Life Insurance "Non-smoker" status

[Gonz]

I really did search and come up with nothing on this, although I'm almost positive that it's been discussed several times on the board. In fact, I think I remember someone once posting a link to a site that gave cigar smoker freindly life insurance companies. Or perhaps it was a list of the major companies out there and their stance on cigar smokers.

Anyways, does anyone have info such as that?

And second, how long after smoking should I wait in an attempt to keep my non-smoker rating before submitting to a blood test?

I'm considering getting a policy with Northwestern Mutual, $250k, and they'll want to do some bloodwork and all that. My agent knows I smoke cigars, and he said that as long as it's not more than 12/year the underwriters are OK with it. However he said not smoke a cigar for at least a week prior to my bloodwork, but that seems like a short period of time for me.

Any thoughts?


ps - I'm very familiar with the ins and outs of "lying" or stretching the truth on an application, and the potential for them to deny a payout if they decide that I'm a more frequent smoker.

 

[Mrepp]

Looks like nicotine has a short life span so a week should be fine. I don’t know of there’s any other chemicals that would show on a blood test from smoking.
http://health.howstuffworks.com/nicotine2.htm
I would also imagine that if your injury/death resulted in anything non smoke related they wouldn’t withhold payment. If it is well the probably will if you clam as a non smoker.

 

[cookie_1978]

While we are on the subject - lets say you acquired life insurance 5 yrs ago as a non-smoker - 4 yrs later you begin to smoke cigars at a pace of 4 per week. Would you be required to notify the company of the change in habits? Could they deny coverage if you died of say lung cancer?

 

[PuroEsq]

While we are on the subject - lets say you acquired life insurance 5 yrs ago as a non-smoker - 4 yrs later you begin to smoke cigars at a pace of 4 per week. Would you be required to notify the company of the change in habits? Could they deny coverage if you died of say lung cancer?

As with any other contract the duties of the parties depend on the terms of the contract. In the initial formation of the contract if it asked you to declare whether you are a smoker and you answered truthfully that you were not then there is no problem. Unless the contractual terms required that you remain a non-smoker or that you had to notify your insurance carrier of a change in status then there is again no problem under your scenario.

If, under this same scenario, the insured later dies and it was determined that he was at that time a smoker, the insurance company would then have to prove that he lied on the application and did not in fact take up the habit later in life.

Now this is based on my knowledge of contract law. Unfortunately I have no experience with the law related to life insurance contracts. The insurance code in your individual state may vary.

 

[BlindedByScience]

This year I got a policy with Prudential. They offer cigar smokers a "preferred" rate. I had to do a short exam, blood work, and whiz quiz (which they did in my home at their expense). Pretty painless, all things considered....

Good Luck - B.B.S.

 

[Sunward]

Interesting question. I have heard of them taking a swab of saliva for nicotine, although i dont know any truth to this. Best to not smoke for 7 days before the test.

Also, I had been to my Dr. for my yearly (well actually 5 year) physical. I was handed routine blood work papers and was coincidentially asked if i was getting life insurance. i was then advised it would be to my benefit to not get any blood work done unless i am certain the results will be normal (this means no nicotine and also cut back on a certain drug that increases ALT/AST levels slightly higher than normal).

Anyways, working in insurance investigations for 5 years has taught me one thing, they will refuse you if they can! :sign:

 

[AngryFishH]

Insurance companies are like bookies. They are quick to sign you up and hesitant to give you any leway. My advice is just dont die. :laugh:

Fish

 

[SMSUCigarguy]

This is an interesting question that I have often wondered about too. My general feeling is that the insurance companies will weasel their way out of paying a dime if they think they can.

Our firm does a lot of work for insurance companies, but our area is medical malpractice, not life insurance. Sorry I can't offer more insight.

 

[Smokyballs]

This year I got a policy with Prudential. They offer cigar smokers a "preferred" rate. I had to do a short exam, blood work, and whiz quiz (which they did in my home at their expense). Pretty painless, all things considered....

Good Luck - B.B.S.

Same here! Got $500K for about $50 a month. I work in a cigar store! They did my blood test in our office!