by msamy67 » Thu Jan 22, 2009 11:20 pm
My husband and I just submitted to the physical, blood and urine tests for term life insurance. I did not know the person they sent out would then ask all the same questions again as those that were asked on the original application. Well, the person they sent to do the testing as well as myself learned today that my husband, an ex-smoker, slipped and had a cigarette about a month ago, and that he'd had a speeding ticket in another state 4 years ago. I'm pretty sure his blood and urine tests will reflect that he has no nicotine in his system, but I fear that due to his slip up and admission we are now facing the smoker's rates for him. Any feedback on this?
Posted: Fri Jan 23, 2009 12:43 am Post Subject:
The length of time nicotine stays in the body depends on how regular of a smoker you are. For people who only smoke once in a while, traces of nicotine can be gone in just a few days. However for someone who smokes several packs a day, it will take a lot longer. Generally these heavy smokers can expect to have traces of nicotine in their blood stream for up to 30 days after the last cigarette is smoked. Funny my daughter is studying this now in her seventh grade class.
I do know smokers rates are alot higher than non smoker. Hope this helps some.
Posted: Fri Jan 23, 2009 12:56 am Post Subject:
The speeding ticket may or may not affect your rate class.
Smoking cigarettes a month ago definitely WILL.
The reason the medical questions are asked again is because the insurance company doesn't completely and blindly trust the agents not to fudge information on the application.
Let's face it...and experienced agent knows exactly how to get a policy issued.
The para-med medical tech examiner doesn't have a financial interest in whether or not that policy gets issued. She's there to get medical information, collect blood/urine, vital signs and height and weight.
At best you'll be offered preferred smoker rates which will be about three times more in premium if you were quoted preferred non-tobacco rates.
Edit: And just to give you an idea of the difference in rates a 35 yr old male best preferred rates for a $300,000 10 year level term policy is about $14 bucks a month, that same policy issued preferred smoker is about $43 bucks per month.
Also there is no way to unwind what's documented on that paramed exam. If your husband told the nurse he smoked a cigarette a month ago then he's a smoker.
Posted: Fri Jan 23, 2009 01:46 am Post Subject:
If my husband's tests indicate he is negative for nicotine use, does that help this situation?
I realize there's no way to unwind what's been documented on the paramed exam. By the way, this guy could barely read the medical terminology (I'm an RN) from the list of health questions but he sure could ask five different ways about smoking! As well, he had a most ridiculous method of testing blood pressure, and had to verify with me 3 times what he thought my readings were (I know what mine typically runs, and I could hear and see the sphygnomanometer function, which did not correspond with the numbers he kept trying to put down on the form).
Do the results of this exam and tests along with the ultimate policy offered become common knowledge among all potential insurance providers? I realize from an insurance agency's point of view that if he slipped and had one cigarette a month ago then he's a smoker and of course why wouldn't they want to have us (me - I'm the breadwinner) to pay smoker's rates for him. However, he had quit over 2 years ago prior to the mistake he made. Quite frankly I'd like to re-apply with a different company now knowing what we will endure. It's ridiculous to pay 3 times more for a policy due to a one time mistake a month ago after 2 years, as his blood/urine tests will prove.
Posted: Fri Jan 23, 2009 02:30 am Post Subject:
The question normally asked on a life insurance application is - "Have you used nicotine or nicotine products in the past (some say 2 years and some say 5 years)?
Your husband will have to answer this question truthfully or tell a lie, there just is no "sometimes smoking" category.
This is the type situation that makes it tough for the insurance industry. Your husband admitted that he had smoked and yet you want the insurance company to believe that he will never do it again. Somehow this has been turned to make the insurance company look bad.
You may find a company that with proper explanation will issue your policy at a "non-smoker" rate, but if your husband starts smoking again, will you notify your insurance company?
Posted: Fri Jan 23, 2009 02:44 am Post Subject:
If my husband's tests indicate he is negative for nicotine use, does that help this situation?
Not if he admitted to the paramed he smoked even one (1) cigarette a month ago. The smoking questions usually asks if you EVER used any nicotine products, such as:
"Have you ever used any form of tobacco or nicotine based products?" Yes No
If yes, when did you last use tobacco or nicotine based products? __________________
Type_______________ Quantity_____________
Some companies ask past five years.
Do the results of this exam and tests along with the ultimate policy offered become common knowledge among all potential insurance providers?
No.
But if you withdrew the application and applied with another company there would be a code in the Medical Information Bureau that an application was submitted to some carrier. That would raise a red flag to the next life insurance company. You'd have to explain the disposition of the former application to the new insurance company and they could request those records from that company.
The medical records authorization states in part:
By my signature, I acknowledge that any agreements I have made to restrict my protected health information do not apply to this authorization and I instruct any physician, health care professional, hospital, clinic, laboratory, pharmacy, medical facility, health care provider, health plan, insurer, and/or other entity subject to HIPAA to release and disclose such information without restriction.
Posted: Fri Jan 23, 2009 03:07 am Post Subject:
Thanks for the info Gary. I appreciate your straightforward, unbiased response.
Posted: Fri Jan 23, 2009 03:21 am Post Subject:
Thanks for the info fireyone -- yes it confirms that likely my husband's test will be negative, since he's being so incredibly honest! :)
Posted: Fri Jan 23, 2009 03:30 am Post Subject:
My advice would be to have your husband accept the preferred smoker rate and pay the premiums for the year and just take it as a "oops, shouldn't have done that" penalty. After 1 year of non-smoking, he can apply with West Coast Life and get a preferred non-smoker rating (assuming everything else is in good order) - however, many companies are reviewing their underwriting guidelines and there is no telling when something like this may change given today's financial markets. This is probably the best option though.
Posted: Fri Jan 23, 2009 05:10 am Post Subject:
Thanks for the additional info -- I, and my husband, are thinking along these lines.
Posted: Fri Jan 23, 2009 05:54 am Post Subject:
You can also go non-med but you need to do it quickly and it should still be cheaper than the smoker rates from your fully underwritten policy, in other words find someone who will sell you a term policy without an exam that has jet issue... what state are you in? email me jfinancial09[at]yahoo.com I may have an agent in your state that can help you otherwise, as someone else had mentioned, you can take the smoker rate for a year and then switch out of your policy to a new one. If you are worried about cost, drop your face amount for the year and then take it back up to the original amount when you can get the non-smoker rate.
Please don't put your e-mail ids on posts. It's against the TOS of the site.
Add your comment