Reply
    3. Melissa Yuruckso

      They would only insure me till I’m 78. My non diabetic husband is insured for a longer life!

      1
      3 years ago Log in to Reply
    4. Karen Taylor

      Many many years ago. After that I’ve had life insurance up until I retired through work. No longer have life insurance

      1
      3 years ago Log in to Reply
    5. GLORIA MILLER

      I had life insurance before retiring. Any time I tried to get my own life insurance I was turned down due to the diabetes.

      3
      3 years ago Log in to Reply
    6. kilupx

      I got LADA 7 years ago. About 12 years ago my husband and I tried to buy life insurance policies. We had to get physical exams. He was rejected because of minor health issues so we got a much bigger policy for me. Five years later I never reported my T1D diagnosis to the insurance broker (a friend) because we are afraid the policy would be cancelled.

      4
      3 years ago Log in to Reply
    7. Lynn Smith

      I only had life insurance once outside of employment and I believe I paid a higher premium due to my diabetes.

      1
      3 years ago Log in to Reply
    8. Brian Vodehnal

      Not trouble but I didn’t know my life insurance is higher than my wife’s.

      1
      3 years ago Log in to Reply
    9. Sherolyn Newell

      I already had both life insurance and long term care. It hadn’t occurred to me that I should tell them I’m diabetic now.

      1
      3 years ago Log in to Reply
    10. Jerome McClellan

      No, other than paying 3X what my nonT1D wife pays.

      2
      3 years ago Log in to Reply
      1. Dave Akers

        Same here!

        1
        3 years ago Log in to Reply
    11. Tb-well

      I can get it, but it is cost prohibitive for any coverage over about 300,000.00, since my premiums triple with the physical

      1
      3 years ago Log in to Reply
      1. Keira Thurheimer

        Once I found a company willing yo insure me,, the cost was so prohibitive that I couldn’t afford the policy. I have life insurance through work, so hope that will be enough.

        1
        3 years ago Log in to Reply
    12. karolinamalecki7@gmail.com

      I got life insurance before being diagnosed with type 1

      3 years ago Log in to Reply
    13. Kristine O'Brien

      I wasn’t able to get life insurance outside of work in my 40s, having been diabetic for >30 years.

      1
      3 years ago Log in to Reply
    14. Dave Akers

      This was a major pain but necessary for the time being. Took me a long time to find someone. To cover me. When I did, the cost was OUTRAGEOUSLY EXPENSIVE!!! compared to my wife w/o T1; I received about 2/3 coverage than she, but it cost me 3x the premium! This was absolutely absurd!!!!

      1
      3 years ago Log in to Reply
    15. George Lovelace

      Set it up in a Profit Sharing Plan I managed at my work. Low coverage at a reasonable Premium for a 36 year old.

      3 years ago Log in to Reply
    16. Edward Geary

      Routinely denied since diagnosis in 1974. Companies gradually came around but rates and limitations were prohibitive. Relied largely on employee sponsored group life which rose exponentially after retirement. I think there are good risk models in Canada which, for years, has had progressive public policy relative to diabetes coverage, treatment and discrimination.

      3 years ago Log in to Reply
    17. Carol Meares

      I have LADA and had life insurance prior to getting T1D

      1
      3 years ago Log in to Reply
    18. Becky Hertz

      When gotten through an employer, no. I haven’t tried individually because I know the costs are, or have been, prohibitive.

      3 years ago Log in to Reply
    19. Teri Morris

      I couldn’t get insurance for my home that I paid Royal Homes to build because I am diabetic. If it burns down I will have nowhere to live and no money!

      3 years ago Log in to Reply
      1. AnitaS

        That is unbelievable. What does diabetes have to do with your house burning down?

        2
        3 years ago Log in to Reply
      2. KarenM6

        Jiminy Christmas, Teri! I’m so sorry… that seems like a very discriminatory policy… and not a logic I can follow. I’m so sorry!

        3 years ago Log in to Reply
    20. Janis Senungetuk

      When I was 23 yrs old, after the birth of our daughter, I was told I was uninsurable because of T1D.

      3 years ago Log in to Reply
    21. Ahh Life

      Somewhere there is a camel trying to get through the eye of a needle in order to get to heaven. Ha! Her task is trivial compared to the many eyes of many needles (metaphor, not steel) that T1 diabetics must navigate every single day and every single hour.

      Insurance is another one of those eyes. And it’s tiny and expensive. Companies and corporations know the actuarial math and cost numbers perfectly. All we dollar-bill paying customers know is that our wallets are several pounds lighter when we are done dealing them. Can’t the US of A do better than this? ( ͡❛ ⏏ ͡❛)

      2
      3 years ago Log in to Reply
    22. Bruce Schnitzler

      I was only able to obtain life insurance in 1978 through an employer’s plan. I have maintained the policy after retirement in 2013.

      3 years ago Log in to Reply
    23. Bob Durstenfeld

      I could never buy life insurance on the open market, it was always refused. My work around was to roll over corporate life insurance when I left a job. This allowed me to eventually purchase whole life and term policies. From this lesson learned, when each of my children were born, I bought them single premium whole life policies. This paid off for my oldest, he was Dxed at 8 months old with T1D.

      1
      3 years ago Log in to Reply
    24. lis be

      I’ve never even thought to try, i just assumed they wouldn’t give it to me.

      3 years ago Log in to Reply
    25. AnitaS

      I don’t honestly remember if I had life insurance while I worked, but I don’t believe so. After retirement, I didn’t get life insurance because I am single and have no children.

      3 years ago Log in to Reply
    26. AnitaS

      With new technology which makes it possible for diabetics to live a longer, healthier life than a non-diabetic, it seems wrong to deny insurance.

      3 years ago Log in to Reply
    27. Lawrence S.

      I applied years ago, 1970’s or 1980’s. Was given a much higher rate, so I did not purchase the plan. Was able to get insurance through my employer at a good rate. I don’t carry any live insurance now that I’m retired.

      3 years ago Log in to Reply
    28. Mark Schweim

      The ONLY way I’ve been able to get any life insurance since my T1D diagnosis has been through my employers, but their life insurance is only valid as long as I remain employed by that employer so it’s basically a gamble of “Take the company offered life insurance and hope I die before quitting or losing my job, or go without life insurance and hope for employment elsewhere with life insurance benefits sometime before I die.

      But then again, since I’m still single, if I die without life insurance, who besides the State or Federal Government would be covering my funeral expenses since I am the ONLY person with any financial responsibility towards any of my expenses???

      3 years ago Log in to Reply
      1. Lawrence S.

        I hope you outlive your need to use life insurance.

        3 years ago Log in to Reply
    29. Derek West

      My premium was maybe 10% higher on a mortgage protection policy. I also relied on employer policies which cost nothing to me. Since I now am retired and have no dependents I no longer need it.

      1
      3 years ago Log in to Reply
    30. Kristine Warmecke

      My parent’s had bought life insurance for me, before my diagnose. I had the option, at certain times, to increase it which I did without any questions asked.

      3 years ago Log in to Reply
    31. Molly Jones

      I chose other. My husband purchased both of us life insurance policies through his workplace. Mine is less than ten percent of his but requires no medical information.
      If I was not married and desired life insurance, I don’t think it would be possible with the list of medical conditions I have along with T1D.

      3 years ago Log in to Reply
    32. KarenM6

      When I’ve tried to get life insurance, I just get turned down flat.

      1
      3 years ago Log in to Reply
    33. Liz Avery

      I have not tried to get life insurance, however term life through my employer was available without medical review. I carried a term policy almost always prior to retirement.

      3 years ago Log in to Reply
    34. Britni

      My employers have offered it as a benefit, no medical review needed. I’ve never tried to purchase it on my own.

      3 years ago Log in to Reply
    35. Janice B

      I was denied insurance at the small company that I work for. Luckily even though my husband ids on disability we kept up his carpenters card and insurance so I was able to get on that plan

      3 years ago Log in to Reply
    36. PamK

      I have been able to get Life Insurance through each employer I’ve worked for, but only the basic plan. I have tried to get more coverage from a couple of different employers and was turned down due to having diabetes. I’ve also looked into getting more at other employers, but they always ask that I answer “a few” health questions and I know they will decline me the additional coverage if I do so. So, I don’t bother anymore.

      2
      3 years ago Log in to Reply
    37. Cheryl Seibert

      T1D for 56 years. Even at 30 yrs T1D, so companies will sell me insurance on a private policy. I obtained convertable policies through my employer optional benefits. That way I can take them with me if I change jobs. The fact that insurance companies still see diabetes as a disease worse than cancer is absolutely ridiculous.

      2
      3 years ago Log in to Reply
    38. Maurine Bowser

      I had maybe one 12 month waiting period but after that I could always get it but at bookoo bucks. Highest $1900/mo with huge deductible. On Medicare now but supplemental premiums rise every year.

      3 years ago Log in to Reply
    39. mbulzomi@optonline.net

      I had no problems over 35 years ago when I started working for the Federal Government, I did ask around for a supplemental plan and was told “No Joy”!

      3 years ago Log in to Reply
    40. Missy Kirchem

      Was denied long term care insurance

      3 years ago Log in to Reply

    Have you had any issues obtaining life insurance because of T1D? Cancel reply

    You must be logged in to post a comment.




    101 Federal Street, Suite 440
    Boston, MA 02110
    Phone: 617-892-6100
    Email: admin@t1dexchange.org

    Privacy Policy

    Terms of Use

    Follow Us

    • facebook
    • twitter
    • linkedin
    • instagram

    © 2024 T1D Exchange.
    All Rights Reserved.

    © 2023 T1D Exchange. All Rights Reserved.
    • Login
    • Register

    Forgot Password

    Registration confirmation will be emailed to you.

    Skip Next Finish

    Account successfully created.

    Please check your inbox and verify your email in the next 24 hours.

    Your Account Type

    Please select all that apply.

    I have type 1 diabetes

    I'm a parent/guardian of a person with type 1 diabetes

    I'm interested in the diabetes community or industry

    Select Topics

    We will customize your stories feed based on what you select here.

    [userselectcat]

    We're preparing your personalized page.

    This will only take a second...

    Search and filter

    [searchandfilter slug="sort-filter-post"]