Do life insurance policies check for nicotine?

To get life insurance, nicotine tests are common. But life insurance companies don’t just test for nicotine. Cotinine is an alkaloid found in the body after nicotine is metabolized, so it’s an indicator of nicotine use. So if you’re wondering about a cotinine test, life insurance providers will probably look for it.

How do insurance companies detect nicotine?

Q: Do life insurance companies randomly test for tobacco use? A: No. But it’s likely they will test your blood, urine, or saliva (via a mouth swab) before approving your application. And those tests will detect nicotine in your system if you’ve smoked or used other tobacco products recently.

Does life insurance check for nicotine or tobacco?

Many insurers require a life insurance medical exam that includes blood samples and urine tests that screen for nicotine use. You could also be denied if you have medical conditions in addition to smoking.

Can I lie about tobacco use for insurance?

It is important to point out that when applying for health insurance, lying about your smoking habits in order to receive lower premiums is considered a form of insurance fraud. In effect, by lying about tobacco use you are misrepresenting your health risks.

Do I have to tell my life insurance if I start smoking?

No. Your cover is based on your smoker status when you applied. As long as the information was accurate at the time, your premiums are guaranteed, regardless of any changes to your personal health. If your policy was previously with Friends Life, this may not apply, so check your policy documents or contact us.

How long does nicotine stay in your system for testing?

On average, nicotine can be detected in urine for about three days. Regular smokers may have detectable levels for as long as 15 to 20 days. Urine tests are done at home or in a lab, with results returned within 24 hours to five days.

How long do you have to stop smoking to be a non-smoker for insurance?

12 months
Usually, insurance providers will need you to have quit smoking for at least 12 months before they’ll class you as a non-smoker, but check with your provider first.

Why do life insurance ask if you smoke?

Whether someone smokes is important because premiums are based on the likelihood of the insurer needing to pay out. Smokers are more likely to die young, and so the risk of a claim is higher. This means they are typically charged double what a non-smoker would pay.

What happens if you lie about tobacco use on health insurance?

If you’re not honest about tobacco, you risk being charged with insurance fraud. Even such “soft fraud” is considered a misdemeanor and can result in sentences of probation, community service — or even time in jail.

How long can nicotine be detected for life insurance?

The byproduct of nicotine, called cotinine, can be detected in the bloodstream for up to three weeks or more. There are a few life insurance companies that allow presence of cotinine if you use cigars, nicotine gum, chewing tobacco or pipes. Otherwise, the presence of cotinine will rate you a smoker.

How do life insurance companies test for smoking?

The nicotine tests to which insurance companies subject prospective policyholders determine whether or not an individual will qualify for classification as a “tobacco” policyholder. There are three basic types of nicotine test: urine, saliva and hair.

Do life insurance companies test for nicotine?

Yes, life insurance companies will test for nicotine as has many hospitals and clinics for the presence of the substance. The nicotine test for life insurance is designed to measure the level of the substance in the system and to define once and for all if the person is a smoker.

How do life insurance companies test for nicotine use?

Many health and life insurance companies test applicants for nicotine or cotinine as well. Nicotine and cotinine can both be measured qualitatively or quantitatively. Qualitative testing detects the presence or absence of the substances, while quantitative testing measures the concentration of the substance.