Burial Insurance with Neuropathy for 2024

By Matt Schmidt

Dec 11

If you are a person living with diabetes, and have diabetic neuropathy give us a quick call at 844-334-6143 to receive an accurate quote.  Certain burial insurance providers will still consider coverage at excellent rates.  However, we will need to know more about your overall diabetes condition.

You most certainly can use our online quote form on this page, but the quotes and companies listed may not be accurate.  It is generally a good idea to speak with us, and let us determine what companies will not rate you higher for having diabetic neuropathy.

 

Everything You Need to Know About Burial Insurance with Neuropathy

Burial insurance with diabetes neuropathy doesn’t necessarily mean you won’t qualify for coverage.  Generally, it would mean you’ll have fewer insurance companies to choose from to secure a final expense policy.  Certain companies honestly won’t be concerned with this type of diabetes complication, while other companies would rate you higher.

Do you or someone you know suffer from diabetic neuropathy? This condition is quite common among diabetics – and often appears when your blood sugar has not been managed and kept under control for a length of time. It is a complication that many diabetics fear, as it results in nerve damage that is unrepairable. Sadly, almost half of all diabetics will suffer from some type of nerve damage.

Good news!  People with diabetes neuropathy can still qualify for affordable burial insurance with diabetes.  And most importantly, certain burial insurance providers will still offer DAY ONE IMMEDIATE death benefit policies. Many people don’t know where to start with their burial insurance inquiry, which is very common.  Simply reach out and let a licensed agent assist.

What you need to know: What is neuropathy?

Diabetic Neuropathy may start as a tingling in either your hands, your feet, or even your legs. This tingling can also include numbness and pain in the feet or legs. In fact, with severe complications, neuropathy can affect your internal organs, including your stomach, your bowels, your heart, your bladder, and various other parts. Thankfully, as long as you continue to manage your blood sugar and keep it controlled and at an optimum level, you have a good chance of halting any further effects of the neuropathy.

According to Healthline, here’s a list of other common symptoms of neuropathy:

  • sensitivity to touch
  • loss of sense of touch
  • difficulty with coordination when walking
  • numbness or pain in your hands or feet
  • burning sensation in feet, especially at night
  • muscle weakness or wasting
  • bloating or fullness
  • nausea, indigestion, or vomiting
  • diarrhea or constipation
  • dizziness when you stand up
  • excessive or decreased sweating
  • bladder problems, such as incomplete bladder emptying
  • vaginal dryness
  • erectile dysfunction
  • inability to sense low blood glucose
  • vision trouble, such as double vision
  • increased heart rate

 

 

There are two main types of diabetic neuropathy:

  • Peripheral Neuropathy. This type of neuropathy refers to the tingling, numbness, and pain or weakness you may feel in places, such as your hands or your feet.
  • Autonomic Neuropathy. This is the type of neuropathy that affects the nerve systems throughout the body. In fact, it means that this type affects the organs that are controlled by these nerve systems.

A few other types of diabetic neuropathy are: 

  • Cranial Neuropathy. This type deals with nerves connected to the brain and deals with the function of eyesight, movement, hearing, and taste. 
  • Focal Neuropathy. A group of nerves that will cause sudden weakness or pain. Usually on one side of the face. 
  • Femoral Neuropathy. Often causes weakness in the front side of only one thigh. 
  • Charcot’s Joint. Also known as neuropathic arthropathy, this painful condition is when your joints break down thanks to the nerves. Most often, Charcot’s affects the foot due to extended time of no feeling. The individual cannot feel pain based on joint position and, therefore, the joint becomes damaged. 

 

As a diabetic, it is very important for you to manage your blood sugar appropriately. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle, despite your diagnosis, can make many processes in your life simpler – such as obtaining final expense insurance – and help you avoid debilitating conditions such as those that neuropathy can bring. 

Don’t let the effects of diabetic neuropathy get you down and be detrimental to your quality of life – or discourage you from trying to attain affordable burial insurance. If you have been searching, you have likely discovered that if you are offered a policy, the chances of it being affordable or without restrictions are slim to none.   This is probably due to you speaking with the wrong agent or agency.

We know that certain companies will not have any issues in providing you for coverage with a diabetes related complication.  Also, these companies’ premiums are extremely affordable.

Rest assured, we’ve got all the information you will need to get yourself covered today!

What you need to know: Burial Insurance struggles for diabetics

Finding affordable burial insurance as a diabetic is difficult. Many insurance companies will decline an application from someone with the diagnosis without looking any deeper to see how well it is managed, etc. Other companies are more willing to accept those with individuals with diabetes but will immediately deny anyone who has symptoms of complications – including neuropathy. 

Shopping around, filling out application after application for a final expense policy, can leave you feeling exhausted and frustrated.  In our opinion, it is quite silly to ‘guess’ and apply to random burial insurance companies.  Most likely, you’d benefit from getting pre-qualified with us, based on a quick review of your health information.

Good news: It doesn’t have to be this way! It is possible to find burial insurance, despite your diabetic conditions or your complications. And, it can be affordable, too! Burial insurance is a very important financial product to own, as it will help your family address your funeral expenses.

So, don’t give up on your search. Contact us at 844-334-6143, where an informed and experienced independent agent who specializes in cases such as yours. These agents can help you in a number of ways. For instance:

  • By providing you a service, relieving you from the stress and hassle of trying to find adequate and affordable burial insurance. 
  • By understanding that there is a need, regardless of your condition.
  • By sharing a wide knowledge base of the struggles faced by those individuals with diabetes and diabetic complications in the world of insurance. 
  • By having a network of many different insurance companies who understand and cater to those with diabetes or diabetic complications. 

All of these characteristics are needed in order to successfully assist a diabetic with receiving the best possible choice for insurance. 

What you need to know: The reaction to your diabetic complication

Insurance companies offer the same service but vary greatly in who they choose to insure and how they view those with diabetes. Though, it is important for you to understand that this affects individuals with all sorts of health conditions – not just those with diabetes or diabetic complications. So, you are not alone. 

Insurance companies have a system of risk classifications they use when assessing your application. Depending on where they place you on that classification list will determine what your response may be. When you apply for final expense insurance, the reaction you receive from each company may be different. 

Here are a few of the most common application responses:

  1. Declined immediately. 

There are some insurance companies that scan your application and if there is anything that signals a diabetic complication, such as neuropathy, they are automatically declined. To be honest, their reason for doing so may be nothing more than they just don’t want to have to deal with the risk. 

It is important that you do not take this denial personally, as it is just their policy and underwriting guidelines. And, thankfully, there are many other insurance companies to choose from – so you don’t have to settle at all. 

  1. You must sit tight through a waiting period. 

Waiting periods are tough when it comes to anything – whether it is in reference to insurance or to see your favorite celebrity in their latest movie release. Unfortunately, though, waiting periods for insurance are far too common – especially for those with diabetic complications. 

So, what does it mean if you receive this response when you have applied for coverage? It means that you must wait for a stated period of time before your policy will go into full effect.  Policies like these are referred to as ‘guaranteed acceptance policies.’

Does this mean you are not covered during the waiting period? Yes and no.  Generally, however, if you pass away during this time, your insurance company will only pay out the full death benefit in the event of an accident. If your death is not an accident and, say, from natural causes, your insurance company will simply refund all premiums paid plus 10% to the beneficiary.

The length of the waiting period will vary from company to company. However, the most common time-frame is approximately two years.  Common guaranteed issue companies include Mutual of Omaha and Gerber Life Insurance.

Insurance companies who view you as a high-risk client will often impose the waiting period requirement on your policy.  It is then usually referred to as a modified death benefit plan.  We want to point out that policies that do not offer an immediate death benefit should be viewed as a last resort.  Please do not accept a policy with a waiting period on the death benefit, unless it’s 1000% certain there are NO OTHER options.  Just because AARP or Colonial Penn tell you they won’t offer any other type of policies, keep searching as these companies are not friendly to the diabetes community.

  1. Your premium will be higher. 

Perhaps you expect it because of your condition or maybe you don’t, but it is very common for diabetics or those with complications to be advised that they can obtain final expense insurance— but it is at a higher rate. 

Whether right or wrong, it is a frequent practice among insurance companies when it comes to dishing out policies to those they claim to be a higher risk. Many times, this higher rate comes at a cost of 20% to 50% more than someone who doesn’t have the health complications that you do.

Now, this is where Burial Insurance Pro helps out consumers like you.  We are able to ‘shop’ your health profile to over 40 companies, and determine which ones may be the best option for you.  We have been able to help families around the country save 30% to 40% on the premiums even though they have diabetes and a diabetic complication like neuropathy.

  1. You are golden – and insurable – just like everyone else!

Most people want to feel normal – and feel like everyone else. And, despite your diabetic complications, you should feel that you can be treated just like everyone else. This is even true when it comes to final expense insurance

No, you are not in perfect health, but does that have to mean you must pay the price because of it? Of course not! Believe it or not, there are insurance companies out there that will not charge you a higher premium and will not force you into accepting a waiting period restriction on your policy. 

The insurance companies who choose to be fair in their policies still may view those with diabetic neuropathy as an elevated risk. However, they have likely constructed their business model to accept the risk that these clients pose. 

Melissa Thompson of Diabetes 365 mentions “One life insurance company may completely deny you coverage.  Whereas another would accept you without any issues, nor at any higher premiums.  I highly encourage anyone with diabetes to work with an independent agent who has access to several companies.  There is no reason to pay thousands of dollars more for a burial insurance policy over the lifetime of a policy.  Every company will ultimately pay out the same amount of life insurance to your family.  So why would you overpay for coverage?”

Isn’t it comforting to know that it is possible for you to obtain affordable coverage with all the benefits you need? The key is to find the handful companies that function in this manner. 

What you need to know: Medications and insurance companies

If you are applying for final expense insurance, you will not have to worry about completing a physical medical exam. However, underwriters will almost always require you to answer some general health questions in order to provide you with the solid coverage – at the price you are hoping for.

These questions will likely ask you about:

  • Your height
  • Your weight
  • Any use of cigarettes or chewing tobacco in past 12 months
  • List of diabetes complications
  • When you were first diagnosed with diabetes
  • Types of medications taking for your diabetes
  • And some other basic health questions

They will also ask you for a list of the medications you have been prescribed, as well as your prescription history. This will help the underwriter put together a picture of your overall health – providing them with your risk level. 

Prescription medications can tell a lot about the health of a person. And, if you are diabetic, there will be medications that they will be on the lookout for that will let them know if you have had or are having diabetic complications, including neuropathy. 

For diabetes, they will expect to see that you have been prescribed a drug, such as Glyburide, Glipizide, or Metformin. However, if the underwriter sees any of the following, he or she will likely get the red flag that you have been diagnosed with neuropathy.

  • Epitol
  • Depacon
  • Carbatrol
  • Depakene
  • Carbamazepine
  • Neurontin
  • Lamictal
  • Gabapentin
  • Valproic Acid
  • Tegretol
  • Lyrica
  • Lamotrigine

If you are on any of this medication, don’t panic. You can still find affordable final life expense policies that will get you everything you need. 

What you need to know: How to get the best policy with Neuropathy

First and foremost, you will want to find yourself a good, independent agent who has a deep understanding of not only insurance companies, but diabetes, its complications, and how both are viewed by each company. Your insurance agent should have options and should know, based on your application, which company will be the best fit for you. 

You never want to apply over and over again to various companies trying to obtain the insurance on your own. Without the experience, you will likely find yourself on a forever route to dead ends. It is exhausting and time-consuming. Don’t waste your time and energy when an agent has all of the answers and connections for you!

Your independent agent will:

  • Discuss all your health and gather some basic medical information to provide to the insurance companies. 
  • Compile a list of companies that are the most likely to offer you the best policy, based on the medical condition and history that you provided the agent. 
  • Submit your application to these companies based on the information you provided. 
  • Obtain quotes from the insurance companies and compile a list for comparison. 
  • Discuss with you each option – including the cost of the premium, the coverage you will receive, and whether or not there is a waiting period or any other restriction on the policy. 
  • Handle the purchasing of the best policy to meet your needs. 

The only person you will have to deal with is your personal agent. No insurance companies, no extra paperwork, and no confusing or misunderstood policies to read through. Sounds great, doesn’t it? 

If you are ready to move forward with the help of an agent who understands what you are going through, then contact us today!  WE love working with families to obtain the best possible burial insurance policy.

A 5 minute phone call to 844-334-6143 is all that it takes!  Don’t let finding a policy become a hassle.  Use our expertise to make finding a policy effortless.

 

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