Making the responsible decision to purchase life insurance will benefit your family in the event that the unthinkable happens. Unfortunately, it is well known that smokers typically pay higher life insurance premiums than non-smokers.
With these tests, even a single cigarette smoked more than 40 hours ago can be found. Nicotine-containing products are excreted in the urine for a very long time, making their detection even after such a long time simple. For information on how to pass a nicotine test for health insurance, read this article.
What Is A Nicotine Test?
Three main categories of nicotine tests exist:
- blood test
- urine test
- saliva test (swab)
A fourth, rather less common type is the hair test, which is only used for research purposes, for instance in a study that tries to measure how much a non-smoker is exposed to tobacco smoke or vapor, produced by electronic cigarettes.
Nicotine Blood Test
Individual differences exist in how quickly nicotine can enter the bloodstream. It depends on how much of the specific brand of cigarette is consumed and how it is smoked. However, it is immediately absorbed by the blood, i.e. within seconds of puffing on a cigarette or after taking a long draw from your vape.
Both qualitative and quantitative tests can be used to detect nicotine in the blood. An expert can analyze a blood sample to find nicotine levels or even just the presence of nicotine. The nicotine blood test is an extremely accurate method that can find even the smallest amounts of cotinine in the bloodstream.
Urine Nicotine Test
People who want to know whether nicotine is in their system can use urine cassette tests to find out. Employers and life insurance employees can use it to spot fraud, too.
These tests are capable of finding nicotine in urine up to four days after the last cigarette was smoked. It is simple to use and provides prompt, precise results.
Cotinine Urine Test
The presence of tobacco alkaloid cotinine in the body is proof that a person smokes. Up to three days after someone last smoked, it is still in their body. An inexpensive way to find out if someone has been smoking when they shouldn’t have been been to use this cotinine test. It is simple to use and produces highly accurate results in a short period of time.
Does Smoking Affect The Price Of A Life Insurance Policy?
Smoking has an impact on insurance costs with the majority of life insurance companies, but not all. The effect of smoking on your insurance premiums will depend on the underwriting standards of each insurer.
When you apply for coverage, the underwriting process for life insurance begins. Your health is one of many significant factors that a knowledgeable underwriter will take into account when calculating the statistical probability that you’ll pass away while covered.
To reduce their risk and make sure they don’t pay out more in death benefits than they receive in premiums, insurers use underwriting.
When determining your premiums, underwriters take into account any conditions that might increase your risk of passing away while still covered. Insurance companies increase premiums for smokers because they have a higher risk of getting cancer or other diseases that could lead to death.
Your age and medical history will also have an impact on the price of the insurance and whether you’ll be accepted. As a result, older smokers will pay more than younger smokers, and those who have already received a medical diagnosis will also pay higher premiums or might even be denied coverage altogether.
It’s crucial for smokers to compare prices before purchasing life insurance because different insurers have different policies regarding how much smoking affects the price of coverage. A few insurers even contend that smoking won’t increase rates at all.
How Do Life Insurance Companies Determine If You Smoke?
In the course of the underwriting process, life insurers can discover whether you smoke in a number of ways.
A health questionnaire that asks about your history with nicotine is typically required of you. In fact, you’ll probably need to say whether you’ve ever smoked as well as whether you do now. Insurers are likely to charge you more than a non-smoker if you say “yes” to using nicotine.
You must also take a medical examination before purchasing coverage from many insurers. You’ll probably undergo a nicotine test as part of this physical examination. This could be a urine test, blood test, or saliva test.
For some substances, it is also possible to conduct a hair test. Nicotine is more likely to be detected in your hair than it would be in a urine, saliva, or blood sample.
Ways To Pass A Nicotine Test For Health Insurance
Read The Fine Lines Related To Tobacco Use
One of the many variables that insurance companies may look at before providing insurance quotes is smoking. Chewing tobacco, tobacco-infused vape products, e-cigarettes, nicotine patches, nicotine gum, and other nicotine substitute products may also be contributing factors.
It’s crucial to know which nicotine products will raise your premiums in order to stop using them and lower your costs.
Ask The Insurance Provider Who Classifies As A Non-smoker
While some insurance providers define non-smokers as those who haven’t smoked in the previous five months or more, other insurers might define non-smokers as those who haven’t used any nicotine products for a year or more.
You can choose how long to abstain from nicotine products before the test by being aware of these guidelines.
Occasional Smokers Might Want To Go Cold Turkey
Going cold turkey a week before the test is a good option if you hardly ever use nicotine. To be safe, stop using nicotine two weeks prior to the test to make sure that only trace amounts of nicotine are present in your blood.
Detox Your System Before The Life Insurance Nicotine Test
The best way to detox your system prior to the insurance test is to abstain from nicotine products for at least two weeks. You should also drink plenty of fluids, fresh fruit juices, warm water with lemon, and herbal teas infused with ginger and dandelion.
Commercial detoxification products may not be very helpful. The best course of action is to go natural and select herbal products you can trust.
Exercise For At Least Two Weeks Before The Nicotine Test
Exercise causes toxins to be sweated out, which also aids in removing nicotine that has accumulated in the bloodstream. Exercise can also help to reduce anxiety and ensure that you don’t feel the need to smoke, chew tobacco, or use any other nicotine-containing substances before the test.
It is always preferable to choose a reasonable exercise schedule rather than a rigorous schedule that you will abandon after a few days. The best exercises to help you release toxins and de-stress are walking, jogging, swimming, and cycling.
Be Honest On Your Application To Avoid A Penalty
The insurance company must be told the truth about nicotine users’ habits as required by law. If nicotine is found in the bloodstream, failure to do this could lead to higher premiums and even the denial of an insurance application.
Choose Healthy Alternatives To Curb Withdrawal Symptoms
The insurance company may opt for a test that involves taking blood samples or mouth swabs in order to determine the precise concentration of nicotine in the body.
You can lessen your withdrawal symptoms by chewing on regular chewing gum, cinnamon sticks, apples, other fruits, and any edibles if you have made the decision to pass the test and are unable to use any nicotine supplements.
Do Not Switch To Marijuana Unless Permitted By The Insurer
Many insurance companies discourage or forbid their policyholders from smoking or inhaling marijuana, regardless of where it comes from or whether you have a prescription for it.
Make sure to read your policy carefully for any mention of this substance, and if you have any questions, contact your insurance company.
Conclusions
Smoking raises your life insurance rates when you shop for insurance and could keep you from getting the best life insurance because it increases your risk of passing away. It is possible to stop using nicotine, despite how highly addictive it is. If both medical and non-medical methods of treating withdrawal symptoms are employed, the likelihood of abstinence increases.
While some insurers may provide insurance for smokers, keep in mind that these plans come at a high cost in the form of premiums and policy exclusions.
