- \n
- Gastrointestinal Problems<\/li>\n
- Cancer<\/a>
![\"hand](\"https:\/\/www.bestlifequote.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/Depositphotos_21355229_xl-2015-210x210.jpg\")
<\/li>\n- Liver Disease<\/li>\n
- Depression<\/li>\n
- Stroke<\/li>\n
- Dementia<\/li>\n
- Cardiovascular Problems<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
It\u2019s very unusual to be denied on your insurance application based on your answers, but the insurance company may conduct further investigation on your use of alcohol as you may be a high-risk life insurance<\/a> applicant.<\/p>\n
Insurance companies usually consider a number of different factors when underwriting a person with a history of alcohol abuse. These factors include:<\/p>\n
Liver Function and Life Insurance<\/h2>\n
Your alcohol use will reflect in your medical history if your physician suspects it or if you have told him about it. Your life insurance medical test, usually a requirement for an application, includes liver tests that reveal abnormalities.<\/p>\n
The liver function test also called the Carbohydrate Deficient Transferrin (CDT) test, is used to measure the synthesis of glycoprotein in your liver to prevent obstructive liver diseases such as cirrhosis.<\/p>\n
If you are a heavy drinker, you will have an elevated liver function; but not if you drink moderately.<\/p>\n
Thus, even if you didn\u2019t mention your alcohol use on your application or in your medical records, a laboratory result showing abnormal liver function can raise a \u201cred flag\u201d to the insurance company that you may be using alcohol.<\/p>\n
That being said, having an elevated level of liver enzyme doesn\u2019t mean that your application will be denied, because it can also indicate there\u2019s something wrong with your liver or overall health that is not related to alcohol use, or it may be caused by taking medicines.<\/p>\n
The insurance company may request additional information from you or your doctor to see if the abnormal liver function is caused by alcohol use.<\/p>\n
DUI and Life Insurance<\/h2>\n
If you are convicted of drunk driving, your insurer will likely impose higher life insurance rates\u2014even if it was your first time and an isolated incident. When it comes to DUIs<\/a>, insurance providers usually look at everything involved.<\/p>\n
While some insurers will require, at a bare minimum, one year before you get an offer for a life insurance policy, there are others who will cover you right away.<\/p>\n
For the first year of your DUI conviction, you are likely to see higher rates for coverage but after that, you can be eligible for a \u201cstandard\u201d rating. If you have multiple driving violations coupled with drug abuse or alcoholism, most insurance providers will consider you \u201cuninsurable.\u201d<\/p>\n
Attending Physician Statement (APS)<\/h2>\n
An APS is a report from your doctor regarding your health condition. It informs the insurance company about the status of your health and allows them to check whether or not the alcohol is affecting your health.<\/p>\n
It may have the same information you wrote down in your application form, but if your physician has other concerns about your alcohol use, they may also be included.<\/p>\n
Depending on exactly how severe your alcohol abuse had gotten, the insurance company could offer you a \u201crated<\/em>\u201d life insurance policy, put you in a more expensive insurance rate class or reject your application.<\/p>\n
A rated policy comes with an additional premium because of a specific risk factor.<\/p>\n
Even if you can prove that you have successfully completed the alcohol-treatment program and haven\u2019t had an alcoholic drink for several months, you can expect that the status of your application will be declined for at least 2 years after being sober.<\/p>\n
If you have or had a drinking problem, make sure you mention that in your insurance application. Avoid fraudulent information so any policy issued to you will not be voided.<\/p>\n
Life Insurance Rates for Heavy Drinkers<\/h2>\n
There are a lot of variables when it comes to calculating your rates. Everything from your age<\/a> to your hobbies.<\/p>\n
Let’s assume you’re in great health with no major health problems and you don’t have any dangerous hobbies<\/a> like skydiving or scuba diving, then your drinking won’t kill your life insurance rates.<\/p>\n
A rule of thumb for people who drink excessively is to take the rates of someone who doesn’t drink and raise them by 50% – 100%.<\/p>\n
What to Do If You’ve Been Declined<\/h2>\n
Maybe you’re already applied for life insurance, but you didn’t get accepted. That’s okay. There are still choices.<\/p>\n