About 24 million Americans twenty years of age and older have diabetes. To several, insurance coverage, in particular life insurance or long-term care (LTCi), may be a tough operation. Many time-consuming efforts lead to a reduction in reporting.

In the past, many insurance companies have automatically denied any person with type 1 diabetes, without regard to each particular case. Diabetes of type 2 is generally handled differently.

The explanation for the automatic declines is that type 1 diabetes is categorized as a chronic disease, historically associated with a longer age and a shorter life span.

It is particularly difficult to obtain long-term medical insurance because it does not cover so much of the care required by standard medical insurance.

According to the 2010 Long-Term Care Insurance Sourcebook, about 8 million Americans currently have some form of long-term insurance, and about 350,000 new policies annually. LTCi insurance pays for home treatment , care and health services in a nursing home or Alzheimer's home. As many people found, long-term care is expensive and long-term care has saved many people who have no money without it to help a sick individual.

For millions of Americans with some form of diabetes, there are good news. As drugs have increased blood glucose regulation and life expectancy, health insurance and life savings have also increased. Insurance companies are willing to take Type 1 diabetes into account, and many have expanded underwriting guidance for controlled diseases.

According to Scott Olson, LTCShop.com founder, some insurers won't take anyone with type 1 diabetes into account. Others are treating type 1 as they are handling type 2. And certain long-term care providers are tougher than they should be on form 1. Class 2, Form 2.

Many who treat type 1 and type 2 diabetes also wonder how much insulin they need. Many insurance providers are demanding fewer than 50 units a day, but in some situations it may be higher.

Insurers may also look at the applicant's height and weight. The higher the weight, the less chance the applicant is accepted. A1C is of enormous importance. Most LTC insurers would like the a1c to be less than 8.0. But some are going to accept higher numbers.

Finally, insurers are searching for what are known as co-morbid ities, in particular heart failure. If anyone has diabetes and cardiovascular disease, approval can be very difficult, Olson says. The undertaking that approves them depends upon the type of heart disease (valve disease, CAD, atrial fibrillation)

Insurance companies treating type 1 differently from type 2 are looking for the following additional information during the application process. You want to know the age at which the condition begins.

Acceptable standards of health not only differ between insurers but the cost of health insurance may vary significantly based on annual reports by the American Long-Term Care Insurance Association, the trade body of the industry. Companies give different cuts, says Jesse Slome, Chief Executive Officer of the company. For people with diabetes, working with an experienced professional who knows what different insurers are looking for is particularly critical.