In Ireland, diabetes, like other chronic diseases, affects the availability and cost of life and critical illness insurance. Most insurers classify diabetes as a chronic disease, which increases medical risk and may lead to higher premiums or limited coverage.

Life insurance

• Premiums and Availability: Life insurance for people with diabetes often comes with higher premiums. Insurers look carefully at your health, including blood sugar test results, treatment history and the presence of other medical conditions. People with type 2 diabetes that are well controlled may get more favorable terms than people with type 1 diabetes or complications. The amount of the premium depends on the type of diabetes diagnosed (type 1 or type 2 diabetes), the degree of control over the disease (e.g. HbA1c level), and the presence of complications, such as heart disease or hypertension.

People who maintain stable sugar levels and lead a healthy lifestyle may achieve more favourable conditions. Insurers in Ireland carry out a detailed analysis of the medical examination and health history of a person with diabetes before deciding whether to accept insurance. This means that, depending on their health status and medical history, a person with diabetes may experience restrictions on what they can offer. Insurance for people with diabetes most often requires an individual risk assessment.

Exclusions: Some policies may include the so-called exclusions, i.e. limitations of protection, especially related to complications of diabetes, e.g. heart or kidney diseases or all diseases covered by insurance in the event of a serious illness.

Critical illness insurance

• Critical Illness Cover is more difficult to obtain for people with diabetes, regardless of type, or is completely excluded from the offer.
• If your insurer agrees to this coverage, it may be more expensive or include limits on coverage for conditions such as heart attack or stroke, which are more common among people with diabetes.

In Ireland in 2024, the incidence of diabetes, as in other developed countries, remains a significant health problem, mainly related to the growing number of cases of type 2 diabetes. According to data from the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and institutions such as the Institute of Public Health (IPH) , over 10% of adults worldwide have diabetes, and many people are undiagnosed. There is an increase in the number of diabetes cases in Ireland, especially in the over 45 age group, which is mainly due to factors such as an aging population, unhealthy lifestyles and the increasing number of people who are overweight and obese.

The Irish Government is emphasizing the need for preventive measures, promoting regular blood sugar testing, a healthy diet and physical activity as effective ways to prevent this disease and its complications, which can lead to cardiovascular problems and other serious health complications. Forecasts for the coming years indicate that due to global health trends such as urbanization and decreasing physical activity, the number of cases of type 2 diabetes in Ireland may increase. The introduction of public health prevention and support programs remains a key element of efforts to reduce the number of new cases in the coming years.

Sources: International Diabetes Federation, Institute of Public Health, and the “Health in Ireland Key Trends 2023” report published by the Irish Ministry of Health.

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