Non-tobacco life insurance rates are always available with us.
Chewing Tobacco Life Insurance Overview
We help tobacco and nicotine users get to get you the best non-tobacco rates available.
That’s right. The vast majority of tobacco/nicotine users can get non-tobacco rates if they know the rules and work with companies specializing in higher risks.
Chewing Tobacco Rules by Company
Underwriting is based on how often you chew tobacco and whether or not your lab results will be positive or negative.
If you chew tobacco daily, the best companies are:
- John Hancock – standard non-tobacco rates
- Lincoln National – standard non-tobacco rates
- Prudential – non-smoker plus rates
The above companies allow positive lab results.
What if you only chew tobacco occasionally?
If that is the case, it may be possible to obtain a better rate class than standard.
The catch?
Your lab results need to be negative.
The following companies are best for occasional tobacco chewers:
- American National – Best rates if you chew 2x per month or less.
- AXA – Standard non-tobacco for occasional use.
- Minnesota Life – Best rates for chew 12x or less per year.
- New York Life – Standard non-tobacco for occasional use.
With the occasional use of chewing tobacco, underwriters look closely at medical records and history to ensure occasional use is accurate.
If there is any discrepancy, you will usually get treated as a tobacco user.
Chewing tobacco will negatively affect your life insurance if you end up with the wrong life insurance company.
The good news is that no matter how much tobacco you chew, there are companies that give you non-tobacco rates!
Am I cheating to get non-tobacco rates?
No, not at all.
You have to admit chewing tobacco use on your life insurance application.
The key is knowing which term life insurance companies have favorable underwriting programs for chew.
Some companies will require negative lab results for cotinine (metabolite generated by nicotine).
Other companies could care less if you chewed tobacco at your paramed exam.
That’s where we’ll be able to guide you to affordable life insurance rates.
Underwriting Questions About Chew
The following underwriting questions will make or break your life insurance application with the wrong life insurer!
It’s not a secret, but most people and agents don’t know the rules to help you save
Here’s what you need to know:
- When did you start using chew?
- How often do you chew? (daily, weekly, monthly, etc?)
- Can you stop chewing long enough to provide a negative urine sample?
- Do you want to stop chewing long enough to provide a negative sample?
- Do you use any other tobacco or nicotine products?
- If yes, what do you use, how much and how often?
Keep in mind that no matter what your answer is to the above questions, non-tobacco life insurance rates are available.
The only possible exception to this would be if you use/used cigarettes.
We’ll tell you which life insurance companies are best based on your individual information.
Does my urine sample have to be negative?
Your urine sample does not need to be negative,
As long as you apply to the companies that don’t care about positive cotinine results.
If you’re an infrequent chewer of tobacco, it may be to your benefit to stop long enough to provide a negative sample.
The reason why is that companies that require a negative sample may offer better underwriting rates.
As an example, here’s a scenario for a 35-year-old male in preferred best health, seeking $500,000 of 20-year term life.
The only issue is chewing tobacco.
- The best tobacco rate = $990 per year.
- The best daily chewing rate = $575 per year.
- Occasional chewing = $335 per year with negative labs
It’s a tremendous saving if you can meet the guidelines for chewers’ non-tobacco life insurance rates.
How Long Does Nicotine Stay in Your System?
Generally speaking, nicotine leaves your system in about 72+/- hours,
But that’s not what the life insurance companies are testing you for anyway.
Life insurers are looking for the nicotine metabolite – cotinine because it stays in your system longer than nicotine.
Conclusion
Please take a few minutes to submit your quote request today.
There is no pressure or obligation with our service.
We’ll let you know which company is best based on your tobacco use.
Michael Horbal
Author
Michael Horbal is the founder and owner of RiskQuoter.com and a licensed life insurance agent who has helped thousands with affordable protection for families and businesses.
