I have a life insurance exam and I smoked a few cigarettes...?

Question

I quit smoking a few years ago but I recently lost my mother and have smoked a few cigarettes (like 6 cigarettes over the last 2 weeks). I have to take a blood test for for a new life insurance policy and I'm worried that nicotine will show up in my blood resulting in much higher "smoker" rates. How long should I wait to take the blood test?

Just to be clear, I have not started smoking again. I am not "a smoker". I just had a few during times of extreme stress. I would say already "quit" again but there was no need to "quit" what did not become a habit. My intention is not to defraud my insurance company. I backslid for a minute and then got back on track.

Answer 1

Can you get away with not telling the truth on your insurance nicotine test if you smoke?

This is not the right thing to do, it is best to tell the truth on your insurance nicotine test. Although most evidence of nicotine or continine is excreted or removed from your system within 1-2 days (usually all signs are gone within 7 days except from your hair - they don't test your hair).

The life insurance company can access information from the MIB - Medical Information Bureau from all member companies. In addition they ask you on the application. The application becomes part of the life insurance policy which is a legally binding contract. If you lie on the application you have misled the insurer, and perhaps committed fraud.

What if the insurance company finds out you smoke?

If the insurance nicotine test comes back positive for smoking the smoker life insurance company can either reject your application, offer you a revised rate for smoking, and/or notify the Medical Information Bureau to keep on file.

What happens if they find out I smoke after my life insurance policy is in effect?

First, there is a clause in your life insurance policy named the "Incontestable Clause". Incontestability means with respect to statements made in the application for coverage the life insurance policy cannot be contested after it has been in force for a specified period of time, usually two years.

However, if the life insurance company finds out you smoke within the first two years of the policy they may either cancel the policy, adjust your rates to smokers rates and require payment of the difference in rates going back to the inception date or start of the policy.

Can the life insurance company decline to pay my beneficiary if they find out I smoked after I have passed away?

Again, this goes back to the issue of Incontestability. If you pass away within the first 2 years of taking out your life insurance policy and the cause was smoking-related such as lung cancer, emphysema or heart disease they may contest the policy. The insurer can decline to pay the life benefits to your beneficiary if they can prove you smoked.

If you pass away more than 2 years after the start of your policy they may still fight the case and decline to pay if your death was smoking-related. It depends on the insurer's position on this issue and how soon after the 2 year period you passed away.

Imagine taking out smoker life insurance and then your spouse and family receive no benefits (except for the premiums you paid the insurer, which may or may not be returned by the life insurance company after your death) when they need them most. If you prepare yourself and take the life insurance nicotine test and you pass its up to you.

Just be aware of the effect of your decision and remember, when you answer a question on the application for a life insurance policy it does become a part of a legally binding contract.

I hope that helps! Best of luck to you.

P.S. If you want, you can look into getting Life Insurance with No Medical Exam and No tests for smoking - https://insurance.hsbcusa.com/quotal/simple-term-hsbc.cfm?AgentId=9200&mc_id=107TVXWFW

Answer 2

Life Insurance Smoking Test

Answer 3

I honestly don't know how long tobacco stays in your system. However, I can't imagine that smoking 6 cigarettes in the last two weeks would show up any more than second hand smoke would if you hung out in a bar or something the night before the test.

Stop smoking. I understand what you're going through but smoking isn't going to bring your Mom back. I started smoking again when I lost my husband and all I did was put myself through having to quit all over again. Looking back on it now, I wonder what on earth I was thinking? It didn't really help and I just had to quit again. And that's always a pain.

Good luck and I'm sorry for your loss. Hang in there.

Answer 4

I am sorry about your Mom...

Nicotine normally stays in the bloodstream for 72 to 96 hours. Trace residues can remain for up to a year.

You could wait a week, then get the exam if that's what you choose to do. But please know that not disclosing your cigarette usage is a material misrepresentation on your application, and could possible lead the insurer to void your contract anytime in the first two years the policy is in force. It isn't likely that they would find out - even if you passed away - but it's important for you to choose knowing all the facts.

If you do get smoking rates the insurer will often give you lower rates after a year of being smoke-free.

Best of luck as you try to eliminate the smoking again, and as you go through the grieving process.

Answer 5

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Answer 6

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Answer 7

Moral aspects of lying on the application are one part of the issue. 1. The technicalities though are such that the medical test will not show anything after 3 days of not smoking - I have read an article on that. 2. Contestability period is limited to 2 years in California and many other states (insurance is regulated at the state, not federal level). For insurance company to contest the policy the person should die from smoking, not from another cause. 3. Since insurance fraud happens allot it is being calculated into the premium - we all are paying for that insuring cars, homes, autos and lives.

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Answer 9

They can tell for months after you smoke due to the chemical testing they do. If I were you I would cancel the appt. & go with a no medical exam life policy or wait a few months & not smoke. You may want to try a website that compares multiple companies at once to get you the best price. I am paying less than ½ after I did.

Go to: http://www.insureme.com/landing.aspx?Refby=616164&Type=life

Take care,
Casey

Answer 10

The cigarettes will probably be picked up in the tests. They test for more than nicotine as there are tons of different chemicals in the cigarettes. Some of theses chemicals last in your system for up to a year. Take the test now. Pay what you have to for the coverage and get retested in a year. Stay away from the cancer sticks.

Answer 11

You can always convert the policy after 12 months of tobacco free. You might not even have the tbacco product show in the blood. It depends on how long it has been and how much is there. Don't put it off because you never know what will be happening to you.