E Cigs & Mortgage life policy

higster · 02-09-2013 8:26pm #1

Hi

Currently our mortgage life policy is costing a fortune due to me smoking (I know, very honest of me letting them know). Anyhow, now near the year on e cigs and looking at updating same policy...I'm going to stay honest ( after much thinking) and state I use e cigs but am not a tobacco user /smoker and want reduction in policy cost because of this.

My question is has anybody done this and what was the result?

Thanks.

Fratton Fred · 02-09-2013 9:20pm

higster wrote: »

Hi

Currently our mortgage life policy is costing a fortune due to me smoking (I know, very honest of me letting them know). Anyhow, now near the year on e cigs and looking at updating same policy...I'm going to stay honest ( after much thinking) and state I use e cigs but am not a tobacco user /smoker and want reduction in policy cost because of this.

My question is has anybody done this and what was the result?

Thanks.

I looked at life insurance a few months back and it specifically said tobacco products, if yours says the same, then you don't smoke tobacco products, simple as that.

Kyaner · 02-09-2013 10:10pm

Tobacco products tobacco derivatives..... these companies will try to get as much out of you as possible.

I say, since you know that you are not in danger of lung cancer, or any other smoking related life threatening illnesses, keep vaping to yourself....
I know what it means to be honest through and through but in this case you just deny them leverage to get more money out of your pocket.

Just my 2c

jakdublin · 02-09-2013 11:40pm

Kyaner wrote: »

Tobacco products tobacco derivatives.....

Fair play to the OP for the honesty policy. It's not always easy, but it's always right.
I'd say there's no need to mention it. You've quit smoking and e-cigs are not a derivative of tobacco in any shape or form. The only thing they have in common with cigarettes is nicotine, so unless they specifically mention nicotine I'd feel it would be 100% honest to say you've quit smoking and are now a non-smoker.

Anything else could be providing them with a stick to beat you with as they probably don't have a policy about e-cigs, but they may feel obliged to load you just because you're bringing it to their attention. Answer the questions they ask honestly, and don't provide information they don't ask for.

was.deevey · 05-09-2013 12:09pm

Unfortunately nicotine is a tobacco product as tobacco is the easiest method of Nicotine Extraction.

Pretty sure they have themselves fine printed to the gills, I know some insurance companies will make you take a nicotine test.

Stained Class · 05-09-2013 8:05pm

In much the same boat as yourself OP.

Looked into changing life insurance policies a while back & had the same problem.

Thinking of applying again soon as I'm nearly a year off the fags.

If the question is just as simple as 'Are you a smoker?', I'll just tick the 'No' box.

Simple as.

drunkmonkey · 05-09-2013 8:18pm

it looks like there going to be reclassified as Tobacco products in the revisions to the European Tobacco Products Directive, I think you'll save more money by shopping around than you will be saying your not smoking.
I saved very little on my Income protection insurance when I gave up, was a bit disappointed.
Insurance companies look for any kind of loop hole I wouldn't give them one.

Stained Class · 05-09-2013 9:44pm

Ahhhh. drunkmonkey, it's been far too long.

grindle · 05-09-2013 9:52pm

Stained Class wrote: »

Ahhhh. drunkmonkey, it's been far too long.

Ah now... He/she was being fairly level-headed for once and not berating anyone, don't draw it on us!

OP: work your nic level down and vape 0mg for the week leading up to any possible cotinine test and you'll pass it. They shall be none the wiser. Unless they hire a P.I. to catch you vaping your 1000mg death juice!!! :eek:

Neil_Sedaka · 05-09-2013 10:05pm

My concern with giving the insurer the "not a smoker" line would be that in any unfortunate sudden death scenario, it would be possible (I imagine) that the toxicology report would show nicotine levels in the bloodstream.

Could the insurer call foul and refuse to pay out to your next of kin I wonder?
As said already, insurance companies are not too keen on paying a red cent if they can find a way out!

Just my 2c worth.

was.deevey · 06-09-2013 6:53am

My concern with giving the insurer the "not a smoker" line would be that in any unfortunate sudden death scenario, it would be possible (I imagine) that the toxicology report would show nicotine levels in the bloodstream.

In the case of illness I believe they can test you for nicotine to see if you are actually non-smoker and it can void your coverage.

DublinCJM · 06-09-2013 11:30am

What if you were a non smoker and using nicotine patches or gum???

Would that void a policy? I doubt it?

grindle · 06-09-2013 12:31pm

It could, plenty of insurers use it as a get-out clause.

DublinCJM · 06-09-2013 12:34pm

Wow, dirty feckers!

lcpro · 06-09-2013 1:49pm

Interesting. But you can also test positive for nicotine if you stand around smokers for half an hour or so...

was.deevey · 06-09-2013 2:25pm

What if you were a non smoker and using nicotine patches or gum???

Apparently NRT is still considered a tobacco product, however "approved" NRT therapies will likely reduce the premium (but still not as cheap as a non-smoker as you are still a higher risk due to old habits).

Interesting. But you can also test positive for nicotine if you stand around smokers for half an hour or so...

True, but not to the same extent - I'm sure there is a background level cutoff for the tests.

I'd shop around and get it from the horses mouth to be honest before committing to a policy that may be voided in the case there is a time to cash it in.

Also like with other policies you may find that the policy will still be honored if the reason for death/illness is nothing to do with a Smoking related illness if you come clean about it.

E.g.
if you get Lung Cancer = Void
If you get hit by a truck = Honored

Only an insurance company can really fill you in on this though.

tommy2bad · 06-09-2013 3:04pm

As far as insurance is concerned using any nicotine is smoking. Their reasoning is that using NRT is so useless that you may not be smoking but using nrt indicates former smoker and most lickly to relapse.
They test for contine not monoxide which would indicate a smoker. The reason being that a smoker might use nrt to hide the smoking.
Give it 50 to 100 years and the insurance people will go with ecigs as non smoker.

DublinCJM · 06-09-2013 3:57pm

Ah that's cool then.

I think I have about 93 years left on my mortgage so should be ok

McDonnellDean · 11-09-2013 4:06pm

Although I don't agree, I put down I am a smoker, simply because I wouldn't want the other half to have to deal with the fall out if something happened me.

funt cucker · 14-09-2013 1:58pm

McDonnellDean wrote: »

Although I don't agree, I put down I am a smoker, simply because I wouldn't want the other half to have to deal with the fall out if something happened me.

I put down non smoker at the time because I was off the fags about 9 months, then I went back on them, I am now vaping about 2 years and struggling to get off these things, because I don't feel like it's damaging me.

was.deevey · 14-09-2013 4:46pm

I put down non smoker at the time because I was off the fags about 9 months, then I went back on them, I am now vaping about 2 years and struggling to get off these things, because I don't feel like it's damaging me.

The issue may never crop up until you get hit by a train and and they find nicotine in your bloodstream and subsequently void the claim ..

E Cigs & Mortgage life policy

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